Syracuse University News

The Syracuse University Department of Drama closes the 17/18 season with the monstrously entertaining musical "Little Shop of Horrors," running May 4 - 12 in the Arthur Storch Theatre at the Syracuse Stage/SU Drama Complex, 820 E. Genesee Street, Syracuse.

Syracuse Stage concludes the 17/18 season with 'The Magic Play,' starring magician and actor Brett Schneider and written by Andrew Hinderaker. Performances start April 25 and run through May 13 at the Archbold Theatre in the Syracuse Stage/SU Drama complex at 820 E. Genesee Street. Opening night is today, April 27.

Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival will present Open Captioned performances in its upcoming 27th season as part of an ongoing commitment to broadening the Festival's accessibility offerings. In addition to American Sign Language-interpreted and Audio Described performances, new Open Captioning and additional Relaxed Performances align with PSF's mission "to enrich, inspire, engage, and entertain the widest possible audience."

SOUL DOCTOR, which was to have performed May 3 to 13, at the Saban Theatre, 8440 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, has been cancelled. SOUL DOCTOR is still travelling to Jerusalem to the Hirsch Theatre for its Israel premiere performances as part of the celebration of the 70th anniversary of Israel, as planned. For more information, please visit souldoctorontour.com, or call 888-645-5006.

The Old Globe's 2017-2018 Season continues with today's announcement of the complete cast and creative team for the Southern California debut of A Thousand Splendid Suns, Ursula Rani Sarma's sweeping and deeply moving theatrical production based on the best-selling book by Khaled Hosseini (The Kite Runner).

Julia Murney joins DUETS with The Write Teacher(s) Volume 6 at Feinstein's/54 Below.

According to Martha Emily Bellinger, few lesbian novels discuss the spiritual issues concerning same-sex marriage. In 'The Two Ruths' (published by Archway Publishing), the author tells a fictional story that not only discusses how spirituality can play an important role in LGBT marriages, but also how it might be the 'glue' which keeps them going.

Point Park University's Playhouse Jr., the second longest running children's theatre company in the country, will be wrapping up the 2017-2018 season and bringing down the curtain at the historic Pittsburgh Playhouse with two unique shows for children of all ages.

FEINSTEIN'S/54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents Sharone Sayegh and Raymond J. Lee in "Project Broadway: The Unconventional Materials Challenge" on Thursday, July 26, 2018 at 9:30pm. Sharone and Ray met dancing in wet suits and spandex sparkles in the Broadway production of Mamma Mia! and are excited to team up for their first duo show at Feinstein's/54 Below. Taking a cue from "Project Runway," Sharone and Ray will present an evening of Unconventional Materials as they tackle nontraditional casting roles and partner up on a few exciting pop selections, with musical direction by Steven Jamail.

Duo Shows At 54! is a summer series at FEINSTEIN'S/54 BELOW celebrating the special collaboration of two artists brought together, curated by Creative and Programming Director Jennifer Ashley Tepper. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit www.54Below.com/series/duo-shows-at-54 or call (646) 476-3551.

Patti Murin, who earned a Drama League nomination earlier today, might be leading one of the most popular shows on Broadway, but even stars need a mental health day occasionally. The Frozen star writes in a recent an Instagram post:

Word for Word celebrates this 25th season with a rare production "Anniversary! Stories by Tobias Wolff and George Saunders featuring Wolff's "Deep Kiss" and Saunders' "Victory Lap," works by two of the companies favorite authors, directed by Joel Mullennix and Delia MacDougall. "Anniversary! Stories by Tobias Wolff and George Saunders opens with a press night Saturday  August 11, 8pm (Preview Aug 8, 9 & 10) running through September 2 at  Z Space Main Stage in San Francisco's Mission/SOMA district. On August 15th, "An Evening With Tobias Wolff and George Saunders"  a post-show event with Tobias Wolff and George Saunders in conversation with Z Space Playwright-in-Residence Peter Nachtrieb.

Syracuse Stage concludes the 17/18 season with "The Magic Play," starring magician and actor Brett Schneider and written by Andrew Hinderaker. Performances start April 25 and run through May 13 at the Archbold Theatre in the Syracuse Stage/SU Drama complex at 820 E. Genesee Street. Opening night is today, April 27.

Thousands of people attended the Garden State Film Festival's much-anticipated homecoming in Asbury Park March 22-25, 2018. The spectacular four-day weekend event welcomed over 26,000 celebrities, honorees, film industry execs and movie fans to multiple iconic venues throughout Asbury Park. The Festival included networking opportunities, industry workshops, informative panel discussions, open talent casting call, live screenplay reading, star-studded red carpet gala and entertaining parties - all in addition to the screenings of 246 films from 22 countries around the world. The weekend culminated with the 2018 Garden State Film Festival Awards Gala Dinner event on Sunday evening, where this year's honorees were recognized and Festival winners were announced.  

After two readings in 2013 and 2014 sponsored by Roundabout Theatre Company, Brian Spector (Come From Away, The Woodsman, Transport) of Keaka Productions was brought on board as Executive Producer. A staged reading took place in August 2015 at Guild Hall in East Hampton, NY, and a table reading was held in September 2017 at Syracuse University Fisher Center in New York City.

Featuring music by Nat Zegree (The Kings Critique), Lyrics by Nat Zegree and Eric Holmes, Book by Eric Holmes (Smash, The Good Fight) the new musical FLY MORE THAN YOU FALL is receiving a development workshop directed by Jeff Whiting (Bullets Over Broadway).

All plays were once new plays. That's the idea behind Syracuse Stage's Cold Read: A Festival of Hot New Plays, which starts Thursday evening and has events scheduled each day through Sunday afternoon.

Villanova Theatre presents a staged reading of The Behavior of Light, written and directed by Broadway playwright and Hollywood screenwriter, Douglas Carter Beane. Perhaps best known for his screenplay To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar as well as his award-winning work on musicals Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella, Sister Act, Xanadu and Lysistrata Jones, Beane is playwright-in-residence at Villanova University this spring. The acclaimed writer has been working alongside undergraduate and graduate students on a new play development process culminating in a public reading April 27-29, 2018. The Behavior of Light is sure to capture the hearts and imaginations of audiences far and wide.

Batter up! Frozen's resident Princess Anna, Patti Murin and Tony Award-winner Kelli O'Hara revealed some exciting news on Twitter this evening.