The Public Theater News

Trinity Rep closes out Season 51: The Necessity of Human Connection with the world premiere of Tony-nominated playwright Sarah Ruhl and composer Todd Almond's Melancholy Play: a chamber musical, directed by Obie Award-winner Liesl Tommy. Melancholy Play: a chamber musical runs May 28 through June 28, 2015 in Trinity Rep's Dowling Theater.

Joe's Pub at The Public has announced a new partnership with Philadelphia's renowned Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts for the 2015 Kimmel Center Theater Residency. Under the tutelage of Shanta Thake, Director of Joe's Pub, and Jay Wahl, the Kimmel Center's Artistic Director, the two week program will guide four world-class artists through the writing process and composition of four new works. The program will be held in the SEI Innovation Studio (1500 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA) from June 21 to July 2.

Director Ron Sossi puts a unique stamp on Ellen McLaughlin's acclaimed adaptation of Sophocles' Oedipus in a new production from Odyssey Theatre Ensemble and KOAN. Oedipus Machina opens on May 30 at the Odyssey Theatre in West L.A.

BWW interviewed Claudia Weill who directed 'The Belle of Belfast.' The show currently on stage at Irish Rep through June 7th.

Atlantic Theater Company is proud to announce complete casting for the revival of Ghost Stories: The Shawl and Prairie du Chien, two haunting short plays by Atlantic co-founder and Pulitzer Prize winner David Mamet.

BroadwayWorld.com continues our exclusive content series, in collaboration with The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, which delves into the library's unparalleled archives, and resources. Below, check out a piece by Doug Reside (Lewis and Dorothy Cullman Curator for the Billy Rose Theatre Division) on Shakespeare + Musical Theater:

American Revolutions is the Oregon Shakespeare Festival's 10-year commissioning program (2008-2018) of up to 37 new plays that look at moments of change in America's past, with the goal of helping to establish a shared understanding of our national identity and illuminate the best paths for our nation's future.

Belarus Free Theatre -- the internationally-acclaimed troupe said by Sir Tom Stoppard to 'defy gravity' -- returns to New York with the U.S. premiere of TRASH CUISINE at La MaMa'sEllen Stewart Theatre (66 E. 4 St.) in Manhattan. This NY presentation of TRASH CUISINE is produced by La MaMa, and is a continued collaboration with The Public Theater in support of Belarus Free Theatre.

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Managing Director Jeff Griffin, have announced complete for their upcoming production of DOCTOR FAUSTUS, adapted by David Bridel and Andrei Belgrader from the play by Christopher Marlowe, starring Chris Noth ('Law & Order,' 'Sex and the City,' 'The Good Wife'), directed by Andrei Belgrader (CSC's production of The Cherry Orchard). Joining Noth in the cast are Tony Award nominee and 'The Good Wife' co-star Zach Grenier as Mephistopheles, Jeff Binder, Ken Cheeseman, Carmen M. Herlihy, Walker Jones, Geoffrey Owens and Lucas Caleb Rooney. Previews begin Friday, May 29 for a limited engagement through Thursday, July 2 at CSC (136 East 13th Street). The official press opening is Thursday, June 18.

The Old Globe today announced the complete cast and creative team for the West Coast premiere of an exciting new American play, Rich Girl, by acclaimed playwright Victoria Stewart, continuing the Globe's 80th Anniversary festivities as part of the Balboa Park Centennial Celebration. Rich Girl will be directed by James Vasquez (Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show), and will play May 23 - June 21, 2015, in the Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre, part of the Globe's Conrad Prebys Theatre Center.

Don't miss your chance to see 'Law & Order: SVU,' 'SMASH,' 'Person of Interest,' and 'House of Lies' star Leslie Odom Jr. live in concert before HAMILTON begins performances on Broadway at the Richard Rodgers Theater this summer.

2015 Tony nominee Moritz von Stuelpnagel (Studio 42, Artistic Director) has announced that on May 2nd, as part of its 15th Anniversary Season, Studio 42 will host the Final Unproducible Smackdown.

Among the director's biggest pop culture inspiration's is HAMILTON creator and star Lin-Manuel Miranda and calls his recent visit to see the new musical now playing at the Public Theatre a 'breathtaking experience.'

Midtown Direct Rep (MDR), the ensemble-based theater company based in South Orange/Maplewood, NJ, announces A CONVERSATION WITH BILLY PORTER, on Monday, June 15, 2015 at 7:30 PM at the South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) in a one-night-only benefit appearance hosted by NY1's Budd Mishkin.

Belarus Free Theatre -- the internationally-acclaimed troupe said by Sir Tom Stoppard to 'defy gravity' -- returns to New York with the U.S. premiere of TRASH CUISINE at La MaMa's Ellen Stewart Theatre (66 E. 4 St.) in Manhattan, it has been announced by Mia Yoo, La MaMa's Artistic Director. TRASH CUISINE began previews April 25, officially opens tonight, April 29, and runs through May 17.

HAMILTON's Lin-Manuel Miranda took to Twitter to sum up today's news of the 69th Annual Tony Award nominations as only he could:

The Public Theater announced a two-week extension today for Elevator Repair Service's acclaimed THE SOUND AND THE FURY. Directed by John Collins, THE SOUND AND THE FURY begins performances in The Public's Martinson Theater on Thursday, May 14 with an official press opening on Thursday, May 21. The show will now run an additional two weeks through Saturday, June 27. THE SOUND AND THE FURY will mark the third collaboration between The Public and Elevator Repair Service, having previously presented Gatz and Arguendo.

New Jersey Repertory Company, located at 179 Broadway in Long Branch, has announced the World Premiere of Closure by Richard Dresser for a limited engagement from June 25 through July 19, 2015. 

Second Stage Theatre welcomes film star Amanda Seyfried (Les Miserables, Dear John, Mamma Mia!, upcoming Ted 2 and Pan) in her off-Broadway debut opposite Thomas Sadoski (The Newsroom, Wild, upcoming in NBC's The Slap) in the world premiere production of NEIL LaBUTE's drama, The Way We Get By. Directed by Tony nominee LEIGH SILVERMAN, the production begins previews tonight, April 28, 2015 and officially opens on May 20, 2015 at Second Stage Theatre, 305 West 43rd Street.

Belarus Free Theatre -- the internationally-acclaimed  troupe said by Sir Tom Stoppard to "defy gravity"  -- returns to New York with the U.S. premiere of TRASH CUISINE at La MaMa's Ellen Stewart Theatre (66 E. 4 St.) in Manhattan, it has been announced by Mia Yoo, La MaMa's Artistic Director. TRASH CUISINE will begin previews April 25, officially open April 29 and run through May 17. This production of TRASH CUISINE marks the first time that Belarus Free Theatre performs its work in English.