Second Stage News

The American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) at Harvard University presents the world premiere production of Witness Uganda, created by Matt Gould and Griffin Matthews, directed by A.R.T. Artistic Director Diane Paulus, with choreography by Darrell Grand Moultrie and Music Director, Remy Kurs. The production begins performances at the Loeb Drama Center at 64 Brattle Street, Cambridge tonight, February 4, and will run through March 16.

As a special addition to the 22nd season, Aurora Theatre Company presents its first fully-staged production in the company's new second stage performance space, Harry's UpStage, located in the Nell and Jules Dashow Wing. Award-winning Bay Area auteur Mark Jackson returns to the company to direct this sixth addition to the season, John W. Lowell's suspenseful psychological thriller THE LETTERS, featuring Beth Wilmurt (The Eccentricities of a Nightingale) and Michael Ray Wisely (The Arsonists).

OBERON, the American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.)'s second stage and club theater venue, continues to bring exciting and original programming to the fringe of Harvard Square. Together with the previously announced return of The Hypocrites (Pirates of Penzance) with Romeo Juliet and 12 Nights, in repertory from February 18-22, OBERON's February programming will include:

Very sad news today in the theatre world: Oscar, Tony and multi-award winning actor Philip Seymour Hoffman was found dead from suspected drug overdose on Sunday afternoon at his apartment in Manhattan's West Village. Beloved by audiences, and colleagues, we are sad to present a photo flashback of BroadwayWorld.com's 10 years of photo coverage of this one of a kind talent.

Kindling Theatre Company has announced the World Premiere of TAKE ME BACK, written by Emily Schwend and directed by Jay Stull. TAKE ME BACK begins performances on Friday, February 28 for a limited engagement through Saturday, March 22. Opening Night is Wednesday, March 5 at 8 PM. The performance schedule is Wednesday - Saturday at 8 PM, with added performances on Monday, March 3 and Tuesday, March 4 at 8 PM. Performances are at Walkerspace (46 Walker Street, between Broadway and Church Streets). Tickets are $18 and are available by calling SmartTix at (212) 868-4444 or visiting www.smarttix.com.

Winter usually isn't the busiest time of year for incoming Broadway shows, but that doesn't mean that there is any lack of fresh talent making their debuts! The Broadway Winter has arrived, and while a solid number of new faces are treading the boards, dozens more are on their way in the coming months. Meet all of Broadway's newest stars below!

Mint Theater's next production, London Wall by John Van Druten, featuring Julia Coffey, Katie Gibson, Matthew Gumley, Jonathan Hogan, Laurie Kennedy, Elise Kibler, Stephen Plunkett, Christopher Sears, and Alex Trow will begin performances tomorrow, Saturday February 1st and continue through March 30th. Opening Night is set for Monday February 24th (7pm) at Mint's home (311 West 43rd Street). This will be the American premiere of John Van Druten's 'rivetingly entertaining' (The Guardian) romantic drama.

Performances of Off-Broadway's tastiest new musical The Chocolate Show! begin Saturday, February 1 at 8pm with an official opening set for Valentine's Day, February 14 at 7pm at the 47th Street Theatre, 304 West 47th Street between 8th and 9th Avenues. The Chocolate Show! is written by Alan Golub (book, music and lyrics) & Laura Goldfader (book and music), with direction by Dan Foster, choreography by Grady McLeod Bowman and under the music direction of Jeffrey Klitz. Tickets for The Chocolate Show! are $39.50 - $59.50 and can be arranged online at www.ticketcentral.com or by calling 212.279.4200 or at the TicketCentral Box Office located at 416 West 42nd Street. The 47th Street Theatre box office (304 West 47th Street) will open 30 minutes before each performance.

Halfway thru its' 81st season, the Bergen County Players (BCP) continues its' 'From Page to Stage' season theme with its' presentation of Around The World In 80 Days. Under the direction of Ray Yucis, Around The World In 80 Days will be performed at the Little Firehouse Theatre in Oradell from February 15th through March 8th. Friday and Saturday performances are at 8 pm and Sunday performances are at 2 pm. Tickets can be purchased online at www.bcplayers.org, by calling 201-261-4200 or by visiting the box office at 298 Kinderkamack Road during regular box office hours.

IAMA Theatre Company has announced the Los Angeles premiere of The Recommendation, written by Jonathan Caren and directed by Laura Savia, at Theatre Asylum in Hollywood. There will be two lower-priced preview performances on Thursday, February 6 and Friday, February 7 at 8pm, and opening is set for Saturday, February 8 at 8pm. The Recommendation will play a limited engagement through March 9 only.

VOW is an inaugural and extremely ambitious musical theatre workshop being presented by the Marymount Manhattan College Musical Theatre Program (Pat Hoag Simon, Coordinator for Musical Theatre) and The Directory Of Contemporary Musical Theatre Writers (David Sisco, Founder & Curator) that opens wide the creative process of the Broadway musical theatre industry to twenty very fortunate musical theatre students currently enrolled in Marymount Manhattan College's progressive Musical Theatre Program.

Berkeley Repertory Theatre announces the world premiere of The House that will not Stand, a historical comedic drama commissioned from award-winning poet-playwright and Oakland native Marcus Gardley. Sensuous, witty, heartbreaking, and uplifting - The House that will not Stand unearths a story about free women of color in 1836 New Orleans, where black Creole women entered into common-law marriages with affluent white men. When her wealthy lover mysteriously dies, Beartrice Albans' foundation of security hangs precariously by a thread. She is left to fend for her three unwed daughters in a world where freedom must be carefully negotiated. Told in a rich and lyrical river of words, this new play was developed through The Ground Floor: Berkeley Rep's Center for the Creation and Development of New Work. It's helmed by Patricia McGregor, whose many credits include the celebrated production of Spunk at California Shakespeare Theater. The House that will not Stand begins previews on Berkeley Rep's intimate Thrust Stage today, January 31, opens on Wednesday, February 5 and runs through Sunday, March 16, 2014.

At a press conference held at Barrington Stage Company's Boyd-Quinson Mainstage, Artistic Director Julianne Boyd announced the theater's 20th Anniversary 2014 season of musicals and plays that will take place in downtown Pittsfield in the Boyd-Quinson Mainstage, St. Germain Stage and Youth Theatre venues in 2014.

San Francisco Playhouse presents the world premiere commission of Bauer by Bay Area playwright Lauren Gunderson.

The Huntington Theatre Company announces that the 2014 Breaking Ground festival of new plays will be held today, January 30 - February 2 at the Huntington's home for new work, the Calderwood Pavilion at the BCA.

Minnesota Jewish Theatre Company will present THE LAST FIVE YEARS, with Music and Lyrics by Jason Robert Brown, at Hillcrest Center Theater from February 8 - March 2, 2014. Audio Described Performance on Sunday, February 16, 2014 at 1 pm.

Tony nominee Daniel Breaker just announced via Twitter that he will soon join the cast of THE BOOK OF MORMON as tribal chief 'Mafala.' He writes: I'm pleased to join the @BookofMormon this Feb on B'way!!! Come see me play Mafala in this absolutely hilarious show!!! #LoveMormon'. Breaker will replace original cast member Michael Potts.

Solo performer Jill Vice brings her 'Best of Fringe' award-winning show TIPPED & TIPSY to The Marsh. A hilarious and touching send-up of American bar culture, TIPPED & TIPSY plays March 1 - April 6, 2014, with performances Saturdays at 5pm and Sundays at 7pm at The Marsh Studio Theater at 1062 Valencia Street. (Press opening is Sunday, March 9.) For tickets ($15-$50), the public may visit www.themarsh.org or call 415-282-3055 between 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday.

The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize has announced 10 Finalists for its prestigious playwriting award, now celebrating its thirty-sixth year. Chosen from over 100 submitted plays, the Finalists are