Transport Group News

Transport Group, the Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, and OBIE Award-winning theatre company, by special arrangement with Tony Award winning producer Larry Hirschhorn, will give a private developmental lab presentation of Benny & Joon, a new musical. Based on the 1993 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer motion picture starring Aidan Quinn, Johnny Depp, and Mary Stuart Masterson, written by Barry Berman and Leslie McNeil, Benny & Joon features a book by Kirsten Guenther (Breaking Through), music by Nolan Gasser (chief musicologist of pandora.com), and lyrics by Mindi Dickstein (Little Women). Under the direction of Transport Group Artistic Director and five-time Drama Desk nominee Jack Cummings III, the cast features Andrew Samonsky as 'Benny' (Queen of the Mist), Hannah Elless as 'Joon' (Bright Star),Colin Hanlon (Submissions Only), Mamie Parris (See Rock City & Other Destinations), Zak Resnick (Piece of My Heart), Tally Sessions (House of Blue Leaves), Natalie Toro (A Tale of Two Cities), and Jason SweetTooth Williams (Things to Ruin). John DiPinto will music direct.

Signature Theatre presents the world premiere production of CAKE OFF, a new musical by Sheri Wilner (Kingdom City), Julia Jordan (Murder Ballad) and Adam Gwon (Signature's The Boy Detective Fails). Directed by Signature's Director of New Works Joe Calarco (Signature's Gypsy, Shakespeare's R&J) this hilarious new musical is a battle-of-the-sexes set at the 50th Annual Millberry Cake-Off competition. CAKE OFF runs September 29 - November 22 in the ARK Theatre. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the cast in rehearsal below!

Tickets are now on sale for Transport Group's revival of the classic musical ONCE UPON A MATTRESS, starring Jackie Hoffman as Princess Winnifred and John 'Lypsinka' Epperson as Queen Aggravain, running November 23 - January 3, 2016 at Abrons Arts Center, 466 Grand Street.

Yale Repertory Theatre opens its 2015-16 season with the world premiere of INDECENT, a new play with music, written by Paula Vogel, created by Paula Vogel and Rebecca Taichman, and directed by Rebecca Taichman, at the University Theatre (222 York Street), October 2-24. Opening Night is Thursday, October 8. The world premiere of INDECENT is a co-production with La Jolla Playhouse, where it will play November 13-December 10.

Signature Theatre has announced the cast and creative team for the world premiere production of Cake Off, a new musical by Sheri Wilner (Kingdom City), Julia Jordan (Murder Ballad) and Adam Gwon (Signature's The Boy Detective Fails). Directed by Signature's Director of New Works Joe Calarco (Signature's Gypsy, Shakespeare's R&J) this hilarious new musical is a battle-of-the-sexes set at the 50th Annual Millberry Cake-Off competition. Cake Off runs September 29 - November 22 in the ARK Theatre.

Next up on the Main Stage, The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey will present the New Jersey premiere of Bill Cain's Equivocation. When the Bard and his troupe of players receive a royal commission to dramatize the events surrounding the infamous Gunpowder Plot, the artist must confront the demons of his past, his present, and his obligations to the truth and artistic integrity. Equivocation was described in Variety as "one of the most bracingly intelligent, sizzlingly theatrical American plays in a decade."

Skyline Theatre Company, Bergen County's most established professional theatre company, has named Stephanie Simons Neal as its new Managing Director. Stephanie, who will maintain her role as the company's Resident Stage Manager, succeeds Victoria Sollecito, who remains on staff and becomes Skyline's first Development Director.

SUMMER SHORTS 2015 began at 59E59 Theaters, produced by Throughline Artists (J.J. Kandel, Producing Director), on July 17 and continues through August 29. The Off-Broadway Opening Party was held at Fogo de Chao Churrascaria last night, August 10, in New York City, and BroadwayWorld has photos of the festivities below!

On February 12, 1915, the Abrons Arts Center's Henry Street Settlement Playhouse opened its doors on the Lower East Side. Since that day, it has remained a vital cultural resource, providing audiences with artistically bold work while offering artists opportunities to dynamically grow. Since becoming Abrons Director in 2006, Jay Wegman has done much more than maintain 'one of the last standing locations for avant-garde performance downtown' (The New York Times, 2009). He has created an arts venue that is unique on the city's cultural landscape, presenting an international mix of cutting-edge performing and visual artists, both established and emerging, from across the country and around the world, as well as from New York City.

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater, presents DEAR EVAN HANSEN. The original musical, featuring a score by Tony Award nominees Benj Pasek & Justin Paul (Broadway's A Christmas Story, The Musical; Dogfight), a book by Steven Levenson (Masters of Sex) and directed by three-time Tony Award nominee Michael Greif (Broadway's Rent, Next to Normal, If/Then), is a contemporary, intimate story of hope, heartache and the things in life we all need-friends, family and a place to call home. With choreography by Danny Mefford and music supervision, orchestrations and dance arrangements by Tony Award winner Alex Lacamoire, Dear Evan Hansen runs now through August 23, 2015, opening tonight, July 30, in the Kreeger Theater.

Transport Group's current production, Three Days to See, an intimate portrait of Helen Keller, will offer a number of events surrounding the disabled community. Included is an audio described performance on July 29 for the visually impaired, an open captioned performance for the hearing impaired on August 5, and talkbacks with author Dr. Beth A. Haller (July 31) and Maricar Marquez of the Helen Keller National Center (August 4).

Transport Group's new theatre piece has a seven member ensemble portraying the famous deafblind woman.

Barbara Walsh and six other actors bring Helen Keller to life in an inventive production that uses her own words.

SUMMER SHORTS 2015 comes to 59E59 Theaters, produced by Throughline Artists (J.J. Kandel, Producing Director), today, July 17.

Broadway's new musical Amazing Grace officially opens tonight, July 16, at Broadway's Nederlander Theatre (208 West 41st Street). The show stars Tony Award nominee Josh Young, Erin Mackey, Tony Award winner Chuck Cooper, Tom Hewitt, Chris Hoch, Stanley Bahorek, Harriett D. Foy, Laiona Michelle, Rachael Ferrera and Elizabeth Ward Land. Scroll down to learn more about the cast, plus check out interviews with the company!

Casting is complete for SUMMER SHORTS 2015 at 59E59 Theaters, produced by Throughline Artists (J.J. Kandel, Producing Director). 

Transport Group will soon present Three Days to See, conceived and directed by Jack Cummings III, based on the words of Helen Keller.  Three Days to See is scheduled to begin performances July 12, open July 26, and finish its run August 16 at Theatre 79, 79 East 4 Street. 

ILENE GRAFF, Grammy-nominated recording artist, television, and Broadway star, along with her husband, ASCAP-Award winning Musical Director BEN LANZARONE, present their big band show: 'IT'S BETTER WITH A BAND!' tonight, June 24, 2015 at 8:30 P.M. at Hollywood's premiere live music venue, Catalina's Jazz Club ( 6275 Sunset Blvd.).

The award-winning musical, A Letter to Harvey Milk, based on the short story "A Letter to Harvey Milk" by Leslea Newman,  will enjoy an invite-only industry reading in New York City on Monday, June 22, 2015 at Times Square's Playroom Theatre. A Letter to Harvey Milk, has a book by Jerry James, Cheryl Stern and Laura I. Kramer, lyrics by Ellen M. Schwartz with additional lyrics by Cheryl Stern, and music by Laura I. Kramer, it has been musical directed, arranged and orchestrated by Ned Paul Ginsburg, and the reading will be directed by Evan Pappas (Performer: Parade, My Favorite Year).