Wilma Theatre News

Like so many facets of our society brought to a halt by the coronavirus pandemic, the theatre industry currently finds itself at this terrifying impasse. Despite steep reservations and an unclear understanding of what constitutes risk for employees and audiences alike, many arts institutions have begun weighing their options when it comes to how and when to resume operations.

Parallel 45 Theatre and The MITTEN Lab are expand their partnership this summer by hosting P45's inaugural commissioned playwright and MITTEN Lab alumna, Jacqueline Goldfinger, in residency at the Lab from July 10 - 19, 2020 to develop a new play with director Katherine M. Carter.

Due to ongoing restrictions regarding social gathering amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Ministry will be rescheduling the July and August dates of the upcoming Industrial Strength Tour, originally scheduled to begin July 1.

The Wilma Theatre in Philadelphia has announced an innovative new program that provides audience members flexibility and peace of mind about when and how they return to their theatre after the COVID-19 health crisis.

Artists in Place is holding an online telethon Sunday March 22, noon to midnight to benefit artists, actors and creatives in the Philadelphia area in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

'Fighting Words' by Sunil Kuruvilla will run for three weeks beginning April 10th at 7 Stages Theatre Back Stage, 1105 Euclid Avenue NE Atlanta Georgia 30307. (Preview on April 9th)

Built To Spill have shared their version of the Daniel Johnston classic 'Life In Vain' from the upcoming album Built To Spill Plays The Songs of Daniel Johnston, out May 1, 2020 via Ernest Jenning Record Co. The album is comprised of 11 tracks of Daniel Johnston's fractured pop, presented through the eyes of Built To Spill. 'Life In Vain' debuted via Stereogum.

Shakespeare's epic Fire and Reign series continues with a dynamic production of Henry IV, Part 1, produced by Orlando Shakes in partnership with UCF. This production will run in repertory February 19 - March 21, 2020 along with Alexandre Dumas' The Three Musketeers, as adapted by Catherine Bush. Tickets (starting at $30) are available now by phone (407) 447-1700 ext. 1, online at orlandoshakes.org, or in person at the John and Rita Lowndes Shakespeare Center (812 East Rollins Street).

What is exceedingly special about the Wilma's production is that all storytelling elements work together in perfect harmony to create a visually stunning, entertaining and thought-provoking production. 

In honor of the 30th anniversary of Ministry's revolutionary album “The Mind Is A Terrible Thing To Taste,” band creator Al Jourgensen decided to go old school with the celebrations, announcing The Industrial Strength Tour to kick off this summer alongside very special guests KMFDM and Front Line Assembly.

The Big Chill meets This is Us in Rachel Bonds' play Goodnight Nobody. In this deeply moving and funny world premiere, a group of old friends reconnect after years apart. They reminisce with wild abandon, until the things they aren't telling each other come hurtling to the surface. The production runs January 10 through February 9 in McCarter's Berlind Theatre. More about the production at mccarter.org.

TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, recipient of the 2019 Tony Award for Regional Theatre, has announced the appointment of Tim Bond as its new Artistic Director. Bond will join the company officially in March 2020, stepping in as Founding Artistic Director Robert Kelley winds down his 50th and final season at the helm of the theatre he created, ending one of the longest tenures in American theatre. Kelley previously announced his retirement at the conclusion of the company's current season in June 2020. Said Bond upon accepting the appointment, a?oeI am thrilled to have the opportunity to continue Robert Kelley's great work, and to lead this spirited company into its next exciting phase.a??

Four young black men, torn from the world without warning, discover themselves stuck in a nebulous waiting room in the afterlife. While balancing the reality of their past and the uncertainty of their future, their souls try to find peace in Kill Move Paradise by James Ijames, receiving its Chicago premiere February 12 - April 5, 2020 at TimeLine Theatre Company.

Rave Theater Festival's reading of FIRST BLACK PRESIDENT, a new American play by Ofem Ajah, M.D. announces cast. Obie award-winning actress Yvette Ganier ('Breath, Boom', 'Jitney', 'Gem of the Ocean') will direct. The reading starts at 12:30 Wednesday, August 21st at Teatro SEA, at the Clemente Soto Velez Cultural Center, located at 107 Suffolk Street, 1st Floor in Manhattan. The reading is free and open to the public. Please R.S.V.P to ofema753@gmail.com.

Rave Theater Festival's reading of FIRST BLACK PRESIDENT, a new American play by Ofem Ajah, M.D. announces cast. Obie award-winning actress Yvette Ganier ('Breath, Boom', 'Jitney', 'Gem of the Ocean') will direct. The reading starts at 12:30 Wednesday, August 21st at Teatro SEA, at the Clemente Soto Velez Cultural Center, located at 107 Suffolk Street, 1st Floor in Manhattan. The reading is free and open to the public. Please R.S.V.P to ofema753@gmail.com.

The Rave Theater Festival will present a reading of FIRST BLACK PRESIDENT, a new American play by Ofem Ajah, M.D. Obie award-winning actress Yvette Ganier ('Breath, Boom', 'Jitney', 'Gem of the Ocean') will direct. The reading starts at 12:30 Wednesday, August 21st at Teatro SEA, at the Clemente Soto Velez Cultural Center, located at 107 Suffolk Street, 1st Floor in Manhattan. The reading is free and open to the public. Please R.S.V.P to ofema753@gmail.com.

Acclaimed singer/songwriter Pieta Brown will release her new album Freeway on September 20th via Ani DiFranco's Righteous Babe Records. The lush new album was co-produced with Bon Iver drummer and renowned solo artist S. Carey. Today she shared the cinematic video for her latest single 'Ask For More.'

Page By Page, the popular monthly subscription service for theater artists and theater lovers, announced an expansion today with new benefits and new tiered pricing for the 2019-20 theater season. Page By Page

The OBIE Award-winning NAATCO, National Asian American Theatre Company, kicks off their 29th season with the World Premiere of Gordon Dahlquist's [Veil Widow Conspiracy]. Aneesha Kudtarkar directs a cast that will include Edward Chin-Lyn, Kimiye Corwin, Bruce McKenzie, David Shih, James Seol, Karoline Xu, and Aaron Yoo. This Off-Broadway limited engagement at Next Door at New York Theatre Workshop (79 East 4th Street) will begin performances Saturday June 8th with Opening Night set for June 15th (7pm).  Performances continue through July 6th only.

Recently featured in a New York Times project called "Black Writers of Our Time," Philadelphia-based playwright James Ijames is an artist on everyone's A-list. His newest play, Kill Move Paradise, is a new take the Elysium of Greek antiquity. Inspired by recent events, the play is an expressionistic buzz saw through the contemporary myth that 'all lives matter.