Sherman Howard News

JACK will present 'Mamet Talkbacks,' moderated by Jeremy M. Barker, on September 17, October 15 and November 17, 2017.

On the third episode of BroadwayWorld's new theatre business podcast, 'The OHenry Report,' Broadway producer and investor Oliver Henry Roth talks to two industry professionals about the licensing process for plays and musicals, and then what happens when a theatre company violates their license.

As BroadwayWorld reported in May, controversy recently erupted over an Oregon production of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Shoebox Theatre director Michael Streeter posted the below statement after receiving news from the Edward Albee estate:

Last night, stars of the stage and screen dazzled a full house at the Theatre at ACE Hotel during the first ever The 24 Hour Musicals: Los Angeles. The event raised money for the Dramatists Legal Defense Fund, a nonprofit arm of the Dramatists Guild of America, which advocates for the freedom of expression on behalf of all who are confronting censorship on stages across America. Scroll down for photos from the event!

Following news that two major sponsors, Delta Air Lines and Bank of America, had pulled financial support for The Public Theater in response to their Donald Trump-Themed Shakespeare in the Park production of JULIUS CAESAR, New Yorkers showed their support of the Public with a rally, that took place yesterday evening at Astor Place. 

According to artsintegrity.org, Howard Sherman writes that there has been an uproar surrounding a recent production of One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest at Boston Children's Theatre. This debate has centered around one nude scene, which reportedly takes up 'less than one page of the acting edition script.' However, the ramifications of this acting and directorial decision have been much bigger than that.

In a case of misguided censorship, Ames Center in Burnsville, Minn., has refused to produce a production of CAUCASIAN-AGRESSIVE PANDAS AND OTHER MULATTO TALES by biracial playwright Derek 'Duck' Washington, which would have been staged by the city-owned Center's resident theatre company, Chameleon Theatre Circle. Their problem is with the world 'mulatto' in the show's title.

The Apothetae, a theater company committed to challenging perceived perceptions of the "Disabled Experience," and The Lark, a play development lab devoted to equity, community, and the power of an individual artistic voice, are thrilled to announce the launch and opening of submissions for the pilot round of The Apothetae at Lark Fellowship, made possible with leadership support from the Time Warner Foundation, and additional support from Jody Falco and Jeffrey Steinman.

In the wake of the recent debate around the Encores! Big River revival, Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas (LMDA) is convening a panel of some of the theater industry's premier thinkers and art makers to discuss the roles and responsibilities of producers, artists, and critics in the portrayal of underrepresented experiences on stage.

On February 27, 2017, the Dramatists Guild of America, Inc. will hold its annual Awards Night at the French Institute / Alliance Francaise in New York City and among the other honors given that night, an award from the Dramatists Legal Defense Fund will be presented to producer Jeffrey Seller, director Thomas Kail, author Lin-Manuel Miranda, and the cast of Hamilton, for exercising their right to free speech by reading a statement directed at Governor and Vice President-elect Mike Pence, who was in attendance, at the November 18, 2016 performance.

As BroadwayWorld previously reported, this spring, Cherry Hill High School will perform a different kind of Ragtime- without any racist or offensive language included. The school explains in an official statement:

This spring, Cherry Hill High School will perform a different kind of Ragtime- without any racist or offensive language included. The school explains in an official statement:

Despite the beautiful theaters that grace it's streets, I think we can all agree that Times Square that holds a colorful cast of characters. From a questioning Spiderman, to a headless Minnie Mouse, and even, wait a second, is that Mike Pence? 

The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center announced today that Paulette Haupt, founding Artistic Director of its National Music Theater Conference, will step down following the 2017 season, after 40 years leading the program. The program began in 1978 after George C. White, founder of the O'Neill, invited Ms. Haupt to launch a new development program for music theater, in a similar mold to the O'Neill's groundbreaking National Playwrights Conference, launched in 1964.

Union Square Incident, a short play by Warren Leight that premiered on November 14 as part of 'The 24 Hour Plays on Broadway,' was published online today at the website of the Arts Integrity Initiative, a program of The New School of Drama at The New School College of Performing Arts.

On November 4th, Jeanine Tesori was the keynote speaker at the 4th annual STAGE THE CHANGE: THEATRE AS A SOCIAL VOICE event. The event was co-sponsored by the Tilles Center at Long Island University and the Happauge Public Schools. Tesori spoke to over 500 area high school students. 

On Wednesday August 31st, 2016, Rory O'Malley hosted Hamilton's last live lottery drawing show. The popular tradition had only been around for just over a year, but in that year it won the hearts of many Hamilfans just looking for their shot at the hottest ticket in town. Although it is truly sad to see Ham4Ham go, I choose to celebrate its short but illustrious life.

Samuel French has announced the winners of the 2016 Samuel French Off Off Broadway Short Play Festival, the nation's premier short play competition.

The white actor of Italian descent defends his being cast as Usnavi.

The Apothetae, a theater company dedicated to the production of full-length plays that explore and illuminate the 'Disabled Experience,' and The Lark, an international theater laboratory based in New York City, are thrilled to announce their partnership in launching The Apothetae and Lark Initiative.