The New Group News

In today's New York Time's In Performance video, Tony Award-winner Tonya Pinkins and Oscar-winner Dianne Wiest star as co-workers in Joel Drake Johnson's RASHEEDA SPEAKING

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust and the Humanities Center of Carnegie Mellon University announce the launch of the inaugural Pittsburgh Humanities Festival, scheduled for March 26-29, 2015. The Festival will take place throughout Pittsburgh's Cultural District and neighboring locales.

Signal Ensemble Theatre presents the United States premiere of Red Bud by Brett Neveu and directed by Brant Russell at Signal Ensemble Theatre, 1802 W. Berenice Ave., January 22 - February 28.

The New Group has announced additional casting and production dates for the world premiere production of The Spoils, a new play written by and featuring Jesse Eisenberg, directed by Scott Elliott. Kunal Nayyar ("The Big Bang Theory") joins Jesse Eisenberg in this production, which marks the third show in The New Group's current 20th Anniversary Season. Previews begin May 7, in advance of an Official Opening Night on Tuesday, June 2. A limited Off-Broadway engagement is slated through June 28 at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street).

'Martyrs Street,' a realistic drama by Misha Shulman, is a gripping tale of two houses in the historical city of Hebron, in the Occupied West Bank.

The Apple Hill String Quartet to Perform World-Renowned Composer Meredith Monk's only String Quartet, Stringsongs, as part of Meredith Monk's 50th Year Celebrations.

The Sheryl Kaller helmed musical adaption of the Aldous Huxley classic BRAVE NEW WORLD will present two presentations onFebruary 23rd at 3PM and February 24th at noon following the culmination of a two week experimental AEA Lab.

Variety writes that stage vet Dianne Wiest and actress Zoe Lister Jones have joined the cast of CBS's comedy pilot LIFE IN PIECES.

The New Group continues its 20th Anniversary Season with the New York Premiere of Rasheeda Speaking, by Joel Drake Johnson, helmed by Cynthia Nixon in her directorial debut. This production features Patricia Conolly, Darren Goldstein, Tonya Pinkins and Dianne Wiest. A limited Off-Broadway engagement plays now through March 22, 2015. BroadwayWorld brings you interviews with the company on opening night below!

The New Group continues its 20th Anniversary Season with the New York Premiere of Rasheeda Speaking, by Joel Drake Johnson, helmed by Cynthia Nixon in her directorial debut. This production features Patricia Conolly, Darren Goldstein, Tonya Pinkins and Dianne Wiest. A limited Off-Broadway engagement plays now through March 22, 2015. BroadwayWorldbrings you photos from opening night below!

The New Group continues its 20th Anniversary Season with the New York Premiere of Rasheeda Speaking by Joel Drake Johnson, helmed by Cynthia Nixon in her directorial debut. This production features Patricia Conolly, Darren Goldstein, Tonya Pinkins and Dianne Wiest. Opening night set for tonight, February 11 at The Pershing Square Signature Center. Let's see what the critics had to say...

Milwaukee Repertory Theater announced final casting for the upcoming World Premiere production of Five Presidents. Broadway and television veterans Mark Jacoby, Martin L'Herault, Steve Sheridan, Jeff Steitzer, and Brit Whittle, along with Rep Associate Artist Reese Madigan, make up the cast of Five Presidents from Emmy Award-winning writer Rick Cleveland (The West Wing, House of Cards, Mad Men, and Six Feet Under).

The New Group continues its 20th Anniversary Season with the New York Premiere of Rasheeda Speaking, by Joel Drake Johnson, helmed by Cynthia Nixon in her directorial debut. This production features Patricia Conolly, Darren Goldstein, Tonya Pinkins and Dianne Wiest. A limited Off-Broadway engagement plays now through March 22, 2015, with Official Opening Night set for tonight, February 11 at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street). BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

E! announced today that the network will integrate its “E! News” and digital divisions under the leadership of John Najarian, EVP, News and Digital for E! This combined operation will allow the network to align strategies and fuel continued growth for E! Online and flagship TV series “E! News.” Bringing all content, social/interactive and product/operations together also enables the new group to more effectively leverage its strength in storytelling and news gathering, and provide a deeper, more engaging social and interactive “E! News” experience.

The New Group continues its 20th Anniversary Season with the New York Premiere of Rasheeda Speaking, by Joel Drake Johnson, helmed by Cynthia Nixon in her directorial debut. This production features Patricia Conolly, Darren Goldstein, Tonya Pinkins and Dianne Wiest. A limited Off-Broadway engagement plays now through March 22, 2015, with Official Opening Night set for Wednesday, February 11 at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street). BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Writers Theatre presents The Diary of Anne Frank by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett, adapted by Wendy Kesselman and directed by Kimberly Senior. The show runs February 24 - June 28, 2015 at Books on Vernon, 664 Vernon Avenue, Glencoe. The Press Openings are Wednesday, March 4, and Thursday, March 5, 2015.

The award-winning CAP21 Theatre Company will open its 2015 season with the first production of a new musical, THE ARTIST & THE SCIENTIST, with book and lyrics by Jenny Stafford, music by Brandon Anderson, and story by Jenny Stafford and Brandon Anderson. It is a love story exploring the conflicting ways in which we each see the world and the fears we have of losing ourselves in other people. THE ARTIST & THE SCIENTIST will play a limited run from tonight, February 4 -28, 2015 at the CAP21 Theatre, 18 West 18th Street, 5th Floor, New York.

59E59 Theaters presents the world premiere of THE ROAD TO DAMASCUS, written by Tom Dulack and directed by Michael Parva. Produced by The Directors Company and part of the 59E59's inaugural 5A Season, THE ROAD TO DAMASCUS began performances on Saturday, January 17 for a limited engagement through Sunday, March 1. To purchase tickets, call Ticket Central at (212) 279-4200 or visit www.59e59.org.

The American Playwriting Foundation, established to make annual grants to new American plays, announced today The Relentless Award, the largest annual cash prize in American theater awarded to a playwright in recognition of a new play. Established in honor of Philip Seymour Hoffman and his pursuit of truth in the theater, The Relentless Award will honor an unproduced play with $45,000, laying the groundwork for the future of American Theater. The American Playwriting Foundation is now open for submissions, and the deadline is July 10, 2015. Three finalists and one winner will be announced on October 2, 2015.