Susan Smith News

Steppenwolf Theatre Company continues its 2014/15 Subscription season with the world premiere production ofAirline Highway, written by Lisa D'Amour (Detroit, Cherokee) and directed by Joe Mantello (Take Me Out, Assassins, Wicked). Steppenwolf's production will be presented by Manhattan Theatre Club (MTC) at their Samuel J. Friedman Theatre on Broadway in Spring 2015. Airline Highway began previews December 4, 2014 (Opening night is December 14, 2014; Press performances are December 13 at 3pm and December 16 at 7:30pm) and continues through February 8, 2015 in Steppenwolf's Downstairs Theatre (1650 N Halsted St). Single tickets to Airline Highway ($20 - $86) are available through Audience Services (1650 N Halsted St); at 312-335-1650 or steppenwolf.org.

Aurora Theatre Company continues its 23rd season with the Bay Area Premiere of Nicky Silver's (Pterodactyls, Raised in Captivity) scathingly funny Broadway hit THE LYONS. Tony-nominated director Barbara Damashek, who helmed Aurora Theatre Company's productions of American Buffalo, Fat Pig, and Private Jokes, Public Places, returns to direct THE LYONS, featuring Ellen Ratner (After the Revolution, Awake and Sing!), Will Marchetti (Knock Knock), Nicholas Pelczar (Dublin Carol, Marius), Jessica Bates (After the Revolution), Joe Estlack (Shotgun Players, Magic Theatre), and Edris Cooper-Anifowoshe (Brava Theater, TheatreWorks, Magic Theatre). THE LYONS plays January 30 through March 1 at the Aurora Theatre in Berkeley. For tickets ($32-60) and information the public can call (510) 843-4822 or visit auroratheatre.org. For mature audiences.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company continues its 2014/15 subscription season with the world premiere production of Airline Highway, written by Lisa D'Amour (Detroit, How to Build a Forest) and directed by Joe Mantello (The Last Ship, Casa Valentina, Wicked). Steppenwolf's production will be presented by Manhattan Theatre Club (MTC) at their Samuel J. Friedman Theatre on Broadway in Spring 2015. Airline Highway begins previews tonight, December 4, 2014 (Opening night is December 14, 2014;

Following critically acclaimed workshop presentations, the plays of Steven Carl McCasland 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 Playwrights' Center kicks off its 2014-15 Ruth Easton New Play Series in December with Core Writer Kira Obolensky's new play 'Forget Me Not When Far Away.' There will be two readings of the play: Monday, December 8 and Tuesday, December 9 at 7 p.m. at the Playwrights' Center, 2301 E. Franklin Avenue in Minneapolis. The readings are free and open to the public.

Central Works 25th Anniversary Season celebrates the company's ongoing commitment to new works. Since 1991, the company has developed and produced 45 world premieres (many through its eponymous Central Works Method) bringing to the stage new works by local writers such as William Bivins, Christopher Chen, Anne Galjour, Gary Graves, Aaron Loeb, Patricia Milton, Geetha Reddy, Michael Gene Sullivan, and Brian Thorstenson, among others. As noted in Theater Bay Area Magazine, 'Berkeley's Central Works is probably host to more world premieres by local writers than any other company in the Bay Area.' The 2015 Season concludes with the company's 49th world premiere, a new play by Lauren Gunderson. Overall, the season showcases Central Works favorite sources of inspiration: current political events, history and literature.

Producers have announced that tickets to the first Broadway revival of the Pulitzer and Tony Award-winning Wendy Wasserstein play The Heidi Chronicles will go on sale at 10:00 am today, November 21, 2014.

Playwrights Horizons' production of POCATELLO, the world premiere of a new play by Obie, Drama Desk and Lortel awards winner and 2014 MacArthur Foundation 'Genius' grantee Samuel D. Hunter (The Whale at PH, The Few, A Bright New Boise), is directed by Davis McCallum (The Whale at PH, The Few, London Wall, A Bright New Boise, Water by the Spoonful). The play is the third production of the theater company's 2014/2015 Season. The production will begin previews tonight, November 21 with an opening night set for Monday, December 15. The limited engagement will play through Sunday evening, January 4, 2015 at Playwrights Horizons' Mainstage Theater (416 West 42nd Street).

Producers have announced that tickets to the first Broadway revival of the Pulitzer and Tony Award-winning Wendy Wasserstein play The Heidi Chronicles will go on sale at 10:00 am on November 21, 2014. Tickets will be available at Telecharge.com, by calling (212) 239-6200, or by visiting the box office of the Music Box Theatre (239 West 45th Street). The box office will be open through January 4, 2015, and will reopen on January 26, 2015.

MCC THEATER has announced that the critically-acclaimed Punk Rock will extend by popular demand with performances now through December 14, 2014.

The Bronte sisters, modern day. Due to the death of their brother, Charlotte has dropped out of society and joined a commune on Gondol Island. So Emily and Anne build a canoe to rescue her. In this off-center dramedy about family, social media, fame and the perfect cupcake, individual secrets and desires are revealed which could tear the sisters apart.

David Calder joins the West End cast of The Nether to play Doyle, previewing at the Duke of York's Theatre from 30 January 2015 and opening on 23 February. Directed by Jeremy Herrin, Jennifer Haley's critically acclaimed, multi-award-winning play is booking for 12weeks only to 25 April 2015. In a Headlong and Royal Court Theatre co-production, The Nether is produced in the West End by Sonia Friedman Productions and Scott M Delman in association with Tulchin Bartner Productions, Lee Dean & Charles Diamond, 1001 Nights, JFL Theatricals/GHF Productions.

MCC Theater welcomes film and TV star Douglas Smith, Pico Alexander, Lilly Englert, Lortel Award winner Annie Funke, Five-time Obie winner David Greenspan, Colby Minifie, Will Pullen, and Noah Robbins, to star in the New York premiere of Punk Rock, a new play by Simon Stephens and directed by Trip Cullman. Performances for Punk Rock began at the Lucille Lortel Theatre (121 Christopher Street, NYC) on October 29, 2014. An official opening is set for tonight, November 17, 2014 and it is currently scheduled through December 7, 2014.

Jackalope is proud to announce the full casting and expanded production team for the first show of its 7th season, Crumble (Lay Me Down, Justin Timberlake). The show runs tonight, November 13 - December 20, 2014 at Broadway Armory Park, 5917 N Broadway.

The Bronte sisters, modern day. Due to the death of their brother, Charlotte has dropped out of society and joined a commune on Gondol Island. So Emily and Anne build a canoe to rescue her. In this off-center dramedy about family, social media, fame and the perfect cupcake, individual secrets and desires are revealed which could tear the sisters apart.

Playwrights Horizons is now accepting entries for its popular LIVEforFIVE online lottery for up to two $5 tickets each to the world premiere of POCATELLO, a new play by Obie, Drama Desk and Lortel awards winner and 2014 MacArthur Foundation 'Genius' grantee Samuel D. Hunter (The Whale at PH, The Few, A Bright New Boise), directed by Davis McCallum (The Whale at PH, The Few, London Wall, A Bright New Boise, Water by the Spoonful).

Playwrights Horizons' world premiere production of GRAND CONCOURSE, a new play by playwright and two-time Obie Award-winning actress Heidi Schreck (author of There Are No More Big Secrets, Creature, Showtime's 'Nurse Jackie'), opens tonight, November 11, 2014.

As part of their 31st season, Undermain Theatre is thrilled to bring the Regional Premiere of Meg Miroshnik's The Fairytale Lives of Russian Girls to their home in Deep Ellum at 3200 Main Street. Performances will run tonight, November 11th through December 6th, 2014.