American Playwrights News

?The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders is proud to support American Theater Group (ATG), one of New Jersey's newest nonprofit theatre companies, in the American premiere of Joe Slabe's new musical Crossing Swords at UCPAC's Hamilton Stage in Rahway April 21 to May 1.

Florida Studio Theatre announces its annual Richard and Betty Burdick New Play Reading Series, which will present three new staged readings by contemporary American playwrights.

Lesser America (The Bachelors, Carnival Kids, Trevor) will present HALF MOON BAY by Dan Moyer. It will be 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.

Second Stage Theatre will begin the 2016 Uptown Series with the world premiere of Sofia Alvarez's FRIEND ART, directed by Portia Krieger. FRIEND ART will feature ZOE CHAO, AARON COSTA GANIS, ANABELLE LEMIEUX and Tony Award nominee CONSTANTINE MAROULIS (Rock of Ages, "American Idol"). FRIEND ART will begin previews on Tuesday, May 17th and will officially open on Thursday, May 26th. 

            Lincoln Center Theater, in association with Jujamcyn Theaters, has announced that Stephanie J. Block, Christian Borle, and Andrew Rannells will head the cast of its new production of William Finn and James Lapine's Tony Award-winning musical FALSETTOS.  FALSETTOS  begins previews Thursday, September 29, and opens on Thursday, October 27 at the Walter Kerr Theatre (219 West 48 Street).

Abrons Arts Center and New York City Players' American Playwrights Division present REALLY, a new play written by Jackie Sibblies Drury, directed by Richard Maxwell and designed by photographer Michael Schmelling.

One of the theater world's most prestigious playwriting prizes, the Yale Drama Series Prize, will be given to Emily Schwend for her play Utility.  The 2016 award recipient was chosen by playwright Nicholas Wright, who has served as judge for the 2015 and 2016 competitions.

An article on The Dallas Observer by Katy Lemieux highlighted the powerful, influential women of the theatre scene in Dallas today. Lemieux credits Margo Jones, who opened a Dallas theatre before her death in 1955, as one of the leaders in this movement.

On April 22, EgoPo presents the opening of Sophie Treadwell's expressionist masterpiece, Machinal. Machinal is directed by Brenna Geffers, whose most recent work with EgoPo includes Eugene O'Neill's The Hairy Ape, and Henrik Ibsen's Lady from the Sea and A Doll's House.

Perseverance Theatre presents In the Next Room or the vibrator play, by Sarah Ruhl. The play takes place at the dawn of the age of electricity and with that a groundbreaking piece of technology.  The perfect gentleman and inventor, Dr. Givings has created a device to treat "hysteria" in his patients by inducing "paroxysms" that attract the attention of his wife, who hears the sounds of success through the walls of his operating theatre.  Meanwhile, Mrs. Givings struggles with a new baby and her own urgent desires.  This modern comedy of manners is full of exploration and fulfillment.

The Off-Broadway League today announced details for the 2016 Lucille Lortel Awards for Outstanding Achievement Off-Broadway. The 31st Annual Lucille Lortel Awards will be handed out on Sunday, May 1, 2016 at NYU Skirball Center, beginning at 7:00pm EST. 

? At an exclusive event last night for subscribers, donors and members of the press, Tony Award-winning Trinity Repertory Company, under the leadership of Richard L. Bready Artistic Director Curt Columbus announced their 2016-2017 season: Ghosts of the Past, Dreams of the Future.

Cherry Lane Theatre presents the second production of the company's award-winning MENTOR PROJECT 2016, Sarah Einspanier's play THE CONVENT OF PLEASURE, being presented at Cherry Lane (38 Commerce St.) from tonight, March 23, through April 2.

Acclaimed Off-Broadway theater company Playwrights Horizons will hold its annual Spring Gala on Monday evening, May 9 at the event space 583 Park Avenue.

Due to popular demand Abrons Arts Center and New York City Players are adding three additional performances of Really, a new play written by Jackie Sibblies Drury, directed by Richard Maxwell and designed by photographer Michael Schmelling. Performed by Elaine Davis, Tavish Miller and Kaneza Schaal, Really is a play about grief, intimacy and the difference between goodness and greatness seen through the lens of photography. A black woman takes pictures of her artist boyfriend's mom. As they jockey for a claim to him, they try to redefine themselves in the wake of his legacy.

Following its sell-out production of Byhalia, Mississippi, The New Colony is pleased to continue its 2016 Season with the world premiere of the heartfelt drama EVEN LONGER AND FARTHER AWAY by Chelsea Marcantel, directed by Thrisa Hodits, playing April 15 - May 15, 2016 at its resident home, The Den Theatre's Upstairs Main Stage, 1333 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood.

The play that made James Corden an American commodity is at Oyster Mill to prove to you whether it's just as funny as you heard it was -- and chances are, it is.

James Houghton, Richard Rodgers Director ofJuilliard's Drama Division, announced today that Pulitzer Prize winner David Lindsay-Abaire will join Marsha Normanas new co-director of Juilliard's Lila Acheson Wallace American Playwrights Program, beginning in the fall 2016 semester. Mr. Lindsay-Abaire, an alumnus of the program, will succeed Christopher Durang, who has served as co-director of the program with Ms. Norman since 1994.

Mad March Hare Theatre Company in association with Red Line Productions is pleased to present the Sydney premiere of Amy Herzog's Belleville, a thrilling drama that examines the limits of trust and dependency in a world where love can turn pathological and our most intimate relationships may not be what they seem.

Today, March 14, 2016, Asolo Rep and the FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training announced their 2016-17 seasons to more than 350 patrons in the Mertz Theatre, located in the FSU Center for the Performing Arts.