The Public Theatre News

Now in its eight year, the Kendeda National Graduate Playwriting Competition continues to further the Alliance Theatre's commitment to new work.

kef theatrical productions (Adam Fitzgerald, Artistic Director) is proud to present the World Premiere of Israela Margalit's First Prize, directed by Margaret Perry.

Soho Rep, Playwrights Horizon, Vineyard Theatre all among the representatives to speak at the Theater Resources Unlimited's Not-for-Profit Survival Panel: Cultivating Donors, Non-Traditional Funding, Diversified Revenue Streams.

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Jessica R. Jenen, will honor legendary actor, director and CSC veteran Austin Pendleton at this year's annual benefit gala Monday, May 23 at Bridgewaters at South Street Seaport.

Soho Rep, Playwrights Horizon, Vineyard Theatre all among the representatives to speak at the Theater Resources Unlimited's Not-for-Profit Survival Panel: Cultivating Donors, Non-Traditional Funding, Diversified Revenue Streams.

Award?winning playwright and actress Heather Raffo, a 2010-11 Artist in Residence at Vassar, sponsored by the Mellon Foundation, will return to the college during spring 2011 for a six-week residency and will give two public presentations.

Upcoming Theatre Communication Group Member Shows - 4/24 for Maine

Philadelphia Theatre Company concludes its 35th Anniversary Mainstage Season with the Philadelphia premiere of Ruined by Lynn Nottage, running May 20 through June 12, 2011 at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre (Broad and Lombard Streets).

LITTLE BLACK DRESS - a new play by Ronan Noone, whose play THE ATHEIST starring Campbell Scott enjoyed considerable success Off-Broadway in 2008 - will be given its New York premiere this spring Off-Broadway, with previews set to begin Sunday, May 1 prior to an official press opening on Thursday, May 5 at Theatre at St. Clement's (423 W. 46 St.) in Manhattan.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts presents the Penumbra Theatre production of I Wish You Love written by Dominic Taylor and directed by Lou Bellamy. Following its world premiere at Penumbra Theatre in Saint Paul, Minnesota, the drama with music runs June 11 to 19, 2011 in the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater. I Wish You Love is produced with the assistance of the Kennedy Center Fund for New American Plays. The press opening for I Wish You Love will take place on Saturday, June 11, 2011 at 7:30 p.m. The production features Dennis W. Spears as Nat -King? Cole, singing more than 20 of Cole's beloved songs. Additional casting includes Kevin D. West as Oliver Moore, Eric Berryman as Jeffrey Prince, and Michael Tezla as Bill Henry.

Upcoming Theatre Communication Group Member Shows - 4/17 for Maine

Katori Hall's The Mountaintop will hit Broadway this fall, however, with only one of it's previously announced stars. Samuel L. Jackson will open the play as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in his Broadway debut, however the team is in search of a new Camae, as Halle Berry has departed the piece due to child custody issues.'

National Corporate Theatre Fund (NCTF) will hold its Annual Chairman's Awards Gala and benefit on Monday, May 2 at the St. Regis New York hotel (2 East 55th Street at Fifth Avenue). This year, NCTF Chairman James S Turley, Chairman and CEO of Ernst & Young, will honor Oscar and Tony Award-winner Joel Grey (on Broadway this season in Anything Goes and director of Broadway's The Normal Heart), Charles Dillingham (Managing Director, Center Theatre Group, Los Angeles) and BNY Mellon. Accepting the award on behalf of Corporate Honoree will be Gerald Hassell, President. All net proceeds of the event will be distributed as the NCTF/BNY MELLON FUND FOR NEW AMERICAN THEATRE.

LITTLE BLACK DRESS - a new play by Ronan Noone, whose play THE ATHEIST starring Campbell Scott enjoyed considerable success Off-Broadway in 2008 - will be given its New York premiere this spring Off-Broadway, with previews set to begin Sunday, May 1 prior to an official press opening on Thursday, May 5 at Theatre at St. Clement's (423 W. 46 St.) in Manhattan.

The Museum of the City of New York (MCNY) (1220 Fifth Avenue), in its forthcoming exhibition Joel Grey / A New York Life, examines the enduring impact that legendary actor Joel Grey and his adopted city have made on each other. Through rare artifacts from his stage and screen career, objects from his personal collection, and his own photography, MCNY offers a unique look at New York through Grey's eyes as well as a visual retrospective of his career. The exhibition's opening night reception will take place on the evening of Monday, April 11, which is also Grey's 79th birthday. It will open to the public the following day, and remain on display through Monday, August 8.

Upcoming Theatre Communication Group Member Shows - 4/10 for Maine

Making its Midwest premiere in the birthplace of Alcoholics Anonymous, Bill W. and Dr. Bob is an inspirational, gripping and timely story about the men and their wives whose relationships pioneered the beginning of Alcoholics Anonymous and the creation of Al-Anon.

kef theatrical productions (Adam Fitzgerald, Artistic Director) is proud to present the World Premiere of Israela Margalit's First Prize, directed by Margaret Perry.

New Repertory Theatre, in residence at the Arsenal Center for the Arts, will conclude its 27th Season with the Tony Award-winning musical Passing Strange. Directed by Kate Warner, with music direction by Todd C. Gordon, and choreography by Kelli Edwards, Passing Strange begins performances on May 1 and runs through May 22, 2011.

Amas Musical Theatre (Donna Trinkoff, Producing Artistic Director), will celebrate the Centennial Year of its late founder Rosetta LeNoire at a Gala evening on Monday, April 4th, featuring a special 'Blast from the Past' concert of William Finn's songs from the celebrated Romance in Hard Times, starring Tony-Winner Lillias White and a veteran cast of Broadway professionals. The event takes place at the Baruch Performing Arts Center, East 25th Street between Lexington and 3rd Avenues, at 7pm.