Studio Theatre News

Summer's here and the snowbirds have migrated back up north. That means it's time again for the annual funny fest known as the Sarasota Improv Festival. The non-stop laughter returns on July 11 and 12 for two days and nights of unpredictable and hysterical comedy, with 17 of the hottest groups on the national improv scene.

As part of the New Play Reading Series, MTC presents The Year of the Rooster by Eric Dufault, winner of MTC's 2013 David Calicchio Emerging American Playwright Prize on June 30 at 7pm.

The Warner Stage Company will present Songs for a New World, June 14-22, in the Warner's Nancy Marine Studio Theatre.

Theater Breaking Through Barriers (TBTB), the critically acclaimed theater company dedicated to advancing artists with disabilities and changing the image of people with disabilities from dependence to independence, presents its fourth annual short play festival, POWER PLAYS -- a collection of five world-premiere short plays by celebrated playwrights Bekah Brunstetter, Bruce Graham, John Guare, David Henry Hwang and Neil LaBute -- with performances to run June 12-29 at Theatre Row's Clurman Theatre (410 West 42nd Street). The company is proud to announce that the 8pm performance today, June 14 will feature ASL interpretation by sign language interpreters Sarah Brandenburg and Craig Fogel.

New Repertory Theatre announces PATTERN OF LIFE by Walt McGough, June 14 through June 29, 2014 at the Boston University Theatre, Lane-Comley Studio 210. PATTERN OF LIFE is co- presented with Boston Center for American Performance (BCAP) and is directed by Bridget Kathleen O'Leary.

Ensemble Studio Theatre/LA has announced the world premiere of Land Line, a new play by Stephen Dierkes, directed by William Charlton, and featuring Katherine Cortez, John Dennis Johnston, Gary Patent, and Peter James Smith. Land Line is set to open Today, June 14 at 8pm and the limited engagement will run through July 21.

June 14 and 15, Pontine Theatre presents the first annual Portsmouth Puppetry Festival at the West End Studio Theatre. The schedule of events includes Soloman & Ashmedal by Peaks Island Puppets at 2pm today 14 June, Mano-a-Monolog by Andrew Periale at 7pm today 14 June, Jester Kings of Java by Figures of Speech's Ian Bannon at 2pm on Sunday 15 June, and The Magic Soup and Other Stories by Puppet Showplace Theatre's Resident Artist, Brad Shur, at 7pm on Sunday 15 June.

Inspired by the original ethos and spirit of The Other Place under the leadership of Buzz Goodbody, and to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the original building in 1974, the Royal Shakespeare Company presents the first Midsummer Mischief Festival, led by Deputy Artistic Director Erica Whyman. It runs 14 June - 12 July 2014.

Not quite theatre, not quite dance, and not quite whatever else, 'Healing Wars' is one of those rare artistic offerings that's at the intriguing intersection of various kinds of art.

Achieving a perfect blend of an excellent idea on what which to base a story, script, direction, acting, and production concept, it's - put succinctly - one of the best solo shows I've seen in recent memory.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) in association with Chinese Mother Jewish Daughter, LLC present Rescue Rue, a new musical fairytale with puppets; Concept, Book and Additional Lyrics by Stacey Weingarten, and Music and Lyrics by Kate Steinberg & Joshua Zecher-Ross. Stacey Weingarten directs a cast of seven including Jennifer Barnhart* (Bway: Avenue Q), Nate Begle(Off Bway: John Tartaglia's ImaginOcean), Sarah Liz Haines* (Off Bway: Freckle Face Strawberry), Jason Jacoby* (Off Bway: Avenue Q), Lisa Helmi Johanson* (Off Bway: Avenue Q), Brendan Malafronte (Nat. Tour: John Tartaglia's ImaginOcean), and Gretchen Wylder* (Off Bway: 'Til Divorce Do Us Part). Rescue Rue will be staged at the Ford Foundation Studio Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center, 480 West 42nd Street (bet. 9th and 10th Avenues) in NYC for five performances from July 8-20, 2014. A special TDF Autism-Friendly performance will be held at July 20th at 11am. The Pershing Square Signature Center is the official hub of The New York Musical Theatre Festival. *Appearing courtesy of Actors' Equity Association.

In the world of theater, collaboration is essential to success. The director-writer partnership in solo theater is, for many, the most important partnership in the process of developing a show for a successful performance or run. Yet how do solo theater artists identify what collaborators their show needs, connect with these professionals at the most appropriate stages of their show's development, and properly evaluate who might be the best fit for the production's highest success?

The 2014-2015 season of The REP, Point Park University's professional theatre company, will include two world premieres by Pittsburgh playwrights, a classic by Nobel laureate John Steinbeck and a hilarious comedy about an American singer renowned for her lack of rhythm, tone and especially an ability to sing.

Do blondes really have more fun? Audiences will soon find out at Pittsburgh CLO's production of Legally Blonde The Musical, June 13-22 at the Benedum Center. This mega movie hit will be brought to life by a cast of Broadway's best and Pittsburgh CLO veterans. Watch as Elle Woods takes over the stage with her vivacious personality and a score sure to please.

Off The Beaten Track presents D.B. Gilles "The girl who loved the Beatles,"From Australia to LA, the Australian premiere is coming to the LA Fringe before a NY, London, and Paris tour. Opening June 13th at The Elephant Space. Tickets are $10.00

New York based Burning Clown Productions are thrilled to present the West Coast Premiere of the Drama Desk nominated play, The Navigator, written by Eddie Antar and directed by Leslie Kincaid Burby (NYIT Award winner, Best Direction). THE NAVIGATOR will perform as part of the Hollywood Fringe Festival - and will open today, June 13 at 7pm and run for ten performances through Sunday, June 29, 2014 at 2:30pm at The Actors Company Let Live Theater, 916A N. Formosa Ave. in Hollywood.

The Middle School of the Arts Foundation and American Dance Legacy Initiative (ADLI) have teamed up once again to bring world renowned guest artists to Palm Beach County.

Central Texas' most well-known children's theatre company, Pollyanna Theatre announces is 2014-15 season in strategic alliance with the Long Center for the Performing Arts.

The Aurora Fox welcomes Marvin and Lloyd back for a limited engagement of GUYS ON ICE - The World's Greatest Ice Fishing Musical Comedy: June 13 and 14 at 7:30pm.

Theater Breaking Through Barriers (TBTB), the critically acclaimed theater company dedicated to advancing artists with disabilities and changing the image of people with disabilities from dependence to independence, presents its fourth annual short play festival, POWER PLAYS - a collection of five world-premiere short plays by celebrated playwrights Bekah Brunstetter, Bruce Graham, John Guare, David Henry Hwang and Neil LaBute - with performances to run today, June 12-29 at Theatre Row's Clurman Theatre (410 West 42nd Street). Roberto Cambeiro, Christina Roussos, Artistic Director Ike Schambelan, Russell Treyz, and Associate Director Nicholas Viselli direct.