American Playwrights News

Wasatch Theatrical Ventures will present one of the great American plays of the 20th century, INHERIT THE WIND, written by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee, directed by the award-winning Kiff Scholl, produced by Racquel Lehrman/Theatre Planners. In a small town courtroom and with the eyes of the nation upon them, two legal giants face off over a teacher's right to teach evolution to a high school class in this critically acclaimed drama based on the Scopes Monkey Trial. As rousing and relevant today as it was when it debuted in 1955, INHERIT THE WIND is an edge-of-your-seat riveting look at the age-old conflict between science and religion. The play opens Friday, February 8th and runs through March 16th at the Grove Theatre Center in Burbank, CA.

Looking Glass Theatre will bring back a limited run of Frankie Little Hardin's East of the Sun, West of the Moon, a new children's play directed by Julia Sterling Martin. East of the Sun, West of the Moon will perform a limited engagement at The Gallery Players in Park Slope. Performances are scheduled for Saturdays, today, February 1st, March 22nd, May 3rd, May 31st, and June 21st.

Native Voices at the Autry continues its vital role as the country's only equity theatre company dedicated exclusively to developing the work of Native American playwrights with the world premiere Equity production of Stand-Off at HWY #37 by Vickie Ramirez (Tuscarora*), directed by Jon Lawrence Rivera, featuring 16 performances running from Friday, February 28 to Sunday, March 16, 2014 (previews Wednesday and Thursday, February 26-27) at the Wells Fargo Theater. Illustrating Native Voices' deep commitment to nurturing new works and seeing them fully realized, this production is the culmination of a pivotal, twelve-month development process that has included long-term dramaturgical support, extensive workshop opportunities and invaluable collaboration with a team of theatre professionals.

Kindling Theatre Company has announced the World Premiere of TAKE ME BACK, written by Emily Schwend and directed by Jay Stull. TAKE ME BACK begins performances on Friday, February 28 for a limited engagement through Saturday, March 22. Opening Night is Wednesday, March 5 at 8 PM. The performance schedule is Wednesday - Saturday at 8 PM, with added performances on Monday, March 3 and Tuesday, March 4 at 8 PM. Performances are at Walkerspace (46 Walker Street, between Broadway and Church Streets). Tickets are $18 and are available by calling SmartTix at (212) 868-4444 or visiting www.smarttix.com.

Aspen's acclaimed Theatre Masters will present its 2014 National MFA Playwrights Festival and Aspiring Playwrights Competition -- an exciting, fast-paced evening of 10-minute plays by the next generation of American playwrights - for three nights beginning February 2nd (7:30PM) at Aspen High School Black Box Theater (235 County Road 13A, Aspen, CO, 81611).

Page 73 Productions, now in its 16th year premiering the next generation of American Playwrights - who have included Pulitzer Prize winner Quiara Alegria Hudes, Drama Desk Award winner Sam Hunter, New York Times Outstanding Playwright Award recipient Dan LeFranc, and more - announces a post-show discussion panel on America's drone wars following tonight's January 23rd performance of the New York premiere of George Brant's gripping new play GROUNDED, directed by two-time Obie Award-winning director Ken Rus Schmoll (TELEPHONE, A MAP OF VIRTUE) and starring Hannah Cabell (3C, A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS opposite Frank Langella).

Tickets go on sale this Friday, Jan. 24, for Motherhood Out Loud, Chapin Theatre Company's next production at the Old Chapin Firehouse, 102 Lexington Ave Chapin, SC, 29036. Motherhood Out Loud is a collection of short theatrical works by award-winning American Playwrights, television writers and novelists. From the wonder of giving birth to the bittersweet challenges of role reversal and caring for an aging parent, it is all shared with tremendous candor, heart and humor in various vignettes in this production.

Marin Theatre Company presents the Write Nite/Play Day 24-Hour Playwriting Festival, featuring high school theater artists from Marin County on Friday, February 7, 2014 at 8:00 p.m. and Saturday, February 8, 2014 at 10:00 p.m.

Looking Glass Theatre is proud to bring back a limited run of Frankie Little Hardin's East of the Sun, West of the Moon, a new children's play directed by Julia Sterling Martin. East of the Sun, West of the Moon will perform a limited engagement at The Gallery Players in Park Slope. Performances are scheduled for Saturdays, February 1st, March 22nd, May 3rd, May 31st, and June 21st. Tickets are $12 kids, $8 adults and are available at www.lookingglasstheatrenyc.com or through TheaterMania.com by calling (866)-411-8111. Running time is approximately 60 minutes with no intermission.

The Playwriting Center of Theater Emory announces the 2014 Brave New Works festival, January 30-February 15. Brave New Works unites regional and national playwrights, adaptors, composers, and dramaturgs-in-residence at Emory with a combined company of student and professional actors for a festival of new play readings and exploratory workshops.

Marin Theatre Company, in association with Lorraine Hansberry Theatre, announced today that, due to brisk ticket sales, MTC has extended August Wilson's Fences by eight performances. Directed by Derrick Sanders and featuring actors Carl Lumbly, Steven Anthony Jones and Margo Hall, the production will run for 36 performances, from April 10 through May 11.

Winner of the 2012 Smith Prize, which recognizes an outstanding play that focuses on American politics Page 73 Productions, now in its 16th year premiering the next generation of American playwrights - who have included Pulitzer Prize winner Quiara Alegria Hudes, Drama Desk Award winner Sam Hunter, New York Times Outstanding Playwright Award recipient Dan LeFranc, and more - presents the New York premiere of George Brant's gripping new play GROUNDED, directed by two-time Obie Award-winning director Ken Rus Schmoll (TELEPHONE, A MAP OF VIRTUE) and starring Hannah Cabell (3C, A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS opposite Frank Langella) with preview performances beginning Off-Broadway on January 8 prior to an official press opening of January 16 at Walkerspace (46 Walker Street) in Manhattan. GROUNDED has a runtime of 70 minutes, with no intermission.

Second Stage Theatre will continue to celebrate its 35th Anniversary Season by once again offering its popular retro prices ($19.79 - the year in which the Company was founded) as well as audience perks for all of the productions this season. When these tickets went on sale for the season's first production, Little Miss Sunshine, the entire allotment sold out in under 2 hours.

Luna Stage continues its mainstage season with a revival work by South African playwright Athol Fugard - produced in commemoration of South Africa's 20th anniversary of Freedom Day. "Master Harold"…and the boys opens Thursday, Jan. 30 and runs through Sunday, March 2.

As part of the ninth edition of the COIL festival, Performance Space 122, New York City Players (NYCP) and American Realness present an encore engagement of Tina Satter's House of Dance as part of NYCP's American Playwrights Division in association with Half Straddle and Abrons Arts Center. Following a sold-out, critically acclaimed run this fall, which Ben Brantley in The New York Times called, 'enchanting,' and, 'so very refreshing,' House of Dance returns to Abrons Arts Center for four performances only.

Long Wharf Theatre presents the world premiere of The Consultant by Heidi Schreck, directed by Kip Fagan, from tonight, January 8 through February 9, 2014 on Stage II.

A Year with Frog and Toad has added a performance on January 12 at 3 p.m. at Marin Theatre Company. The Bay Area Children's Theatre production is playing through January 19, 2014, as part of MTC's Theater Series for Young Audiences.

Frankie Faison, from HBO's 'The Wire,' and Emmy Award winner James McDaniel, from ABC's 'NYPD Blue,' to appear in a one-night only benefit reading of American Buffalo by David Mamet on Friday, Jan. 10 at 8 p.m. at Luna Stage.

Marin Theatre Company artistic director Jasson Minadakis, managing director Michael Barker and director of new play development Margot Melcon announced today the winners of MTC's two national new American play prizes, a program now in its sixth year. The Way West by Mona Mansour won the 2013 Sky Cooper New American Play Prize and Eric Dufault won the 2013 David Calicchio Emerging American Playwright Prize for his play The Year of the Rooster. The winners were selected from nearly 700 eligible submissions.

'Twas the night before Christmas, and through the Houston area people were shopping, cursing their error. Why did they wait for the last few minutes to buy so many holiday presents? Cozy, at home, two theater enthusiasts discussed theatrical amusements. There were funny shows, and sad ones. Some had music and joviality, while others encouraged civic responsibility. But, sadly, the list of dream shows to see just grew and grew. Wouldn't it be great if Houston produced just a few? They may have been done, but not since we started seeing everything. Oh, Santa and producers, please make true our Christmas dreams.