American Playwrights News

American Indian Artists Inc. (AMERINDA) present the World Premiere of FEAR OF OATMEAL conceived, written and directed by Muriel Miguel, co-founder of the legendary Spiderwoman Theater and starring her sister, Gloria Miguel, also of Spiderwoman Theater fame. Performances run through June 24 at Theatre for the New City.

Playwrights Foundation announces the plays and playwrights of the 2018 Bay Area Playwrights Festival (BAPF) running July 20-29, 2018 at Potrero Stage, 1895 18th St in San Francisco. The Artistic Teams for #BAPF2018 features Directors Erik Pearson, Christine Young, Margo Hall, Daniel Banks, Lauren English, and Ken Savage. Dramaturgs joining the teams include Alex Mallory, Maddie Gaw, Lisa Evans, Vidhu Singh, Roweena Mackay, and the Legendary Nakissa Etemad.

Truth is an illusion. Experience is subjective. And proof is in the eye of the beholder. We at The Brick believe only what we feel like believing and likely not even that. All news is fake news. Except for the news that proves my point. Join us for performances and art works full of hot takes, half-truths and exaggerations for you to believe, ignore and distrust at your pleasure.  All spectators will receive ten million dollars.

American Indian Artists Inc. (AMERINDA) will present the World Premiere of FEAR OF OATMEAL conceived, written and directed by Muriel Miguel, co-founder of the legendary Spiderwoman Theater. Previews begin on June 8 at Theatre for the New City. Opening night is slated for June 15.

Luna Stage recently announced its 2018-2019 Mainstage season, featuring four new plays: one world premiere and three regional premieres. The plays are set in locations around the world, each exploring the question of how we come together across cultural and social divides. Luna's season begins October 4 and runs through April 28, and the plays will be Pirira by J. Stephen Brantley, The Assignment by Camilo Almonacid, Roan @ the Gates by Christina Gorman, and Heartland by Gabriel Jason Dean. All performances will take place in Luna's Mainstage theater, at 555 Valley Road, West Orange, NJ. Season Passes are now on sale, and special discounts are available.

Legendary playwright, Charles Mee, is turning 80 years and will be celebrated by Cherry Lane Theatre at a benefit performance of FIRST LOVE followed by a blowout bash at Casa La Femme (140 Charles Street). Additionally New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson will recognize Charles Mee with an official New York City Proclamation for his extraordinary and enduring contributions to the American theatre, on Monday, June 11, 2018 at The Cherry Lane Theatre beginning at 7pm.

Native Voices at the Autry, America's leading Native American theatre company, presents its 24th Annual Festival of New Plays at the Autry Museum of the American West and La Jolla Playhouse. The festival features staged readings of new and in-progress plays by Native writers followed by talkbacks in which each audience member becomes an important part of the collaborative process. 

There is nothing more important to the long-term vitality of American theatre as an art form than the nurturing of new voices. PlayWorks is the first step in this process. PlayWorks presents readings of new plays by contemporary, often local playwrights, giving them an opportunity to share their work and include the audience in the creative process.

NJ Rep is proud to present the world premiere of Adam Szymkowicz's Mercy from June 14 through July 15. This surprisingly funny, dark comedy is directed by Gail Winar, and stars Christopher Daftsios, Dan Grimaldi, Nandita Shenoy, and Jacob A. Ware.

Previews begin this Friday, June 1 for the Playwrights Horizons (Tim Sanford, Artistic Director; Leslie Marcus, Managing Director) world premiere production of LOG CABIN, a new play by Pulitzer Prize finalist Jordan Harrison (Marjorie Prime, Maple and Vine, Doris to Darlene at Playwrights; "Orange Is the New Black").  Directed by Tony Award and Obie Award winner Pam MacKinnon (Clybourne Park, The Qualms at Playwrights; Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, The Parisian Woman), LOG CABIN is the sixth and final production of the theater company's current 2017/2018 Season.  

Sometimes a character stands out from the source material and starts to establish its own reputation. Actors start to circle the part and gauge if and when they might get a crack at it. For men, in straight non-musical plays, Hamlet, Macbeth, Willy Loman, Stanley Kowalski, are a few that have achieved iconic status. Specifically black characters? The list is shorter: Walter Younger in A Raisin in the Sun would be one. There have been other plays and roles of note, but not until you get to August Wilson do you find a greater repository of suitable candidates.

The Riant Theatre (Van Dirk Fisher, Artistic Director) presents the 31st season of THE STRAWBERRY ONE-ACT FESTIVAL, A Celebration of Cultural Diversity.

The Riant Theatre's Strawberry One-Act Festival presents the Semi-Finals.  Join us and cast your votes for the Best Play.  Performances for the Semi-Finals are Tues, May 22, Wed, May 23 and Thurs, May 24th at 6pm and 8:30pm.  After the Semi-Finals (2) two plays will be eliminated from each Semi-Finals night.

The Riant Theatre's Strawberry One-Act Festival presents the Semi-Finals. Join us and cast your votes for the Best Play. Performances for the Semi-Finals are Tues, May 22, Wed, May 23 and Thurs, May 24th at 6pm and 8:30pm. After the Semi-Finals (2) two plays will be eliminated from each Semi-Finals night.

Acclaimed Off-Broadway theater company Playwrights Horizons (Tim Sanford, Artistic Director; Leslie Marcus, Managing Director) has announced details for its 2018 Online Auction. Bidding for the auction, which features an eclectic array of items, getaways, theater tickets, sports items, celebrity meet and greets, celebrity experiences, and unique opportunities, begins today, Wednesday, May 23

Ferocious Lotus Theatre Company, with the support of Intersection for the Arts, presents the world premiere of Leah Nanako Winkler's TWO MILE HOLLOW directed by Lily Tung Crystal. Ferocious Lotus is proud to produce Winkler's work since she was announced as the 2018 winner of the coveted Yale Drama Series Prize for her new play, GOD SAID THIS, and the 2018-2019 Jerome Fellow at The Lark. TWO MILE HOLLOW is part of a simultaneous world premiere with Artists at Play in Los Angeles, First Floor Theatre in Chicago, and Theatre Mu/Mixed Blood Theatre in Minneapolis.

Philip Dawkins's latest play is making its New York premiere at the Cherry Lane Theatre. The play recounts the fateful meeting of William Inge and Tennessee Williams prior to the Chicago premiere of THE GLASS MENAGERIE. We sat down with Dawkins to get the inside scoop on this sexy and searing new drama.

Chimera Ensemble today announced the casting for its US Premiere of DON'T SMOKE IN BED, written by award-winning playwright Aurin Squire, and directed by acclaimed director Chika Ike. Kai A. Ealy, who earlier this year appeared in MARY STUART at Chicago Shakespeare and FRANKLINLAND for Jackalope Theatre company; and ensemble member Nicole Fabbri, seen in Chimera's SISTER CITIES, will play an interracial couple being interviewed about their marriage by an unseen journalist via webcam.

JAG Productions (Vermont's one and only award-winning, professional African-American Theatre company!), will present, the profound jazz musical, Lady Day  Emerson's Bar & Grill by Lanie Robertson. The show will be run from May 24th-May 27th at the Engine Room in White River Junction, May 31st-June 3rd at The Grange Theater in Pomfret and June 7-10 at Main Street Landing's Black Box Theater in Burlington, VT. Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill will be directed by JAG Productions' Founder & Producing Artistic Director, Jarvis Antonio Green.

Playing On Air announced today the names of the three celebrity guests joining sponsor Josie Merck on the jury for their inaugural James Stevenson Prize, which will award three monetary prizes for new short comedic plays that honor and perpetuate the spirit and wit of Mr. Stevenson.