American Playwrights News

Marin Theatre Company is proud to announce Rachel Bonds as the 2015 Sky Cooper New American Play Prize winner for her play Swimmers-which is currently running on the MTC mainstage-and Nick Gandiello as the 2015 David Calicchio Emerging American Playwright Prize winner for his play Sunrise Highway. Now in its ninth year, MTC's two new play prizes continue to celebrate the work of the American playwright and encourage the creation of bold, powerful new voices and plays for the American stage.

From tonight, March 12, to April 2, August Strindberg Repertory will present Strindberg's DAMASCUS II, adapted by Edgar Chisholm, directed by Robert Greer.

Due to critical acclaim and popular demand, Playwrights Horizons has announced an extension of their New York premiere production of FAMILIAR, a new play by Obie Award-winner Danai Gurira (Eclipsed now on Broadway, In the Continuum, The Convert, Michonne on AMC's 'The Walking Dead'). Directed by Rebecca Taichman (Stage Kiss, Milk Like Sugar at PH; The Oldest Boy; Marie Antoinette; Luck of the Irish; Orlando), the play is the fourth production of the theater company's 2015/2016 Season.

Cherry Lane Theatre has announced casting for 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 March 23-April 2, it has been announced by Seri Lawrence and Janio Marrero, MENTOR PROJECT's Producing Artistic Directors.

Lorraine Hansberry's groundbreaking play, the first on Broadway written by a Black woman, will visit the Belgrade Theatre from Tues 22 - Sat 26 March in a new production directed by Eclipse Theatre's Dawn Walton. This intense family drama, written on the cusp of the civil rights era, sees the Younger family await the arrival of a cheque for a life changing $10,000. Driven to conflict as they encounter issues of inequality, housing and lack of opportunity that continue to resonate today, the play acts as a stark warning to anyone who measures happiness and personal worth in capital gain.

Actors Co-op (Ovation Award-Winner 2014 Best Intimate Theatre Musical for 110 in the Shade) announces the third show in its 2015-2016 season (and 24th year of producing theatrical excellence in Los Angeles!) with Tennessee Williams masterpiece SUMMER AND SMOKE, directed by Thom Babbes.  SUMMER AND SMOKE will preview on Wednesday, March 2 and Thursday, March 3 at 8pm and will open on Friday, March 4 at 8pm and run through Sunday, April 17 at the Actors Co-op David Schall Theatre, 1760 N. Gower St. (on the campus of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood) in Hollywood. Scroll down to see photos from the production below!

Brown Box Theatre Project and Icaro Theatro presents Boxer Shorts: A Cycle of Short Plays. From Water to Dust (del auga al polvo), playing at Boston's Atlantic Wharf through March 4th. This is Brown Box's second year presenting an evening of short plays. This year, the Project brings us four plays from Latin American Playwrights: Tape by Jose Rivera; Capricho by Nilo Cruz; Springtime by Maria Irene Fornes; and Bliss by Caridad Svich.

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.

An all-new THEATER TALK presents an interview with writer James Grissom. In 1982 at age 20, Grissom met playwright Tennessee Williams. He became the famous writer's confidant, took copious notes of their conversations, and - encouraged by Williams (who died the year after they met) - went on to interview many of the great actresses who had worked with the master dramatist about their impressions of him and the impact of his work. Grissom then compiled their insights about one of the most gifted and complex American playwrights into his wonderful book, FOLLIES OF GOD - Tennessee Williams and the Women of the Fog, now published by Alfred A. Knopf.

The only Equity theatre company dedicated exclusively to developing and producing new work by Native American artists, Native Voices presents the world premiere of Frank Henry Kaash Katasse's THEY DON'T TALK BACK in association with La Jolla Playhouse and Perseverance Theatre.

THE GLASS MENAGERIE, which launched the career of Tennessee Williams, plays in Santa Maria's Severson Theatre March 3 - 20, 2016, and then transfers this summer to the Solvang Festival Theater, June 16-26.

An all-new THEATER TALK presents an interview with writer James Grissom. In 1982 at age 20, Grissom met playwright Tennessee Williams. He became the famous writer's confidant, took copious notes of their conversations, and - encouraged by Williams (who died the year after they met) - went on to interview many of the great actresses who had worked with the master dramatist about their impressions of him and the impact of his work. Grissom then compiled their insights about one of the most gifted and complex American playwrights into his wonderful book, FOLLIES OF GOD - Tennessee Williams and the Women of the Fog, now published by Alfred A. Knopf.

Several stage names are among the recipients of the newly renamed 2016 Lincoln Center Emerging Artist Awards, to be presented at The Appel Room at Jazz at Lincoln Center tonight, March 2, 2016.

The only Equity theatre company dedicated exclusively to developing and producing new work by Native American artists, Native Voices presents the world premiere of Frank Henry Kaash Katasse's THEY DON'T TALK BACK in association with La Jolla Playhouse and Perseverance Theatre.

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.

This fall, Lincoln Center Theater will join forces with Jujamcyn Theaters to bring William Finn and James Lapine's Tony Award-winning musical Falsettos back to Broadway, it was announced today. Falsettos will begin previews Thursday, September 29 and open on Thursday, October 27 at the Walter Kerr Theatre (219 West 48 Street). Lapine will return to helm the production.

HOUSE RULES, a new play by A. Rey Pamatmat, will be given its NY premiere by the award-winning Asian-American Off-Broadway MA-YI THEATER COMPANY at HERE (145 Sixth Avenue, NYC), with previews set to begin March 25 prior to its official opening night on April 1. HOUSE RULES is directed by Ralph B. Peña. This limited-engagement will conclude on April 16, 2016. 

American Theater Group (ATG), New Jersey's newest professional theater, located at the state-of- the-arts Hamilton Stage Theater in Rahway, is proud to announce its first annual High School Drama Festival, an event that promises to be an extremely popular annual offering.  On April 28, ATG will serve as host to high schools throughout New Jersey for a day of great theater and inspiring instruction. 

Chasen Schneider, son of John Schneider of The Dukes of Hazzard fame, will once again be in the 13 person ReGroup ensemble as it proudly announces its first production of 2016 -William Inge's A Complex Evening, featuring a night of Inge's rare One-Acts in their New York debut.

The Wagner College Theatre has announced that the winner of this year's Stanley Drama Award is Mike Bencivenga of Astoria, Queens, N.Y., for his two-act play, 'Bad Hearts.'