American Playwrights News

Two Obie Award-winning theater companies -- The Play Company and Ma-Yi Theater -- collaborate to present the New York premiere of Lloyd Suh's new play AMERICAN HWANGAP, previews began May 9, prior to an official press opening tonight, May 17 Off-Broadway at The Wild Project (195 East 3rd Street) in Manhattan. Trip Cullman directs an ensemble cast featuring some of the country's most accomplished Asian American actors, including James Saito (TV's 'Eli Stone' and Obie winner for DURANGO), Michi Barall (Charles Mee's QUEENS BOULEVARD), Mia Katigbak (DOGEATERS), Peter Kim (THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE), and Hoon Lee (YELLOWFACE).

The New York Times reports that producer Jeffrey Richards has announced that the current revival Eugene O'Neill DESIRE UNDER THE ELMS starring two-time Tony Award winner Brian Dennehy, stage and screen star Carla Gugino, and Tony nominee Pablo Schreiber, under the direction of Tony Award Winner Robert Falls will close May 24 at the St. James Theatre after a run of 32 performances.

The Old Globe's acclaimed 'Classics Up Close' series continues with this stunning and moving drama by one of our greatest American playwrights, Arthur Miller (All My Sons, Death of a Salesman). A protective wife watches as her husband, a policeman nearing retirement, and his brother, a successful brain surgeon, face the truth about themselves when they meet to sell their late father's possessions.

Following a critically acclaimed season which included the Pulitzer Prize finalist Becky Shaw and the Broadway transfer of its musical hit Next to Normal, Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director; Ellen Richard, Executive Director) has announced three of the four plays scheduled for its upcoming 31st Season.

A.C.T. Conservatory Director Melissa Smith announced today that honorary master of fine arts degrees will be conferred upon Grammy Award-winning musician Tracy Chapman and master playwright John Guare.

Guthrie Director Joe Dowling today announced directors for the three productions slated to headline the theater's 2009 Tony Kushner celebration, in addition to three speaking events designed to expand and enhance the issues raised in the work of this Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright.

Two Obie Award-winning theater companies -- The Play Company and Ma-Yi Theater -- will collaborate this spring to present the New York premiere of Lloyd Suh's new play AMERICAN HWANGAP, with previews to begin May 9, prior to an official press opening May 17 Off-Broadway at The Wild Project (195 East 3rd Street) in Manhattan. Trip Cullman directs an ensemble cast featuring some of the country's most accomplished Asian American actors, including James Saito (TV's 'Eli Stone' and Obie winner for DURANGO), Michi Barall (Charles Mee's QUEENS BOULEVARD), Mia Katigbak (DOGEATERS), Peter Kim (THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE), and Hoon Lee (YELLOWFACE).

Playwrights Horizons (Tim Sanford, Artistic Director; Leslie Marcus, Managing Director) is now accepting entries for its popular LIVEforFIVE online lottery for $5 tickets to its next production, the New York premiere of OUR HOUSE, a new play by Pulitzer Prize finalist Theresa Rebeck (The Butterfly Collection and Bad Dates at Playwrights Horizons, Broadway's Mauritius, co-author of Omnium Gatherum). At least 50 tickets will be available via the online lottery.

Playwrights Horizons (Tim Sanford, Artistic Director; Leslie Marcus, Managing Director) is now accepting entries for its popular LIVEforFIVE online lottery for $5 tickets to its next production, the New York premiere of OUR HOUSE, a new play by Pulitzer Prize finalist Theresa Rebeck (The Butterfly Collection and Bad Dates at Playwrights Horizons, Broadway's Mauritius, co-author of Omnium Gatherum). At least 50 tickets will be available via the online lottery.

Local playwright Karen Zacarías offers Arena Stage audiences the world premiere of Legacy of Light, a funny and moving romp about the passion for truth as lived by two different women in their separate eras.

Local playwright Karen Zacarías offers Arena Stage audiences the world premiere of Legacy of Light, a funny and moving romp about the passion for truth as lived by two different women in their separate eras.

OBIE winner Donna Lynne Champlin, who starred in the Broadway revival of Sweeney Todd, as well as James Joyce's The Dead, By Jeeves and Hollywood Arms, will perform her one-woman show, Finishing the Hat, as a benefit for the Drama Desk Award-winning, off-Broadway theatre company, Transport Group, on Monday, May 11, at 7:00pm, at the Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 West 42 Street, at Ninth Avenue.

Native Voices at the Autry continues its cycle of play development with its annual Playwrights Retreat and Festival of New Plays featuring top theater professionals serving as mentors to established and aspiring Native American playwrights. The program greatly increases the field of Native writers and brings greater visibility to Native theater.

Rehearsals are now underway at Playwrights Horizons (Tim Sanford, Artistic Director; Leslie Marcus, Managing Director) for the New York premiere of OUR HOUSE, a new play by Pulitzer Prize finalist Theresa Rebeck (The Butterfly Collection and Bad Dates at Playwrights Horizons, Broadway's Mauritius, co-author of Omnium Gatherum). A scathing new comedy that shakes up Reality TV, OUR HOUSE is the final production of the theater company's 2008/2009 Season.

Philadelphia Theatre Company presents its week-long, student-written and performed PHILLY REALITY program, culminating in a public performance of the student works on Friday, May 8 at 7:00 PM at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre (Broad and Lombard Streets).

Acclaimed Off-Broadway theater company Playwrights Horizons (Tim Sanford, Artistic Director; Leslie Marcus, Managing Director) will hold its annual Spring Gala Benefit on Monday evening, April 27th at Guastavino's (409 East 59th Street).

Acclaimed Off-Broadway theater company Playwrights Horizons (Tim Sanford, Artistic Director; Leslie Marcus, Managing Director) will hold its annual Spring Gala Benefit on Monday evening, April 27th at Guastavino's (409 East 59th Street).

Emmy and Tony Award winner Tyne Daly, most recently on Broadway in the Pulitzer Prize-winning Rabbit Hole, will preview her cabaret show on Sunday, April 26, 2009, to benefit Abingdon Theatre Company. Her one-time performance in the June Havoc Theatre will be followed by Miss Daly's debut May 12-16 at Feinstein's at Loews Regency.

Emmy and Tony Award winner Tyne Daly, most recently on Broadway in the Pulitzer Prize-winning Rabbit Hole, will preview her upcoming cabaret evening on Sunday, April 26, as a benefit for Abingdon Theatre Company. Joined by musical director/accompanist John McDaniel, this special performance will precede her debut May 12-16 at Feinstein's at Loews Regency. The demand for tickets have left only a few remaining for her first cabaret performance.

Acclaimed Off-Broadway theater company Playwrights Horizons (Tim Sanford, Artistic Director; Leslie Marcus, Managing Director) has announced additional performers for its annual Spring Gala Benefit 'I can see so far...' on Monday evening, April 27th at Guastavino's (409 East 59th Street).