Studio Theatre News

New Repertory Theatre, in residence at the Arsenal Center for the Arts has announced Collected Stories by 2000 Pulitzer Prize playwright Donald Margulies.

As we move toward the middle of September and beyond, I trust you will want to take in a couple of the theatre and live performance productions that are presently showing at any one of the numerous entertainment establishments that make their home here on the amazing Central Coast of California!

Join South Bend Civic Theatre for the humorous and poignant Jar the Floor; a contemporary play by Cheryl L. West, set in suburban Illinois where four generations of African-American women gather for the matriarch's 90th birthday.

William Leavengood's SPECIAL will play Off Broadway at Theatre Row Studio Theatre, 410 West 42nd Street, beginning September 15 through October 2. Elissa Middleton stars; Cat Miller directs.

The Connecticut Repertory Theatre (CRT) celebrates 50 years of the School of Fine Arts at the University of Connecticut with an exciting 2011-2012 Season commemorating the human journey and coming home.

Over six weekends last season, the Mobtown Playwrights Group staged readings of three new plays by writers from Baltimore, Frederick, and the Eastern Shore, including Jessica McHugh, whose dark comedy Fools Call It Fate received a complete production at the Mobtown Theatre this summer.

Delaney Britt Brewer (Ensemble Studio Theatre's Youngblood program) is the featured playwright for On the Square Productions first reading in their Developmental Series for their 2011-2012 season.

Christina Haag, author of the New York Times bestseller 'Come to the Edge' - the memoir of her lifelong relationship with John F. Kennedy, Jr. which included a five year romantic relationship - will take time off of her hectic book tour and will assume the role of Catherine Murdoch in Sharyn Rothstein's new play THE INVESTED when it premieres Off-Broadway beginning September 12th with an opening date set for September 14th at the 4th Street Theatre (83 East 4th Street, 1st Floor) in Manhattan.

'BAIT n' SWISH' are two plays by award-winning playwright David Sisco that chronicle the story of Justin and Charlie who navigate their way through a series of hilarious situations that force them to realize what they really mean to each other.

Rep Stage, the professional Equity theatre in residence at Howard Community College (HCC), opens its new Salon Series with a staged reading of the play 'The Guys' by Anne Nelson. Less than two weeks after the September 11 attacks, New Yorkers are still in shock.

Music Theatre of Connecticut MainStage, Fairfield County's Professional Theatre Company, is pleased to announce the 25th Anniversary MainStage Season. Between November 2011 and May 2012, MTC MainStage will present three fully-staged professional productions, each running for three weeks: 'Cabaret,' 'Almost, Maine' and 'I Left My Heart: A Salute to the Music of Tony Bennett.' Performances will take place in the one-of-a-kind Off-Broadway-style 50-seat studio, providing the audience with an intimate theatregoing experience. MTC MainStage is located at 246 Post Road East in Colonial Green (Lower Level) in Westport, CT.

South Bend Civic Theatre announces Civic Theatre Education (CTE) Fall classes for youth interesting in learning and experiencing the fun of making theatre. Registration will begin Monday September 12th with the session starting on October 3rd and running for six weeks (there will be no classes from October 29th through November 3rd).

TheatreWorks, the nationally acclaimed theatre of Silicon Valley, presents the world premiere of CLEMENTINE IN THE LOWER 9, a blues-fueled new play by Dan Dietz with music by Justin Ellington, who will also be the Musical Director for this production.

Signature Theatre announced today that John and Amy Griffin have donated $5 million in support of Signature Center, the Company's new, permanent home opening in February 2012. Spanning an entire city block at 42nd Street between Dyer and 10th Avenue, the Frank Gehry-designed Signature Center is the largest non-profit performing arts center to be built in New York City since Lincoln Center opened more than 50 years ago. Featuring three intimate theatres, a studio theatre, rehearsal studio, and a public café and bookstore, the Center will be both a theatre community hub and a neighborhood destination, and has been designed to foster interaction among playwrights, artistic collaborators, and the public.

Israel Horovitz's new play GLOUCESTER BLUE, the premiere of revised RAFT OF THE MEDUSA by Joe Pintauro and NY premiere of Randall Colburn's VERSE CHORUS VERSE are all set for Cherry Lane Theatre this fall.

In her smart comedy The Book Club Play, D.C.-area playwright Karen Zacarías examines the intricacies of book clubs, with their unspoken rules, high-spirited debates and strong bonds formed when least expected. With an ensemble cast featuring Fred Arsenault, Ashlie Atkinson, Rachael Holmes, Eric Messner, Kate Eastwood Norris and Tom Story, this is Zacarías' second collaboration with Director Molly Smith at Arena Stage and is the first work of a Resident Playwright to be produced as part of their three-year residencies through the American Voices New Play Institute. The Book Club Play runs October 7-November 6, 2011 in the Arlene and Robert Kogod Cradle.

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director) has announced the complete cast for its upcoming production of the new musical THE BLUE FLOWER: Sebastian Arcelus (Buddy in Elf, Wicked, Jersey Boys), Marc Kudisch (Three-time Tony Award nominee for 9 to 5, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Thoroughly Modern Millie), Meghan McGeary (The Blue Flower at A.R.T.), Joseph Medeiros (Irving Berlin's White Christmas), Julia Osborne (National Tour of South Pacific), Graham Rowat (Guys and Dolls), Aaron Serotsky (August: Osage County), and Teal Wicks (Elphaba in Wicked).