The Public Theater News

Since the new branch opened, FRESH PRODUCE'd L.A. has workshopped 36 new works, collaborated with more than 200 artists, and helped to promote the work of dozens of writers from all over the country. In addition to their work with FP, our writer-collaborators have had readings and work presented at Ars Nova, the Public Theater, and MCC Theater at the Lucille Lortel Theater, to name a few.

Lin-Manuel Miranda is giving A CHORUS LINE some new life on its 40th anniversary.

The Wilbury Theatre Group's Founding Artistic Director Josh Short has announced the Group's 2015-16 season, including a new drama from one of New York's most promising young playwrights, the world premiere of a new play by Wilbury playwright-in-residence Ben Jolivet, two of the most acclaimed off-Broadway musicals of the last few years, an irreverent new adaptation of Anton Chekhov's The Seagull, and the New England premiere of Jez Butterworth's Jerusalem.

The Public Theater announced a special 40th anniversary tribute to A CHORUS LINE tonight, April 16 in honor of the first performance of this legendary musical that premiered in The Public's Newman Theater 40 years ago and went on to make musical theater history.

Marin Theatre Company continues its 48th Season with the West Coast premiere of Mona Manour's The Way West, winner of the company's 2013 Sky Cooper New American Play Prize.

For one night only -- the hilarious and affecting Monica Bill Barnes and Anna Bass (NYC) trade their signature sequins and feather headdresses for a pair of everyday men's suits in Happy Hour, the world's first-ever cocktail party dance show tonight, April 16 at 7:30PM at Velocity Founders Theater 1621 12th Ave on Capitol Hill.

After her sold out engagement last fall, BETTY BUCKLEY returns at the end of May for seven performances with a new show tailored specifically for Joe's Pub at The Public called Dark Blue-Eyed Blues. Her new collection of songs - running May 28 through May 31 - will feature 'Musings of a Chanteuse' and will include standards and songs by contemporary writers for some glamour, torch and comedy. She will be joined by Christian Jacob on piano, Tony Marino on bass, Todd Isler on drums and Oz Noy on guitar. Terry Gabis provides sound design.

The Public Theater announced a one-week extension today for George Brant's Grounded, directed by two-time Tony Award winner Julie Taymor and featuring Academy Award winner Anne Hathaway. Grounded began previews on Tuesday, April 7 and will now run an additional week through Sunday, May 24 in the Anspacher Theater, with an official press opening on Sunday, April 26.

Today we are shining a spotlight on some rarely discussed and unusual connections between the world of William Shakespeare and theatrical pop culture at large. Given the wide breadth of material contained within the canon of the Bard, it is certainly no understatement to claim that the connections are virtually endless between many modern tropes, terms, themes and ideas that derive in his classic plays - whether they be tragedies, comedies, histories or latter plays - yet the intriguing aspects of many of the lesser-known theatrical connections between Shakespeare and modern theatre are illuminating and fascinating to unearth. Ranging from the influence of Shakespeare on some of our greatest musical theatre masters - Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim and William Finn included - through to the inspiration behind both Broadway's most lucrative production in history (THE LION KING) and the longest-running show in NYC to date (THE FANTASTICKS), the impact of Shakespeare on Broadway is impossible to accurately calculate - and, now, with the lovable and hilarious Shakespeare paean SOMETHING ROTTEN! poised to open later this month, the Bard is about to get a fresh jolt of electricity, buzz and excitement from the theatre community at large. Fear no more, indeed.

According to Deadline, Steven Pasquale, currently starring in Lyric Opera of Chicago's CAROUSEL, will return to the small screen in DirecTV's new comedy series ALMOST THERE. Pasquale will also executive produce.

THE FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE is a glittering example of a musical that captures and is imbued with that magic in every perfectly cast note and each keenly written lyric. Celebrating Ghostlight Records' release of the original cast recording, members of the cast and creative team came together at Joe's Pub for a spirited and rousing night of music at last night's THE FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE CD RELEASE CONCERT.

More than 25 nominations of outstanding actors, directors, designers and ensembles were announced today by The Boston Theater Critics Association (BTCA), with winners to be revealed at the 33nd Annual Elliot Norton Awards on Monday, May 11, 2015 at 7 PM, at Boston's Citi Performing Arts Center Shubert Theatre.

Fun Home, the Award-winning new musical that began previews on Broadway on March 27, announced today that an updated and expanded Broadway version of the cast recording will be released next month on PS Classics.

Miranda has just announced via Twitter that the cast recording will hit shelves this fall. He writes: 'Hamilton Cast Album? September. Double Album. All of it. That's all I can tell you.'

Point Foundation (Point) just honored actor Jonathan Groff, with the Point HORIZON Award. The Award recognizes a young trailblazer who has taken a leadership role as an advocate of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) community. Groff, currently starring in HBO's critically acclaimed series 'Looking' and appearing in the Public Theater's hit musical 'Hamilton,' was nominated for a Tony Award for his performance in 'Spring Awakening.' BroadwayWorld takes you inside the ceremony below!

The Old Globe today announced the complete cast and creative team for George Bernard Shaw's Arms and the Man, joining celebrated director Jessica Stone, who recently made her Globe debut with Christopher Durang's Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike. Shaw's romantic comedy, which continues the Globe's 80th Anniversary festivities as part of the Balboa Park Centennial Celebration, will run May 9 - June 14, 2015 on the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage in the Old Globe Theatre, part of the Globe's Conrad Prebys Theatre Center. Preview performances run May 9 through 13. Opening night is Thursday, May 14 at 8:00 p.m.

An off-Broadway poster, signed by the full cast, is currently up for auction on eBay. A similar item sold for over $5000 on the site last week- the difference this time is that this item also comes with a voicemail greeting by Lin-Manuel Miranda himself. The description reads: 'If you are in the NYC area, you will have the chance to go backstage after a performance of Hamilton to meet Lin-Manuel Miranda when he records your voice-mail & to receive your signed poster. If you aren't able to come to the NYC area, Lin-Manuel Miranda will record your voice-mail remotely and your poster will be shipped to you.'

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 KING AND I sweeps onto Broadway, A CHORUS LINE marks its 40th anniversary, AMERICAN BUFFALO starts in the West End and more!

Tony and Emmy Award winner Tyne Daly, Tony Award winner Harriet Harris, Sierra Boggess and Lisa Howard head an outstanding cast in It Shoulda Been You, the hilarious and heartwarming new musical comedy that proves when it comes to wedding day insanity, everything is relative. It Shoulda Been You, which had a sold-out premiere at New Jersey's George Street Playhouse, officially opens tonight, April 14, 2015 at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre. Scroll down to learn more about the cast, plus watch interviews with the company!

The YALE INSTITUTE FOR MUSIC THEATRE (Mark Brokaw, Artistic Director) has selected two original book musicals to be developed in an intensive lab setting in New Haven, June 13-28: gilgamesh & the mosquito, music by Bob Kelly and book and lyrics by Sam Chanse; and Horizons, music by Ben Wexler and book and lyrics by Mark Sonnenblick. The Institute culminates with open rehearsal readings of each project, presented as a part of the International Festival of Arts & Ideas, on June 26 and 27.