Alex Mandell News

Tonight before a crowd of 1,200 theatre-makers and theatre-lovers at the historic Lincoln Theatre, theatreWashington celebrated excellence on Washington stages at the 2015 Helen Hayes Awards. The awards celebration was a night of excitement and surprise as 57 Washington theatre artists, theatres, and ensembles received honors in 47 categories for their outstanding accomplishments during the 2014 theatre season. Scroll down for the full list of winners!

The new American play Hand to God opens on Broadway tonight, April 7, 2015 at the Booth Theatre (222 West 45th Street), marking the Broadway debuts of playwright Robert Askins and director Moritz von Stuelpnagel. Scroll down to learn more about the cast and watch interviews with the company!

One of the country's most prestigious cultural honors, The Helen Hayes Awards recognizes and celebrates excellence in professional theatre throughout the Washington metropolitan area. theatreWashington will host The 2015 Helen Hayes Awards ceremony tonight, April 6, 2015 at the historic Lincoln Theatre.

MCC Theater presents the New York premiere of Jennifer Haley's The Nether directed by Anne Kaufman and starring Ben Rosenfield, Sophia Anne Caruso, Merritt Wever, Peter Friedman and Frank Wood. The Nether runs now through March 15, 2015 at the Lucille Lortel Theatre (121 Christopher Street). Check out photos from opening night below!

Tonight before a crowd of 150 theatre makers and theatre lovers, theatreWashington announced the nominees for the 2015 Helen Hayes Awards. One of the country's most prestigious cultural honors, The Helen Hayes Awards recognizes and celebrates excellence in professional theatre throughout the Washington metropolitan area. Watch the full announcement below, and scroll down for the list of nominees!

As the show opens, Jonah is innocently trying to play video games to distract himself from the days events while Daphna harangues him into attentiveness to her complaints about Liam and the world, generally. Liam, who was not at the funeral (much to the aggravation of Daphna), is soon to arrive at the apartment and is bringing, unbeknownst to Jonah and Daphna, his very blonde and very goyische girlfriend, Melody. When they arrive, civility between Liam and Daphna is clearly moot, and Jonah and Melody are forced to play peacekeepers. From there, the situation devolves into one of the most vitriolic confrontation I've ever seen between two characters onstage.

Olney Theatre Center, a Maryland destination for professional theater performance and education, continues its critically-acclaimed 76thAnniversary season with a starry cast of DC-area veteran award-winners in Clifford Odets' classic family drama AWAKE AND SING! September 24 - October 19, 2014 on the Mainstage. Directed by Studio Theatre Producing Director (and 2013 Helen Hayes Award Winner) Serge Seiden, the cast features2014 Helen Hayes Award Winner Rick Foucheux, 2011 Helen Hayes Award Winner Naomi Jacobson, Rick Foucheux, Olney veteran Paul Morella, and Olney newcomers Laura C. Harris and Alex Mandell.

Last night, Robert Askins' Hand to God opened at the MCC Theater. BroadwayWorld was there for the opening- check out pictures of the cast below!

The Flea Theater has announced the World Premiere of Mallery Avidon's MARY-KATE OLSEN IS IN LOVE. This satire about love and growing-up and "being real" will be directed by Flea Resident Director Kristen Seemel and feature members of The Bats. Previews begin November 1 with opening slated for November 18. Says Producing Director Carol Ostrow, "this witty and wise play by on-the-rise writer Mallery Avidon tackles the notion of love, sex and marriage and the challenges of 20-somethings who think they know how to have it all."

Forum Theatre's 10th Anniversary Season has begun! The 2013-2014 season will features two world premieres, two regional premieres, and the return of an acclaimed Forum production. For the fifth year in a row, Forum will be in residence at Round House Theatre Silver Spring.

The sordid tale of Leopold and Loeb is the subject of NEVER THE SINNER now receiving a strong production at 1st Stage in Tysons. Directed by Jeremy Skidmore, the play is carefully crafted and is a winning blend of theatrical bravura, sexual tension, calculating criminals, and period flair. Stephen Russell Murray and Alex Mandell also give tour-de-force performances.

The Flea Theater presents the New York premiere of Restoration Comedy by Pultizer Prize-finalist Amy Freed. It will be directed by Ed Sylvanus Iskandar, a 2012 Drama Desk Award nominee for These Seven Sicknesses, and stars The Bats, the resident Acting Company at The Flea. The production opened last night, December 10. Check out photos from the opening night party below!

The Flea Theater presents the New York premiere of Restoration Comedy by Pultizer Prize-finalist Amy Freed. It will be directed by Ed Sylvanus Iskandar, a 2012 Drama Desk Award nominee for These Seven Sicknesses, and stars The Bats, the resident Acting Company at The Flea. The production opened last night, December 10, and BroadwayWorld has a first look at the show in the photos below!

The Flea Theater presents the New York premiere of Restoration Comedy by Pultizer Prize-finalist Amy Freed. It will be directed by Ed Sylvanus Iskandar, a 2012 Drama Desk Award nominee for These Seven Sicknesses, and stars The Bats, the resident acting company at The Flea. Previews begin tonight, November 25 with opening night slated for December 10.

The Flea Theater presents the New York premiere of Restoration Comedy by Pultizer Prize-finalist Amy Freed. It will be directed by Ed Sylvanus Iskandar, a 2012 Drama Desk Award nominee for These Seven Sicknesses, and stars The Bats, the resident acting company at The Flea. Previews begin November 25 with opening night slated for December 10.

Libra Theater Company has announced its Spring 2012 production of 12th Night by William Shakespeare. Directed by Evan Mueller (Amphibian Productions' Animals Out of Paper - "Best Of", Fort Worth Weekly), 12th Night features a talented ensemble cast including Drama Desk nominee Jeremy Morse (Bloodsong of Love, Ars Nova) as well as original songs and music direction by Jeff Raab. The show runs tonight, May 1 through May 12, 2012.

Libra Theater Company has announced its Spring 2012 production of 12th Night by William Shakespeare. Directed by Evan Mueller (Amphibian Productions' Animals Out of Paper - "Best Of", Fort Worth Weekly), 12th Night features a talented ensemble cast including Drama Desk nominee Jeremy Morse (Bloodsong of Love, Ars Nova) as well as original songs and music direction by Jeff Raab. The show runs May 1-12, 2012.