The Public Theatre News

According to an Equity casting notice, Sting's new stage musical, THE LAST SHIP, which will soon have a benefit concert at the Public Theatre, will be heading to Broadway in 2014. Rehearsals are set to begin in May of 2014, with an out of town run beginning in June, and Broadway previews beginning in October/November.

Northlight Theatre Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans announce casting for the first three selections of the 2013-14 season. Northlight will open its season with the 2013 Pulitzer Prize finalist 4000 Miles by Amy Herzog, featuring Emjoy Gavino, Caroline Neff, Josh Salt and Mary Ann Thebus. The Midwest Premiere of Detroit '67 will feature Tyla Abercrumbie,Cassandra Bissell, Kamal Angelo Bolden, Coco Elysses and Kelvin Roston, Jr. Jon Jory's new adaptation of Henry Fielding's classic novel Tom Jones will include Chris Amos, Sam Ashdown, Nora Fiffer, Molly Glynn, Melanie Keller, John Lister, Cristina Panfilio, Eric Parks and Marcus Truschinski. John Mahoney and Penny Slusher will appear in the World Premiere of Chapatti.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company's eighth annual First Look Repertory of New Work features three developmental productions of new plays presented in rotating repertory now through August 25, 2013 in the Garage Theatre (1624 N Halsted St). Check out photos from the productions below!

Imagine a darkly ambient realm where angular architecture rises from the shadows and is adorned with three half ovals curtained in sheer white fabric. In this simplistically austere setting, every surface is painted black and gives the impression of some ambiguous but wholly recognizable cabaret. Out of the ether, six shapes emerge. In an assortment of solos and group pieces, these figures sing intensely haunting and puzzling music. Some songs are rigorously jazzy and mesmerizingly chromatic, leaping through major and minor chords with seemingly crazed affectation. Other songs are tuneful and familiar, playing off of bluesy gospel traditions that are tinged with pop sensibilities. This is the world that Adam Guettel, most widely known for the 2005 Tony Award winning musical THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA, and Bit of a Stretch Theatre Company have created with the Houston premiere of MYTHS AND HYMNS.

This Blessed Plot is the latest work by Obie-winning actor/writer Marc Wolf, who plays master builder Robert Moses, Public Theater founder Joe Papp, the Bible's Moses, and a host of other characters in a smart and funny one-man show about the battle for free Shakespeare in New York's Central Park. The show, presented as part of Weston's New Works series, is running at the Weston Rod & Gun Club August 15 - September 1.

Bay Street Theatre presents the final production of the 2013 Mainstage Season with A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM, beginning August 6 and running through September 1. The show stars Peter Scolari with Conrad John Schuck and Jackie Hoffman. The book is by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart with lyrics and music by Stephen Sondheim; music direction by Ethyl Will; and directed and choreographed by Marcia Milgrom Dodge.

Bay Street Theatre presents the final production of the 2013 Mainstage Season with A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM, beginning tonight, August 6 and running through September 1. The show stars Peter Scolari with Conrad John Schuck and Jackie Hoffman. The book is by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart with lyrics and music by Stephen Sondheim; music direction by Ethyl Will; and directed and choreographed by Marcia Milgrom Dodge.

Welcome to BWW's exclusive talk show, BACKSTAGE WITH Richard Ridge. Follow Richard as he visits the theater's best and brightest in their dressing rooms, on their stages and favorite hang outs to talk about their lives, careers and all of the things you don't know, but want to know. In the special interview below, ONCE's newest 'Guy' and 'Girl' Arthur Darvill and Joanna Christie chat about their recent trip to the Tony Awards, their whirlwind audition process and so much more! Click below to check out the full interview!

Roundabout Theatre Company has announced the Broadway cast of The Winslow Boy, starring Tony nominee Michael Cumpsty as 'Desmond Curry', Academy & Tony Award nominee Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio as 'Grace Winslow', Alessandro Nivola as 'Sir Robert Morton' and Tony Award winner Roger Rees as 'Arthur Winslow'.

Performances begin today for Steppenwolf Theatre Company's eighth annual First Look Repertory of New Work, featuring three developmental productions of new plays presented in rotating repertory today, July 29 - August 25, 2013 in the Garage Theatre (1624 N Halsted St).

As their daughter's wedding day descends into a riotous farce, Doc and Delia Coleman rediscover their marriage and their souls in Lewis Black's One Slight Hitch, opening at Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater tonight, July 27. Black, the popular political comedian featured on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart brings us an astonishing script that has been called a cross between The Philadelphia Story and Noises Off. Stage, TV, and film stars Mark Linn-Baker and Lizbeth Mackay are Doc and Delia Coleman.

The Public Theatre's professional theatre training program for teens will perform 'HOW TO ACT LIKE A CHILD - lessons in not being a grown up', based on the novel 'How to Eat Like a Child' by Delia Efron tonight, July 26th at 6pm at The Public Theatre.

As their daughter's wedding day descends into a riotous farce, Doc and Delia Coleman rediscover their marriage and their souls in Lewis Black's One Slight Hitch, opening at Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater July 27. Black, the popular political comedian featured on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart brings us an astonishing script that has been called a cross between The Philadelphia Story and Noises Off. Stage, TV, and film stars Mark Linn-Baker and Lizbeth Mackay are Doc and Delia Coleman.

A grassroots online fundraising campaign has begun for a New York City revival of Michael John LaChiusa's 2005 Off-Broadway musical SEE WHAT I WANNA SEE, spearheaded by producer Colby Levin.

Juilliard Dance, under the direction of Lawrence Rhodes, opens its 2013-2014 season with New Dances PLUS: Edition 2013, Wednesday, December 11 through Sunday, December 15, 2013 in Juilliard's Peter Jay Sharp Theater and features Juilliard alumna Pina Bausch's Wind von West (Wind from the West) performed by the Senior Class, plus three world premiere commissions created for each of the classes of Juilliard's Dance Division. Next season's innovative choreographers are Juilliard alumnus Takehiro Ueyama (1st Year Dancers); Brian Brooks (2nd Year Dancers); and Juilliard alumnus Darrell Grand Moultrie (3rd Year Dancers).

Milwaukee Repertory Theater announced casting today for I Left My Heart: A Salute to the Music of Tony Bennett, the first production to open The Rep's 60th Anniversary 2013/14 Season, Venus in Fur, coming to the Stiemke Studio in late September, Forever Plaid, opening at the end of October in the Stackner Cabaret and Noises Off, the second production in the Quadracci Powerhouse this season.

Performances begin in three weeks for Steppenwolf Theatre Company's upcoming eighth annual First Look Repertory of New Work, featuring three developmental productions of new plays presented in rotating repertory July 29 - August 25, 2013 in the Garage Theatre (1624 N Halsted St). First Look 2013 includes: Annie Bosh is Missing by Janine Nabers, directed by Shade Murray; Buena Vista by Edith Freni, directed byensemble member Tim Hopper; and The Gospel of Franklin by Aaron Carter, directed by Robert O'Hara. Scroll down for a sneak peek at Annie Bosh, Buena Vista and The Gospel of Franklin in rehearsal!