American Playwrights News

From the lobby of its home at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre, Philadelphia Theatre Company announced its 45th Anniversary Season last night. Producing Artistic Director Paige Price and Managing Director Emily Zeck announced PTC's slate for 2019-2020, their second producing season at the helm of the theatre. The duo has assembled a line-up of plays that continue the theatre's commitment to seek stories that center around women.

American Indian Artists Inc. (AMERINDA) will present the World Premiere of BOUND, written and directed by Tara Dawn Moses. Previews begin on April 25 at Theatre for the New City with opening night slated for May 3.

The Downtown Urban Arts Festival today announced its 2019 artist line-up for the 17th annual multi-disciplinary arts festival showcasing music, poetry, live theater and film. The five-week Downtown Urban Arts Festival performs April 11-May 18 at Joe's Pub, Nuyorican Poets Cafe, The Wild Project and Tribeca Film Center, respectively.

For the third show in its Tenth Anniversary Season, New Native Theatre produces a story that examines how college life factors into a Native American existence. Wounspe Wanktya - A College Education, follows the story of Tashina and Tiffany, two Lakota freshmen in college, when they decide to sew a sacred dress to help them get through their four years of school as they experience the good, the bad, the funny, and the spiritual. Written by Lakota playwright Alex Hesbrook Ramier, New Native Theatre produced a version of this play at their Third Annual National Native American Ten Minute Play Festival. Now, audiences can witness the story in its entirety at the world premiere!

Cherry Lane Theatre (Angelina Fiordellisi, Founder; Seri Lawrence, Artistic Director) will conclude its Obie Award-winning Mentor Project with The Climb, written by C.A. Johnson. The Climb is directed by Jenna Worsham, mentored by Pulitzer Prize winner Martyna Majok and will begin performances on Wednesday, April 3 and run through April 13, 2019, at the Cherry Lane Theatre (38 Commerce Street, NYC).  Tickets are $25 and can be purchased by visiting cherrylanetheatre.org or by calling 866-811-4111.

Never underestimate the power and talent of a woman. 11 Fearless Women Playwrights will have their plays grace the stage in the Strawberry One-Act Festival with BOLD new ideas that are unapologetic and thought provoking! Beginning with JESSICA MARIE FISHER'S Welcome To Narnia, to JO RODRIGUEZ'S Why We're Here, NATASHA COBB'S Doin' Good and CAROLYN MOSES' Adam's Eve; these women playwrights tackle everything from sexual abuse, identity, empowerment, careers, family and chasing Jibouti forces.

Cherry Lane Theatre will continue its Obie Award-winning Mentor Project with three girls never learnt the way home, written by Matthew Paul Olmos.

The full cast is announced for the Theatr Clwyd and Menier Chocolate Factory co-production of Tennessee Williams' Orpheus Descending. Theatr Clwyd's Artistic Director Tamara Harvey directs Catrin Aaron (Beulah Binnings), Michael Geary (Pee Wee Binnings), Valentine Hanson (Uncle Pleasant), Jenny Livsey (Eva Temple / Woman), Laura Jane Matthewson (Dolly Hamma), Mark Meadows (Jabe Torrance), Ifan Meredith (David Cutrere / Dog Hamma), Hattie Morahan (Lady Torrance), Seth Numrich (Val Xavier), Ian Porter (Sheriff Talbott), Jemima Rooper (Carol Cutrere), Carol Royle (Vee Talbott) and Carrie Quinlan (Sister / Nurse Porter). Public booking for the Menier Chocolate Factory dates opens at 9am today.

Interrobang Theatre Project is pleased to conclude its ninth season, exploring'identity/crisis,' with the Midwest premiere of Emily Schwend's drama UTILITY.

New Theatre and Restaurant's production of Neil Simon's 'Biloxi Blues' transports its 2019 audience back to Army boot camp during the closing days of World War II.   Simon has been mostly recognized for plays that depend on situations producing comedy and quick laughs. 'Biloxi Blues' is more serious. 

The Asian American Performers Action Coalition has taken on the task of breaking down ethnic representation in the New York theatre community, analyzing how ethnic groups are making gains and losses on the city's many stages between 2016 and 2017.

Tickets go on sale at 9am today for members of the Menier Chocolate Factory for the London dates for their co-production with Theatr Clwyd of Tennessee Williams' Orpheus Descending. Public booking for the Menier Chocolate Factory dates opens on Monday 11 March at 9am.

Today, Olney Theatre Center Artistic Director Jason Loewith unveiled a lineup of 16 plays, concerts, and presentations coming in 2019-2020 as part of the company's 82nd season, including the highly-anticipated DC-area premiere of Miss You Like Hell by Quiara Alegria Hudes and Erin McKeown. Included are both classic and contemporary musicals, family fare for the holidays, Tony-winning dramas and work by some of the most innovative American playwrights.

Drama High tells real-life story of drama teacher Lou Volpe and his lifecareer successes at Harry S. Truman High School.

American Theater Group, SOPAC's professional Equity theatre company in-residence, announces auditions for non-Equity actors for the musical The Bridges of Madison County by Jason Robert Brown and Marsha Norman, based on the best-selling novel by Robert James Waller. The performances will take place at the South Orange Performing Arts Center June 20-30, 2019. The musical will be directed and choreographed by Merete Muenter with musical direction by Brent Sawyer and conducted by Keith Levenson.

Cleveland Play House (CPH), announces the World Premiere of Tiny Houses, a new comedy by Chelsea Marcantel, to be performed March 23rd-April 14th  in the Outcalt Theatre at Playhouse Square.  The production is directed by CPH Artistic Director Laura Kepley and is a co-production with Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park,

Geffen Playhouse today announced eight productions that will make up its 2019/2020 season, with one additional production to be announced. This marks the second lineup curated by Artistic Director Matt Shakman and the 24th season for the Los Angeles theater. The season will launch Tuesday, August 20, 2019 and run through Sunday, July 19, 2020.

Oversoul Theatre Collective is celebrating it's 25th year as a theater company by becoming active in the local theater scene after seven year hiatus from production. Formed in Mashpee by a small group of native (Wampanoag, Nipmuc, Mohawk, and Siponi) and Black actors, with the motto 'Life's A Stage, Arts for All!', the company went on to introduce Mashpee's first youth theater workshop as well as monthly coffeehouse presentations of theater, comedy and music, and full productions of plays.

Cherry Lane Theatre will continue its Obie Award-winning Mentor Project with three girls never learnt the way home, written by Matthew Paul Olmos.

The New American Voices Play Reading Series is a national playwriting contest that annually showcases four top plays by American playwrights.  The winning plays are selected from blind reads of hundreds of submissions by emerging author from across the country. This year the weekend festival event will be held March 15-17 at Stages Repertory Theatre.