American Playwrights News

MEN ON BOATS, the critically-acclaimed comedy which premiered at Clubbed Thumb's 2015 Summerworks Festival, announced today casting for its return this summer in a co-production by Clubbed Thumb and Playwrights Horizons.

Kentucky Shakespeare presents The Winter's Tale

Another summer, another year of looking for excuses to stay indoors. Luckily for you, the Houston theatre scene's got you covered. From new works to wholesome classics, swing dancing to demented puppets, there's something for everyone this year. So make plans to stay inside and consider some of the BWW Houston editors' picks for the upcoming summer season.

The Riant Theatre (Van Dirk Fisher, Artistic Director), a nonprofit theatre supporting playwrights and theatremakers of diverse cultural backgrounds, is holding the Launch Party for its annual Strawberry One-Act and Theatre Festival on Saturday, June 25, 2016, 3pm at the Poet's Den Theatre (309 East 108th Street, NYC). The evening will include the presentation of 2016 Pioneer of the Arts Award For Outstanding Achievement In Television and Theatre to the Emmy-winning stage, film and TV actor Joe Morton, Tony Nominee and eight time AUDELCO Award winner, Andre De Shields, the acclaimed Broadway and television actress Barbara Montgomery, and multiple Grammy Award winner, Broadway musical director and arranger Chapman Roberts. A reception with food, drinks and dancing will follow. Tickets ($50 before June 15th; $60 after that date) are available through The Riant Theatre's website (www.therianttheatre.com) and by calling the box office at 646-623-3488. They can also be purchased (cash only) at the door.

Not all theatre is designed to be an escape, a refuge from our ordinary lives. Every once-in-a-while a piece comes along that not only entertains us but makes us think. When those two elements come together, you've really got something special.

Adventure Stage Chicago (ASC), a Northwestern Settlement (the Settlement) program, announces its 2016 - 2017 season. Kicking off its thirteenth season, ASC continues its commitment to new work and original storytelling in the spirit of service and community-building.

Friends, something exciting is going on at the Guthrie Theater. In the wake of (not unjustified) criticism about their lack of diversity onstage and backstage, they are currently presenting a 60-year-old play written by Alice Childress, one of the most important female African-American playwrights of the 20th Century, and directed by Valerie Curtis-Newton, the first African-American woman to ever direct on a Guthrie mainstage. And I'm happy to report that TROUBLE IN MIND succeeds on so many levels. First of all, it's hilarious, engaging, and entertaining, and offers a behind the scenes look at the theater world we love so well. But more importantly, it talks about racism, sexism, classism, ageism in a smart and nuanced way that has as much resonance in today's world as it did in the 1950s NYC theater world depicted in the play. I was fortunate enough to attend on a night when there was a post-show discussion with the cast, which just made the experience that much richer. The best and most important work of theater is to start conversations about the world we live in, give voice to everyone's stories, and in doing so help us to better understand our fellow human beings. Trouble in Mind, and the conversations it will hopefully spark amongst its audience, is a fantastic example of that.

 Building on the success of previous years, the 'Fade to Black' Play Festival returns with a line-up of ten new short plays. The event will be held at Queensbury Theatre on June 16-18, 2016.

Level 11 Theatre is back for their second production with the Chicago Premiere of THE IRISH CURSE by Martin Casella (Winner of 2005 New York International Fringe Festival overall excellence award for Outstanding Playwriting), directed by Associate Artistic Director Justin Baldwin (subUrbia).

Philadelphia Theatre Company announces the election of playwright Terrence McNally and Broadway producer Tom Kirdahy to its Board of Directors. In their roles as newly-created Artists Board Members, McNally and Kirdahy will add a national artistic perspective to the Board's fiscal decision-making.

Level 11 Theatre is back for their second production with the Chicago Premiere of THE IRISH CURSE by Martin Casella (Winner of 2005 New York International Fringe Festival overall excellence award for Outstanding Playwriting), directed by Associate Artistic Director Justin Baldwin (subUrbia).

The Douglas Morrisson Theatre is excited to announce the final show in our Revelations Season: BOOK OF DAYS, a gripping study of a small town murder mystery by Pulitzer Prize-winning American playwright Lanford Wilson.

Second Stage Theatre will present the world premiere of Sofia Alvarez's FRIEND ART, directed by Portia Krieger, and the New York premiere of Lucy Teitler's ENGAGEMENTS as part of the company's fourteenth annual SECOND STAGE THEATRE UPTOWN SERIES this summer.

Previews begin tonight, May 13 at 8PM for the Playwrights Horizons world premiere production of Indian Summer, a new play by Gregory S. Moss (Reunion; punkplay; Billy Witch; La Brea; Orange, Hat & Grace; House of Gold).

MOTHERHOOD OUT LOUD, a Joyous, Moving, Hilarious and Thrilling Theatrical Event, Concludes SQUARE ONE THEATRE's 26th Anniversary Season at its NEW Performance Space…Stratford Academy   Who says Mothers should only be acknowledged one-day-a-year? Just four days after Mother's Day (May 8, 2016), Square One Theatre concludes its 26th Anniversary Season with a rousing three-week celebration of Motherhood Out Loud conceived by Susan R. Rose and Joan Stein and directed by Tom Holehan. Both hilarious and heartbreaking, Motherhood Out Loud takes the audience on a rollercoaster ride of joys, sorrows and perplexities every family shares by having or being a mother. Motherhood Out Loud dares to tell the audience what they weren't told in "what to expect when you're expecting."

Following the nationwide celebration of Mother's Day, Square One Theatre and its cast of Motherhood Out Loudlaunch a rousing three-week long celebration for mothers worldwide. Conceived by Susan R. Rose and Joan Stein and directed by Tom Holehan, Motherhood Out Loud is described as both hilarious and heartbreaking while taking audiences on a rollercoaster ride of joys, sorrows and perplexities every family shares by having or being a mother. Motherhood Out Louddares to tell the audience what they weren't told in 'what to expect when you're expecting.'

A friendly reminder! Previews begin next Friday, May 13 at 8PM for the Playwrights Horizons world premiere production of Indian Summer, a new play by Gregory S. Moss (Reunion; punkplay; Billy Witch; La Brea; Orange, Hat & Grace; House of Gold).

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts announces the 25th anniversary of the biennial workshop NEW VISIONS/NEW VOICES from May 6 to May 8, 2016. Dedicated to the development of new plays and musicals for young people and their families, this innovative series pioneers a unique forum for the field of theater for young audiences (TYA).

Lesser America (The Bachelors, Carnival Kids, Trevor) will present HALF MOON BAY by Dan Moyer. It is directed by Jess Chayes (AD of Peter and The Starcatcher) starring Keilly McQuail (You Got Older, Her Requiem) and Gabriel King (These Seven Sicknesses). Previews begin May 12 at Cherry Lane Theatre, where Lesser America is the inaugural Company in Residence. Opening set for Thursday, May 19.

Acclaimed Off-Broadway theater company Playwrights Horizons has announced details for its 2016 Online Auction.  Bidding for the auction, which will feature an eclectic array of items, getaways, theater tickets, sports items, celebrity meet and greets, celebrity experiences  and unique opportunities, begins today, Tuesday, May 3 at 12 Noon at www.CharityBuzz.com/PlaywrightsHorizons.  Online bidding will continue through Thursday, May 19.