Elaine Ivy Harris

Reacting to Wendy Davis' 2013 anti-abortion in the Texas Legislature, playwright C. Denby Swanson, author of 'The Norwegians,' resolved to write a play about a woman's right to choose and the effect of this wedge issue on female friendship or 'sisterhood.' The result was a darkly comedic drama, 'Gabriel: A Polemic,' in which four tightly-bonded women, confounded by issues of abortion and free will, are divided unexpectedly by a crisis of faith at their weekly dinner. The Drilling Company, which developed the play in a series of readings and workshops since 2014, will mount its world premiere March 9 to 26 at North of History, a new performance/gallery space founded by Gene Kaufman that is located at 445 Columbus Ave. (between 81st and 82nd Streets). Hamilton Clancy directs.

Shakespeare in the Parking Lot, presented by The Drilling Company, opens its 23rd season July 6 to 22 with 'All's Well That Ends Well,' directed by Karla Hendrick.  It's the first time this play has been presented in a parking lot, ever.

Shakespeare in the Parking Lot, presented by The Drilling Company, opens its 23rd season July 6 to 22 with 'All's Well That Ends Well,' directed by Karla Hendrick.  It's the first time this play has been presented in a parking lot, ever.

the cell presents the US Premiere of South African drama YEAR OF THE BICYCLE by Joanna Evans. Directed by Shariffa Aliby, it is presented as the centerpiece of the 2nd annual C.M.O.R.E. Festival dedicated to Creating More Opportunity for Racial Equity among playwrights, directors, and actors. Performances run now through May 2 at the cell (338 W 23rd St, between 8th & 9th Avenues). BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

The Drilling Company's critically-praised Steampunk adaptation of 'As You Like It,' which debuted in Shakespeare in the Parking Lot last summer, is to be remounted July 21 to 23 for Bryant Park Presents Shakespeare with its original cast mostly intact and expanded music by Natalie Smith and Andrew Gombas. The production offers delightful lessons of love, starting off in a stately English Victorian world and moving into a Steampunk paradise when the scene shifts from a conventional Duchy to the mythical Forest of Arden. Hamilton Clancy directs.

The Drilling Company's Shakespeare in the Parking Lot (www.shakespeareintheparkinglot.com) has found a new home in the Parking Lot behind The Clemente Soto Velez Cultural and Educational Center (CSV), 114 Norfolk Street between Delancey and Rivington Streets.  The troupe will kick off the third decade of Shakespeare in the Parking Lot there July 9 to 26 with 'As You Like It,' directed by Artistic Director Hamilton Clancy.  The production will offer delightful lessons of love, starting off in a stately English Victorian world and moving into a Steampunk paradise when the scene shifts from a conventional Duchy to the mythical Forest of Arden.

Infamous Commonwealth Theatre opens the first full production of their 2010 season dedicated to the topic Redemption with a revival of Arthur Miller's THE CRUCIBLE, directed by ICT's new Artistic Director, Chris Maher.

Infamous Commonwealth Theatre will close the first full production of their 2010 season dedicated to the topic Redemption with a revival of Arthur Miller's THE CRUCIBLE, directed by ICT's new Artistic Director, Chris Maher on April 25th.

Infamous Commonwealth Theatre opens the first full production of their 2010 season dedicated to the topic Redemption with a revival of Arthur Miller's THE CRUCIBLE, directed by ICT's new Artistic Director, Chris Maher.

Infamous Commonwealth Theatre opens the first full production of their 2010 season dedicated to the topic Redemption with a revival of Arthur Miller's THE CRUCIBLE, directed by ICT's new Artistic Director, Chris Maher.

Infamous Commonwealth Theatre opens the first full production of their 2010 season dedicated to the topic Redemption with a revival of Arthur Miller's THE CRUCIBLE, directed by ICT's new Artistic Director, Chris Maher.

Continuing Village Players' mainstage 'Season of Music' is the classic play Amadeus, running February 14 - March 15, 2009. In this Tony Award winner for Best Play, humor, romance, and revenge are combined into one riveting evening. Titled after the famous composer's pen name, Amadeus follows rival composer Antonio Salieri as he continually tries to undermine Mozart's success. Will Salieri be able to stop him or will Mozart emerge more renowned than ever? Peter Shaffer (author of Equus) has written a rich, exuberant portrayal of a God-like man among mortals, and lives destroyed by envy. 'Is there such a thing as 'God given talent'?,' asks director Doug Long, who has directed extensively as Village Players, throughout Chicago, and teaches at both DePaul University & Victory Gardens. 'In the arts, training and discipline are crucial, but so is talent, and it can't be taught, learned, or bargained for. In the play, Salieri is a successful court composer who aches for the kind of talent he sees in Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. He views Mozart as a profane and unworthy vessel for God's gifts. Both men are technically proficient, hard-working composers and musicians, but Salieri cannot find the elusive element to make his mediocre music have some of Mozart's beauty, passion, or inspiration.' Appearing as Salieri is veteran actor Larry Garner of Chicago. He has performed with Collaboraction, Seanachai, Pegasus, Eclipse, Journeymen, and understudied at Steppenwolf, Victory Gardens and Court Theatre. Recent credits include the Interpreter in Un Robot for Collaboraction, for which he shared an After Dark Award for Best Ensemble. A multilingual actor who has lived in Italy and France, Garner is also serving as Dialect Coach for the production.

Continuing Village Players' mainstage 'Season of Music' is the classic play Amadeus, running February 14 - March 15, 2009. In this Tony Award winner for Best Play, humor, romance, and revenge are combined into one riveting evening. Titled after the famous composer's pen name, Amadeus follows rival composer Antonio Salieri as he continually tries to undermine Mozart's success. Will Salieri be able to stop him or will Mozart emerge more renowned than ever? Peter Shaffer (author of Equus) has written a rich, exuberant portrayal of a God-like man among mortals, and lives destroyed by envy.

Continuing Village Players' mainstage 'Season of Music' is the classic play Amadeus, running February 14 - March 15, 2009.

Continuing Village Players' mainstage 'Season of Music' is the classic play Amadeus, running February 14 - March 15, 2009. In this Tony Award winner for Best Play, humor, romance, and revenge are combined into one riveting evening. Titled after the famous composer's pen name, Amadeus follows rival composer Antonio Salieri as he continually tries to undermine Mozart's success. Will Salieri be able to stop him or will Mozart emerge more renowned than ever? Peter Shaffer (author of Equus) has written a rich, exuberant portrayal of a God-like man among mortals, and lives destroyed by envy. 'Is there such a thing as 'God given talent'?,' asks director Doug Long, who has directed extensively as Village Players, throughout Chicago, and teaches at both DePaul University & Victory Gardens. 'In the arts, training and discipline are crucial, but so is talent, and it can't be taught, learned, or bargained for. In the play, Salieri is a successful court composer who aches for the kind of talent he sees in Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. He views Mozart as a profane and unworthy vessel for God's gifts. Both men are technically proficient, hard-working composers and musicians, but Salieri cannot find the elusive element to make his mediocre music have some of Mozart's beauty, passion, or inspiration.' Appearing as Salieri is veteran actor Larry Garner of Chicago. He has performed with Collaboraction, Seanachai, Pegasus, Eclipse, Journeymen, and understudied at Steppenwolf, Victory Gardens and Court Theatre. Recent credits include the Interpreter in Un Robot for Collaboraction, for which he shared an After Dark Award for Best Ensemble. A multilingual actor who has lived in Italy and France, Garner is also serving as Dialect Coach for the production.