Anna-Deavere Smith News

Soho Rep has announced its fall-winter 2012-13 mainstage productions on the heels of its twice-extended, immensely acclaimed world premiere of Chekhov's Uncle Vanya, adapted by Annie Baker and directed by Sam Gold. This fall and winter, the 13-time OBIE-winning theater will introduce New York audiences to two more highly anticipated new works, by artists whose careers Soho Rep has nurtured: Jackie Sibblies Drury's We Are Proud to Present a Presentation About the Herero of Namibia, Formerly Known as South West Africa, From the German Sudwestafrika, Between the Years 1884-1915, directed by Eric Ting; and Nature Theater of Oklahoma's epic musical serial, Life and Times: Episodes 1-4 a Soho Rep production presented by The Public Theater as a special engagement of the Under the Radar Festival 2013. Soho Rep's 2012/13 season is produced in association with John Adrian Selzer. (The theater will announce its spring production later this fall.)

American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) Conservatory Director Melissa Smith announced today that the A.C.T. Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) Program has been selected by Anatoly Smeliansky, dean of the Moscow Art Theatre School, to perform at Moscow Art Theatre School's 2012 Stanislavsky Festival, to be held in Moscow October 15-21, 2012. This year's festival, titled "Open Class: Stanislavsky Continues," honors the 150th birthday of Konstantin Stanislavsky, founder of the Moscow Art Theatre. The A.C.T. M.F.A. Program has the distinguished honor of being the only theater school selected to represent the United States.

The Public Theater's $40 million revitalization of its downtown home at Astor Place will be unveiled October 4 and celebrated through a series of events designed to engage the entire New York community and marking a rededication to its founding principles. The Public Forum - the Company's celebrated new series of lectures, debates, and discussions will mark the rededication with a special series of "Duet" programs, pairing an artist who has been important to the life of The Public and a leading voice from outside the world of theater.

This September, Maryland's largest regional theater CENTERSTAGE will premiere MY AMERICA, a first-of-its kind project that features a thought-provoking collection of 50 original monologues written and performed by some of the nation's leading playwrights and stage actors.

CENTERSTAGE announces its electrifying, one-of-a-kind artistic initiative, My America-50 new monologues by 50 of America's leading and emerging playwrights, all filmed by award-winning filmmaker Hal Hartley. The films will debut at the theater today, September 28, and begin a staggered release online at www.centerstage.org/MyAmerica, culminating on Election Day, November 6.

The Public Theater's $40 million revitalization of its downtown home at Astor Place will be unveiled October 4 and celebrated through a series of events designed to engage the entire New York community and marking a rededication to its founding principles. The Public Forum - the Company's celebrated new series of lectures, debates, and discussions will mark the rededication with a special series of "Duet" programs, pairing an artist who has been important to the life of The Public and a leading voice from outside the world of theater.

Continuing its commitment to nurturing and producing the next generation of musical theatre artists, Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director) has awarded its first annual Donna Perret Rosen Award for excellence in musical theatre to composer/lyricist Adam Gwon. The $10,000 award was established at the off-Broadway company's 2011 gala to honor Second Stage Theatre trustee Donna Perret Rosen in recognition of her long-standing commitment to young artists and new works. The award was chosen by Tony Award winners James Lapine, Susan Stroman, and Jack Viertel.

ZACH Theatre, known as the city's "leading professional theatre" (New York Times) and "liveliest and most polished professional theatre" (Austin American-Statesman) opens its new state-of-the-art Topfer Theatre this month, joining the realm of the nation's most widely recognized regional theatres.

Alexis Marnel and Artists Collective for Social Change present the New York Off-Broadway premiere of Rock WILK's BROKE WIDE OPEN, a theatrical love letter to his hometown, New York City, and the story of his adoption, his fostering, and his complex search for his biological mother. Directed by Stephen Bishop Seely ("8 Million Protagonists") preview performances of BROKE WIDE OPEN begin October 6th prior to an official press opening of Thursday, October 11th at The 45th Street Theatre (354 West 45th Street) in Manhattan.

CENTERSTAGE announces its electrifying, one-of-a-kind artistic initiative, MY AMERICA-50 new monologues by 50 of America's leading and emerging playwrights, all filmed by award-winning filmmaker Hal Hartley. The films will debut at the theater on September 28, and begin a staggered release online, culminating on Election Day, November 6th.

CENTERSTAGE announces its electrifying, one-of-a-kind artistic initiative, My America-50 new monologues by 50 of America's leading and emerging playwrights, all filmed by award-winning filmmaker Hal Hartley. The films will debut at the theater on September 28, and begin a staggered release online at www.centerstage.org/MyAmerica, culminating on Election Day, November 6.

Alexis Marnel and Artists Collective for Social Change present the New York Off-Broadway premiere of Rock WILK's BROKE WIDE OPEN, a theatrical love letter to his hometown, New York City, and the story of his adoption, his fostering, and his complex search for his biological mother. Directed by Stephen Bishop Seely ('8 Million Protagonists') preview performances of BROKE WIDE OPEN begin October 4th prior to an official press opening of Thursday, October 11th at The 45th Street Theatre (354 West 45th Street) in Manhattan.

The Public Theater's $40 million revitalization of its downtown home at Astor Place will be unveiled October 4, 2012 and celebrated through a series of events designed to engage the entire New York community and marking a rededication to its founding principles. A physical expression of the Company's core mission of sparking dialogues, fostering artistic development and experimentation and increasing public accessibility, the revitalization project opens up the landmark building to the street and community, and transforms the lobby into a public piazza for artists, students and audiences.

With the recent passing of Rodney King and in the 20th anniversary year of the Los Angeles riots, Great Performances brings Smith's remarkable dramatic work back to public television viewers across America when it presents an encore presentation of Marc Levin's film adaptation of Twilight: Los Angeles, tonight, August 24 at 9 p.m. ET.

With the recent passing of Rodney King and in the 20th anniversary year of the Los Angeles riots, Great Performances brings Smith's remarkable dramatic work back to public television viewers across America when it presents an encore presentation of Marc Levin's film adaptation of Twilight: Los Angeles, Friday, August 24 at 9 p.m. ET.

American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) has announced the recipients of the 2012-13 Conservatory Awards, which annually recognizes and honors A.C.T.'s award-winning actor training program's outstanding alumni and pays tribute to donors and foundations who have provided significant support to the Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.)

Trigger Creative, in association with The Present Company, as part of the 16th Annual New York International Fringe Festival, presents the World-premiere REDlight - documentarian Ryan Kipp's journey into the loves, lives and loses of the performers and patrons of one of Atlanta's most notorious gay strip clubs, as viewed through the eyes of a heterosexual dancer at the club - Mr. Kipp himself. REDlight is directed by Jennifer Tuttle and Marc Santa Maria, with choreography by Carol Johnson.

Stage and screen star Sanaa Lathan (A Raisin in the Sun, Contagion) returns to the title role in Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage's By the Way, Meet Vera Stark for its West Coast premiere at the Geffen Playhouse. Lathan, who originated the character of Vera Stark in the critically acclaimed New York run, will once again take the stage as the 1930's era maid turned movie star, reunited with original cast member Kimberly Hebert Gregory (Spike Lee's Red Hook Summer) reprising her role as fellow aspiring African American actress Lottie. Broadway vet and Geffen alum Merle Dandridge (Spamalot, Rent, Aida) will take on the spicy role of Anna Mae, who fakes a Brazilian accent for a slice of fame, and former leading lady of ABC's Man Up, Amanda Detmer, will portray Gloria Mitchell, the white starlet dubbed "America's little sweetie pie" and Vera's first employer. Helmed by award-winning director Jo Bonney, the West Coast premiere cast also features Kevin Carroll (Paid in Full, Being John Malkovich), Spencer Garrett (Iron Man 3, Air Force One) and Geffen alum Mather Zickel (Extraordinary Chambers, Rachel Getting Married).