The New Group News

PS3 Charrette Elementary School NYC has announced a benefit reading of Kenneth Lonergan's This Is Our Youth on Monday, June 10 at 7pm at The Irene Diamond Stage at The Pershing Square Signature Center, 480 West 42 Street. The reading will feature original cast members Josh Hamilton, Mark Ruffalo, and Missy Yager, and will be directed by original director Mark Brokaw.

Hangar Theatre kicks off its 2013 season on June 13th with Neil Simon's irresistible comedy Last of the Red Hot Lovers, which runs through June 29. Featuring a stellar cast including three Broadway favorites, this seminal work will be directed by Hangar Associate Artistic Director Jesse Bush. Last of the Red Hot Lovers had its original Broadway run from 1969-1971 and received four Tony nominations, including for Best Play. The Hangar production features the talents of Jordan Gelber (Broadway's Avenue Q, All My Sons, Elf) as Barney Cashman, Jennifer Cody (Shrek, Urinetown) as Elaine Navazio, Leenya Rideout (Company, War Horse, Cabaret) as Jeannette Fisher, and Natalie Walker as Bobbi Michele.

Scandinavian American Theater Company will present the US Premiere of GORILLA by Rhea Leman. The Danish premiere was just nominated for the 2013 Reumert Award (the Danish equivalent of the Tony Award) for Best Playwrighting. Directed by Ari Edelson, previews begin tonight, May 24 at the Lion Theatre at Theatre Row. Opening is slated for May 30.

Actors' Equity Association ("AEA" or "Equity"), the labor union representing more than 49,000 professional stage actors and stage managers in the US, will commemorate its 100th anniversary on Sunday, May 26. Founded in 1913 by 112 actors, AEA is the oldest performing arts union. For the last century, AEA has stood for excellence and diversity in the American theater, and for fairness, dignity and respect for its members.

NETworks Presentations LLC's Founder and CEO Kenneth Gentry has just announced the addition of Orin Wolf to its executive staff. Effective July 1, 2013, Orin will join the company as President, with co-founder Scott W. Jackson serving as Chief Operating Officer and co-founder Seth Wenig as Executive Vice President - Production. Gentry will continue as Chief Executive Officer.

Scandinavian American Theater Company will present the US Premiere of GORILLA by Rhea Leman. The Danish premiere was just nominated for the 2013 Reumert Award (the Danish equivalent of the Tony Award) for Best Playwrighting. Directed by Ari Edelson, previews begin May 24 at the Lion Theatre at Theatre Row. Opening is slated for May 30.

The Irish Repertory Theatre continues its award-winning 25th Anniversary Season with the Off-Broadway premiere of GIBRALTAR-Patrick Fitzgerald's two-character adaptation of James Joyce's 'Ulysses'-with previews set to begin June 5, prior to opening June 13 in the company's W. Scott McLucas Studio Theatre (132 West 22nd Street). Terry Kinney directs.

On Sunday, May 19, Jules Feiffer's Little Murders arrives at The New Group @ Theatre Row in a one-night-only benefit reading. Directed by Cynthia Nixon, this benefit reading features Eric Bogosian, Kevin Cahoon, John Doman, America Ferrera, Charles Grodin, Rory O'Malley, Caroline Rhea and Michael Stuhlbarg.

If Betty Comden and Adolph Green were both born in Bombay, Singin' In The Rain might have wound up resembling The New Group's new musical, Bunty Berman Presents….  Not that Ayub Khan Din (book, music and lyrics) and Paul Bogaev's (music) Bollywood-set musical comedy is on the same level as that masterwork, but the spirit of silly 1950s MGM hijinks abounds throughout the evening.  It's got laughs, it's got tunes and it offers a fun, mindless time.

The Brick Theater, Inc., in association with Stephanie Lane, presents Lighthouse Triptych as part of Sound Scape, a festival of theatrical sound design, running June 8 at 5 p.m., June 9 at 6 p.m., June 13 at 7 p.m., June 16 at 8 p.m. and June 26 at 9 p.m.

I suppose Richard Foreman doesn't have many talkbacks after performances of his plays because, really, how many times can you respond to an audience member asking, 'What the f***?'

Artistic Director David Winitsky and Producer Jenny Levison, of the Jewish Plays Project have announced the plays that have been chosen for OPEN: The Festival of New Jewish Theater at the 14th Street Y. The performances and readings of these plays will be held June 10-30, 2013 at the Theater at 14th Street Y, 344 East 14th Street (between 1st and 2nd Ave), New York, NY.

Stage Left Studio, 214 W. 30th Street, is celebrating its third Drama Desk nominated show, Tom Gualtieri and Heather Hill's That Play: A Solo Macbeth, with added performances May 2, 9, 11, 14, 15, 16 & 25 at 7:30pm. Nominated this year for 'Unique Theatrical Experience' THAT PLAY has enjoyed a long run in New York City and continued rave reviews from both critics and audience.

Today, May 3rd at 12 noon, Brave New World Enterprises, LLC will present a Special Pre-Broadway Workshop Table Reading of the new musical based on Aldous Huxley's novel, BRAVE NEW WORLD. The presentation, directed by SHERYL KALLER, with musical direction by JOHN McDANIEL, will take place at the Snapple Theatre Center (1627 Broadway) for invited industry audiences only.

The Whitney Museum in New York has commissioned a new work by playwright Thomas Bradshaw for the Blues For Smoke Exhibition Live Performances to premiere today, April 26 through April 28, at the Whitney.

Profiles Theatre Artistic Directors Darrell W. Cox and Joe Jahraus announce the 25th Anniversary Season featuring a full slate of new and challenging works premiering at the Profiles Theatre Complex on North Broadway. The upcoming season features six productions including the Midwest premieres of Wrecks by Neil LaBute, the award-winning play Cock by Mike Bartlett, Hunter Gatherers by Peter Sinn Nachtrieb, In God's Hat by Rhett Rossi and Gidion's Knot by Johnna Adams. Additionally, Profiles acclaimed production of Hellcab by Will Kern, one of Chicago theatre's longest running hits, returns for the holiday season. These six productions alternate between Profiles' two venues, The Main Stage at 4139 N. Broadway and The Alley Stage at 4147 N. Broadway.

“Run, but don't run away” opens the chorus of this new single, a unique collaboration between South African musician Gazelle, Dither Down mainstay Jogyo and vocalist Devi Mambouka. 3 NYC-based transplants of African descent who have come together to create an invocation to “Change your perspective” and “Face your fears.” The result is “R.U.N”, an acronym of sorts that Jogyo says means “Remember Union Now.” It's an infectious track, which features hypnotic guitar riffs, pounding beats and haunting lyrics. Each artist contributes vocals that highlight their signature styles, while at the same time seamlessly blending together. Click below to watch the video!

The New Group announced today that Ayub Khan Din has stepped into the title role in the new musical Bunty Berman Presents..., replacing actor Erick Avari who withdrew from the production last week on doctor's orders following an injury. The world premiere of this musical comedy, with book & lyrics by Ayub Khan Din and music by Ayub Khan Din and Paul Bogaev, is directed by Scott Elliott. Previews began April 12. Performances resume Wednesday, April 24 in advance of Official Opening Night on Thursday, May 9 at 7:00pm. A limited Off-Broadway engagement is slated through June 1 at The New Group at Theatre Row (The Acorn Theatre / 410 West 42nd Street).