American Playwrights News

Playwrights Horizons (Tim Sanford, Artistic Director; Leslie Marcus, Managing Director) continues its 2009/2010 Season with the World Premiere of A COOL DIP IN THE BARREN SAHARAN CRICK, a new play by Kia Corthron (Breath, Boom at Playwrights Horizons/PH, Force Continuum), directed by Obie Award winner Chay Yew (Durango at The Public).

More than 7,500 strikers walked out of nearly 100 coal mines in the Paint Creek and Cabin Creek coal fields of West Virginia during the bloody 1912-1914 labor war. Coal Creek is the story of one family's turmoil, caught in the cross hairs of that struggle.

Marin Theatre Company will produce the world premiere of its 2009 Sky Cooper New American Play Prize winner, Sunlight by Sharr White, January 21 through February 14, 2010. In addition to the Sky Cooper Prize, Sunlight has garnered substantial national recognition. Following MTC's premiere, this searing political thriller will be produced at three other theaters as part of a National New Play Network Rolling World Premiere-Arts West in Seattle, Phoenix Theatre in Indianapolis, and New Jersey Rep.

Playwrights Horizons (Tim Sanford, Artistic Director; Leslie Marcus, Managing Director) is now accepting entries for its popular LIVEforFIVE online lottery for $5 tickets to 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 its critically acclaimed production of THE SEAGULL earlier this season, the National Asian American Theatre Company (NAATCO), in collaboration with Theater Mitu, presents the World-Premiere of A PLAY ON WAR, by Jenny Connell and Rubén Polendo

The Arena Stage American Voices New Play Institute (AVNPI) in partnership with Georgetown University's Theater and Performance Studies Program presents Black Voices: Stories We're Planning to Tell a public presentation followinga private, two-day convening of 30 of the nation's leading black playwrights and artisticleaders.

Join us for the first developmental reading of Working Theater's 25th Anniversary Season: PROGRESS IN FLYING a staged reading with music by LYNN ROSEN, directed by DANIELLA TOPOL, music by MARY KELLY, with HEIDI SCHRECK (Circle Mirror Transformation), KEIRA KEELEY (Roundabout's upcoming The Glass Menagerie opposite Judith Ivey) and JOEL DE LA FUENTE (Law & Order: SVU)

The OBIE Award-winning National Asian American Theatre Company (NAATCO) - now in its 20th season - in collaboration with Theater Mitu, presents the World-Premiere of Rubén Polendo and Jenny Connell's new play MAMA CORAJE.

The African American Playwrights Exchange (AAPEX) & Jaz Dorsey will present a reading of the 2008 AAPEX Award winner for 'Best Family Drama,' Mrs. Streeter, written by Merrill D. Jones, on Monday, February 8th at the Dramatist Guild.

The Attic Theatre company, an emerging ensemble in their fourth season, proudly presents Dark Rapture by Eric Overmyer. Directed by Laura Braza (Company Manager, Keen Company; Director/Teacher at Pius XI Theater Lab), Eric Overmyer's noir thriller returns to New York City for a limited engagement January 22 - February 6, 2010.

More than 7,500 strikers walked out of nearly 100 coal mines in the Paint Creek and Cabin Creek coal fields of West Virginia during the bloody 1912-1914 labor war. Coal Creek is the story of one family's turmoil, caught in the cross hairs of that struggle.

The passionate world of opera comes to life in Philadelphia Theatre Company's world premiere of Terrence McNally's Golden Age on January 22 - February 14.

The Arena Stage American Voices New Play Institute (AVNPI) in partnership with Georgetown University's Theater and Performance Studies Program presents Black Voices: Stories We're Planning to Tell a public presentation followinga private, two-day convening of 30 of the nation's leading black playwrights and artisticleaders.

Off-Broadway's Abingdon Theatre Company continues its 17th Season with the world premiere of PHANTOM KILLER. A new thriller by Jan Buttram, author of 'Texas Homos'

The Repertory East Playhouse is proud to open its 2010 Season with Lost In Yonkers, by Neil Simon and sponsored by Mission View Public Schools, opening on January 22 and running through February 20.

Aya Cash, Isabel Keating, Austin Lysy, and Christopher Evan Welch will be a part of the Valentine's Day presentation of EATING THEIR WORDS. The event will take place at Tocqueville Restaurant and will present a menu with each course based on one of three different plays. The plays will be presented in tandem with the different courses. Marlo Hunter will direct the evening.

More than 7,500 strikers walked out of nearly 100 coal mines in the Paint Creek and Cabin Creek coal fields of West Virginia during the bloody 1912-1914 labor war. Coal Creek is the story of one family's turmoil, caught in the cross hairs of that struggle.

Transport Group (TG), the winner of a special 2007 Drama Desk Award and a 2007 Obie Award, will present Mart Crowley's The Boys in the Band, directed by artistic director Jack Cummings III, beginning Friday, February 12, and opening Sunday, February 21, at 5pm in a site-specific production at 37 West 26 Street, between Broadway and Sixth Avenue, Penthouse.

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.

The Australian is reporting that actress Cate Blanchett and her husband, playwright, screenwriter and director Andrew Upton have jointly re-upped as artistic director of the Sydney Theater Company until 2013. There's no word yet on any impact that this might have on the potential transfer of 'A Streetcar Named Desire' to Broadway.