Anna-Deavere Smith News

Juilliard Drama, celebrating its 50th anniversary, announces its 2017-18 season of fully staged productions featuring Juilliard's Group 47 acting students in their fourth and final year in the drama program.

The 2016 Lucille Lortel Award-winning play, "Grounded," a contemporary drama about a US Air Force fighter pilot who is grounded by an unexpected pregnancy, will be staged at Westport Country Playhouse, from July 11 through July 29. 

Second Stage Theater has announced that Obie and Drama Desk Award winner LILA NEUGEBAUER will direct the New York Premiere of TRACY LETTS' acclaimed play, MARY PAGE MARLOWE, in June of 2018 at the Tony Kiser Theatre.

Second Stage Theater has announced that Mercedes Ruehl, winner of the Tony Award, Academy Award, and Golden Globe Award, will star opposite the previously announced Michael Urie in the upcoming production of Harvey Fierstein's modern classic, Torch Song, directed by Moises Kaufman.

Berkeley Repertory Theatre today announced the West Coast premiere of An Octoroon written by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins and directed by Eric Ting will close out its season.

Crowded Fire Theater (CFT) In his inaugural commission as Crowded Fire's Playwright-in-Residence, Christopher Chen tackles the power structures inherent in large corporations. Set in a parallel world, A TALE OF AUTUMN is a psychological rise-to-power fable.

The 2016 Lucille Lortel Award-winning play, "Grounded," a contemporary drama about a US Air Force fighter pilot who is grounded by an unexpected pregnancy, will be staged at Westport Country Playhouse, from July 11 through July 29. 

The 62nd Annual Drama Desk Awards, hosted by Michael Urie, were held at The Town Hall (123 W. 43rd Street) tonight, June 4th.

Second Stage Theater's (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director) production of SOMEBODY'S DAUGHTER has been extended by one week and will now play through Sunday, June 25.

Ellen McDougall announces her inaugural season as Artistic Director of the Gate Theatre, running from June 2017 to June 2018, comprising five full productions, and a one-day takeover of local Notting Hill festival InTRANSIT.

The Public Theater has announced that a special one-night-only reading and discussion, PUBLIC FORUM: YOUNG RADICALS has been added to the spring Public Forum line-up on Thursday, June 8 at 7:00 p.m. in the The Public's Martinson Hall.

The Public Theater continued its 2017 Spring Public Forum with a four-night FESTIVAL OF SONGWRITING over the weekend at Joe's Pub with Public Forum Director Michael Friedman, exploring the exciting work of composers and musicians - what it is that they do when they write a song and how they make their own particular brand of magic. Scroll down for photos!

The World Science Festival has announced complete programming for the  10th anniversary Festival, which will bring science to the crossroads of the world, Times Square, and to locations across the five boroughs of New York City, with more than 50 events, May 30 - June 4, 2017.

Second Stage Theater, the preeminent home for American plays and living American playwrights, has announced that Kevin Brockman, Executive Vice President, Global Communications, Disney/ABC Television Group, has joined the company's Board of Directors.

The American Theatre Wing (Heather Hitchens, President) and The Village Voice (Peter Barbey, Owner) are thrilled to announce the winners of the 62nd Annual Obie Awards®. Jennifer Kidwell & Scott R. Sheppard's Underground Railroad Game, produced by Ars Nova, and J.T. Roger's Oslo, produced by Lincoln Center Theater, shared the Obie Awards for Best New American Theatre Work, which is accompanied by a $500 prize each. Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Paula Vogel received a special Obie Award for Lifetime Achievement. Obie and Screen Actors Guild® Award-winning actress Lea DeLaria returned as host of this year's ceremony, which was held at Webster Hall (125 East 11th Street). A complete list of the awards is given below.

The Playwrights Realm, led by Katherine Kovner, Founding Artistic Director, and Roberta Pereira, Producing Director, celebrated its tenth anniversary with the annual Writers Block Party honoring Realm Board Member and award-winning playwright and actor, Anna Deavere Smith. The Writers Block Party took place on Tuesday, May 16, 2017 at The Stanley H. Kaplan Penthouse in the Samuel B. & David Rose Building, and was hosted by Lauren Patten (Fun Home, The Wolves). Scroll down for photos from the event!

ABC continues its commitment to distinctive storytelling with the announcement of its 2017-18 slate of programming. Channing Dungey, president, ABC Entertainment, unveiled the network's new lineup to the advertising and media communities. Check out trailers for the new shows below!

The Off Broadway Alliance, the organization of Off Broadway producers, theaters, general managers, press agents, and marketing professionals, today announced the winners of the 7th Annual Off Broadway Alliance Awards, honoring commercial and not-for-profit Off Broadway productions that opened during the 2016-2017 season.

ABC continues its commitment to distinctive storytelling with the announcement of its 2017-18 slate of programming. Channing Dungey, president, ABC Entertainment, will unveil the network's new lineup to the advertising and media communities this afternoon at Lincoln Center's David Geffen Hall in New York City.

Manhattan Theatre Club's New York premiere of Cost of Living, the new play by Martyna Majok (Ironbound, Mouse in a Jar), directed by Jo Bonney (Father Comes Home from the Wars; By the Way, Meet Vera Stark), begins performances tonight, Tuesday May 16, at MTC at New York City Center - Stage I (131 West 55th Street).