American Playwrights News

The Play Company (PlayCo; Founding Producer, Kate Loewald) announced today that Robert G. Bradshaw, who since July 2016 has served as Interim Managing Director, has been promoted to the role of Managing Director, effective immediately.

Playwrights Foundation, one of the West Coast's premiere launchpads for exceptional emerging playwrights, is thrilled to announce the lineup for the 40th Anniversary Bay Area Playwrights Festival (BAPF), featuring playwrights Hilary Bettis, Clarence Coo, Bennett Fisher, Lauren Gunderson, Nilan Johnson, and Mona Mansour. The 40th Anniversary Bay Area Playwrights Festival runs July 13 - 23, 2017 at Custom Made Theatre, 533 Sutter Street in the heart of San Francisco's Theater District.  In addition to twelve staged readings, the Festival will offer a Theater Professionals weekend 7/21-23, special events and an anniversary celebration 7/13.  Tickets on sale June 1st at bayareaplaywrightsfestival.org.

On May 21 at 7 p.m., Erin Mallon's new play, A Mind Out of the Gutter, will be presented by American Theater Group in a reading in the South Orange Performing Arts Center Loft. The reading gives professional actors a chance to bring life to the play as they read with script-in-hand, and gives audiences the opportunity to give valuable feedback to the playwright as she continues to refine the work.

Just last night, acclaimed Off-Broadway theater company Playwrights Horizons held its annual Spring Gala Benefit. This year called A CELEBRATION OF SONG, it honored three of the company's exceptional alumni writers: Tony Award nominee Scott Frankel (Grey Gardens, Far From Heaven), Tony Award nominee Michael Korie (Grey Gardens, Far From Heaven) and Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winner Doug Wright (I Am My Own Wife, Grey Gardens). BroadwayWorld was on hand for the big night and you can check out photos below!

Playwrights Foundation, one of the West Coast's premiere launchpads for exceptional emerging playwrights, is thrilled to announce the lineup for the 40th Anniversary Bay Area Playwrights Festival (BAPF), featuring playwrights Hilary Bettis, Clarence Coo, Bennett Fisher, Lauren Gunderson, Nilan Johnson, and Mona Mansour. The 40th Anniversary Bay Area Playwrights Festival runs July 13 - 23, 2017 at Custom Made Theatre, 533 Sutter Street in the heart of San Francisco's Theater District.  In addition to twelve staged readings, the Festival will offer a Theater Professionals weekend 7/21-23, special events and an anniversary celebration 7/13.  Tickets on sale June 1st at bayareaplaywrightsfestival.org.

Playwrights Horizons begins accepting entries today, Monday, May 8 at 12 Noon, for the LIVEforFIVE online lottery for $5 tickets to their world premiere production of BELLA: AN AMERICAN TALL TALE, a new musical with book, music and lyrics by Obie Award winner Kirsten Childs (The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin at Playwrights, Miracle Brothers).

Acclaimed Off-Broadway theater company Playwrights Horizons will hold its annual Spring Gala on Monday evening, May 8, at the event space 583 Park Avenue. Titled A CELEBRATION OF SONG, the evening will honor three of the company's exceptional alumni writers: Tony Award nominee Scott Frankel (Grey Gardens and Far From Heaven at Playwrights), Tony Award nominee Michael Korie (Grey Gardens and Far From Heaven at Playwrights) and Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winner Doug Wright (I Am My Own Wife and Grey Gardens at Playwrights). The Grey Gardens writing team has returned to Broadway with their new musical, War Paint, now playing at The Nederlander Theatre.

Sundance Institute today announced a characteristically diverse and eclectic slate of projects that will be developed at their Theatre Lab, July 14-30 at Sundance Resort in Utah. The Lab is the centerpiece of the Institute's year-round work with the theatre community, and for nearly four decades has creatively supported projects including Indecent, Appropriate, Fun Home and A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder.

Berkeley Repertory Theatre today announced the West Coast premiere of An Octoroon written by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins and directed by Eric Ting will close out its season.

Sundance Institute today announced a characteristically diverse and eclectic slate of projects that will be developed at their Theatre Lab, July 14-30 at Sundance Resort in Utah.

The critically acclaimed and award-winning Rogue Artists Ensemble announces its first complete season of performances for 2017. The season includes one world premiere immersive production in association with East West Players, one workshop of an original site-specific adaptation commissioned by the City of West Hollywood, one reading of an original script, and a remount and reinvention of an all-ages production at the Pasadena Playhouse.

We've caught Tony fever here at BroadwayWorld, and it's spreading! Follow us on BWW throughout the day, as we'll bring you Tony nominee reactions, exclusive reports, surprises, behind the scenes coverage and oh, so much more!

New York Theatre Workshop (NYTW) has announced five productions as part of its complete 2017/18 Season.

The Merry Wives of Windsor, Shakespeare's only comedy set in or around London, is now modernized in the setting of an Upper West Side cooperative by Drilling Company Shakespeare. Performances will run in Bryant Park, Fridays and Saturdays from May 19 to June 3.

The World Premiere production of the one-woman show, Under the Jello Mold  at The Complex as part of The 2017 Hollywood Fringe Festival  in the Ruby Theatre, June 2017. The play is written by and starring Jennie Fahn and directed by Tom Cavanaugh.

Native Voices at the Autry, America's leading Native American theatre company, presents its 23rd Annual Festival of New Plays at the Autry Museum of the American West and La Jolla Playhouse. The festival features staged readings of new and in-progress plays by Native writers followed by talkbacks in which each audience member becomes an important part of the collaborative process. These new works explore questions of solidarity and community, spirituality and culture, environment and economic success, and the often contentious relationships that emerge. 

Playwrights Horizons (Artistic Director, Tim Sanford; Managing Director, Leslie Marcus) has announced that the score for their World Premiere production of the musical IOWA has been preserved as an Original Cast Recording, produced by Michael Croiter (Matilda, The Visit, Big Fish) and Todd Almond. IOWA is written by Jenny Schwartz (God's Ear, Somewhere Fun) with music by Todd Almond (Girlfriend) and lyrics by Ms. Schwartz and Mr. Almond.

Rhinebeck Writers Retreat is presenting the first reading of the new musical, BHANGIN' IT, book by Rehana Lew Mirza and Mike Lew and music and lyrics by Sam Willmott, on May 1 in New York City for an invited industry audience. The reading includes actors Shoba Narayan (Natasha Pierre & The Great Comet), Tony Sheldon (Amelie), Dan Rosales (Spamilton), Angel Desai (Company), and Salena Qureshi.  The reading is directed by David Ruttura (School of Rock) and music directed by James Dobinson (The View UpStairs).

Actor's Express stages Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Suzan-Lori Parks' Father Comes Home from the Wars (Parts 1, 2 & 3) May 13-June 11, 2017.

Due to strong advance sales, Cherry Lane Theatre will add three performances to Jocelyn Bioh's NOLLYWOOD DREAMS, the final presentation of its Obie award-winning MENTOR PROJECT.