American Playwrights News

The Dramatists Guild Fund's annual Benefit Gala, titled 'STAR TURNS: Great Writers Thank Their Lucky Stars!' will be held on Monday, April 20 at the Hudson Theatre, (Millennium Hotel, 145 West 44th St). Cocktails will begin at 7:00 pm, with dinner at 7:30 pm, followed by the show at 8:30 pm.

Keen Company is thrilled to announce that Broadway legends John Cullum and Tony Roberts will play two of the three roles in its upcoming production of the New York premiere of Heroes by Gerald Sibleyras with a translation by Tom Stoppard. Tony Award-winner John Cullum starred in Keen's critically acclaimed The Conscientious Objector, and currently plays the father in August: Osage County. Tony Roberts was most recently seen on Broadway in Xanadu. The two actors will be under the direction of Carl Forsman (A.D. of Keen Company). Heroes, playing from February 24 - April 11, received London's Olivier Award for Best Comedy in 2006.

Keen Company (Artistic Director Carl Forsman, Executive Director Wayne Kelton) is thrilled to present John Cullum, Jonathan Hogan and Tony Roberts in the New York premiere of Heroes, by G?rald Sibleyras with a translation by Tom Stoppard and directed by Carl Forsman. Heroes received the 2006 Olivier Award for Best New Comedy. Performances begin on Tuesday, February 24 and run through April 11 at The Clurman Theatre / Theatre Row, 410 West 42nd Street, between 9th and 10th Avenues. Opening is scheduled for Sunday, March 8. An evocative comedy about three World War I veterans living in a veterans' home who plot a new assault - a trip to a stand of poplar trees in the distance. But should they bring the stone dog with them? Author G?rald Sibleyras calls Heroes a play 'about the universal desire to escape the confines of life.' Winner of London's Olivier Award for Best New Comedy in 2006 and Paris' Moliere Award for Outstanding Comedy in 2003, Keen presents its New York debut.

Actors Connection, Bluface Photography, The Network, The Barrow Group Theatre Company, Actors Access, Samuel French Co., Weist Barron, Precision Photos Plus, The Players Theatre and Back Stage present The 2009 TRU AUDITION EVENT April 4-5, 2009 Theater Resources Unlimited (TRU) invites actors to register for the annual TRU Audition Event, attended by more than 40 NY-area theatre companies, directors, and producers, Equity and non-Equity producing companies, and other individuals, including casting directors and agents.

The SF Playhouse (Bill English, Artistic Director; Susi Damilano, Producing Director) and Lorraine Hansberry Theatre (Stanley Williams, Artistic Director; Quentin Easter, Executive Director) are pleased to announce casting for their co-production of The West Coast Premiere of The Story. 'A riveting drama about race, reporting and the truth'-Associated Press

Desire Under the Elms has just announced that it will transfer from Chicago's Goodman Theatre to Broadway's St. James Theater. Previews will begin on April 14, with opening night set for April 27th.

Ma-Yi Theater Company in association with Vampire Cowboys Theatre Company, will present the world premiere production of 'SOUL SAMURAI,' written by Qui Nguyen and directed by Robert Ross Parker, with fight choreography by Mr. Nguyen, when it begins performances on February 14 at HERE Arts Center(www.here.org), 145 Sixth Avenue (between Spring and Broome Streets, enter on Dominick Street). 'SOUL SAMURAI' will officially open on Thursday, February 19 at 8:30 p.m. This Off Broadway limited engagement will run through Sunday, March 15.

The Unseen is notable writer of stage and television Craig Wright's (TV's 'Lost', 'Dirty, Sexy Money', and the theatre's Recent Tragic Events and The Pavilion, et al) psychological potboiler about two prisoners trying to crack the code of their cryptic imprisonment by a brutal, totalitarian regime. Only familiar to each other by their voices, the two men keep each other mentally and emotionally going through the cell walls as they share stories of their interrogations and torture, putting the pieces together about who their captors are and what it would take to get out. The puzzle is further complicated with the introduction of a new prisoner placed near them who only poses more questions than answers.

The Unseen is notable writer of stage and television Craig Wright's (TV's 'Lost', 'Dirty, Sexy Money', and the theatre's Recent Tragic Events and The Pavilion, et al) psychological potboiler about two prisoners trying to crack the code of their cryptic imprisonment by a brutal, totalitarian regime. Only familiar to each other by their voices, the two men keep each other mentally and emotionally going through the cell walls as they share stories of their interrogations and torture, putting the pieces together about who their captors are and what it would take to get out. The puzzle is further complicated with the introduction of a new prisoner placed near them who only poses more questions than answers.

Dentyne?, the gum brand behind the popular Make Face TimeTM campaign and Manhattan Theatre Club, one of the country's most prominent and prestigious theatre companies, today announced two playwriting contests about personal relationships in the digital age - one a national contest open to the public and the other a contest open to students at participating colleges and universities.

Cooler than Kill Bill, hotter than Shaft! The OBIE Award-winning Ma-Yi Theater Company teams up with the NYIT Award-winning Vampire Cowboys for 'SOUL SAMURAI' the story of Dewdrop and her fight through the mean streets of a post-apocalyptic Brooklyn. After avenging her lover's murder in the heart of Coney Island, Dewdrop now must make it back home to the Lower East Side before the shoguns of Kings County find her. In a play that mixes hip-hop culture, blaxploitation, and the martial arts, this production dials it back old school with this seventies-inspired samurai story. This is one slick slice with a sharp sword and a score to settle! 'SOUL SAMURAI' is being sponsored by the 2009 New York Comic Con.

Several short plays by the late Pulitzer Prize-winning writer William Inge, never before publicly performed, will premiere April 22 at the annual William Inge Theatre Festival in his Kansas hometown. The 28th annual William Inge Theatre Festival celebrates the legacy of great American playwrights and honors Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt April 22-25. They will receive the coveted Distinguished Achievement in the American Theatre Award, joining the list of previous Inge Festival honorees such as Arthur Miller, August Wilson, Wendy Wasserstein, Neil Simon, and Stephen Sondheim.

The Tony Award-winning actress Elaine Stritch was honored for her 'achievements and humanity' at Theater for the New City's 6th annual LOVE 'N' COURAGE benefit for the theater's Emerging Playwrights Program. BroadwayWorld was there to cheer on the beloved icon on her special night.

Palm Beach Dramaworks and Aspen Theater Masters are proud to announce the formation of a new play development program, New Bridges Fest. The two organizations, which have been working together since summer 2008, will present Equity staged-readings of four new plays by emerging American playwrights on March 8th and 9th at 7:30pm in Aspen, Colorado at the Black Box Theatre and March 23rd and 24th at 3pm and 7pm in Palm Beach, at Dramaworks' downtown theatre (322 Banyan Boulevard). Two plays will be presented at each reading, followed by brief post-show discussions with the playwrights and artistic team.

Native Voices at the Autry proudly presents the world premiere of Wings of Night Sky, Wings of Morning Light by musician, poet, songwriter, and playwright Joy Harjo (Mvskoke). The play is a deeply compelling journey of struggle, displacement, self-discovery, and healing. Invoking spoken word, storytelling, music, and song, Harjo takes us on a wild theatrical ride where she tells it like it is with spirit and a mean jazz sax. An allegorical work of tremendous power, Wings demonstrates how theater and art can bring life full circle.

Native Voices at the Autry proudly presents the world premiere of Wings of Night Sky, Wings of Morning Light by musician, poet, songwriter, and playwright Joy Harjo (Mvskoke). The play is a deeply compelling journey of struggle, displacement, self-discovery, and healing. Invoking spoken word, storytelling, music, and song, Harjo takes us on a wild theatrical ride where she tells it like it is with spirit and a mean jazz sax. An allegorical work of tremendous power, Wings demonstrates how theater and art can bring life full circle.

The Tony Award-winning actress ELAINE STRITCH will honored for her 'achievements and humanity' at Theater for the New City's 6th annual LOVE 'N' COURAGE benefit for the theater's Emerging Playwrights Program, it has been announced by Crystal Field, Executive Artistic Director of Theater for the New City. Co-hosted by playwright and actor CHARLES BUSCH and actress JULIE HALSTON, this year's benefit will take place at the beautiful National Arts Club (15 Gramercy Park South), on Monday, February 9, with cocktails beginning at 6:30pm, followed by dinner and performances.

Tony- and Emmy- winner Elaine Stritch will be honored for her 'many achievements and humanity' on Monday, February 9 at the 6th annual pre-Valentine's gala, LOVE 'N' COURAGE hosted by Betsy Von Furstenberg at The National Arts Club (15 Gramercy Park South) with cocktails at 6:30pm, dinner at 7:00pm. Proceeds benefit the emerging playwrights' program at Theater for the New City, one of the last bastions for experimental and political theater in 21st century New York in the East Village. Joining the list of previously announced list of celebrities who will turn out to salute Ms. Stritch on Feb. 9 are Barbara Barrie, Eli Wallach, Anne Jackson, along with Hal and Judy Prince.

Theater for the New City presents LOVE 'N' COURAGE, the 6th annual benefit for Theater for the New City's Emerging Playwrights Program, it has been announced by Crystal Field, Executive Artistic Director of Theater for the New City. Hosted by playwright and actor Charles Busch and featuring Tony Award-winning actress Marian Seldes, this year's benefit takes place at the beautiful National Arts Club (15 Gramercy Park South), on Monday, February 9, with cocktails beginning at 6:30pm, followed by dinner and performances.

Brava! for Women in the Arts continues their ambitious 2008-09 'Shout Out Loud' theatrical season as they celebrate women's month by exploring the complexity and humor of women through multiple productions in the month of March ranging from Penny Arcade's sex and censorship show Bitch!Dyke!Faghag!Whore! to Sophie Treadwell's Machinal to an Evening with Eileen Chaiken, creator of televisions's L Word.