Susan Smith News

Fire up the grill...and expect fireworks. Lisa D'Amour's Pulitzer Prize Finalist play, Detroit will be hitting Horizon Theatre's stage this September! Lauded as 'superb' and 'a smart, tart critique' by the New York Times and named one of their Top 10 Plays of 2012, Detroit is sure to light a fire in the hearts of audience members as it burns down the old landscape and gives rise to something new. This dangerously funny Atlanta premiere opens tonight, Sept. 19 and runs through October 19 at Horizon Theatre in Little Five Points (Euclid and Austin Avenues in Little Five Points, 1083 Austin Avenue NE).

The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center is now accepting scripts for development during the 2015 National Playwrights Conference. Applicants may submit works to the O'Neill's Open Submissions Process through Friday, October 17, 2014.

Philadelphia Theatre Company opens its 40th Anniversary season with the Pulitzer Prize finalist Detroit by Lisa D'Amour running October 10-November 9 at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre (Broad and Lombard Streets). Directed by Maria Mileaf, the cast features K.O. DelMarcelle, Tom McCarthy, Genevieve Perrier, Steven Rishard, and Matteo J. Scammell.

Tickets go on sale to the general public and rehearsals begin today, Tuesday, September 16 for the Playwrights Horizons World Premiere production of GRAND CONCOURSE, a new play by playwright and two-time Obie Award-winning actress Heidi Schreck (There Are No More Big Secrets, Creature). Directed by Kip Fagan (The Revisionist, Asuncion), the play is the second production of the acclaimed theater company's 2014/2015 Season. It follows the critically-acclaimed Bootycandy, a new play written and directed by Robert O'Hara, now playing on the Mainstage.

Hampstead Theatre's critically acclaimed production Di and Viv and Rose, will open at the Vaudeville Theatre on 29 January 2015 with previews from 22 January. 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.

The Guthrie Theater presents the first production on the Wurtele Thrust Stage in the 2014-2015 season, Wendy Wasserstein's Pulitzer Prize-winning play The Heidi Chronicles. Under the direction of 2014 Tony Award nominee Leigh Silverman (Broadway's Violet, Chinglish, Well), The Heidi Chronicles will feature the talents of Kate Wetherhead, Ben Graney, Tracey Maloney and Zach Shaffer, as well as Sam Bardwell, Eleonore Dendy, Mo Perry and Stacia Rice.

Fire up the grill...and expect fireworks. Lisa D'Amour's Pulitzer Prize Finalist play, Detroit will be hitting Horizon Theatre's stage this September!

Ross Valley Players have announced their 2014 - 2015 season which celebrates their 85th consecutive year.

MCC THEATER has announced that the world premiere of MCC Playwright-in-Residence Neil LaBute's new play, The Money Shot, directed by Terry Kinney, has been extended due to popular demand now through October 19, 2014. The production was originally scheduled to close on October 12, 2014. The Money Shot stars Emmy Award nominee Elizabeth Reaser, Golden Globe nominee Callie Thorne, Frederick Weller and Gia Crovatin. Performances began at the Lucille Lortel Theatre (121 Christopher Street, NYC) on September 4, 2014. An official opening is set for September 22, 2014. Tickets are now on sale. For info, please visit www.mcctheater.org.

The Bijou Theatre presents the first show in their main stage season, the Connecticut premiere of the Off-Broadway hit "Murder Ballad," for three performances only on Friday, September 26th, and Saturday, September 27th at 8:00pm and Sunday, September 28th at 7:00pm. Tickets are $18 for student theatre seating, $23 general theatre seating, and $28 for table/high top seating.

Theatre Communications Group (TCG) has announced the publication of Annie Baker's The Flick, the 2014 winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The play, which will be available in paperback and hardcover, premiered at Playwrights Horizons in New York, NY in 2013 and is slated to receive a commercial run in the near future.

Aurora Theatre Company announces that it will add an additional 7 performances of the Bay Area Premiere of Obie-winning playwright Gina Gionfriddo's (After Ashley, Becky Shaw) unflinching look at modern gender politics. Desdemona Chiang (The Hundred Flowers Project) directs this finalist for the 2013 Pulitzer Prize, featuring Gabriel Marin (This Is How It Goes, Collapse), Rebecca Schweitzer (A Delicate Balance, The First Grade), Marilee Talkington (Salomania), Lilian Bogovich, and Nicole Javier. RAPTURE, BLISTER, BURN plays now through October 5 (added performances: Tuesday, September 30, 7pm; Wednesday, October 1, 8pm; Thursday, October 2, 8pm; Friday, October 3, 8pm; Saturday, October 4, 8pm; Sunday, October 5, 2pm and 7pm) at the Aurora Theatre in Berkeley. For tickets ($32-50) and information the public can call (510) 843-4822 or visit auroratheatre.org.

Actors' Playhouse has announced full casting for the upcoming Florida premiere of Murder Ballad, the new musical by Julia Jordan and Juliana Nash that will play a limited four-week engagement at the Miracle Theatre from October 8 - November 2, 2014.

A Jewish, Midwestern, Chekhovian comic drama for the 21st century will be the third offering in The Echo Theater Company's 2015 seaason at Atwater Village Theatre, the company's new permanent home. Jennifer Chambers directs the world premiere of Better, a gentle examination of family and mortality by Jessica Goldberg, opening Oct. 4.

59E59 Theaters presents the second show in the inaugural 5A Season with the New York premiere of BAUER, written by Lauren Gunderson and directed by Bill English. Produced by the San Francisco Playhouse, BAUER begins performances on Tuesday, September 2 for a limited engagement through Sunday, October 12. Opening Night is tonight, September 9 at 7 PM.

Southern Rep Theatre has announced details about its 2014-15 Mainstage Season, including new information on locations, dates and times, as well as unveiling a new addition to its Lagniappe Series: A CHRISTMAS CAROL by Charles Dickens, adapted by Doris Baizley and featuring John 'Spud' McConnell who returns as the iconic Scrooge in December 2014.

A Red Orchid Theatre opens its 22nd Season with the US premiere of Strandline, written by Abbie Spallen and directed by JR Sullivan (The Faith Healer). The production runs October 23 - December 7, 2014 at A Red Orchid Theatre, 1531 N. Wells. Press Opening is Monday, October 27, 2014 at 7 p.m.

Under the leadership of Artistic Director Sarah Benson and Executive Director Cynthia Flowers, Soho Rep. has continually produced work by bold artists who harness the intimate power of a 73-seat black box theater to create transformative experiences. Soho Rep.'s 2014-15 season, announced today, comprises three new works that each speak to the civic power of theater through their own distinctive form.

Playwrights Horizons (Tim Sanford, Artistic Director; Leslie Marcus, Managing Director) has announced casting for POCATELLO, the World Premiere of a new play by Obie, Drama Desk and Lortel awards winner 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), the play will be the third production of the theater company's 2014/2015 Season.