Second Stage News

Ken Davenport of Davenport Theatrical Enterprises presented a reading of the new play Schooled, written by Lisa Lewis and directed by Jules Ochoa, as part of the Davenport Developmental Reading Series. Schooled stars Tony nominee Peter Friedman (Playwrights Horizon's Circle Mirror Transformation), Sarah Steele (Lincoln Center Theatre/LCT3's Slowgirl), Harry Zittel (Lincoln Center Theatre/LCT3's All-American) and Zoe Winters (Lincoln Center Theatre/LCT3's 4000 Miles). The reading took place on Monday, December 3rd at The Davenport Studios, located at 250 West 49th Street, Suite 304, in New York City. Check out photos from the reading below!

Artists Repertory Theatre today announced that Dámaso Rodriguez has been selected as the next Artistic Director beginning in January 2013. Rodriguez takes the artistic reins of the 30-year-old Artists Rep from retiring Artistic Director Allen Nause, who has led the company for the past 25 years. Well known in Los Angeles for his daring, thrilling and visceral work as a multiple award-winning director, Rodriguez will direct the West Coast Premiere of Ten Chimneys, by Jeffery Hatcher, as his Artists Rep directorial debut in April.

Five of the entertainment world's leading ladies will perform in New Orleans in 2013 as Seth Rudetsky's popular Broadway Concert Series makes the leap to NOCCA's Lupin Hall from its summer home at The Art House in Provincetown, MA. Patti LuPone, two-time Tony winner for Gypsy and as the legendary original Evita, will appear for two shows only on January 7th at 6:30 and 8:30. Sutton Foster, two-time Tony-winner for this year's Anything Goes and previously for Thoroughly Modern Millie and star of the ABC Family series Bunheads arrives for one show only on March 2nd at 7:30. Megan Mullally, two-time Emmy-winning star of TV's Will and Grace and star of Broadway's Young Frankenstein performs two shows only on April 6th at 7:30 and 9:30. Audra McDonald, a five-time Tony Award winner and recent star of Porgy and Bess on Broadway and TV's Private Practice will make her New Orleans debut with two shows only on May 18 at 7:30 and 9:30. Betty Buckley, the Tony winning legendary star of Cats and Sunset Boulevard will close the series on June 1 with two shows only at 7:30 and 9:30. The visiting Broadway artists will also be giving master classes for the NOCCA Institute's high school-aged musical theatre students. All five concerts are produced by Mark Cortale, long time producer/manager of Jeffery Roberson aka Varla Jean Merman, and will be hosted by Sirius/XM radio star Seth Rudetsky at the piano. The series is sponsored exclusively by the New Orleans Hotel Collection and Gambit. Tickets can be purchased at www.broadwaynola.com or by calling 800-838-3006.

TheatreSquared will open Tenneessee Williams' only comedy, set on Christmas Eve and rarely seen since its 1961 premiere, this week in a new production directed by Broadway veteran Sean Patrick Reilly. After a disastrous wedding night, George deposits Isabel at the home of his old army buddy, Ralph-whose own wife has just walked out-and promptly disappears. The unexpectedly warmhearted and poignant drama that follows is vintage Williams, with all the hallmarks that have defined him as one of America's greatest playwrights.

Due to popular demand 54 Below, Broadway's nightclub, has added a second show on Wednesday, December 5th at 11:15PM for New York's hottest songwriting duo - Benj Pasek & Justin Paul. The phenomenon known as Pasek & Paul, who sold out their 9:30PM show, is currently represented on Broadway with the holiday hit A Christmas Story! And just a few months ago, audiences delighted at their off-Broadway debut, Dogfight, at the Second Stage Theatre.

CINE, the film and television non-profit renowned for its Golden Eagle Awards, will launch the CINE Film Scoring Competition on December 10. Entering composers will each score the same short CINE Golden Eagle-winning film, from which the existing score is removed.

Cape May Stage, Cape May's premier Equity theatre, has just announced the exceptional line-up of plays as well as incredible deals on subscription packages for the theatre's 2013 season, which is, coincidentally, the 25th anniversary of this high-quality, award-winning professional theatre. Therefore, not only does Cape May Stage promise to offer theater-goers a phenomenal line-up of comedies, farces and dramas, not to mention exceptional exclusives for subscribers, but look for surprises in this very special upcoming season.

Rehearsals for RODGERS + HAMMERSTEIN'S Cinderella will begin Thursday, December 6 with preview performances starting January 25 prior to Opening Night on Sunday, March 3. (The previously announced opening date of February 24 turned out to be Oscar Night.) The box office at the Broadway Theatre (1681 Broadway at 53rd St.) will open Monday, December 17 at 10 a.m.

Prepare to experience The Nutcracker like never seen before as Flat Rock Playhouse, in partnership with Pardee Hospital and Pardee Hospital Foundation, presents the world premiere of The Nutcracker, adapted by Chase Brock from E. T. A. Hoffman's story The Nutcracker and The Mouse King onstage now through December 22 at Playhouse Mainstage. This new interpretation of the holiday all-dance classic is choreographed by Playhouse YouTheatre alum Chase Brock, choreographer of the Broadway hit, Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the production in the photos below!

The Araca Group has announced a biannual series of new play readings will return for the fifth time for an abbreviated edition on December 10th & 13th.

The world premiere production of the Frank McGuinness adaptation of James Joyce's The Dead will play Dublin's Abbey Theatre, under the direction of former Abbey and current Guthrie Artistic Director Joe Dowling. The Dead will begin previews tonight, December 5, will open December 11 and will play through January 19, 2013.

Rosalind Productions Inc.'s Off-Broadway premiere of Jennifer Maisel's The Last Seder is set to open tonight, Tuesday December 4th (7pm). This Off-Broadway limited engagement at Theater Three (311 West 43rd Street) began December 1st and has been extended to January 13th. The show runs 100 minutes without an intermission.

Screen Actors Guild Foundation and Broadway World have partnered for an inaugural filmed Conversations Q&A series to recognize and celebrate the vibrant theatre community in New York City and the union actors who aspire to have a career on the stage and screen. Please join us for our kick-off event - a two hour career Conversations with Judy Greer moderated by Broadway World's Richard Ridge of 'Backstage with Richard Ridge!'

TheatreSquared will open Tenneessee Williams' only comedy, set on Christmas Eve and rarely seen since its 1961 premiere, this week in a new production directed by Broadway veteran Sean Patrick Reilly. After a disastrous wedding night, George deposits Isabel at the home of his old army buddy, Ralph-whose own wife has just walked out-and promptly disappears. The unexpectedly warmhearted and poignant drama that follows is vintage Williams, with all the hallmarks that have defined him as one of America's greatest playwrights.

Left Field Productions, Neil Berg, Adam Friedson and MSC OPAS at Texas A&M University have announced that veteran Broadway actor Marc Kudisch will direct the world premiere project that will close the 40th Anniversary OPAS Season at Texas A&M University - Neil Berg's The Phantoms of the Opera.

Midwest New Musicals continues Words and Music, a concert reading series of original musicals, with THE LAST STORYTELLER, book and lyrics by Caroline Lee and Christina Biggs, music by Margaret James, on Monday, December 17, at 7:30 pm, at the Light Opera Works Second Stage, 1420 Maple (at Lake) in Evanston. Tickets are $15, available at Light Opera Works box office: (847) 920-5360, or at the door.

NBC will premiere the new drama DO NOT HARM on Thursday, January 31 (10-11 p.m. ET) following the hour-long series finale of the Emmy Award-winning "30 Rock" (8-9 p.m. ET) earlier that same night.

Ken Davenport of Davenport Theatrical Enterprises presents a reading of the new play Schooled, written by Lisa Lewis and directed by Jules Ochoa, as part of the Davenport Developmental Reading Series. Schooled stars Tony nominee Peter Friedman (Playwrights Horizon's Circle Mirror Transformation), Sarah Steele (Lincoln Center Theatre/LCT3's Slowgirl), Harry Zittel (Lincoln Center Theatre/LCT3's All-American) and Zoe Winters (Lincoln Center Theatre/LCT3's 4000 Miles). The reading will take place tonight, December 3rd at 8pm at The Davenport Studios, located at 250 West 49th Street, Suite 304, in New York City.