The Old Globe News

National New Play Network, the country's alliance of nonprofit theaters that champions the development, production, and continued life of new plays, announced its 2016-17 grant recipients, including the 2016 Smith Prize for Political Theatre, four Producer Residencies, and four Collaboration Fund awards that will support partnerships between multiple Member Theaters, playwrights, and other theater makers in various projects.

59E59 Theaters is thrilled to welcome Throughline Artists with SUMMER SHORTS 2016, the annual festival of six short plays tailor-made for summer viewing, now celebrating its 10th season.

From the Tonys to TUTS we're witnessing a much needed shift in the aesthetics of American theatre. Theatre Under The Stars has been a cornerstone of musical theatre in the city of Houston for 48 years and now it has a new vision, a new presence, and a new artistic advisor -- Sheldon Epps.

MEN ON BOATS, the critically-acclaimed comedy which premiered at Clubbed Thumb's 2015 Summerworks Festival, announced today casting for its return this summer in a co-production by Clubbed Thumb and Playwrights Horizons.

The world premiere of Unexpected Joy, opening July 21 at Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater, will be directed by Lynne Taylor Corbett. Musical Direction is by Gillian Berkowitz. This world premiere by Bill Russell and Janet Hood is produced in association with Jim Kierstead, Linda & Craig Wielkotz, and Gabby Hanna & Marcy Feller. Casting is by Stephen DeAngelis. Unexpected Joy opens July 21, running Wednesdays-Mondays through August 20.

The Old Globe today announced further news about its 2016 Summer Season, which will feature new and familiar works directed by four major American stalwarts.

The Old Globe has announced the complete cast and creative team for the West Coast premiere of Paul Gordon's delightfully romantic new musical SENSE AND SENSIBILITY, developed with Rick Boynton and presented in association with Chicago Shakespeare Theater, where it was commissioned and had its world premiere in April 2015.

Continuing the fight to achieve gender parity in the American Theater, LA-based playwright/producer collective THE KILROYS has released its third annual list of industry-recommended new plays.

Batter up! Just in time for the thick of baseball season comes the muscular musical about baseball super-fan Joe Boyd. Joe is transformed into a star slugger after he makes a deal with the devil and his sexy associate, Lola, for a chance to lead his home team to victory in the pennant race against the New York Yankees.

This week's episode we sit down with theatre and television star Paige Davis and make a few major discoveries-that Laura Benanti's arms are amazing...and everything can be mixed with Fresca.

California Shakespeare Theater's 25th anniversary season at the Bruns Amphitheater continues with August Wilson's Pulitzer Prize-winning story of the American Dream deferred, Fences, directed by Raelle Myrick-Hodges in her Cal Shakes debut. Fences, which plays from July 6 through July 31, marks the first time Cal Shakes has presented August Wilson's work on its stage. For tickets and information, contact the Cal Shakes Box Office at 510.548.9666 or visit www.calshakes.org

Writers Theatre, under leadership of Artistic Director Michael Halberstam and Executive Director Kathryn M. Lipuma, announces a second two-week extension of Death of a Streetcar Named Virginia Woolf: A Parody created by Tim Ryder and Tim Sniffen, written by Tim Sniffen and directed by Stuart Carden and Michael Halberstam. Due to demand, the production now runs through August 14, 2016, as the inaugural production of the Gillian Theatre at Writers Theatre's new theater center at 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe.

The cast of Broadway's BRIGHT STAR performed 'If You Knew My Story' on the 70th Annual TONY AWARDS. Watch the clip below!

The Drama Book Shop, now celebrating its 99th year, will welcome playwright Paula Vogel and director Rebecca Taichman, the creative forces behind Indecent, for a discussion about the play. The event will take place on Friday, June 10th at 5:00PM. It is free to the public. For those unable to attend, the Tony Award-winning Drama Book Shop will live-stream the conversation on their Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/dramabookshop) and on their Periscope channel @dramabookshop.

Scripps Ranch Theatre, located on the campus of Alliant International University, presents their 5th Annual Out on a Limb - New Plays from America's Finest City. Scripps Ranch Theatre is a leader in the Southern California Arts Community in developing and producing new plays.

The beloved Broadway tradition continued yesterday as Sardi's added a caricature of Tony Award-nominee Alex Brightman to its legendary walls. BroadwayWorld was on hand for the special celebration and you can check out photos below!

Peninsula Players Theatre, America's Oldest Professional Resident Summer Theatre and Door County's theatrical icon, announces company members for its 81st season, running June 14 through October 16, 2016. The mix of plays include a late-in-life romance, an intriguing whodunit, a raucous pop-rock musical, an engaging Midwest premiere and a wildly comic thriller.

The 5th Avenue Theatre presents an exciting new 'revisal' of the sweeping saga Lerner & Loewe's PAINT YOUR WAGON. Featuring an all-new book by Pulitzer Prize nominee John Marans, this show has taken an incredible journey over the last five years from developmental workshops to The 5th Avenue stage this season. And BroadwayWorld is happy to report that the company has just announced the full cast and creative team.

STARS IN THE ALLEY, presented by United Airlines, took place just last week in Shubert Alley. Hosted by Tony nominee Sean Hayes and Mo Rocca, Broadway's best once again turned out for the annual performance - including Heidi Blickenstaff and Matt Wall, who performed 'Right Hand Man' from SOMETHING ROTTEN!

From royalty, to rockers; revolutionaries to refugees- check out who's new to the Tony block this year, below!