The Public Theater News

The Public Theater presents The Civilian's THE GREAT IMMENSITY on Friday, April 11. Written and directed by Steve Cosson with songs by Michael Friedman, THE GREAT IMMENSITY is a highly theatrical look into one of the most vital questions of our time: how can we change ourselves and our society in time to solve the enormous environmental challenges that confront us? THE GREAT IMMENSITY will run through Thursday, May 1 in the Martinson Theater, with an official press opening tonight, April 24.

Today we are turning our attention to the world's most famous playwright on the 450th anniversary of his birth this week - the incomparable Bard himself, William Shakespeare.

Charity Hope Valentine is a dancehall girl who dreams of love and believes the man of her dreams is just around the corner. A great score, including the songs 'Hey Big Spender!' and 'If My Friends Could See Me Now,' incredible dancing - originally choreographed by Broadway legend Bob Fosse - and one of the most memorable heroines of the past sixty years combine to make Sweet Charity a must-see show. Never before produced at PTC, Sweet Charity is a razzle-dazzle closer for the 2013-14 season.

Berkeley Repertory Theatre welcomes back Pulitzer Prize winner Tony Kushner for the West Coast premiere of his latest play, The Intelligent Homosexual's Guide to Capitalism and Socialism with a Key to the Scriptures, an epic tale of love, family, sex, money, and politics. Kushner reunites with one of his favorite collaborators, Michael Leibert Artistic Director Tony Taccone, to bring this sweeping drama to the Roda Theatre. With his trademark mix of soaring intellect and searing emotion, the legendary writer unfurls a poignant story about an Italian family in Brooklyn. When retired longshoreman Gus Marcantonio decides to die, his kids come home with a raucous parade of lovers and spouses to find that even the house keeps secrets. A portrait of a dysfunctional family filled with weighty dialogue, humor, and passion, Kushner's four-act play previews Friday, May 16, opens on Wednesday, May 21, and runs through Sunday, June 29, 2014.

The Weston Playhouse Theatre Company will introduce the creative teams behind four new musicals during a Salon Reception at its Playhouse on the Village Green, Saturday, May 3rd from 4 to 6 pm. The culmination of Weston's seventh annual Artists Retreat week, the salon reception is free and open to the public with no reservations necessary.

California Shakespeare Theater begins its 2014 season with one of the true trailblazing works in the American theater, A Raisin in the Sun, by Lorraine Hansberry, directed by Patricia McGregor. A Raisin in the Sun plays at the Bruns Amphitheater from May 21 through June 15.

Joe's Pub at The Public has announced its upcoming performances, running tomorrow, April 23 through May 4, 2014. Details below!

The 2013-2014 season at Cleveland Play House (CPH) continues with the compelling world premiere production of Deborah Zoe Laufer's Informed Consent. Co-produced with Geva Theatre Center, this incredibly thought-provoking production is inspired by the real life court case between the Havasupai Indian tribe and Arizona State University, and sparks an intriguing debate on both ethicality and morality. Directed by Sean Daniels and Sponsored by Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland Clinic and MetroHealth, Informed Consent will serve as the centerpiece to CPH's 2014 New Ground Theatre Festival and will run from today, April 23 - May 18 in the Second Stage.

Producer Robb Nanus (Andrew Lippa's I Am Harvey Milk) presents the world-premiere production of DEBUTANTE., written by Ryann Weir and directed/created by Annie Tippe. After a sold out presentation at Ars Nova's ANT Fest last June, DEBUTANTE. returns to New York City this spring at the Bernie Wohl Center (647 Columbus Avenue) starting tonight, April 23.

59E59 Theaters will welcome HighTide Festival Theatre with the US premiere of PEDDLING, written and performed by Harry Melling, and directed by Steven Atkinson. PEDDLING begins performances tonight, April 23 for a limited engagement through Sunday, May 18.

Soho Rep presents the world premiere of Branden Jacobs-Jenkins's An Octoroon, directed by Soho Rep. Artistic Director Sarah Benson. The production, tonight, April 23, through May 18, concludes a banner New York season for the celebrated playwright, whose Appropriate made its New York premiere February 25-April 6 at Signature Theatre.

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Today's big news: the 2014 Drama League nominations will be announced, CASA VALENTINA opens on Broadway tonight, and it's Shakespeare's 450th birthday!

The Public Theater's production of David Byrne and Alex Timbers' smash hit musical, Here Lies Love, has been recorded and will be released on May 6. The album was previously scheduled to be released today, April 22, just one week into its open-ended commercial run at The Public Theater's LuEsther Hall (425 Lafayette Street, New York City).

Co-Hosts Judith Light and Christopher Sieber announced the nominations for the 2014 Drama League Awards, including Distinguished Production of a Play, Distinguished Production of a Musical, Distinguished Revival of a Play, Distinguished Revival of a Musical, and the much coveted Distinguished Performance Award. The 2014 Drama League Nomination announcement begins the month of celebrations leading up to the 80th Annual Drama League Awards, which will be held at the Marriott Marquis Times Square (1535 Broadway) on Friday, May 16, 2014 at noon hosted by Broadway veteran Jesse Tyler Ferguson.

San Jose Repertory Theatre presents the Bay Area premiere of the critically-acclaimed The Big Meal, by Dan LeFranc, the 2010 New York Times Outstanding Playwright Award Winner. This razor sharp portrait of a modern American family runs May 8 through June 1, and is directed by Kirsten Brandt, San Jose Rep's Associate Artistic Director.

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Today's big news: HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH, starring Neil Patrick Harris, opens tonight on Broadway!

The American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) at Harvard University, under the leadership of Artistic Director Diane Paulus and Managing Director William Russo, has announced the remaining production planned for its 2014/15 Season: Father Comes Home From the Wars (Parts 1, 2 & 3), written by Suzan-Lori Parks and directed by Jo Bonney, in a co-production with The Public Theater in New York. Performances will begin January 2015 at the Loeb Drama Center.

'The Public's commitment to make theater that matters is brilliantly reflected in the power and diversity of the 2014-15 season,' said Artistic Director Oskar Eustis. 'Starting with the return of the thrilling Public Works Shakespeare at the Delacorte, and proceeding through three explosive new musicals and major new work by Suzan-Lori Parks and Young Jean Lee, this season is truly of, by and for the people. This is work that we have developed and nurtured, and the artists have responded with astounding bravery and creativity.'

Broadway's Future Songbook Series - presented by Arts and Artists at St. Paul - continues on Monday, April 28th in the Bruno Walter Auditorium at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center.

Now, Bechtel and the original cast of the Jeanine Tesori-Lisa Kron musical, including Michael Cerveris and Judy Kuhn, will stage a concert of the production in protest next week, according to The Post and Courier.