American Playwrights News

Florida Repertory Theatre has announced the opening of Donald Margulies' Time Stands Still, a stirring, recent Broadway hit. Time Stands Still plays tonight, Jan 25 - Feb 16, with two nearly sold out preview performances on Jan 23 and 24, in the renovated ArtStage Studio Theatre.

The Pulitzer Prize and OBIE Award-winning Theatre for the New City (TNC) will hold its 10th Annual LOVE ‘N' COURAGE benefit gala on Monday, February 25, 2013 at the National Arts Club (15 Gramercy Park South in Manhattan), this year honoring award-winning actor and playwright Charles Busch, it has been announced by Crystal Field, co-founder and artistic director of Theater for the New City. The LOVE ‘N' COURAGE celebration will begin with cocktails at 6:30pm, with dinner following at 7:00pm, and performances at 8:00pm. Proceeds benefit the Emerging Playwrights' Program at Theater for the New City, located at 155 First Avenue in the East Village, where it remains one of the few remaining outposts for experimental and political theater in 21st century New York.

With the blessing and support of Lawson's children, Jeffrey & Mandy, The ReGroup has presented two staged readings and republished his 2 Group Theatre plays, Success Story and Gentlewoman. For 2013, they bring two of Lawson's plays to full production and are republishing all of his plays in hopes of restoring Lawson's name to the list of great American playwrights. A direct influence on Clifford Odets, Lawson was called the "hope of our theatre," by Group Theatre co-founder, Harold Clurman. The project- ReClaiming Names - focuses on righting the wrongs done over half a century ago. The HUAC hearings are part of American history, but the fact that Lawson's masterful plays are still out of print and unknown is a shame and shows the HUAC damage still has yet to be undone. Hopefully, through this exposure to his works, audiences will realize a missing piece of American and theatrical history. Lawson was a great influence not only on Odets, but Brecht and Miller.

The Whipping Man by Matthew Lopez will make its Bay Area premiere with the Marin Theatre Company in a production co-produced by Virgina Stage Company, in association with Lorraine Hansberry Theatre. Directed by Jasson Minadakis, the show will feature L. Peter Callender,* Nicholas Pelczar* and Tobie Windham* and will run March 28 - April 21.

Tony Award-winner Judith Ivey, known for her critically acclaimed work in Long Wharf Theatre's productions of The Glass Menagerie and Shirley Valentine, will star in Curse of the Starving Class, by Sam Shepard, directed by Artistic Director Gordon Edelstein.

Rehearsals are underway for the world-premiere production of the Goodman-commissioned Teddy Ferrara by Pulitzer Prize finalist Christopher Shinn, praised as 'among the most provocative and probing of American playwrights today' (The New York Times). Evan Cabnet directs this stirring exploration of an on-campus tragedy with a cast that includes Liam Benzvi (Gabe), Patrick Clear (University President), Rashaad Hall (Nicky), Ryan Heindl (Teddy Ferrara), Christopher Imbrosciano (Jay), Jax Jackson (Jaq), Dev Kennedy and Fawzia Mirza (Campus Police), Paloma Nozicka (Jenny), Adam Poss (Drew), Josh Salt (Tim), Kelli Simpkins (Ellen) and Janet Ulrich Brooks (University Provost). The design team includes Jenny Mannis (Costume Designer), Keith Parham (Lighting Designer), Lee Savage (Set Designer) and Richard Woodbury (Sound Designer). Rehearsal photos, headshots and bio information can be found in the Press Room. Teddy Ferrara runs February 2 - March 3, 2013 in the Owen Theatre (opening night is Monday, February 11). Tickets ($14 - $45; subject to change) are now on sale and are available at GoodmanTheatre.org/Teddy, by phone at 312.443.3800 or at the box office (170 North Dearborn).

Award-winning Broadway Playwright, and Creator of the hit NBC Series 'Smash,' Theresa Rebeck will join the Theater Masters' National MFA Playwrights Festival, January 26th - 29th as guest reader and mentor for the organization's 2013 winter season featuring a series of events ranging from open classes for actors and writers to panel discussions and the acclaimed "Take Ten," an evening of 10 minutes plays from leading MFA Playwriting Students from around the country---all taking place in various venues in Aspen, Colorado.

The Katselas Theatre Company and Rogue Machine will present an extended run of the current hit, DIRTY FILTHY LOVE STORY (CRITIC'S CHOICE-LA Times). The popular Skylight Theatre is the new venue for the show as Rogue Machine and The Katselas Theatre Company prepare for their 2013 season. Due to overwhelming demand, this production will now have four performances a week, beginning January 18th.

Florida Repertory Theatre has announced the opening of Donald Margulies' Time Stands Still, a stirring, recent Broadway hit. Time Stands Still plays Jan 25 - Feb 16, with two nearly sold out preview performances on Jan 23 and 24, in the renovated ArtStage Studio Theatre.

In their dedication to new play development, Blue Roses Productions will present 4 evenings of new play readings. The first evening, Not To Be Ignored, January 28 (Monday) at 7:00pm, includes plays by - Judy Stadt, Linda Billington, Judd Lear Silverman - each piece containing a lead character entering their golden years. Winter Shorts, January 29 (Tuesday) at 7:00pm, includes a mix of themes by master writers Karen Eterovich, Judd Lear Silverman, Dawson Moore, Arlitia Jones, Richard Cottrell. The third evening, offers Blue Roses the opportunity to introduce NYC audiences to some of the outstanding playwrights from the last frontier. Blue Roses Celebrates Alaskan Playwrights, February 4 (Monday) at 7:00pm - introduces plays by Mollie Ramos, Lucas Rowley, Tom Moran, Carolyn Roesbery, Dawson Moore, Linda Billington, Schatzie Schaefers, Kyra Meyer, Forrest Leo. The winter Infusion series concludes with a reading of Kennedy V, the latest full-length from popular playwright/filmmaker/composer - Roland Tec - February 26 (Tuesday) at 7:00pm.

Heather Henderson recently accepted the position of Managing Director with Abingdon Theatre Company, now in its 20th Season of developing and producing new plays by American playwrights, announces Artistic Director Jan Buttram. For the past 18 months, Ms. Henderson served as Abingdon's Director of Development. She replaces Samuel J. Bellinger who recently became Director of Finance at Second Stage Theatre. Mr. Bellinger served as Abingdon's Managing Director for 19 years and will continue to serve on Abingdon's Board of Directors. Prior to joining Abingdon's staff, Ms. Henderson had a multi-faceted career in the financial sector, spending the bulk of her time sitting on a foreign exchange trading floor as a representative of the Private Banking Group for Citibank, working predominantly with Latin American clientele. She also served as a team member of UBS Financial Services, managing assets that ran the gamut from retail to ultra high net worth individuals. She also worked with high net worth families creating customized tax efficient wealth management strategies to meet their special needs, utilizing long-term focus and advising clients in proper estate and tax planning. Prior to joining UBS, she was a Financial Advisor for Merrill Lynch.

Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman has been considered one of America's greatest plays. But Miller's first success on Broadway, ALL MY SONS has often been called the 'better play'. Like most great American playwrights, Miller writes about family at the crossroads where truth trumps the lie often with tragic consequences.

Primary Stages (Casey Childs, Founder & Executive Producer; Andrew Leynse, Artistic Director; Elliot Fox, Managing Director) announces the first three plays of their 29th Season. In launching their season, the award-winning company will present three new premieres.

The Alliance National Graduate Playwriting Competition continues to spotlight the best emerging playwrights with a full production for the competition winner and staged readings for four competition finalists. BIKE AMERICA, the ninth competition winner, will premiere on the Hertz Stage February 1 - 24, 2013. Opening night is February 6, 2013. BIKE AMERICA is written by Mike Lew from the Juilliard Drama Division and will be directed by Mortiz von Stuelpnagel.

BroadwayWorld brings you the Best of Tampa in the year 2012. Check out the Top Theatre Stories from each month during in the year 2012. We look forward to another exciting year of theatre in 2013!

Laguna Playhouse will present the fourth show of their 2012-2013 season, CHAPTER TWO, written by Neil Simon and directed by Andrew Barnicle. The cast of CHAPTER TWO will feature Geoffrey Lower, Kevin Ashworth, Leslie Stevens and Caroline Kinsolving. CHAPTER TWO will preview on Tuesday, January 8; Wednesday, January 9; Thursday, January 10 and Friday, January 11 at 8:00pm and will open on Saturday, January 12 at 7:30pm and run through Sunday, February 3, 2013 at the Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach.

The Shakespeare Theatre Company, recipient of the 2012 Regional Theatre Tony Award, delves into the 2012-2013 Season with an intimate look at two lonely souls in Eugene O'Neill's Hughie. This two-man show by one of the most famous American playwrights will be directed by Broadway veteran Doug Hughes. The production runs at STC's Lansburgh Theatre (450 7th Street NW) from January 31-March 17, 2013.

Endangered Species Project (ESP)'s holiday selection is an adaptation of a French play (La Cuisine des Anges by Albert Husson), by the American playwrights Sam and Bella Spewack.

Savio(u)r in association with the King's Head Theatre present A THORNTON WILDER CHRISTMAS with the first London revival in over 30 years of THE HAPPY JOURNEY TO TRENTON AND CAMDEN and THE LONG CHRISTMAS DINNER, a double bill of one-act plays by Thornton Wilder, directed by Tim Sullivan.

Savio(u)r in association with the King's Head Theatre present A THORNTON WILDER CHRISTMAS with the first London revival in over 30 years of THE HAPPY JOURNEY TO TRENTON AND CAMDEN and THE LONG CHRISTMAS DINNER, a double bill of one-act plays by Thornton Wilder, directed by Tim Sullivan.