American Place Theatre News

This week's guest on THEATER TALK is journalist Jeremy Gerard, author of the new book, Wynn Place Show, subtitled A Biased History of the Rollicking Life & Extreme Times of Wynn Handman and the American Place Theatre (Smith and Kraus Publishers). Gerard tells co-hosts Michael Riedel of the New York Post and Susan Haskins about the remarkable place in theater history occupied by Handman, Artistic Director and Co-Founder of The American Place Theatre and, at age 91, still one of New York's most sought-after acting teachers.

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!

PROFILE THEATRE (Adriana Baer, Artistic Director) proudly presents EYES FOR CONSUELA by Sam Shepard, the inaugural production in its 2014 season dedicated to the work of the playwright. Performances begin on January 16, 2014 and will be the company's premiere in their new home at Artists Repertory Theatre. Tickets are currently on sale at Profiletheatre.org.

After a six-week hiatus, 'The Norwegians' by C. Denby Swanson will resume Off-Broadway performances on January 9, 2014 at The Drilling Company, 236 West 78th Street. The production, which began Off-off Broadway last season, has had 75 performances so far. It played Off-off Broadway from March 8 to April 14, 2013 and re-opened October 3, 2014 on an Off-Broadway contract. The Off-Broadway run was suspended November 24, 2013 to accommodate a pre-existing commitment for the theater space. Encouraged by solid audience demand, The Drilling Company has decided to resume the Off-Broadway production January 9, 2014 as an open-ended run.

Holiday cheer will abound at Cleveland Play House (CPH) with an all-new production of the beloved holiday classic, A Christmas Story running from tonight, Nov. 29th - Dec. 22nd in the Allen Theatre at PlayhouseSquare.

Holiday cheer will abound at Cleveland Play House (CPH) with an all-new production of the beloved holiday classic, A Christmas Story running from Nov. 29th - Dec. 22nd in the Allen Theatre at PlayhouseSquare. In honor of the 30th anniversary of the unforgettable film, CPH enthusiastically breathes new life into this classic story about Ralphie and his ultimate Christmas wish. Having delighted audiences for 30 years on both the big and small screens, this incredible production is brought to vivid life on stage for Northeast Ohio audiences. Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased by calling (216) 241-6000 or online at www.clevelandplayhouse.com. CPH is pleased to have University Hospitals as the Presenting Sponsor of A Christmas Story, along with Benesch, Nordson and FirstMerit as Supporting Sponsors.

A Noise Within (ANW), the acclaimed classical repertory theatre company, presents a free reading of Ferenc Molnar's Liliom, the play upon which the popular 1950's musical Carousel was based. Apollo Dukakis, a resident artist with the company, directs the piece, using the Benjamin F. Glazer translation, with a cast of sixteen portraying multiple roles. Admission for the reading is free. RSVP via phone to 626-356-3100 x1 to reserve your seat. This reading takes place during the run of The Guardsman, another well-known work by Ferenc Molnar, at A Noise Within, now playing through November 30.

Sundance Institute today announced the seven artists selected for its 2014 Playwrights Retreat at Ucross Foundation. The 15th annual writing colony at the 20,000-acre working cattle ranch outside of Sheridan, WY takes place February 3-21. Under the supervision of Artistic Director Philip Himberg and Producing Director Christopher Hibma, the Playwrights Retreat is made possible through the generosity of Ucross Foundation.

A Noise Within (ANW), the acclaimed classical repertory theatre company, presents a free reading of Ferenc Molnar's Liliom, the play upon which the popular 1950's musical Carousel was based. Apollo Dukakis, a resident artist with the company, directs the piece, using the Benjamin F. Glazer translation, with a cast of sixteen portraying multiple roles. Admission for the reading is free. RSVP via phone to 626-356-3100 x1 to reserve your seat. This reading takes place during the run of The Guardsman, another well-known work by Ferenc Molnar, at A Noise Within, now playing through November 30.

According to The New York Times, Rev. Sidney Lanier, an experimental stage producer, passed away on Sept. 23 in Santa Barbara, Calif. He was 90.

Woodie King Jr's New Federal Theatre kicks off its 44th season with 'The Ed Bullins Project' - two revivals from his 'Twentieth Century Cycle of Plays' - In The Wine Time and The Fabulous Miss Marie. Bullins, winner of the prestigious NY Drama Critics' Circle Award and OBIE Award for The Taking of Miss Janie, has greatly influenced American theatre, especially Black theatre. His work, characterized by disdain for ineffective political rhetoric as a substitute for action, most often examines the lives of Black people in the inner city. In 1968, Clive Barnes, writing in the New York Times called Bullins 'a welcome addition to the ranks of New York playwrights.' Four years later, Barnes added 'Bullins writes the way Charlie Parker played: It is all so easy and effortless. It sounds improvised, and yet it doesn't sound improvised, simply because it is the improvisation of formality.' Today, Bullins is regarded as a seminal force in the American theater.

Friends Always Creating Theatre lives-up to its name as they open their 5th season. They are one of the most prolific companies in New York City and will start this season by presenting a One-Night Only Staged Reading of 'The Lost Boy' by the late Ron Paolillo (aka Ron Pallilo) starring Broadway's Blake Hammond and Guiseppe Bausilio.

From October 3 to 28, 2013 The Drilling Company will present an Off-Broadway run of its hit comedy from last season, 'The Norwegians' by C. Denby Swanson, directed by Elowyn Castle. Performances will be at The Drilling Company Theatre, 236 West 78th Street, featuring the original cast.

Lacy lingerie and lots and lots of sardines abound in the Clarence Brown Theatre season opener 'Noises Off' playing on the mainstage September 5-22, 2013. The two-time Tony nominated farce written by Michael Frayn looks at the follies of theatre people, whose susceptibility to out-of-control egos, memory loss and passionate affairs turns every performance into quite the adventure. If you enjoy a good laugh, this production is definitely for you. The New York Times critic Frank Rich called it 'the funniest play written in my lifetime.' Special behind-the-scenes tours will be given following the Sept. 11 and 12 shows. Corporate sponsors for the production are Schaad Companies and Pilot Flying J. The play contains adult language and content and is recommended for mature audiences.

Angelina Fiordellisi, Founding Artistic Director of Cherry Lane Theatre, announces the following productions for the company's 2013-14 season:

Theatre of NOTE presents the an encore presentation of Eat the Runt, written by Avery Crozier and directed by Tom Beyer. Eat the Runt is a satirical piece which turns its eye on political correctness, office politics, sexual harassment, religious persuasions, and societal and cultural norms.

Theatre of NOTE presents the an encore presentation of Eat the Runt, written by Avery Crozier and directed by Tom Beyer. Eat the Runt is a satirical piece which turns its eye on political correctness, office politics, sexual harassment, religious persuasions, and societal and cultural norms.

Artists Rep is thrilled to present the West Coast premiere of Jeffrey Hatcher's play Ten Chimneys from April 23 through May 26, 2013. This revealing comedy peers into the backstage lives of Broadway power-duo Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne and summers spent at their legendary Wisconsin estate, Ten Chimneys.

Young Audiences New York is hosting a panel discussion on the cognitive dissonance of living in a city that is arguably the cultural center of the world, yet many of its public school students have little or no contact with either the city's cultural wealth nor the opportunity to have the arts included in their education. The breakout session is part of the Young Audiences 60th Anniversary National Conference taking place in New York City April 25-27, 2013. It is titled, 'Abundance in a Time of Scarcity: Creative Solutions for Urban Arts Education.'

Artists Rep is thrilled to present the West Coast premiere of Jeffrey Hatcher's play Ten Chimneys from tonight, April 23 through May 26, 2013. This revealing comedy peers into the backstage lives of Broadway power-duo Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne and summers spent at their legendary Wisconsin estate, Ten Chimneys.