Second Stage News

Victor Maog has been appointed the new Artistic Director of Second Generation (2g) Gladys Chen, Board President, announced today, and will start his new position by spearheading 2g's signature event, Instant Vaudeville.

Janice Findley Productions conjures up the mesmerizing world of Caryl Churchill's The Skriker in a signature theatrical event of the Halloween season, tonight, October 19 through November 11 at the Erickson Theatre (1524 Harvard Ave., Seattle). Led by director Janice Findley, choreographer Pat Graney, and lead actor Mary Ewald, The Skriker features a superb company of Seattle artists and performers in a work that is equal parts stunning theatre, evocative dance, and jaw-dropping visual art.

Following its celebrated opening at Seattle Repertory Theatre, Pullman Porter Blues travels across the country to sweep D.C. audiences along for a ride in its world-premiere co-production at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater. Inspired by her grandfather's work on the postal trains, playwright Cheryl L. West, whose work at Arena Stage includes Jar the Floor and Play On!, returns with the tale of three Pullman train porters whose journey is underscored by Midwest blues songs, including "Sweet Home Chicago" and "This Train." Directed by Lisa Peterson (Arena's The Rainmaker and The Quality of Life), Pullman Porter Blues runs November 23, 2012 - January 6, 2013 in the Kreeger Theater.

Second Stage Theatre has announced the casting for its upcoming production of the 2012 Pulitzer Prize-winning play, WATER BY THE SPOONFUL, written by Quiara Alegria Hudes, directed by Davis McCallum. The company will feature LIZA COLÓN-ZAYAS (Second Stage's Living Out, Our Lady of 121st Street), FRANKIE R. FAISON (The Wire, Tony nominee for Fences), ZABRYNA GUEVARA (Chimichangas and Zoloft, Taper's Burn This), BILL HECK (Angels in America), SUE JEAN KIM (Assistance, The Hallway Trilogy), and ARMANDO RIESCO (Elliot in Elliot, A Soldier's Fugue).

The American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.), under the Artistic Direction of Diane Paulus has announced the complete cast for its February 2013 production of Tennessee Williams' The Glass Menagerie, to be directed by Tony Award-winning director John Tiffany. Multiple Tony and Emmy Award winner Cherry Jones returns to the A.R.T. to play Amanda Wingfield, and will be joined by Zachary Quinto as Tom, Celia Keenan-Bolger as Laura, and Brian J. Smith as the Gentleman Caller. The Tony Award-winning design team includes set and costumes by Bob Crowley, lighting by Natasha Katz, and sound by Clive Goodwin.

The Clive Barnes Foundation has announced the nominees for the 2012 Clive Barnes Awards, a distinguished annual honor recognizing the work of young actors and dancers in New York City.

Anne Frank's remarkable diary has become an essential tool for understanding one of the darkest periods of our history - and one of the most beautiful, haunting stories in our shared experience. The play is dramatized from the book by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett. Making her Rep directorial debut, KJ Sanchez will direct the play. The cast features Associate Artists Jonathan Gillard Daly, Laura Gordon, Lee E. Ernst, James Pickering and Deborah Staples and guest actors J. Alexander Coe, Kelley Faulkner, Larry Neumann, Jr., and rising Chicago actress Lauren Hirte in the title role. Rep Artistic Intern Ensemble Members Jonathan Altman, Emily Berman, Jess Prichard and J.R. Yancher are also in this production. The Diary of Anne Frank runs in The Rep's Quadracci Powerhouse from October 23 - December 2 and opens on Friday, October 26.

The Shakespeare Theatre Company, recipient of the 2012 Regional Theatre Tony Award®, kicks off its holiday season with William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. Director Ethan McSweeny (Much Ado About Nothing, The Merchant of Venice) takes a fresh approach to this well-loved play filled with magic and wonder. The production runs at STC's Sidney Harman Hall (610 F Street NW) from November 15-December 30, 2012.

ISLAND SONG, a new musical anthology with music by Derek Gregor and words by Sam Carner, will have a one-night-only developmental concert at (le) Poisson Rouge Monday, November 12, 2012. Showtime is at 7PM. Doors open at 6PM.

Lunar Energy Productions will present the World Premiere of By Rights We Should Be Giants, created and written by Lunar Energy ensemble members Nadia Sepsenwol and Tim Van Dyck, tonght, October 18-November 3 at The Secret Theatre (4402 23rd Street between 44th Avenue and 44th Road, Long Island City).

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. The Jeff Award results, 'Smokey Joe's' impresses, three presidential musicals (at least!), old and new shows in Evanston, Ann Hampton Callaway in Lakeview and more!

To coincide with the ongoing presidential campaign, the Huntington Theatre Company will stage the American premiere of Now or Later, Christopher Shinn's timely political drama about our freedoms. Drama Desk and Outer Critic's Circle Award winner Michael Wilson, who recently helmed the acclaimed Broadway production of Gore Vidal's presidential drama The Best Man, directs the new production. The production opens tomorrow, Wednesday, October 17 and runs through November 10. Get a first look at the cast onstage below!

Tonight, October 17, {YOUR NAME HERE} presents a one-night only staged reading of "Love Poems for Dead Bodies" by Martha Jane Kaufman as part of their RADICAL ACTS series. The show will be held at TADA! Theater, 15 West 28th Street at 7 pm with a talkback immediately following moderated by Pulitzer finalist Sarah Ruhl (The Clean House, In the Next Room).

Second Stage Theatre presents Jon Kern's world premiere comedy, Modern Terrorism, Or They Who Want To Kills Us and How We Learn To Love Them, which opened last night, October 15. Check out photos from opening night below!

MCC THEATER presents the world premiere production of Don't Go Gentle by Stephen Belber and directed by Lucie Tiberghien, which opened last night, October 14, at the Rattlestick Theater. Don't Go Gentle features David Wilson Barnes (Broadway's The Lieutenant of Inishmore, Becky Shaw at Second Stage), newcomer Maxx Brawer, Michael Cristofer (NBC's hit series "Smash," Broadway's A View from the Bridge with Liev Schreiber), Angela Lewis (Milk Like Sugar at Playwrights Horizons), and Jennifer Mudge (Roundabout Theatre Company's The Philanthropist). BroadwayWorld brings you photos from the big opening below!

Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? opens this evening, Saturday, October 13, 2012, at the Booth Theatre (222 West 45th Street), exactly 50 years to the day of the play's original Broadway opening on Saturday, October 13, 1962.

Two-time Tony Award Winner Norbert Leo Butz returns to SOPAC for a one-night engagement tonight, October 13th (Norbert made his SOPAC debut in 2010).

To coincide with the ongoing presidential campaign, the Huntington Theatre Company will stage the American premiere of Now or Later, Christopher Shinn's timely political drama about our freedoms. Drama Desk and Outer Critic's Circle Award winner Michael Wilson, who recently helmed the acclaimed Broadway production of Gore Vidal's presidential drama The Best Man, directs the new production.