Andrew D. Hamingson News

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) announced today that The Shakespeare Lab, the theater's professional actor development program, will be tuition-free in 2009. The decision to make the program free this year builds on The Public's long tradition of free Shakespeare in the Park and the theater's ongoing commitment to building a community of classically trained artists. Shakespeare Lab 2009 will run from June 15-July 24.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) announced today that the 2009 Summer Gala will honor entertainment executive and longtime board member Susan Lyne and acclaimed director Mike Nichols for their outstanding commitment to the institution. The Gala will take place on Thursday, June 25 at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park on the opening night of TWELFTH NIGHT, the first production of the 2009 Shakespeare in the Park summer season.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) will begin previews on Tuesday, March 3 for Tracey Scott Wilson's THE GOOD NEGRO, which will run through Sunday, April 19 with an official press opening on Monday, March 16. Directed by Liesl Tommy and presented in association with Dallas Theater Center, THE GOOD NEGRO is the first new play to transfer from the Public LAB initiative to a full main stage production at The Public.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) announced complete casting and creative team today for TALES OF AN URBAN INDIAN, the second play of the 2008-2009 Public LAB season. Written and performed by Darrell Dennis (from the Shuswap nation) and directed by Herbie Barnes (from the Ojibway nation), TALES OF AN URBAN INDIAN will begin performances on Friday, February 20 and run through Sunday, March 15. TALES OF AN URBAN INDIAN is a part of The Public Theater's Native Theater Initiative made possible through the generous support from The Ford Foundation. Tickets are $10 for all performances and are on-sale now.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) will begin previews on Friday, February 20 for TALES OF AN URBAN INDIAN, the second play of the 2008-2009 Public LAB season. Written and performed by Darrell Dennis (from the Shuswap nation) and directed by Herbie Barnes (from the Ojibway nation), TALES OF AN URBAN INDIAN will run through Sunday, March 15 with an official press opening on Sunday, March 1. TALES OF AN URBAN INDIAN is a part of The Public Theater?s Native Theater Initiative made possible through the generous support from The Ford Foundation. Tickets are $10 for all performances and are on-sale now.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) will present post-show discussions following every Tuesday evening performance of TALES OF AN URBAN INDIAN, the second play of the 2008-2009 Public LAB season. The Public LAB Speaker Series, held every Tuesday following Public LAB shows, will consist of engaging conversations with the artists and notable panelists.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) announced today that they have named Andrea Nellis General Manager and Daniel C. Smith Director of Finance. Nellis moves to the General Management position after working for 15 months as The Public's Chief Financial Officer. Smith has been promoted to Director of Finance after serving as The Public's Controller since January 2008.

Currently in rehearsal at the Union Square Theatre, HAIR begins preview performances on Friday, March 6 at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre (302 West 45th Street, NYC) with an Opening Night set for Tuesday, March 31, 2009. On February 14, Valentine's Day, the cast of HAIR celebrated the day of love (and the day some say the moon is in the 7th house and Jupiter aligns with Mars) by going into Union Square during their lunch break (they're rehearsing a block away!) to spread the love by passing at flowers and giving an impromptu performance of 'Aquarius.'

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) will begin previews on Friday, February 20 for TALES OF AN URBAN INDIAN, the second play of the 2008-2009 Public LAB season. Written and performed by Darrell Dennis (from the Shuswap nation) and directed by Herbie Barnes (from the Ojibway nation), TALES OF AN URBAN INDIAN will run through Sunday, March 15 with an official press opening on Sunday, March 1. TALES OF AN URBAN INDIAN is a part of The Public Theater?s Native Theater Initiative made possible through the generous support from The Ford Foundation. Tickets are $10 for all performances and are on-sale now.

Due to strong demand, The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) announced today that it would extend Tracey Scott Wilson?s THE GOOD NEGRO an additional two weeks through Sunday, April 19. THE GOOD NEGRO begins previews on Tuesday, March 3 and will now run through Sunday, April 19 with an official press opening on Monday, March 16. Directed by Liesl Tommy and in association with Dallas Theater Center, THE GOOD NEGRO is the first new play to transfer from the Public LAB initiative to a full main stage production at The Public.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) announced today that the 2009 Shakespeare in the Park summer season will begin in June with a new production of William Shakespeare?s TWELFTH NIGHT directed by Daniel Sullivan and featuring Academy Award nominee Anne Hathaway as Viola. TWELFTH NIGHT will run June 9-July 12 at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. In August, JoAnne Akalaitis will return to direct Euripides?s THE BACCHAE, translated by Nicholas Rudall, and featuring original music by Philip Glass. THE BACCHAE will run August 11-September 6.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) announced complete casting today for Christopher Durang's WHY TORTURE IS WRONG, AND THE PEOPLE WHO LOVE THEM. Laura Benanti, Audrie Neenan, and Richard Poe will join the previously announced Amir Arison, David Aaron Baker, Kristine Nielsen, and John Pankow in this world premiere comedy, directed by Nicholas Martin. WHY TORTURE IS WRONG, AND THE PEOPLE WHO LOVE THEM begins previews on March 24 and runs through April 26 with an official press opening on Monday, April 6 at 7 PM.

Broadway's most talked about new musical and the biggest Tony Award?-winner in years is coming to the Fabulous Fox Theatre in St. Louis. Spring Awakening, the 8-time Tony Award? winning Broadway musical, will play a two-week engagement from February 10-22, 2009. Curtain times for the U.S. Bank Broadway Series presentation are Tuesdays through Fridays at 8 p.m.; Saturdays at 2 & 8 p.m.; Sunday, February 15 at 2 & 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, February 22 at 2 p.m. There is also a weekday matinee on Thursday, February 19 at 1 p.m.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis, Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) has announced the 10 members of the 2009 Emerging Writers Group, the second season of an annual program that targets playwrights at the earliest stages of their careers and nurtures their artistic growth by providing necessary resources and support. The 10 writers were selected from more than 400 applicants. The 2009 Emerging Writers are J. Julian Christopher, D.S.A. Deen, Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, Bridget Kelso, Mona Mansour, Vickie Ramirez, Jordan Seavey, Alena Smith, Kevin Christopher Snipes, and Lauren Yee.

Oskar Eustis, Artistic Director of The Public Theater, announced the 26-member Broadway cast of HAIR: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical with a media meet and greet and BWW was there! Newcomers to the cast include Gavin Creel, Caissie Levy and Sasha Allen, who join the rest of the tribe, who are reprising their roles from Central Park last summer. Currently in rehearsal at the Union Square Theatre, HAIR begins preview performances on Friday, March 6 at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre (302 West 45th Street, NYC) with an Opening Night set for Tuesday, March 31, 2009.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) announced complete casting and creative team today for TALES OF AN URBAN INDIAN, the second play of the 2008-2009 Public LAB season. Written and performed by Darrell Dennis (from the Shuswap nation) and directed by Herbie Barnes (from the Ojibway nation), TALES OF AN URBAN INDIAN will begin performances on Friday, February 20 and run through Sunday, March 15. TALES OF AN URBAN INDIAN is a part of The Public Theater's Native Theater Initiative made possible through the generous support from The Ford Foundation. Tickets are $10 for all performances and are on-sale now.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) announced complete casting today for Tracey Scott Wilson's THE GOOD NEGRO, which runs Tuesday, March 3 to Sunday, April 5 with an official press opening on Monday, March 16. Directed by Liesl Tommy and in association with Dallas Theater Center, THE GOOD NEGRO is the first new play to transfer from the Public LAB initiative to a full main stage production at The Public. The cast for THE GOOD NEGRO will feature Joniece Abbott-Pratt (Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married?), Francois Battiste (Prelude to a Kiss on Broadway), J. Bernard Calloway ('Rescue Me'), Quincy Dunn-Baker (Romeo and Juliet at Shakespeare in the Park), Erik Jensen (Spain at MCC), LeRoy McClain (Cymbeline at Lincoln Center), Curtis McClarin (King Hedley II at Signature), Rachel Nicks (Life Support) and Brian Wallace (A Christmas Carol at Trinity Rep).

Oskar Eustis, Artistic Director of The Public Theater, has announced the 26-member Broadway cast of HAIR: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical. Newcomers to the cast include Gavin Creel, Caissie Levy and Sasha Allen, who join the rest of the tribe, who are reprising their roles from Central Park last summer. Currently in rehearsal at the Union Square Theatre, HAIR begins preview performances on Friday, March 6 at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre (302 West 45th Street, NYC) with an Opening Night set for Tuesday, March 31, 2009.

The New York Times is reporting the positive news that the leaders of New York's Public Theater announced today, Thursday January 29th, that they have signed an agreement with the Broadway producer Elizabeth I. McCann that avoids legal action, threatened by Ms. McCann, over the upcoming transfer of the musical 'Hair,' which is scheduled to begin rehearsals on Friday.

Over consecutive days this week, the 26-member Broadway cast of HAIR: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical, has been announced by Oskar Eustis, Artistic Director of The Public Theater. The cast will begin rehearsals this morning at the Union Square Theater. The final HAIR cast members to be confirmed are Sasha Allen (Dionne, White Boys Trio), Caissie Levy (Sheila), Megan Lawrence (Mother), Bryce Ryness (Woof) and Will Swenson (Berger).