Susan Smith News

Celebrate Black History Month with The Generic's steamy and sultry 'Hoodoo Love', as it conjures its magic in its regional debut, tonight, February 1-24, 2013 in Norfolk, Va.

Can we practice goodness and create a world to sustain it? This question, posed by Shen Tei, the good-hearted, penniless and cross-dressing prostitute of Bertolt Brecht's Good Person of Szechwan, is central to the work of The Foundry Theatre. The play's concerns, and the earmarks of the Foundry's new production, make it an ideal offering from the company, which is celebrated for creating memorable theatrical events while pursuing civic inquiry and social justice. The show, starring the singular Taylor Mac as Shen Tei, is directed by Lear deBessonet and features original live music by 'indie rock vaudevillians' (SPIN) Cesar Alvarez and The Lisps.

Irish Repertory Theatre, in association with Fallen Angel Theatre Company, Inc., announces a two-week extension of the U.S. premiere of AIRSWIMMING by Charlotte Jones, the award-winning author of HUMBLE BOY, with performances now set to run through February 17, in Irish Repertory Theatre Company's W. Scott McLucas Studio Theatre (132 West 22nd Street). John Keating directs.

Sally Edmundson directs The Language Archive by award-winning playwright Julia Cho, having its regional premiere at Stages Repertory Theatre in February and March.

La Jolla Playhouse announces a new play development initiative, the DNA New Work Series, entailing a six-week period of workshop productions and public readings of new plays and musicals, taking place today, January 24 through March 3, 2013. The focus of the DNA New Work Series is to allow playwrights and directors the opportunity to develop a script by providing rehearsal time, space and resources, culminating in a workshop production or public reading.

Philadelphia Theatre Company presents PTC@Play, a two-week festival of new work on February 18-March 3 at PTC's home at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre (Broad and Lombard Streets). The festival will feature staged readings of four new plays by both established and emerging playwrights, a new play with music in development starring Tony and Barrymore Award winner Forrest McClendon as African American vaudeville legend Bert Williams, and an evening of short plays, FuturePhilly@Play, by seven emerging playwrights. Each playwright will be in-residence at PTC for their reading, and every reading will conclude with a reception where audiences and artists can meet. All events are free with curtain time at 7:30 PM. A highlight of PTC@Play will be the February 18th announcement of the winner of the Terrence McNally New Play Award, a $10,000 cash prize given annually to recognize a new play that celebrates the transformative power of art.

Tarragon Theatre presents A Double Bill celebrating the work of acclaimed playwright-in-residence Hannah Moscovitch, with premieres of her plays Little One and Other People's Children. A co-production with Theatre Crisis and Theatre PANIK, A Hannah Moscovitch Double Bill opens February 20 and runs to March 24 (previewing from February 14) in Tarragon Theatre's Extra Space.

Company of Fools, part of the Sun Valley Center for the Arts, finishes its 17th season with Distracted by Lisa Loomer running February 13 - March 1 at the Liberty Theatre in Hailey. Time Out NY called Distracted a "My favorite comedy of the year!' The play examines the perplexing and emotional journey of two parents hoping to make the best treatment decision of treatment for their son's Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). Distracted, which premiered in Los Angeles in 2007 and made its Off-Broadway debut in 2010, is a sharp, chaotically entertaining riff on the challenges of parenting in the modern age.

Celebrate Black History Month with The Generic's steamy and sultry 'Hoodoo Love', as it conjures its magic in its regional debut, February 1-24, 2013 in Norfolk, Va.

Can we practice goodness and create a world to sustain it? This question, posed by Shen Tei, the good-hearted, penniless and cross-dressing prostitute of Bertolt Brecht's Good Person of Szechwan, is central to the work of The Foundry Theatre. The play's concerns, and the earmarks of the Foundry's new production, make it an ideal offering from the company, which is celebrated for creating memorable theatrical events while pursuing civic inquiry and social justice. The show, starring the singular Taylor Mac as Shen Tei, is directed by Lear deBessonet and features original live music by 'indie rock vaudevillians' (SPIN) César Alvarez and The Lisps.

Underground Railway Theater presents the recent Broadway hit and the 2010 Oliver Award Winner for Best New Play, The Mountaintop by Katori Hall. The Mountaintop is presented in celebration of the 150th Anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation. Underground Railway Theater's Associate Artistic Director, Megan Sandberg-Zakian, directs The Mountaintop. The press performance for The Mountaintop is Monday, January 14 at 7:30PM.

Jeanne Becquet is walking a tightrope without a net. She's trying to keep her family safe and provided for, which requires a certain level of 'cordiality' with the Nazi officer in command of a local occupying force. And she's been managing, however uncomfortably. But all that is about to change in Moira Buffini's Gabriel, beginning its run at Fort Worth's Stage West tonight, January 10. BroadwayWorld has a first look in the photos below!

Rehearsals started this week for Tarragon Theatre's world premiere of This is War, written by acclaimed Tarragon playwright-in-residence Hannah Moscovitch and directed by Artistic Director Richard Rose. This is War opens January 3 and runs to February 3, 2013 in Tarragon Theatre's Extra Space (with previews from December 28). BroadwayWorld has a first look at the production in the photos below!

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the man and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the leader merge in Katori Hall's award-winning drama The Mountaintop, receiving its Philadelphia premiere at Philadelphia Theatre Company on January 18-February 17 at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre (Broad and Lombard Streets). Directed by Patricia McGregor, the two-person cast features Sekou Laidlow and Amirah Vann.

Underground Railway Theater presents the recent Broadway hit and the 2010 Oliver Award Winner for Best New Play, The Mountaintop by Katori Hall. The Mountaintop is presented in celebration of the 150th Anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation. Underground Railway Theater's Associate Artistic Director, Megan Sandberg-Zakian, directs The Mountaintop. The press performance for The Mountaintop is Monday, January 14 at 7:30PM.

Jeanne Becquet is walking a tightrope without a net. She's trying to keep her family safe and provided for, which requires a certain level of 'cordiality' with the Nazi officer in command of a local occupying force. And she's been managing, however uncomfortably. But all that is about to change in Moira Buffini's Gabriel, beginning its run at Fort Worth's Stage West on Thursday, January 10. BroadwayWorld has a first look in the photos below!

The Boomerang Theatre Company (Tim Errickson, Artistic Director; Sue Abbott, Managing Director) will celebrate their 15th Anniversary in 2013 with an outdoor production of Shakespeare's RICHARD III and the world premiere of Johnna Adams' verse comedy LICKSPITTLES, BUTTONHOLERS AND DAMNED PERNICIOUS GO BETWEENS. Additional productions in the 2013 season will be announced shortly. Check out www.boomerangtheatre.org for more information.

Six D.C.-area playwrights have been selected to participate in the inaugural Playwrights' Arena as part of the American Voices New Play Institute at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater. Playwrights' Arena is a collaborative group of local writers dedicated to the support and development of each other's work and practice. The yearlong program commences in January 2013, and the inaugural members include Norman Allen, Randy Baker, Jacqueline E. Lawton, Heather McDonald, Danielle Mohlman and Shawn Northrip. Also in January as part of the Institute's programming will be the next installment of the Kogod Cradle Series featuring readings of The Age of Innocence, a new adaptation for the stage by Resident Playwright Karen Zacarías, January 14-16, 2013.

Manhattan Theatre Club's Murder Ballad, the new musical by Julia Jordan and Juliana Nash, directed by Trip Cullman, that opened to glowing reviews, closes today, Sunday, December 16 at MTC's The Studio at Stage II - Harold and Mimi Steinberg New Play Series at New York City Center - Stage II (131 West 55th Street).

Atlantic Theater Company presents the world premiere of Melissa James Gibson's WHAT RYHMES WITH AMERICA, starring Atlantic ensemble member Chris Bauer leading a cast featuring Aimee Carrero, Seana Kofoed and Da'Vine Joy Randolph, directed by Daniel Aukin. WHAT RHYMES WITH AMERICA began previews Monday, November 19; officially opened last night, December 12; and will play a limited engagement through Sunday, December 30, 2012 off-Broadway at Atlantic's main stage Linda Gross Theater (336 West 20th Street). Check out photos from opening night below!