Andrew W. Mellon News

THE BURNT PART BOYS -- a new musical by Mariana Elder (book), Nathan Tysen (lyrics) and Chris Miller (music) -- will be presented as a developmental Lab Production, May 26-June 6 at The Vineyard Theatre (108 East 15th Street) in Manhattan. Erica Schmidt (HUMOR ABUSE) is set to direct.

THE BURNT PART BOYS -- a new musical by Mariana Elder (book), Nathan Tysen (lyrics) and Chris Miller (music), directed by Erica Schmidt ('Humor Abuse') -- will have an innovative production and development schedule on its way to an Off-Broadway premiere in the spring of 2010 when it will be presented as a co-production by Playwrights Horizons (Artistic Director, Tim Sanford; Managing Director, Leslie Marcus) and the Vineyard Theatre (Artistic Director, Douglas Aibel; Executive Director, Jennifer Garvey-Blackwell) at Playwrights Horizons, it has been announced by both non-profit theaters.

Intiman Theatre, under the leadership of Artistic Director Bartlett Sher and Managing Director Brian Colburn, will present a special conversation between actors Judd Hirsch, John Procaccino and Matthew Boston about the work of playwright Herb Gardner on Monday, June 1 at 7 pm. Tickets are $10 and are available now from www.intiman.org or 206.269.1900.

Intiman Theatre Board President Kim A. Anderson announces that Bartlett Sher has extended as Artistic Director through the end of the 2010 production season.

Two Obie Award-winning theater companies -- The Play Company and Ma-Yi Theater -- collaborate to present the New York premiere of Lloyd Suh's new play AMERICAN HWANGAP, previews began May 9, prior to an official press opening tonight, May 17 Off-Broadway at The Wild Project (195 East 3rd Street) in Manhattan. Trip Cullman directs an ensemble cast featuring some of the country's most accomplished Asian American actors, including James Saito (TV's 'Eli Stone' and Obie winner for DURANGO), Michi Barall (Charles Mee's QUEENS BOULEVARD), Mia Katigbak (DOGEATERS), Peter Kim (THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE), and Hoon Lee (YELLOWFACE).

Intiman Theatre, under the leadership of Artistic Director Bartlett Sher and Managing Director Brian Colburn, announces two new opportunities for its audiences to think, talk, laugh and stay connected to each other.

Five theaters and two individuals have been selected to participate in the ninth round of the New Generations Program/Future Collaborations initiative. This round of recipients is funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and administered by Theatre Communications Group (TCG).

Jennifer Muller/The Works announces The Works' 35th Anniversary Season at The Joyce Theater at 175 Eighth Avenue (at 19th Street), NYC from June 9 - 14, 2009. The 2009 Season features the World Premieres of Bench, part of The Joyce Theater's 25th anniversary commissioning initiative, Tangle and Walk It Off.

New York Theatre Workshop (NYTW) Artistic Director James C. Nicola and Managing Director William Russo have announced that they will present Wright/Rush, a conversation between Academy Award-winning actor Geoffrey Rush and Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning playwright Doug Wright. The one-night-only event to benefit NYTW takes place Monday, May 11, at 8:00pm, at NYTW, 79 East 4 Street.

Two Obie Award-winning theater companies -- The Play Company and Ma-Yi Theater -- will collaborate this spring to present the New York premiere of Lloyd Suh's new play AMERICAN HWANGAP, with previews to begin May 9, prior to an official press opening May 17 Off-Broadway at The Wild Project (195 East 3rd Street) in Manhattan. Trip Cullman directs an ensemble cast featuring some of the country's most accomplished Asian American actors, including James Saito (TV's 'Eli Stone' and Obie winner for DURANGO), Michi Barall (Charles Mee's QUEENS BOULEVARD), Mia Katigbak (DOGEATERS), Peter Kim (THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE), and Hoon Lee (YELLOWFACE).

PHILADANCO, the Philadelphia Dance Company, will return to The Joyce Theater for a week-long engagement this summer from June 16 - 21 with a program that includes the NYC premiere of Philadelphia Experiment and a selection of audience favorites such as Enemy Behind the Gates. Tickets start at $19 and are available by calling JoyceCharge at 212-242-0800 or via the internet at Joyce.org. The Joyce Theater is located at 175 Eighth Avenue at 19th Street in Chelsea.

The Harris Theater for Music and Dance today announced its Harris Theater Presents 2009-2010 season. The schedule of Harris Theater Presents events features nine programs, a remarkable thirteen Chicago premieres and includes an impressive and diverse selection of music, dance and conversation by internationally acclaimed artists and ensembles. Highlights of the Harris Theater Presents 2009-2010 season include a rare opportunity to see Mikhail Baryshnikov in a solo dance performance, an evening of insight with the 'Master of the Musical,' Stephen Sondheim, the Harris debut of Lang Lang under the baton of his mentor Maestro Christoph Eschenbach, the Chicago premiere of Orquestra de São Paulo with virtuoso percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie, Kathleen Battle's unusual program of holiday spirituals, and much more.

Tickets are available from www.intiman.org or 206.269.1900. Tickets range in price from $40 to $55, with discounts available for youth, seniors and groups. All patrons who were 12 years old in 1962 will receive $12 off the adult-ticket price, with proof of age. Patrons 25 and under can purchase tickets to any performance for $10. Pending availability, rush tickets will be sold 15 minutes before curtain for $20. Intiman will offer a pay-what-you-can performance (with a $5 suggested minimum per ticket) on Friday, May 22 at 8 pm. This production is recommended for ages 12 and up.

New York Theatre Workshop (NYTW) Artistic Director James C. Nicola and Managing Director William Russo have announced plans for NYTW's 2009-10 season. One of New York's leading non-profit theatre companies, NYTW will present a 27th season that includes work by Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen, Rebecca Gilman, and Geoffrey Cowan and Leroy Aarons. A fourth production, scheduled for spring 2010, will be announced in the coming weeks.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) announced additional casting today for the Shakespeare in the Park production of TWELFTH NIGHT, directed by Daniel Sullivan. Herb Foster will play Valentine; Kevin Kelly will play Sea Captain; Tony nominee Stark Sands will play Sebastian; Baylen Thomas will play Curio; Jon Patrick Walker will play Fabian; and Tony Award winner Julie White will play Maria. TWELFTH NIGHT will feature original music by symphonic folk-rock band Hem.

American Hwangap Opens at The Wild Project (195 East 3rd St) In NYC. Trip Cullman directs an ensemble cast featuring some of the country's most accomplished Asian-American actors, including James Saito (TV's 'Eli Stone' and Obie winner for DURANGO), Michi Barall (Charles Mee's QUEENS BOULEVARD), Mia Katigbak (DOGEATERS), Peter Kim (THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE), and Hoon Lee (YELLOWFACE).

New York Theatre Workshop (NYTW) Artistic Director James C. Nicola and Managing Director William Russo have announced that Things of Dry Hours, written by Naomi Wallace and directed by Ruben Santiago-Hudson, will begin performances Friday, May 22, at NYTW, 79 East 4th Street, between Second Avenue and Bowery. Opening night is scheduled for Monday, June 8 at 7:00pm. The production will run through Sunday, June 28.

The Downstairs New Play Reading Series is a demonstration of Arena's longstanding commitment to the development of new works and to the support of American artists. Arena Stage is proud to announce the 10th year of the Downstairs Series, which includes new works by Arena favorites Tazewell Thompson (director of Arena's M. Butterfly, Yellowman), Psalmayene 24 (Imagination Stage's Zomo the Rabbit) and fresh new voice Seamus Sullivan.

Beginning June 26, Vassar & New York Stage and Film's Powerhouse Theater will celebrate its 25th anniversary season. Powerhouse provides its audience a window into the creative process of some of the nation's top artists and writers as they engage in the rigorous development of plays and musicals, before going on to larger stages in New York, across the country, and around the world.

Sundance Institute today announced the five projects chosen for the 2009 Sundance Institute Theatre Lab to be held July 7 -22 at the Sundance Resort in Utah. Under the stewardship of Sundance Institute Theatre Program's Artistic Director Philip Himberg, the projects and participants selected for this year's residency are: Diagram of a Paper Airplane (Carlos Murillo); An Iliad (Denis O'Hare and Lisa Peterson); The Lily's Revenge (Taylor Mac); Ngwino Ubeho (Come and Be Alive) (Odile Gakire Gatire); and Palomino (David Cale).