Arena Stage News

The First Wives Club - A New Musical will extend its run by an additional week due to popular demand. The Broadway-bound musical features a book by Tony Award winner Rupert Holmes and a score by Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and Eddie Holland. Directed by Francesca Zambello with choreography by Lisa Stevens and music direction by Ron Melrose, The First Wives Club will now run through Aug. 30.

The Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center today announces several additions to the creative team for Wonderland: Alice's New Musical Adventure. According to producer Judith Lisi, president and CEO of TBPAC, Marguerite Derricks will choreograph the production and Ron Melrose will serve as music supervisor and provide vocal and dance arrangements as well as incidental music. Susan Hilferty, Neil Patel and Paul Gallo will design the costumes, sets and lights respectively, while Jon Weston will design the sound and Sven Ortel will design video and projections.

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director, Ellen Richard, Executive Director) continues this summer's Second Stage Theatre Uptown Series with the world premiere of Lila Rose Kaplan's Wildflower. Directed by Giovanna Sardelli, Wildflower features Nadia Bowers, Ron Cephas Jones, Quincy Dunn-Baker, Jake O'Connor and Renée Felice Smith. Previews began Monday, July 13 and opening night is this evening, Monday, July 27 at 7:00pm.

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director, Ellen Richard, Executive Director) continues this summer's Second Stage Theatre Uptown Series with the world premiere of Lila Rose Kaplan's Wildflower. Directed by Giovanna Sardelli, Wildflower features Nadia Bowers, Ron Cephas Jones, Quincy Dunn-Baker, Jake O'Connor and Renée Felice Smith. Previews begin Monday, July 13 and opening night is Monday, July 27 at 7:00pm.

Chicago Dramatists has a special block of orchestra tickets on reserve to A STEADY RAIN, the hottest upcoming Broadway show starring Daniel Craig and Hugh Jackman and directed by Tony-Award nominee John Crowley. With stars of this caliber, tickets are in high demand, but Chicago Dramatists will be hosting a benefit performance on November 14th. A STEADY RAIN, the smash hit production by Chicago Dramatists Resident Playwright, Keith Huff, thrilled audiences during its two critically and publicly acclaimed runs in Chicago and will open in New York City this September.

Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director), in association with Jonathan Reinis, Jamie Cesa, Eva Price & Berkeley Repertory Theatre, is proud to present the Broadway premiere production of Wishful Drinking, created and performed by Carrie Fisher and directed by Tony Taccone at Studio 54 on Broadway (254 West 54th St).

Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director), in association with Jonathan Reinis, Jamie Cesa, Eva Price & Berkeley Repertory Theatre, is proud to present the Broadway premiere production of Wishful Drinking, created and performed by Carrie Fisher and directed by Tony Taccone at Studio 54 on Broadway (254 West 54th St).

Playwrights Horizons (Tim Sanford, Artistic Director; Leslie Marcus, Managing Director) today announced a principal cast change for the private readings of MRS. SHARP, a new musical (Winner of the Richard Rodgers Award for Staged Readings, administered by the American Academy of Arts and Letters) with Book by Kirsten Guenther and Music & Lyrics by Jonathan Larson Grant recipient Ryan Scott Oliver. Directed by three-time Tony Award nominee and Playwrights Horizons alumnus Michael Greif (Grey Gardens, Next to Normal, Rent), the four invitation-only readings will take place over two days on Thursday, July 30 and Friday, July 31 at Playwrights Horizons (416 West 42nd Street).

MCC Theater (Robert LuPone, Bernard Telsey, Artistic Directors; William Cantler, Associate Artistic Director; Blake West, Executive Director) has announced casting for two productions of its 2009-10 season.

The Tony Award-winning Old Globe will host its annual Gala on Saturday, August 1, in celebration of the world premiere musical The First Wives Club. The event is co-chaired by Sandra Redman and Debra Turner and is the Globe's largest annual fundraiser, celebrating the achievements of the year as well as supporting the institution's education programs.

The American Theatre Wing has announced the newest members of the Nominating Committee for the 2009-2010 Broadway theatre season.

Executive Producer Lou Spisto announced that the Edgerton Foundation's New American Play Award has been granted to The Old Globe in support of the world premiere of Sammy. The $75,000 award will allow for an extension of the rehearsal period of Sammy, a new musical based on the life of Sammy Davis, Jr. with book, music and lyrics by Leslie Bricusse.

The highly anticipated 'So You Think You Can Dance Tour' will once again give fans a chance to see all their favorite dancers up close and in person when the tour kicks off this fall, when it comes to the Orleans Arena Stage November 14.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company concludes its 2008-2009 season, an exploration of the imagination, with Up by Bridget Carpenter, directed by ensemble member Anna D. Shapiro and featuring ensemble members Ian Barford and Martha Lavey with Rachel Brosnahan, Jake Cohen, Tony Hernandez and Lauren Katz. Up plays through August 23, 2009 in Steppenwolf's Downstairs Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted.

Women's Project, the 32-year-old non-profit theater dedicated to producing plays written and directed by women, will increase main stage production next season by 50%. The theater's board of directors authorized Julie Crosby, producing artistic director, to increase main stage productions from two to three at the company's Julia Miles Theater on West 55th Street.

Playwrights Horizons will present private readings of MRS. SHARP, a new musical with Book by Kirsten Guenther and Music & Lyrics by Jonathan Larson Grant recipient Ryan Scott Oliver. Directed by three-time Tony Award nominee and Playwrights Horizons alumnus Michael Greif (Grey Gardens, Next to Normal, Rent), the invitation-only readings will take place on Thursday, July 30 and Friday, July 31 at Playwrights Horizons (416 West 42nd Street).

Executive Producer Lou Spisto today announced that the Edgerton Foundation's New American Play Award has been granted to The Old Globe in support of the world premiere of Sammy. The $75,000 award will allow for an extension of the rehearsal period of Sammy, a new musical based on the life of Sammy Davis, Jr. with book, music and lyrics by Leslie Bricusse. Directed by Keith Glover, Sammy will run in the Old Globe Theatre Sept. 19 ? Nov. 8, 2009. (The cast and creative team have not yet been announced.)

Chautauqua Theater Company Artistic Directors Vivienne Benesch and Ethan McSweeny are proud to announce the second production of the 2009 season: Tennessee Williams' classic The Glass Menagerie.

During Arena Stage's 58th season the theater faced the difficult challenges of the economic crisis early on, and after the conclusion of its 2009 fiscal year, Arena reports the books have closed in the black. While the financial success, in the face of such an unpredictable year, is paramount to the strength of Arena and its future, the theater also succeeded on and off the stage this year in numerous, exceptional ways.

Lynne Meadow (Artistic Director) and Barry Grove (Executive Producer) are pleased to announce the New York premiere of Bill Cain's EQUIVOCATION. The limited engagement will begin previews at MTC's New York City Center - Stage I (131 West 55th Street) on Tuesday, February 9, 2010 in preparation for a Tuesday, March 2, 2010 opening night.