WPA Theatre News

Bay Street Theatre begins the 2013 Mainstage Season with Lend Me a Tenor (May 28 - June 23). This hilarious Ken Ludwig comedy, under the direction of Don Stephenson, includes Judy Blazer, Scott Cote, Betsy DiLellio, Donna English, Nancy Johnston, Noah Plomgren, Steve Rosen and Roland Rusinek as its hilarious cast.

On Tuesday, June 11th at 6 p.m., Women Stage the World, an advocacy project from The League of Professional Theatre Women (LPTW), will bring to life a suffragette inspired parade in which Broadway theatregoers will see over 100 women parading and advocating for equal representation in theatre. Many parading will be wearing costumes in honor of famous women who set the stage: you may recognize the likes of Dorothy Parker, Katharine Cornell, Aphra Behn, Margo Jones, Lady Gregory or Hallie Flanagan, the director of WPA Theatre.

Bay Street Theatre begins the 2013 Mainstage Season with Lend Me a Tenor (May 28 - June 23). This hilarious Ken Ludwig comedy, under the direction of Don Stephenson, includes Judy Blazer, Scott Cote, Betsy DiLellio, Donna English, Nancy Johnston, Noah Plomgren, Steve Rosen and Roland Rusinek as its hilarious cast.

New York Theatre Workshop (NYTW) has announced that its 2013 Spring Gala, honoring Artistic Director James C. Nicola in celebration of 25 years of service to the organization, takes place tonight, Monday, May 20 at Tribeca Rooftop.

Full casting is announced for the World Premiere of Paper Dolls, the second production directed by Indhu Rubasingham as Artistic Director of the Tricycle Theatre.

Full casting is announced for the World Premiere of Paper Dolls, the second production directed by Indhu Rubasingham as Artistic Director of the Tricycle Theatre.

'Deceit' is a suspenseful and compelling play by Richard Ploetz that reveals how far some people are willing to take their lies to protect the fragile nature of 'being normal.' Theater for the New City will present the piece, directed by Andreas Robertz, tonight, January 10 to 27 in its Cino Theater.

GHOSTLIGHT RECORDS has announced the digital release of the Original London Cast Recording of the acclaimed musical 13 - The Musical on Tuesday, December 18. The show has music and lyrics by Tony Award-winner Jason Robert Brown and book by Dan Elish and Robert Horn, and was produced in London by Jeremy Walker for National Youth Music Theatre. The new recording, produced by Brown and recorded by Robin Sellars, includes two previously unrecorded songs, as well as revised lyrics and musical scoring, and the all-teenage cast that Mark Shenton of The Stage called 'rougher, tougher and more adorable' than the original Broadway company. In addition to the download - which will be available on Tuesday everywhere digital music is sold - physical CDs are available to order now at http://sh-k-boom.com/13MusicalOriginalLondonCast.shtml.

'Deceit' is a suspenseful and compelling play by Richard Ploetz that reveals how far some people are willing to take their lies to protect the fragile nature of 'being normal.' Theater for the New City will present the piece, directed by Andreas Robertz, January 10 to 27 in its Cino Theater.

Producer David Youse and Four Things Productions in association with L.A. Works has just announced a celebrity staged reading in celebration of The 25th Anniversary of Robert Harling's Steel Magnolias to take place on Monday, 3 December 2012 at 7pm to benefit The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). This special one night only event will take place at the Lucille Lortel Theater located at 121 Christopher Street in New York City, where the original production performed. Directed by Judith Ivey and starring Blythe Danner, Annie Potts as M'Lynn, the original Truvy, Margo Martindale as Ouiser, Celia Keenan-Bolger as Shelby and Sarah Stiles as Annelle. Additional cast announced soon! Music for this production has been generously donated by Bonnie Raitt and Pat Boone. With support from the 25th Anniversary Honorary Committee including Olympia Dukakis, Sally Field, Daryl Hannah, Shirley MacLaine, Dolly Parton and Julia Roberts and sponsored by Lifetime Television, Magnolia Bakery and Veranda Restaurant. A VIP reception with the cast and crew will follow this special performance.

Today, September 9th, 2012, David Youse, FOUR THINGS PRODUCTIONS in association with L.A. WORKS will present an unprecedented staged reading of the critically-acclaimed play, "Steel Magnolias" at The Broad Stage in Santa Monica. In partnership with playwright Robert Harling, FOUR THINGS PRODUCTIONS is honored to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of this remarkable story written for Harling's sister whom he lost through complications of diabetes. This very special performance will be directed by two-time Tony Award winner Judith Ivey and will feature multiple Emmy nominee and Golden Globe-winning actress Frances Conroy, Golden Globe and Emmy-nominee Elizabeth Perkins, Jennifer Coolidge and Golden Globe and Emmy nominee Annie Potts, along with additional cast members to be announced shortly. Conroy is replacing the previously-announced Kathy Bates in the role of Ouiser due to a scheduling conflict.

On Sunday, September 9th, 2012, David Youse, FOUR THINGS PRODUCTIONS in association with L.A. WORKS will present an unprecedented staged reading of the critically-acclaimed play, "Steel Magnolias" at The Broad Stage in Santa Monica. In partnership with playwright Robert Harling, FOUR THINGS PRODUCTIONS is honored to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of this remarkable story written for Harling's sister whom he lost through complications of diabetes. This very special performance will be directed by two-time Tony Award winner Judith Ivey and will feature multiple Emmy nominee and Golden Globe-winning actress Frances Conroy, Golden Globe and Emmy-nominee Elizabeth Perkins, Jennifer Coolidge and Golden Globe and Emmy nominee Annie Potts. According to the reading's official website, Mae Whitman has also joined the cast, with Jill Larson acting as host.

On Sunday, September 9th, 2012, David Youse, FOUR THINGS PRODUCTIONS in association with L.A. WORKS will present an unprecedented staged reading of the critically-acclaimed play, "Steel Magnolias" at The Broad Stage in Santa Monica. In partnership with playwright Robert Harling, FOUR THINGS PRODUCTIONS is honored to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of this remarkable story written for Harling's sister whom he lost through complications of diabetes. This very special performance will be directed by two-time Tony Award winner Judith Ivey and will feature multiple Emmy nominee and Golden Globe-winning actress Frances Conroy, Golden Globe and Emmy-nominee Elizabeth Perkins, Jennifer Coolidge and Golden Globe and Emmy nominee Annie Potts, along with additional cast members to be announced shortly. Conroy is replacing the previously-announced Kathy Bates in the role of Ouiser due to a scheduling conflict.

If the summer makes you yearn for a delightful musical, take the journey to the Olney Theatre Center and enjoy.

As part of a new initiative supporting promising young artists Off-Broadway, The York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director), in association with Patricia Hoag Simon, presents a new lab production of Songs for a New World with music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown. Songs for a New World began performances August 4 for a 6 performance limited engagement with the next performance scheduled for late night Saturday evening, August 11 at 11:00 p.m. at The York Theatre at Saint Peter's including special late-night performances on Fridays for "the show after the show."(Citicorp Building, entrance on East 54th Street, just east of Lexington Avenue). BroadwayWorld brings you photos of the cast in action below!

On Sunday, September 9th, 2012, David Youse, FOUR THINGS PRODUCTIONS in association with L.A. WORKS will present an unprecedented staged reading of the critically-acclaimed play, "Steel Magnolias" at The Broad Stage in Santa Monica. In partnership with playwright Robert Harling, FOUR THINGS PRODUCTIONS is honored to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of this remarkable story written for Harling's sister whom he lost through complications of diabetes. This very special performance will be directed by two-time Tony Award winner Judith Ivey and will feature Academy Award-winning actress Kathy Bates, Golden Globe and Emmy-nominee Elizabeth Perkins and Golden Globe and Emmy nominee Annie Potts along with additional cast members to be announced shortly.

As part of a new initiative supporting promising young artists Off-Broadway, The York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director), in association with Patricia Hoag Simon, presents a new lab production of Songs for a New World with music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown. Songs for a New World will begin performances today for 6 performances only August 4 - 12, 2012 at The York Theatre at Saint Peter's including special late-night performances on Fridays for "the show after the show."(Citicorp Building, entrance on East 54th Street, just east of Lexington Avenue). Directed by Bethany Christine Elkin (I Love a Piano) and music direction by Justin Fischer (Young Frankenstein), the four-member cast will feature Diana Buchwald (An American Tragedy), Ben Garrett (Rags), Krista Paolella (Edges: A Song Cycle) and Rafael Rodriguez (Evita).