Susan Smith News

The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize has announced 12 Finalists for its prestigious playwriting award, the oldest and largest prize awarded to women playwrights. Chosen from over 150 nominated plays, the Finalists are:

MCC Theater presents the New York premiere of Jennifer Haley's The Nether directed by Anne Kaufman. Ben Rosenfield, memorably of the final two seasons of 'Boardwalk Empire,' and rising talent Sophia Anne Caruso will take on the roles of Woodnut and Iris, respectively. As previously announced, The Nether will also star 'Nurse Jackie' Emmy Award winner Merritt Wever, New York theater veteran Peter Friedman and Tony Award winner Frank Wood.

City Theatre continues its 40th anniversary season with a witty "have and have-nots" comedy. Elemeno Pea, by Molly Smith Metzler, directed by City Theatre Artistic Director Tracy Brigden, will run on the Mainstage February 28 - March 22, 2015.

"Because we live in Europe. Because nothing really bad happens. The worst is a bit of an inconvenience. Perhaps not such a good mini break. But really in the grand scheme of life, not so bad.'? The first pictures are released today for How to Hold Your Breath, a new play by Zinnie Harris. Directed by the Royal Court's Artistic Director Vicky Featherstone, the cast includes Christine Bottomley, Neil D'Souza, Peter Forbes, Maxine Peake, Siobhan McSweeney, Maxine Peake, Danusia Samal and Michael Shaeffer. Take a first look at the cast in rehearsal below!

The first pictures are released today for How to Hold Your Breath, a new play by Zinnie Harris. Directed by the Royal Court's Artistic Director Vicky Featherstone, the cast includes Christine Bottomley, Neil D'Souza, Peter Forbes, Maxine Peake, Siobhan McSweeney, Maxine Peake, Danusia Samaland Michael Shaeffer.

Sonia Friedman Productions, Scott M Delman and Tulchin Bartner Productions present the West End transfer of Jennifer Haley's critically acclaimed, multi-award-winning The Nether. In a Headlong and Royal Court Theatre co-production directed by Jeremy Herrin, The Nether previews at the Duke of York's Theatre from tonight 30 January 2015, opens on 23 February and is booking for 12 weeks only to 25 April 2015.

Hampstead Theatre's critically acclaimed production Di and Viv and Rose opens at the Vaudeville Theatre tonight 29 January 2015. Anna Mackmin returns to direct Amelia Bullmore's funny and insightful comedy about female friendship. Tamzin Outhwaite* reprises her role as Di and will be joined by Samantha Spiro as Viv and Jenna Russell as Rose.

?Sara Ruhl's The Clean House is a smart, witty, and touching comedy of true love and the devastating power of the perfect joke. Director Joanne Gordon brings this love story to stage in CSULB Theatre Arts Department's Cal Rep production.

Rattlestick Playwrights Theater, True Love Productions and The Theatre @ Boston Court have announced that the New York Premiere of Everything You Touch, written by Sheila Callaghan and directed by Jessica Kubzansky, will begin previews tonight, January 28 at 8pm at the Cherry Lane Theatre, 38 Commerce Street. The official opening night is set for Thursday, February 12 at 7pm. Everything You Touch is scheduled to run through Sunday, March 29, 2015.

The Heidi Chronicles will begin performances on Monday, February 23, 2015, with an official opening on Thursday, March 19, 2015, at the Music Box Theatre (239 West 45th Street). Tony Award-winnerPam MacKinnon (Edward Albee's A Delicate Balance, Edward Albee'sWho's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Clybourne Park) will direct. The production will star Golden Globe-winner and six-time Emmy Award-nominee Elisabeth Moss ('Mad Men,' 'Top of the Lake,' Speed-the-Plow), Emmy Award-nomineeJason Biggs ('Orange Is The New Black,' American Pie), Tony Award-nominee Bryce Pinkham (A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson), and Tracee Chimo (Lips Together, Teeth Apart, 'Orange Is The New Black,' Bad Jews), with Ali Ahn, Leighton Bryan, Elise Kibler, and Andy Truschinski. Check out photos of the marquee below!

Additional casting has been announced for Beautiful Soup Theater's festival of plays by Steven Carl McCasland. Following critically acclaimed workshop presentations, McCasland's plays will return to NYC in a month-long festival celebrating the young playwright. Together with The Clarion Theatre, they'll present six plays beginning on May 6th, 2015, with a company of actors performing in repertory. All of the plays focus on historical figures, including Laurette Taylor, Billie Holiday, Tennessee Williams, Gertrude Stein, Lillian Hellman and more.

The Heidi Chronicles will begin performances on Monday, February 23, 2015, with an official opening on Thursday, March 19, 2015, at the Music Box Theatre (239 West 45th Street). Tony Award-winnerPam MacKinnon (Edward Albee's A Delicate Balance, Edward Albee'sWho's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Clybourne Park) will direct. The production will star Golden Globe-winner and six-time Emmy Award-nominee Elisabeth Moss ('Mad Men,' 'Top of the Lake,' Speed-the-Plow), Emmy Award-nomineeJason Biggs ('Orange Is The New Black,' American Pie), Tony Award-nominee Bryce Pinkham (A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson), and Tracee Chimo (Lips Together, Teeth Apart, 'Orange Is The New Black,' Bad Jews), with Ali Ahn, Leighton Bryan, Elise Kibler, and Andy Truschinski. The company just met the press and BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge was on hand to chat with the full gang. Check out what they had to say below!

The Heidi Chronicles will begin performances on Monday, February 23, 2015, with an official opening on Thursday, March 19, 2015, at the Music Box Theatre (239 West 45th Street). Tony Award-winner Pam MacKinnon (Edward Albee's A Delicate Balance, Edward Albee'sWho's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Clybourne Park) will direct. The production will star Golden Globe-winner and six-time Emmy Award-nominee Elisabeth Moss ('Mad Men,' 'Top of the Lake,' Speed-the-Plow), Emmy Award-nominee Jason Biggs ('Orange Is The New Black,' American Pie), Tony Award-nominee Bryce Pinkham (A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson), and Tracee Chimo (Lips Together, Teeth Apart, 'Orange Is The New Black,' Bad Jews), with Ali Ahn, Leighton Bryan, Elise Kibler, and Andy Truschinski. The company just met the press and you can check out a photo preview below. Check back later for full coverage!

The Road Theatre Company and Taylor Gilbert, Founder/Artistic Director together with Sam Anderson, Artistic Director, are thrilled to announce the third show of its 2014-2015 season, the West Coast Premiere of THE ENGLISH BRIDE, written by Lucile Lichtblau and directed by Marya Mazor, which will be running in repertory with The Other Place.

Playwrights Horizons announced today the promotion of the theater company's Director of New Play Development Adam Greenfield to Associate Artistic Director. This is the first major change to the Artistic leadership of the acclaimed organization since Mr. Sanford was promoted from the same associate position to become Artistic Director in 1996.

The multi-award winning production of Fleabag from DryWrite and Soho Theatre comes to Birmingham Repertory Theatre from tonight 14 January to Saturday 17 January as part of a UK tour.

Rattlestick Playwrights Theater, True Love Productions and The Theatre @ Boston Court have announced that the New York Premiere of Everything You Touch, written by Sheila Callaghan and directed by Jessica Kubzansky, will begin previews Wednesday, January 28 at 8pm at the Cherry Lane Theatre, 38 Commerce Street. The official opening night is set for Thursday, February 12 at 7pm. Everything You Touch is scheduled to run through Sunday, March 29, 2015.

Perseverance Theatre (PT) starts 2015 off with the award winning play The Mountaintop by Katori Hall. The Mountaintop runs in the Sydney Laurence Theatre at the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts February 13 - 22, 2015. Tickets are available through the Centertix box office, online at Centertix.net and by calling 263-ARTS. There is one pay-as-you-can preview on Thursday, February 12 at 7:30 p.m.

MCC THEATER will soon present the New York premiere of Jennifer Haley's The Nether directed byAnne Kaufman. As previously announced, The Nether will star 'Nurse Jackie' Emmy Award winner Merritt Wever, New York theater veteran Peter Friedman, Tony Award winner Frank Wood, Boardwalk Empire's Ben Rosenfield, and rising talent Sophia Anne Caruso. The company just met the press and below you can check out interviews from inside the rehearsal room!