Ars Nova News

Asolo Rep continues its celebration of 60 years on stage with Tony Award-winner Michael Frayn's rip-roaringly hilarious play NOISES OFF, one of the most celebrated farces of all time. Directed by comedic Broadway veteran Don Stephenson, NOISES OFF previews March 20 and 21, opens March 22 and runs through April 20 in rotating repertory in the Mertz Theatre, located in the FSU Center for the Performing Arts.

The Bushwick Starr collaborates with Ma-Yi Theater Company in presenting the world premiere of Suicide Forest by award-winning playwright and performer Kristine Haruna Lee (Memory Retrograde at The Public Theater with Under the Radar and Ars Nova, War Lesbian at Dixon Place), directed by Aya Ogawa (Ludic Proxy produced by The Play Company at Walker Space, The Nosebleed at The Public Theater with Under the Radar).

In honor of Stonewall's 50th Anniversary and the Wizard of Oz' 80th Anniversary, Not in Kansas Productions presents the world premiere of a new play by Randall David Cook; directed by 2x Tony-nominee, Joey McKneely; and featuring Jamison Stern: Toto Talks!

Soho Rep., which provides a platform for vastly diverse artists to realize their boldest visions, in productions that are regularly among the most ambitious and acclaimed offerings of the theater season, will convene many of its collaborators and supporters at its 2019 Spring Fete, Monday, April 8, at Tribeca Rooftop (2 Desbrosses Street, New York, NY 10013).

Nobel and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Toni Morrison's first novel comes to life at the Wells Theatre. The Bluest Eye, directed by Khanisha Foster, follows the story of young Pecola in 1940's Ohio who is pregnant at her father's hands. She is taken in by a loving family and cared for by brilliant and kind sisters, Frieda and Claudia. The character-driven play, both poetic and daringly funny, illuminates the destructive powers of racism and class dynamics while exploring the power of community through exquisite storytelling. The Bluest Eye is produced in collaboration with Norfolk State University Theatre Company.

The University of Washington School of Drama will present Naomi Wallace's poetic 1994 drama, In the Heart of America, March 6 - 17, 2019 at the Jones Playhouse at UW.

ACTUALLY, WE'RE F**KED, a new play by Matt Williams, will be given its world-premiere production at Cherry Lane Theatre (38 Commerce St. in Manhattan), with previews starting on February 26 prior to an official opening on March 7, it has been announced by Cherry Lane founder Angelina Fiordellisi and artistic director Seri Lawrence. The play is directed by John Pasquin, with whom Mr. Williams has a long-standing collaboration, including the popular television series "Home Improvement."

The American Music Theatre Project (AMTP) at Northwestern University's School of Communication will present workshop performances of three new music theater works as the 2018-2019 season continues.

Playwrights Horizons presents playwright and performer Halley Feiffer's blistering dark comedy The Pain of My Belligerence, directed by Trip Cullman, March 29-May 12. Across eight years and three Presidential elections, this play Feiffer and Cullman's sixth collaboration holds the fraught power dynamics of a relationship up against the country's current tug-of-war of regression and profound awakening regarding gender. Feiffer's winsomely vicious writing (The New York Times) reaches new heights in this world premiere production, a Playwrights Horizons' Harold and Mimi Steinberg Commission. Cullman's direction of Feiffer's work has been praised for evoking open-wound performances steered as close to festering as audiences' stomachs allow (The New York Times). In The Pain of My Belligerence, Feiffer and Cullman wield the cutting social humor they've honed through six years of work together to shed light on how we perpetuate our roles within a patriarchal culture, looking towards the promise of a new paradigm.

The American Theatre Wing announced today that the 2019 Jonathan Larson Grants recipients are Julia Gytri & Avi Amon (book, music and lyrics), Emily Gardner Xu Hall (book, music and lyrics), Andy Roninson (music and lyrics), and Ben Wexler (music and lyrics). Four prestigious grants of $10,000 each, as well as additional support in the form of residencies, concerts, and recording grants, totaling over $50,000, will be presented on Monday, March 19, 2018 at a private event at the WNYC Greene Space. The event will feature special performances of the recipients' work.

The Public Theater announced the sixth season of PUBLIC STUDIO today, which will present two new works this spring. Continuing The Public's commitment to nurturing new playwrights, the two productions will run in succession in The Public's Shiva Theater and be presented as pared-down productions with the low ticket price of $15. This vital program continues The Public's mission of making new work by emerging artists accessible to all audiences.

Incoming Artistic Director Simon Godwin today announces Shakespeare Theatre Company's 2019-2020 Season. Godwin's debut season highlights his artistic aspirations for the company to create high quality, exciting, inclusive theatre. Godwin states, This is not my season, but ours, everybody's season.

The Tank will present Tank-aret, a monthly cabaret series curated by EllaRose Chary and Brandon James Gwinn at The Tank (312 West 36th Street between 8th and 9th Avenues). Performances are scheduled for Monday, February 25 (hosted by Drag King Sam Bam Thankyoumaam), Monday, March 4 (featuring BOOBS! The Musical with Erica Von Kleist), Monday, April 22 (featuring Izzy Castaldi), Monday, May 20 (featuring Anessa Marie), and Monday, June 24 (featuring Sabrina Chap). Tickets ($18 + 1 drink minimum) are available for advance purchase at www.thetanknyc.org. The performance will run approximately 90 minutes, with no intermission.

West Hyler has been named as the new Producing Artistic Director of the 2019 New York Musical Festival, the Drama Desk Award-Winning organization committed to showcasing and nurturing new musical theater, ensuring the future of this essential art form.

Ars Nova, "one of the most adventurous Off-Broadway companies" (New York Times), under the leadership of Founding Artistic Director Jason Eagan and Managing Director Renee Blinkwolt, is proud to kick-off Ars Nova at Greenwich House with the world premiere commission of Mrs. Murray's Menagerie, created by The Mad Ones and Phillip James Brannon, Brad Heberlee, Carmen M. Herlihy and January LaVoy. Directed by Lila Neugebauer, Mrs. Murray's Menagerie marks The Mad Ones' first production since their critically acclaimed play Miles For Mary and celebrates 10 years of "triumphantly original" and "skillfully acted" (New York Times) theater that is saturated with "precision, invention, and richness" (Time Out New York). The Mad Ones has been Ars Nova's Company-in-Residence since 2015, developing Mrs. Murray's Menagerie and Miles For Mary.

The Clive Barnes Foundation, under the leadership of former Royal Ballet soloist Valerie Taylor-Barnes, awarded its prizes today for the 9th Annual Clive Barnes Awards, recognizing excellence in Theater and Dance, to Edmund Donovan (Theater, Lewiston/Clarkston) and Zoey Anderson (Dance, Parsons Dance). The awards were presented by Michael Novak, artistic director of Paul Taylor Dance Company and Tony-winner Beth Leavel, currently starring in Broadway's The Prom. The event, hosted by New York Post columnist and WOR radio personality Michael Riedel was held at the Walter Reade Theater at Lincoln Center.

The Bushwick Starr is thrilled to collaborate with Ma-Yi Theater Company in presenting the world premiere of Suicide Forest by award-winning playwright and performer Kristine Haruna Lee (Memory Retrograde at The Public Theater with Under the Radar and Ars Nova, War Lesbian at Dixon Place), directed by Aya Ogawa (Ludic Proxy produced by The Play Company at Walker Space, The Nosebleed at The Public Theater with Under the Radar).

A "first-rate singer of unusual refinement" with "a voice that traverses genres" (New York Times), Michael Winther, making his Birdland Theater solo debut, joins forces with award-winning jazz pianist, Matt Baker for a unique mix of classic, romantic standards and contemporary love songs as well as some discoveries from the contemporary musical theater - just in time for Valentine's Day!

Tickets sold out in days, but here's your chance to bid for 2 VIP tickets for you and a guest to attend a one-night-only Ars Nova benefit performance of Freestyle Love Supreme on March 3, 2019! You'll also get to attend the post-show after-party with the cast - including Lin-Manuel Miranda!

MAX VERNON will continue his first ever residency at Joe's Pub, Existential Life Crisis Lullaby, on Tuesday, February 26 at 7:00 PM. Following three sold out shows last year, he returns with special guests Bonnie Milligan, Larry Owens, Kenita R. Miller, Brittain Ashford, and Jaime Cepero.