Amy Freed News

Artistic Director Molly Smith announces Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and author Ayad Akhtar as Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater's next resident playwright as part of the American Voices New Play Institute, effective July 2016 through June 2017. Akhtar's emotionally-charged drama Disgraced, which won the 2013 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, completes Arena Stage's 2015/16 season. Now in previews, the production officially opens April 28 and runs through May 29, 2016.

The Flea Theater is excited to welcome playwright Sarah Gancher with the world premiere of THE PLACE WE BUILT. Artistic Associate Danya Taymor (My Daughter Keeps Our Hammer, I Hate Mexicans) directs members of The Bats, The Flea's resident acting company, with music direction and arrangements by The Bengsons. Previews start tonight, April 14th, with opening night slated for April 25th.

Adam Rapp's WOLF IN THE RIVER, an impressionistic glimpse into the poetry of broken people, will now run through May 16. Written and directed by Adam Rapp, featuring members of The Bats, The Flea's resident acting company.

The Flea Theater is excited to welcome playwright Sarah Gancher with the world premiere of THE PLACE WE BUILT. Artistic Associate Danya Taymor (My Daughter Keeps Our Hammer, I Hate Mexicans) directs members of The Bats, The Flea's resident acting company, with music direction and arrangements by The Bengsons. Previews start April 14th, with opening night slated for April 25th.

Adam Rapp returns to The Flea with WOLF IN THE RIVER. Featuring members of The Bats, The Flea's resident acting company, WOLF IN THE RIVER is written and directed by Rapp. Previews start tonight, March 10, with opening night slated for Monday, March 21.

Pear Theatre continues its 2015/2016 season with THE BEARD OF AVON, a brilliant farcical treatment of the Oxfordian theory regarding authorship of Shakespeare's plays.

On March 13th, The Flea Theater and Project1VOICE are teaming up for a one-night-only event to honor the 40th anniversary of Ntozake Shange's for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf.

Rapp directs his newest play with a cast from The Flea's resident acting company, The Bats.

Adam Rapp returns to The Flea with WOLF IN THE RIVER. Featuring members of The Bats, The Flea's resident acting company, WOLF IN THE RIVER is written and directed by Rapp. Previews start March 10, with opening night slated for Monday, March 21.

Aurora Theatre Company presents the West Coast Premiere of Sarah Treem's (Netflix's House of Cards, HBO's In Treatment) thought-provoking THE HOW AND THE WHY. Acclaimed Bay Area actress and director Joy Carlin (Talley's Folly, After the Revolution, Body Awareness, Jack Goes Boating, Awake and Sing!) helms this intimate and keenly perceptive play, featuring Nancy Carlin (The Monster-Builder, Hysteria, Benefactors) and Martha Brigham (San Francisco Playhouse, La Jolla Playhouse). The third fully staged production to be performed at the company's second stage performance space, Harry's UpStage, THE HOW AND THE WHY plays March 18 through May 8 at the Aurora Theatre Company in Berkeley. For tickets ($35-45) and information the public can call (510) 843-4822 or visit auroratheatre.org.

The Flea Theater presents the New York premiere of Kristiana Colon's but i cd only whisper, directed by Resident Director David Monteagudo and featuring members of The Bats, The Flea's resident acting company. Previews start February 18, with opening night slated for Monday, February 29.

Niegel Smith, Artistic Director and Carol Ostrow, Producing Director of The Flea Theater announced today the slate for the spring season, featuring two World Premieres and one US Premiere. Continuing a long-standing relationship with The Flea, Adam Rapp will be returning with Wolf in the River, which he also directs. The Flea is also excited to welcome two new playwrights, Kristiana Colon and Sarah Gancher. Gancher's The Place We Built will be directed by Flea Resident Director Danya Taymor while Colon's but I cd only whisper will be directed by Resident Director David Monteagudo.

Tom Stoppard's first new play since Rock 'n' Roll introduces us to Hilary, a 22-year-old psychology student applying for a coveted position with the Krohl Institute for Brain Science. As Hilary prays for strength to move beyond personal regrets, she passionately explores the blurred lines between science and psychology with her colleagues and her sometimes-lover Spike. Ethics are called into question as they delve into the 'hard problem' of consciousness versus gray matter, and debate whether altruism even exists. Following a sold-out run at the National Theatre in London, the Wilma-'America's foremost interpreter of the playwright's work' (Philadelphia Magazine)-is proud to be among the first to bring The Hard Problem to U.S. audiences.

Critics and audiences agree -THE MONSTER-BUILDER is smashing! Due to popular demand, Aurora Theatre Company announces a second extension of the Bay Area Premiere of Pulitzer Prize finalist (Freedomland) Amy Freed's THE MONSTER-BUILDER for an additional 6 performances. Art Manke makes his Aurora directing debut with this viciously funny comedy featuring Danny Scheie (The Mystery of Irma Vep), Rod Gnapp (The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity), Nancy Carlin (Hysteria), Thomas Gorrebeeck (The Eccentricities of a Nightingale), Maggie Mason (Magic Theatre, San Francisco Playhouse), and Sierra Jolene. Originally extended through December 13, THE MONSTER-BUILDER now plays through December 20th (added performances: Tuesday, December 15, 7pm; Wednesday, December 16, 8pm; Thursday, December 17, 8pm; Friday, December 18, 8pm; Saturday, December 19, 8pm; Sunday, December 20, 2pm) at the Aurora Theatre in Berkeley. For tickets ($32-52) and information the public can call (510) 843-4822 or visit auroratheatre.org.

Critics and audiences agree -- THE MONSTER-BUILDER is smashing! Aurora Theatre Company announces that it will add an additional 7 performances of the Bay Area Premiere of Pulitzer Prize finalist (Freedomland) Amy Freed's THE MONSTER-BUILDER.

The Flea Theater presents TAKE CARE, by Niegel Smith and Todd Shalom. This world premiere production marks Smith's directorial debut at his new artistic home and will feature The Bats, the resident acting company at the Flea. Previews start December 1 with Opening Night slated for Sunday, December 6.

Aurora Theatre Company presents the Bay Area Premiere of Pulitzer Prize finalist (Freedomland) Amy Freed's THE MONSTER-BUILDER. Art Manke, who directed the World Premiere of THE MONSTER-BUILDER at Portland's Artists Repertory Theatre in 2014, makes his Aurora directing debut with this viciously funny comedy featuring Danny Scheie (The Mystery of Irma Vep), Rod Knapp (The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity), Nancy Carlin (Hysteria), Thomas Gorrebeeck (The Eccentricities of a Nightingale), Tracy Hazas, and Sierra Jolene. THE MONSTER-BUILDER plays November 6 through December 6 at the Aurora Theatre in Berkeley. For tickets ($32-60) and information the public can call (510) 843-4822 or visit auroratheatre.org.

Aurora Theatre Company presents THE SUBMARINE SHOW, a two-person theatrical adventure featuring Slater Penny and Jaron Hollander. This special fall presentation plays for 10 performances only tonight, October 14 through 25 at Harry's UpStage, located in the Nell and Jules Dashow Wing at the Aurora Theatre in Berkeley. For tickets (General $28; VIP reserved seating $32; subscribers receive a $2 discount) and information the public can call (510) 843-4822 or visit auroratheatre.org.

Long before the devil wore Prada -- 20 years ago, in fact -- the story of the irrepressible Diana Vreeland first commanded the stage of the Globe in a world premiere in 1995. Oscar and Tony Award winner Mercedes Ruehl (The Fisher King, Lost in Yonkers) now brings "The Empress of Fashion" back in FULL GALLOP. Written by Mark Hampton and Mary Louise Wilson and directed by Andrew Russell. Both critics and audiences are loving it, and FULL GALLOP will now add a limited week of additional performances, extending through Sunday, November 1, 2015, in the Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre, part of the Globe's Conrad Prebys Theatre Center.