Vineyard Theatre News

Thanks to a generous grant from the Time Warner Foundation, South Coast Repertory is launching its new CrossRoads Commissioning Project-a community-based initiative within the theatre's renowned new work program. As part of the project, SCR has commissioned eight playwrights, locally and nationally, to create new work inspired by residencies that explore the incredible diversity of Orange County.

Due to popular demand and critical acclaim, WANDA'S MONSTER A Family Musical will receive a commercial Off-Broadway engagement beginning tonight, July 13 and running through September 8 at The Vineyard's Dimson Theatre (108 East 15th Street), it has been announced by Barbara Zinn Krieger, Artistic Director of Making Books Sing, the non-profit and theatre company that commissioned the musical and presented it to critical acclaim and sold-out houses earlier this season.

If ever a show has become part of the 'fabric' of New York and pop culture, it is the Tony Award-winning musical AVENUE Q -- with its colorful cast of humans and puppets. The ground-breaking musical hits a new landmark this summer when it celebrates its 10th anniversary on Wednesday, July 31, 2013 with a 'Thank Q' to fans for the decade of laughter and love: starting at 10 a.m., the first 100 patrons in line can purchase $10 seats (cash only) to the special 7 p.m. 10th anniversary performance at New World Stages (340 W. 50 St.), where AVENUE Q has performed for the past four years following its triumphant six-year run on Broadway.

Theatre at breakfast is once again on the menu this Festival. Back by popular demand are two acclaimed Traverse Theatre Company productions which were developed from script-in-hand readings last year as part of the Herald Angel award-winning Dream Plays series. The shows will run Tuesday 13 - Sunday 25 August 2013.

Carner and Gregor have announced the winners of the BARELY LEGAL SHOWTUNE EXTRAVAGANZA V casting contest. Eight winners were selected from over 100 submissions received from college students around the country. Winners were selected by a four-person judging panel comprised of Casting Directors Michael Cassara and Jason Najjoum, Concert Director Marlo Hunter, and Concert Producer Alina Gutierrez. Carner and Gregor were not involved in the judging process. After four sold-out editions, Carner & Gregor's BARELY LEGAL SHOWTUNE EXTRAVAGANZA is back for its fifth year. The concert will take place Monday, August 5th at (le) Poisson Rouge. Showtime is 8PM. Doors open at 7PM.

David Abeles (Once, Original Cast Member) will take over the role of 'Pierre' in the hit downtown production of NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812 beginning tonight, July 9th. Dave Malloy, the show's creator, played his final performance as 'Pierre' on June 21st, as he leaves to work on several new projects including commissions from LCT3, San Francisco's American Conservatory Theater, and the Youth Musical Theater Company in Berkeley, as well as upcoming shows at the Incubator Arts Project and The Bushwick Starr.

Full casting is announced today for the London Premiere of Broadway musical [title of show], which will play at the Landor Theatre from Wednesday 7 August (press night Monday 12 August) to Saturday 14 September 2013. The cast will feature Simon Bailey as 'Jeff', Scott Garnham as 'Hunter', Sarah Galbraith as 'Susan' and Sophia Ragavelas as 'Heidi'.

Sundance Institute and the LUMA Foundation today announced that the two organizations will collaborate to host the Sundance Institute | LUMA Foundation Theatre Directors Retreat at Domaine de l'Armelliere, July 29 - August 9, in Arles, France. Under the supervision of Philip Himberg, Artistic Director of the Sundance Institute Theatre Program, Producing Director Christopher Hibma and Program Associate Anne Kauffman, the Retreat will be the first theatre director-centered residency at the Institute.

Dallas Theater Center presents the world premiere of Fly, a new musical based on J.M. Barrie's novel, Peter Pan. Three-time Tony Award-winning producer Jeffrey Seller (Rent, Avenue Q, In the Heights) makes his directorial debut with this production.

The Irish Repertory Theatre announces a second two-week extension of GIBRALTAR-Patrick Fitzgerald's acclaimed two-character adaptation of James Joyce's 'Ulysses'-with Off-Broadway performances now set to run through July 28 in the company's W. Scott McLucas Studio Theatre (132 West 22nd Street). Terry Kinney directs.

The Vineyard Theatre will present a one-night-only reading of Paula Vogel's Pulitzer Prize- winning play HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE tonight, Monday, July 1st at 8:00 PM. Reuniting for the first time since its celebrated premiere at The Vineyard in 1997 will be the original company: Mary-Louise Parker as 'L'il Bit,' David Morse as 'Uncle Peck,' Johanna Day, Kerry O'Malley and Justin Hagan. The reading, staged by the production's original director, Mark Brokaw, will take place at The Vineyard Theatre, located at 108 E. 15 Street.

The Old Globe today announced the cast and creative team for the Globe's revival of N. Richard Nash's classic romantic comedyThe Rainmaker. Directed by Maria Mileaf, The Rainmaker will run July 13 - August 11, 2013 on the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage in the Old Globe Theatre, part of the Globe's Conrad Prebys Theatre Center. Preview performances run July 13 - July 17. Opening night is Thursday, July 18 at 8:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at www.TheOldGlobe.org, by phone at (619) 23-GLOBE or by visiting the Box Office at 1363 Old Globe Way in Balboa Park.

[title of show] is the story of two musical theatre guys who aren't anywhere close to making it but decide to write a musical about writing a musical, starring themselves and their two best friends.

Dorset Theatre Festival continues its longstanding commitment to New Play Development with an exciting new work by award-winning playwright Adam Rapp. Now in its 6th Season, DTF's New Play Programs have drawn critical and national acclaim, attracting some of the top writers each year to their Writers Retreat and Play Reading Series. 'It is exciting that we have begun to attract such a sophisticated and engaged audience for our Reading Series. The Q & A with the writer and actors directly after the reading has become one of our hottest tickets,' says Ashley Connell, DTF's New Play Reading Coordinator.

Carol Fredette is everything you need in a jazz singer. She thinks, swings and phrases like a creative instrumentalist, yet her way with words captures the essence of a lyric," says critic Dan Morgenstern, one of her many fans. Her deep expressive voice, strong sense of swing and charismatic presence have wowed audiences, critics and fellow musicians the world over. Fredette's reputation has continued to grow as a fine educator, vocal coach and record producer.

Due to popular demand and critical acclaim, WANDA'S MONSTER A Family Musical will receive a commercial Off-Broadway engagement beginning July 13 and running through September 8 at The Vineyard's Dimson Theatre (108 East 15th Street), it has been announced by Barbara Zinn Krieger, Artistic Director of Making Books Sing, the non-profit and theatre company that commissioned the musical and presented it to critical acclaim and sold-out houses earlier this season. The official press re-opening night of WANDA'S MONSTER A Family Musical is Sunday July 21, 2013, and is presented Off-Broadway by Making Books Sing and Jamie Cesa.

The Irish Repertory Theatre announces a two-week extension of GIBRALTAR-Patrick Fitzgerald's acclaimed two-character adaptation of James Joyce's 'Ulysses'-with Off-Broadway performances now set to run through July 14 in the company's W. Scott McLucas Studio Theatre (132 West 22nd Street). Terry Kinney directs.

Primary Stages launches their 29th season with the New York premiere of Harbor by Tony-nominated writer Chad Beguelin (Elf, The Wedding Singer). Directed by Tony-nominated director Mark Lamos (Seascape, The Rivals, The Deep Blue Sea), the production features Erin Cummings (Starz's 'Spartacus: Blood and Sand', CBS' 'Made In Jersey'), Randy Harrison (Showtime's 'Queer As Folk', Broadway's Wicked), Alexis Molnar (world premiere of Harbor at Westport Playhouse), and Paul Anthony Stewart (Broadway's Fiddler on the Roof, The People in the Picture). Harbor runs July 23 - September 8 at Primary Stages at 59E59 Theaters. Opening night is August 6.