Amy Warren News

February of 2008 has turned out to be a heck of a terrific month for non-traditional and daring Off-Broadway musicals. (Do we have any more opening by tomorrow night?) Following the exhilarating Next To Normal and the entrancingly Dadaist The Blue Flower we now have Joshua Schmidt (music and libretto) and Jason Loewith's (libretto) haunting chamber piece, Adding Machine, based on Elmer Rice's 1923 Expressionist drama. To call it 'old-fashioned' would be misleading, but one of the pleasures of Adding Machine is that it recalls a time when political and social protest musicals were not uncommon among Gotham's theatrical offerings.

Curt Columbus' new musical is perfectly entertaining and packs an unexpected emotional punch.

The Official Drama Desk Cocktail Reception honoring this year's Drama Desk Award Nominees will be held Thursday, May 1, 4 to 7 PM at Arte′ Cafe, 106 W. 73rd Street, between Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues, where nominees will receive their Nomination Certificates.

Nominations for the 53rd Annual Drama Desk Awards were announced this morning at the New York Friars Club. 'A Catered Affair' led the way with 12 nominations.

The critically acclaimed Off Broadway hit Adding Machine will extend through August 31 at the Minetta Lane Theatre (18 Minetta Lane), it was announced today by the show's producers.

A cocktail reception to congratulate all of the nominees was held on April 21st at The Penthouse at American Airlines Theatre (227 West 42nd Street).

On Monday, April 21st the Outer Critics Circle Nominees were announced at the Algonguin Hotel in Manhattan. The Outer Circle Awards are chosen by a group a theater critics and writers covering Broadway for publications outside of the New York City area.

Trinity Repertory Company in Providence, RI will premiere the new musical, written by Columbus. 'Paris by Night' is a gay, interracial, love story set in Paris in the 1960's

PS Classics, the label dedicated to the heritage of Broadway and American popular song, will record the original Off Broadway cast recording of Adding Machine on Monday, April 14, it was announced today by the show's producers, Scott Morfee, Tom Wirtshafter and Margaret Cotter, and Tommy Krasker, co-founder of PS Classics.

National Corporate Theatre Fund (NCTF) will hold its Annual Chairman's Awards Gala and benefit on Monday, April 14 at New York's Cipriani's Pegasus (30 Rockefeller Plaza).

THE LEAGUE OF OFF-BROADWAY THEATRES AND PRODUCERS today announced the nominations for THE 23rd ANNUAL LUCILLE LORTEL AWARDS FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT OFF-BROADWAY, which will be presented on Monday, May 5th at the Union Square Theatre (100 East 17th Street).

The featured cast of the New York Premiere of Adding Machine has been announced. Adding Machine features a score by Joshua Schmidt and a libretto by Jason Loewith and Mr. Schmidt. David Cromer directs. Performances begin at the Minetta Lane Theatre on February 7, 2008, with an opening night set for Monday, February 25 (this is a change from the previously announced date of February 26).

The New York Premiere of Adding Machine, a new musical based on Elmer Rice's fascinating and incendiary 1923 expressionist play, is set for Off Broadway. Performances begin at Greenwich Village's Minetta Lane Theatre on February 7, 2008, with an opening night set for Tuesday, February 26. Tickets go on sale this Saturday, December 22, 2007.

Curt Columbus announces that All the Kings Men, Blithe Spirit and Richard III and more will be included in Trinity Rep's 44th season