William Alfred News

In a co-production with IAMA Theatre Company, Boston Court’s current production - Tira Palmquist’s The Body’s Midnight opened April 18, 2024. Boston Court’s artistic director Jessica Kubzansky directs this world premiere cast of Ryan W. Garcia, Jonathan Nichols-Navarro, Sonal Shah and Keliher Walsh. Midst her multiple responsibilities, Jessica found time to answer a few of my queries.

City Councilman Keith Powers, former Mayor Bill DeBlasio, former acting students of Wynn Handman and maybe a star or two will gather Monday, September 12 at 11:00 AM on the southeast corner of 7th Avenue and 56th Street for the naming of West 56th Street between Sixth and Seventh Avenues as Wynn Handman Way.

Wynn Handman, the famed New York acting teacher and Artistic Director of The American Place Theatre, died at home April 11, 2020 of Covid-19 related pneumonia. He was 97.

A special on-location THEATER TALK features a warm and revealing interview with legendary acting coach and off-Broadway producer Wynn Handman, former Artistic Director and Co-Founder of The American Place Theatre, a home to some of the most significant playwrights and performers of the late 20th century. In his office and classroom, Handman speaks with former student and THEATER TALK co-host Susan Haskins about his notable career. With a roster of actors he mentored that includes Richard Gere, Dustin Hoffman, and Denzel Washington, Handman shares how he created a home for plays that were “an alternative to Broadway.”

The Poets' Theatre has announced that it is reorganizing and planning to present a full season of programming in 2014-2015. This historic Cambridge based organization will be led by Robert Scanlan, as President and Artistic Director, Benjamin Evett as the new Producing Artistic Director, and David Gullette as Literary Director. Scanlan, Evett, and Gullette have been charged by the Board of Directors to bring The Poets' Theatre back to prominence after more than a decade of inactivity. They will professionalize the company, create valuable partnerships with other organizations, and develop the resources to allow the theatre to present top quality productions in a regular and sustainable manner.

A book launch party for 'Wynn Place Show: A Biased History of the Rollicking Life & Extreme Times of Wynn Handman and The American Place Theatre' by Jeremy Gerard (Smith and Kraus Publishers) was held December 16, 2013 at The Players Club, 16 Gramercy Park South, NYC. Stars attending the book launch celebration were Richard Gere, John Leguizamo and Frank Langella. Scroll down for photos from the event!

Producers Whoopi Goldberg and Stage Entertainment have announced that Tony Award-winner Victoria Clark will co-star as Mother Superior in the new Broadway musical, SISTER ACT, beginning preview performances on March 24, 2011 and opening on Wednesday, April 20, 2011 at the Broadway Theatre (1681 Broadway). As previously announced, Olivier Award nominee Patina Miller will reprise her critically acclaimed performance as Deloris Van Cartier, which she originated in the West End production of SISTER ACT.

The original cast recording of the 1970 musical 'Cry for Us All' will be released on CD in November. The melodramatic musical features music by Mitch Leigh, lyrics by William Alfred and Phyllis Robinson, and book by William Alfred and Albert Marre. The show was adapted from Alfred's 1966 off-Broadway play, Hogan's Goat.'Cry For Us All' opened at the Broadhurst Theater on April 8, 1970 and closed after only nine performances.

The original cast recording of the 1970 musical 'Cry for Us All' will be released on CD in November. The melodramatic musical features music by Mitch Leigh, lyrics by William Alfred and Phyllis Robinson, and book by William Alfred and Albert Marre. The show was adapted from Alfred's 1966 off-Broadway play, Hogan's Goat.'Cry For Us All' opened at the Broadhurst Theater on April 8, 1970 and closed after only nine performances.

On Monday, March 7, the 92nd Street Y presents The Rage of Achilles-the world premiere of Kathryn Walker's adaptation for the stage of Robert Fagles' translation of The Iliad.