The New Group News

Alchemy Theatre Company of Manhattan (Robert Saxner, Producing Artistic Director) in association with Playwrights' Playground NYC presents Off Broadway* the world premiere of FLIGHT by Michel Wallerstein at the DR 2 Theatre, 103 East 15th Street - off Union Square. Previews begin March 2nd and the Opening is Wednesday, March 7th for a limited engagement The new play stars Maddie Corman, Maria Tucci, Jonathan Walker.

Theater for the New City (Crystal Field, Executive Director) will present Heathens, a new play by Heather Hill, directed by Stefanie Sertich, having its Off-Broadway premiere beginning March 1st and continuing through March 17th only.

Whether you've been living under a rock for the past week, or you're just in the mood for a recap of everything theatre, BroadwayWorld's feature, 'This Week in Pictures' is here to satisfy your end of the week fix. Take a look below to catch up on the latest happenings from the Great White Way to the West End (and everywhere in between) with coverage of press events, rehearsals, opening nights and more! HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK: CARRIE makes a bloody return to the stage, Broadway remembers the great Whitney Houston, Sardi's honors Shatner, and so much more!

Alchemy Theatre Company of Manhattan (Robert Saxner, Producing Artistic Director) in association with Playwrights' Playground NYC presents Off Broadway* the world premiere of FLIGHT by Michel Wallerstein at the DR 2 Theatre, 103 East 15th Street - off Union Square. Previews begin March 2nd and the Opening is Wednesday, March 7th for a limited engagement The new play stars Maddie Corman, Maria Tucci, Jonathan Walker.

Off-Broadway's The New Group honors David Rabe and Nancy Manocherian, founding Artistic Director of the cell theater in Chelsea, at the company's 2012 Gala, hosted by Janeane Garofalo & Morgan Spector. Rabe and Manocherian are recipients of the sixth annual Michael Mendelson Award for Outstanding Commitment to Theater. Founded in 2005, this award recognizes individuals who show outstanding commitment to the theatrical community. Past recipients include Wallace Shawn, Fred Wistow, Robyn Goodman, Ethan Hawke, Ruth and Stephen Hendel, Wendy Ettinger and Derek McLane.

The New Group will present the world premiere of An Early History of Fire, a new play by Tony Award-winning playwright David Rabe. Directed by Jo Bonney, this production features Deema Aitken, Gordon Clapp, Erin Darke, Jonny Orsini, Devin Ratray, Dennis Staroselsky, Theo Stockman and Claire van der Boom. Limited Off-Broadway engagement is slated April 5 - May 26 at The New Group @ Theatre Row (410 West 42nd Street). Official Opening Night is set for Monday, April 23 at 7:00 PM. Lily Rabe, who was previously slated to star in the play will no longer be taking part in the production.

Off-Broadway's The New Group honored David Rabe and Nancy Manocherian with the Michael Mendelson Award for Outstanding Commitment to Theater at its 2012 Gala, hosted by Janeane Garofalo & Morgan Spector, last night, February 27. The evening offered cocktails, dinner, entertainment and silent & live auctions, along with performances by Alan Cumming, Veanne Cox, Jay Rogers, Penny Fuller, Leslie Uggams and Jeremiah James. Check out event photos below!

Alchemy Theatre Company of Manhattan in association with Playwrights' Playground NYC will present the world premiere of FLIGHT by Michel Wallerstein, Off Broadway at the DR 2 Theatre, 103 East 15th Street - off Union Square. Previews begin this week on Friday, March 2nd and the opening is Wednesday, March 7th for the limited engagement.

A Red Orchid Theatre presents the world premiere of Megacosm, written by Ensemble Member Brett Neveu and directed by Ensemble Member Dado.

Will Act For Food will present the Midwest premiere (and second production ever) of Jack's Precious Moment, by Samuel D. Hunter, directed by Azar Kazemi, opening Thursday, February 2 and running through February 25 at Chemically Imbalanced Theater, 1420 W. Irving Park.

Today we are talking to a stand-up comedienne celebrated for her caustic wit, erudite political humor and illuminating social observations who has also made a name for herself over the last two decades as an actress by appearing in over 100 feature films and television shows, including recurring roles on the TV series SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE, THE BEN STILLER SHOW, THE LARRY SANDERS SHOW and 24, as well as her film resume, ranging from roles in ROMY & MICHELE'S HIGH SCHOOL REUNION to WET HOT AMERICAN SUMMER to REALITY BITES, COP LAND, THE CABLE GUY, NOW AND THEN and many more - the one and only Janeane Garofalo. In addition to a twenty-year career retrospective, touching upon many of her most notable big screen and small screen appearances - sharing comments on many of her favorite colleagues and co-stars along the way - Garofalo also opens up about the theatrically attuned work she has previously done - such as HBO's THE LARAMIE PROJECT - and, most importantly, fills us in on the new play she is starring in for The New Group, RUSSIAN TRANSPORT, directed by Scott Elliott. Besides all about RUSSIAN TRANSPORT, her character in it and the political and social issues the new original play bravely tackles, Garofalo shares her enthusiasm for her newfound experiences in the theatre world and her intention of pursuing a theatre career further. Also, she clues us in on her upcoming film projects, BAD PARENTS and GENERAL EDUCATION, and offers her classic views on current politics as only she can, in her own delightfully droll and ingratiatingly idiosyncratic fashion - plus, much, much more!

Broadway's Blair Baker (Oleanna, Broadway and Mark Taper Forum), stars in a new one-woman show When it Ended the First Time, at the 2012 Emerging Artists Theatre New Work series. Written by Zac Kline (Messed Up Here Tonight, Big Star California), directed by Matthew Klein (The Mekka Collective) and Produced by NYC's Missing Bolts Productions.

Tickets are now on sale for FLIGHT with previews beginning on March 2nd and an opening night on Wednesday, March 7th. The world premiere of FLIGHT by Michel Wallerstein, Off Broadway* at the DR 2 Theatre, 103 East 15th Street - off Union Square, is presented by Alchemy Theatre Company of Manhattan (Robert Saxner, Producing Artistic Director) in association with Playwrights' Playground NYC.

The Pearl Theatre Company (J.R. Sullivan, Artistic Director) has announced its final production of the 2011-12 season, Eugene O'Neill's A MOON FOR THE MISBEGOTTEN. It begins performances on March 6, 2012 at New York City Center Stage II. The production will be directed by J.R. Sullivan. Tickets are currently on sale through CityTix® and at NYCityCenter.org.

Roundabout Theatre Company in association with Don Gregory, has announced the full company for the new Broadway production of Mary Chase's Harvey starring Jim Parsons (Elwood P. Dowd), Jessica Hecht (Veta Louise Simmons), Charles Kimbrough (William R. Chumley, M.D.), Larry Bryggman (Judge Omar Gaffney), Carol Kane (Betty Chumley), Peter Benson (E.J. Lofgren), Tracee Chimo (Myrtle Mae Simmons), Holley Fain (Ruth Kelly, R.N.), Angela Paton (Mrs. Ethel Chauvenet), Rich Sommer (Duane Wilson), Morgan Spector (Lyman Sanderson, M.D.) and directed by Scott Ellis.

Theater for the New City (Crystal Field, Executive Director) will present Heathens, a new play by Heather Hill, directed by Stefanie Sertich, having its Off-Broadway premiere beginning March 1st and continuing through March 17th only.

The Asian American Performers Action Coalition (AAPAC) released preliminary findings today on the representation of minority actors on New York City's most prominent stages during the last five years. The full report, which will be released on Monday February 13th in conjunction with an industry roundtable, tallies the ethnic make-up of casts from all shows which opened on Broadway during this period and productions from sixteen of the largest not-for-profit theatres in New York City: The Atlantic Theatre Company, Classic Stage Company, Lincoln Center Theatre, Manhattan Theatre Club, MCC, The New Group, New York Theatre Workshop, Playwrights Horizons, Primary Stages, Public Theatre, Roundabout Theatre Company, Second Stage, Signature Theatre, Theatre for a New Audience, Vineyard Theatre and The York Theatre Company. It is the first report on minority casting in New York theatre ever to be released publicly.

The Sundance Institute Theatre Program has begun the 2012 Playwrights Retreat at Ucross Foundation. The 13th annual writing colony at the 20,000-acre working cattle ranch outside of Sheridan, Wyo. takes place through February 24 and provides a supportive environment for artists to create new work and receive guidance and reactions to it at an early stage.