American Playwrights News

Theatre Development Fund, the not-for-profit performing arts service organization, announces the publication of OUTRAGEOUS FORTUNE: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE NEW AMERICAN PLAY. The book was written by Todd London, who is the Artistic Director of New Dramatists.

As previously reported, buzz has begun that the Cate Blanchett-led production of 'A Streetcar Named Desire,' now playing its final performances at BAM, may have a Broadway future. In a new report in the New York Times, Patrick Healy reports: 'Stephen C. Byrd, a theater producer who holds the rights to mount 'A Streetcar Named Desire' on Broadway, said in an interview that he would 'love' to transfer the critically acclaimed production now at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, starring Cate Blanchett, to Broadway in 2010.'

Arena Stage presents Stick Fly, a thought-provoking comedy that explores the role of race and privilege in the African-American social aristocracy.

Playwrights Horizons has announced complete casting for the World Premiere of CLYBOURNE PARK, a new play by Bruce Norris (The Pain and the Itch at Playwrights Horizons/PH 2006-2007 Season).

Following an acclaimed original sold-out run, Playwrights Horizons (Tim Sanford, Artistic Director; Leslie Marcus, Managing Director) proudly announces a limited return engagement of the company's recent World Premiere production of CIRCLE MIRROR TRANSFORMATION, the new hit play by Annie Baker ('An original voice' - Daily News; 'A playwright to know' - Newsday). Directed by Sam Gold ('A magic-fingered director' - Variety; 'An uncommonly observant eye and ear' - The New York Times), the original engagement opened Tuesday, October 13 to across-the-board rave reviews and was ultimately extended twice by critical and audience demand through Saturday, November 21. The return limited engagement will begin performances Tuesday, December 15 at Playwrights Horizons' Peter Jay Sharp Theater with tickets on sale through Sunday, January 17, 2010.

The New York Times is reporting that multiple producers have contacted Cate Blanchett and BAM in regards to moving A Streetcar Named Desire to the Great White Way. The BAM production, like it's Kennedy Center predecessor, is entirely sold out and has been one of the winter's hottest tickets. No official announcements have been made, though the Times reports that a move would occur no earlier than the spring of 2010.

A recent performance of BAM's production of A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE was postponed for almost an hour and a half as the result of a traffic backup that caused the star, Cate Blanchett, to arrive late at the theatre. The audience was told the 3:00pm performance would be postponed until 4:00pm, and then delayed again until 4:30pm to allow the star time to arrive at the theatre.

Liv Ullmann, living legend of cinema and theater, has just directed a production of A Streetcar Named Desire that stars Cate Blanchett and opens at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in November. While Ullmann was preparing that production, a documentary, The Sealed Orders of Liv Ullmann, captured her mentoring young actors through scenes from this same Tennessee Williams play. The Paley Center will premiere this film by four-time Academy Award nominees Kirk Simon and Karen Goodman, on December 14 at 6:30pm at The Paley Center for Media.

It has become apparent that money will not stand in the way of certain theatre patrons desperate to see the Sydney Theatre Company's production of 'A Streetcar Named Desire' starring Cate Blanchett at the BAM Harvey Theatre in Brooklyn. According to a report in the New York Times, websites like Craigslist, StubHub and Ebay are seeing staggering ticket prices, with ticket holders asking as much as $2,000 for orchestra seats, and some buyers offering as much as $250 or more for any seat.

Responding to the popular demand for tickets, Philadelphia Theatre Company is extending its production of the multiple Tony Award-winning musical, The Light in the Piazz, until Sunday, December 13. Performances for the extension week will follow the current schedule, with shows on Tuesdays at 6:30, Wednesdays at 1:00 and 7:00, Thursdays and Fridays at 8:00, Saturdays at 2:00 and 8:00, and Sundays at 3:00.

Philadelphia Theatre Company announces that two-time Tony Award-nominee and film actress Kathleen Turner will star in the world premiere of Red Hot Patriot: The Kick-Ass Wit of Molly Ivins by Margaret Engel and Allison Engel.  Directed by award-winning director David Esbjornson, this one-woman play based on the writings of the late political journalist Molly Ivins will take the slot previously slated for Mauritius by Theresa Rebeck. 'Red Hot Patriot' runs March 19 - April 18, 2010.

Into the shading of the nation's first bi-racial president, enters Juliette Fairley and her one woman show the Making of a Mulatto. Arriving in Manhattan for a winter run, starting December 12, 2009 through Feb. 6, 2010, at the Matthew Corozine Theatre.

Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national service organization for the professional not-for-profit American theatre, which also serves as the U.S. Center of the International Theatre Institute (ITI), is pleased to announce the recipients of the TCG/ITI Travel Grants for Fall/Winter 2009.

Last night, December 10, actress Cate Blanchett sat down with Charlie Rose to discuss playing te famed Blanche Dubois in BAM's A Streetcar Named Desire.

Arena Stage presents Stick Fly, a thought-provoking comedy that explores the role of race and privilege in the African-American social aristocracy.

Transport Group, the winner of a special 2007 Drama Desk Award and a 2007 Obie Award, honored playwright Terrence McNally and director Joe Mantello on Monday, December 7 at Asia Society and Museum during it's 2009 Gimme A Break! benefit. BroadwayWorld was on hand to capture the ceremony.

Playwrights Horizons announced today that the New York premiere of ME, MYSELF & I, a new play by three-time Pulitzer Prize and three-time Tony Award winner Edward Albee (A Delicate Balance; Seascape; Three Tall Women; Who's Afraid of Virgina Wolf?; The Goat or, Who Is Sylvia?) will open the theater company's 2010/2011 40th Anniversary Season. Mr. Albee will be making his Playwrights Horizons debut.

Following critical acclaim and popular demand, Playwrights Horizons (Tim Sanford, Artistic Director; Leslie Marcus, Managing Director) has announced a three-week extension for the World Premiere of THIS, the new play by Obie Award winner Melissa James Gibson (Suitcase, [sic]). Directed by Obie Award winner Daniel Aukin ([sic], eight seasons as Artistic Director of Soho Rep), the production opened Wednesday, December 2. Originally set to run through Sunday, December 13, the limited engagement will now play through Sunday, January 3, 2010 at the theater company's Mainstage Theater (416 West 42nd Street). This date represents the latest extension possible for the show.

Transport Group, the winner of a special 2007 Drama Desk Award and a 2007 Obie Award, has announced that its 2009 Gimme A Break! benefit will honor playwright Terrence McNally and director Joe Mantello on Monday, December 7 at 6:30pm, at Asia Society and Museum, 725 Park Avenue at 70th Street.

Cate Blanchett's powerful turn as Blanche DuBois in 'A Streetcar Named Desire' at the Bam Harvey Theatre is not only winning over theatre critics and patrons, but has also managed to impress peers the likes of Anne Hathaway, Natalie Portman, and Alan Cumming.