Actors Theatre of Louisville News

The Contemporary American Theater Festival (CATF) at Shepherd University presents its 23rd season, set for today, July 5 - 28, 2013.

Drake joins librettist Lola Rock 'N' Rolla (writer/director of B-movies Dragzilla, Night of the Living Gay, I Was a Tranny Werewolf, and Nefertitty) and songwriter Gina Volpe (guitarist of the seminal NYC punk band The Lunachicks) to mount the new musical. Homo The Musical! opens at the PTC Performance Space (555 West 42nd Street) on July 23, 2013.

Throughline Artists (J.J. Kandel, Executive Producer; John McCormack, Producing Artistic Director) will present SUMMER SHORTS 2013, their seventh annual festival of new American short plays from established and emerging writers, at 59E59 Theaters (59 East 59th Street). Performances will begin Friday July 19th, and continue through Saturday August 31st only.

The National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) announced on June 28 the nine musicals selected to be part of the 25th Annual Festival of New Musicals on Thursday, October 17 and Friday, October 18 at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street).

The Contemporary American Theater Festival (CATF) at Shepherd University presents its 23rd season, to be held July 5 - 28, 2013.

San Diego REPertory Theatre (San Diego REP) in partnership with the San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts (SCPA) will present "In the Heights" by Quiara Alegria Hudes as the first production of the company's 38th season. The Tony and Grammy Award-winning production was conceived by and with music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, and the San Diego REP production is directed by Sam Woodhouse and starring Jai Rodriguez.

The critically acclaimed, award-winning Elephant Theatre Company continues its 17th season with the world premiere of Revelation by Samuel Brett Williams, directed by Elephant Co-Artistic Director Lindsay Allbaugh. Preview performances begin Tuesday, July 16, and opening is set for Friday, July 19 at 8pm. Revelation will run through August 25.

Undercover Productions will present the WORLD PREMIERE of ETHEL SINGS: Espionage in High C, written by Joan Beber. ETHEL SINGS begins previews on June 27th, with tonight's June 28th opening at Walker Space. Directed by Jules Aaron, ETHEL SINGS has set design by Gary Guidinger, lighting design by John Eckert Original Music by Max Kinberg & costume design by Michele Young. Sarah Brown stages manages & Sherry Netherland assistant directs. Ethel Sings is produced by Linda Toliver & Gary Guidinger for Undercover Productions.

The Hangar Theatre continues its 39th season with one of the greatest American musicals of all time, Gypsy, which runs from July 4-20. Distinguished by more than 45 awards and nominations - including the Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, and Theatre World awards - Gypsy has been revived on Broadway four times. Gypsy was inspired by the memoirs of the legendary burlesque performer Gypsy Rose Lee. This gripping story follows the ultimate stage mother, determined to catapult her daughters to stardom in the waning 1920s vaudeville circuit. It's filled with Styne and Sondheim's popular standards, including 'Everything's Coming up Roses,' 'Small World,' 'Let Me Entertain You,' 'All I Need Is the Girl,' and 'Rose's Turn.'

Theatre Communications Group (TCG) announces the publication of 4000 Miles & After the Revolution: Two Plays by Amy Herzog, 'one of the brightest new talents in the theatre' (New York Times).

Berkshire Theatre Group presents James Goldman's The Lion in Winter at The Fitzpatrick Main Stage in Stockbridge opening on June 29 at 8pm. Previews begin tonight, June 25 at 8pm and closing is on July 13 at 8pm.

Premiere Stages is proud to present the New Jersey Premiere of Clybourne Park by Bruce Norris from July 11th through July 29th in the Zella Fry Theatre at Kean University. Directed by Wes Grantom, this Tony Award-winning play is an exceptionally witty and deliciously dry satire that explores the reactions of Clybourne Park's 1950s all-white community when a couple unknowingly sells their house to a black family. The tables of gentrification turn when - fifty years later - the now all-black community greets the news of an impending sale to a white family with the same level of apprehension.

Following the sold-out reading and discussion at 92YTribeca, comes the fully staged, Off-Broadway production and world premiere of HANDBOOK FOR AN AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY.

Kristoffer Diaz's Pulitzer Prize nominated play THE ELABORATE ENTRANCE OF CHAD DEITY makes its Sacramento debut at Capital Stage this summer. Slamming together thrilling spectacle, incredible characters, and geopolitical allegory, ELABORATE ENTRANCE is a uniquely invigorating theatrical experience. THE ELABORATE ENTRANCE OF CHAD DEITY runs from July 10 through August 11.

Undercover Productions will present the WORLD PREMIERE of ETHEL SINGS: Espionage in High C, written by Joan Beber. ETHEL SINGS begins previews on June 27th, with a June 28th opening at Walker Space. Directed by Jules Aaron, ETHEL SINGS has set design by Gary Guidinger, lighting design by John Eckert Original Music by Max Kinberg & costume design by Michele Young. Sarah Brown stages manages & Sherry Netherland assistant directs. Ethel Sings is produced by Linda Toliver & Gary Guidinger for Undercover Productions.

How does a state contend with a barbarous ruler who is perceived to be appointed by God? King Richard II, portrayed by three-time OBIE Award winner Rocco Sisto, has designed the murder of his uncle, wasted public funds, and used the influence of his crown to misrule a nation. When Richard banishes Henry Bolingbroke (played by Tom O'Keefe, The Taster 2010), he unwittingly fashions an enemy who is intent on orchestrating the King's demise.

Casting has been announced for The Hub Theatre's summer production of JORDAN HARRISON's gender-bending comedy, ACT A LADY. The men of a small 1920's Mid Western town have decided to put on a 'real fancy dress up' play in full drag. The cast is led by a trio of amazing actresses - Helen Hayes nominated actress TONI RAE SALMI as Dorothy, the no nonsense, accordion playing head of her household; Helen Hayes Award Winner and Hub veteran JENNA SOKOLOWSKI as Lorna, the object of men's affections and expert makeup artist; andNORA ACHRATI as Zina, the passionate and powerful theatre director accompanies her 'from the continent.'

One of Greater Boston's most beloved traditions, Commonwealth Shakespeare Company's 'Free Shakespeare On The Common' celebrates its 18th season with the comedy The Two Gentlemen of Verona. Inspired by Rat Pack-era Vegas, this production brings together the talents of CSC's Artistic Director Steve Maler, music director Colin Thurmond and choreographer Yo-el Cassel. Playing July 6 - 28, 2013, performances are free and open to the public.

Rodgers and Hammerstein's first collaboration, Oklahoma!, which earned the legendary duo a special Pulitzer prize, opens the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival's 22nd season. The musical previews tonight, June 12th and 13th, opens June 14th, running through June 30th on the main stage.

Born and abandoned in the bathroom of a fast food restaurant, Bob travels across America determined to become a 'great' man. The Echo Theater Company presents the Los Angeles premiere of Peter Sinn Nachtrieb's hilarious, award-winning comedy, BOB: A Life in Five Acts. Echo artistic director Chris Fields helms the limited 4-week run, tonight, June 8 through June 30 at Atwater Village Theatre.