American Playwrights News

The McCarter Lab Fall Festival 2012 will feature some of the leading and emerging playwrights of the American theater from October 29 through November 4, in a series of unstaged readings and special events in celebration of the artist's work. All events are FREE, but seating is limited and reservations are encouraged. To reserve seats, call (609) 258-2787.

Lanford Wilson's romantic comedy, Talley's Folly, will launch Palm Beach Dramaworks' 2012-13 season on Friday, October 12 (8PM) at the Don & Ann Brown Theatre (201 Clematis Street). The production will play a strictly limited engagement through November 11, with specially priced preview performances slated for October 10 and 11. For twelve years, West Palm Beach's only professional, multi-award-winning resident theatre has brought to the Palm Beaches a distinguished roster of plays under the guidance of Producing/Artistic Director William Hayes.

Lanford Wilson's romantic comedy, Talley's Folly, will launch Palm Beach Dramaworks' 2012-13 season on Friday, October 12 (8PM) at the Don & Ann Brown Theatre (201 Clematis Street). The production will play a strictly limited engagement through November 11, with specially priced preview performances slated for October 10 and 11.

Mildred's Umbrella Theatre Company proudly presents our Houston area premier of Kimberly Akimbo, by Pulitzer Prize- winning playwright, David Lindsay Abaire. The show will be directed by veteran Houston director, Ron Jones, starring Carolyn Boone, Kim Tobin-Lehl, Jennifer Decker, Luke Fedell and Ty Doran. The performances will run November 29 thru December 15, 2012 at Studio 101 at Spring Street Studios.

We spoke to the talented (and thrilled) playwright to get his take on winning the award and how he's going to spend these next two years working on theatrical works.

East West Players (EWP), the nation's premier Asian American theatre, continues its 47th Anniversary season, themed Spirited Away, with the world premiere of TEA, WITH MUSIC. Book and lyrics are by acclaimed playwright Velina Hasu Houston, music by Nathan Wang and choreographed by Giovanni Ortega. This production is directed by Jon Lawrence Rivera. The musical features Joan Almedilla (Miss Saigon, Les Miserables), Tiffany-Marie Austin (Miss Saigon, A Little Night Music), Yumi Iwama (Our Town, South Pacific), Jennie Kwan (TV's California Dreams, Avenue Q), and Janet Song (Twelfth Night, Medea).

Lanford Wilson's romantic comedy, Talley's Folly, will launch Palm Beach Dramaworks' 2012-13 season on Friday, October 12 (8PM) at the Don & Ann Brown Theatre (201 Clematis Street). The production will play a strictly limited engagement through November 11, with specially priced preview performances slated for October 10 and 11. For twelve years, West Palm Beach's only professional, multi-award-winning resident theatre has brought to the Palm Beaches a distinguished roster of plays under the guidance of Producing/Artistic Director William Hayes.

Last season it was their 2011 BEST PRODUCTION (Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle, LA Weekly, Ovation, and Garland Awards) Small Engine Repair which started out in the "Off The Clock" series. Now, in the tradition of offering 'edgier' entertainment in this slot, Rogue Machine launches the World Premiere of Rob Mersola's Dirty Filthy Love Story tonight, October 6th at 10:30pm.

San Jose Stage Company has announced its landmark 30th Anniversary 2012-2013 Season. For three decades, San Jose Stage Company has been committed to providing Silicon Valley with bold, challenging, thought-provoking theatre and this season will be no different.

The Playwrights' Foundation announces the 2012 Fall Rough Readings Series October 1- November 13, 2012 at Stanford University and in San Francisco. The fall readings series features: Mike Lew's Bike America October 1 & 2; Dominic Orlando's Reparations October 22 & 23; and Dominique Morisseau Sunset Baby November 12 & 13. The 2012 Rough Readings Series (10/1-12/13, 2012) are presented on Mondays in CERAS Hall and Roble Hall at Stanford University and Tuesdays at The Thick House and A.C.T.'s Costume Shop in San Francisco.

American Theater Group, New Jersey's newest professional theater, under the leadership of Jim Vagias, Joe Mancuso and Rick Sordelet, presents ZERO HOUR, Jim Brochu's acclaimed play about the life of theatre legend Zero Mostel. Zero Hour kicks off ATG's premiere season from October 3-21 at Hamilton Stage, a brand new, state of the art theater located at 360 Hamilton Street, Rahway, New Jersey. The Press Opening is Saturday, October 6 at 8pm.

Native Voices at the Autry will present a free staged reading of Emergency Management, a new play by Jason Grasl (Blackfeet*) on Thursday, October 25, 2012, 7:30 pm, at the Wells Fargo Theater at the Autry National Center in Griffith Park. Packed with intrigue and suspense, Emergency Management chronicles a Cheyenne boy adopted into a non-Native family. Now a rising political star in Arizona, he tries to be everything to everyone. When his sister is kidnapped and held for ransom, he must reassess his life and overcome deep, dark secrets to save his career and his family. The reading is followed by an audience 'Talk-Back' with Grasl and the director.

Previews begin Friday, October 12 for the Playwrights Horizons' production of THE WHALE, the New York premiere of a new play by Obie Award winner Samuel D. Hunter (A Bright New Boise). Directed by Davis McCallum (February House, A Bright New Boise, the upcoming Water By the Spoonful at Second Stage), the production has an Opening Night set for Monday, November 5 at 7PM at Playwrights Horizons' Peter Jay Sharp Theater (416 West 42nd Street).

Azuka Theatre opens its season with the World Premiere of Pookie Goes Grenading. The show will be performed at Azuka's new home at the Off-Broad Street Theater at First Baptist Church, 1636 Sansom Street. The show starts previews on Halloween, Wednesday, October 31, at 8 p.m. It opens Saturday, November 3 at 7 p.m., and closes Sunday November 18. Tickets cost $18-$27. Discounts are available for students with a valid I.D. Tickets are available online at www.azukatheatre.org or by phone at (215) 563-1100.

San Jose Stage Company opens its 30th season with Race by Pulitzer Prize-winning writer David Mamet. This crime mystery tackles America's most controversial topic in a provocative tale of sex, guilt and bold accusations. Race opens at The Stage October 3, and runs through October 28.

Marin Theatre Company continues its 2012/13 Season with Suzan-Lori Parks's Pulitzer Prize-winning play Topdog/Underdog, which runs from tonight, September 27 to October 21.

Last season it was their 2011 BEST PRODUCTION (Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle, LA Weekly, Ovation, and Garland Awards) Small Engine Repair which started out in the "Off The Clock" series. Now, in the tradition of offering 'edgier' entertainment in this slot, Rogue Machine launches the World Premiere of Rob Mersola's Dirty Filthy Love Story on Saturday, October 6th at 10:30pm.

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 a free staged reading of THE DAY WE WERE BORN, a new play by Jaisey Bates (Long House Huron, Algonquin*) tonight, September 20, 2012, 7:30 pm, at the Wells Fargo Theater at The Autry National Center in Griffith Park.

Abingdon Theatre Company - which has produced more than 77 new American plays in its 20-year history - is set to celebrate its 20th Anniversary with ABINGDON: SETTING THE STAGE FOR 20 YEARS, its Annual Benefit Gala and dinner on Monday, October 29 at Espace (635 West 42nd Street) Manhattan, beginning at 6pm.

Shattered Globe Theatre kicks off its 2012/13 Season with BURN THIS by Lanford Wilson, directed by Linda Gillum, playing October 18 - November 18, 2012 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago. The production features Shattered Globe ensemble members Kate LoConti and Brad Woodard, with Ryan Kitley and Jake Szczepaniak. Tickets for BURN THIS are currently available at www.shatteredglobe.org or by calling (773) 795-8150. The press performance is Sunday, October 21 at 3 pm.