Ars Nova News

Martyrs, written by Romana Soutus and developed with and directed by Pirronne Yousefzadeh, will premiere at The Downstairs at La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club, April 19 - May 6, Thursday to Saturday at 7 PM, Sunday at 2 PM. A devised ensemble piece performed by a female cast of nine, Martyrs dives into the dynamics of martyrdom, sainthood, self-worth, and desire.

Cult-hit Brooklyn rockers Sky-Pony have been called 'indie-pop aces' (New York Times) and 'a beautiful mash-up of music, choreography, costumes, projections and drama' (Village Voice). They're known for collaborations that blur the lines between rock concert and performance art - in the past they've collaborated with circus artists, burlesque performers, monologists, even a fortune teller - as well as creating the original theater piece The Wildness at Ars Nova in 2016 (nominated for a Lortel Award for Outstanding Musical).

Esther and Schmuli are shy young Orthodox Jews embarking on an arranged marriage, despite barely knowing each other. Abe and Julia are high-profile celebrities embarking on a dangerously flirtatious correspondence, despite being married to other people. On the surface, the lives of these two couples couldn't be more different. But Anna Ziegler's funny, insightful, and mysterious new drama explores the hidden connections between seemingly disparate people, drawing audiences into an intriguing puzzle and a deeply sympathetic look at modern love.

The Barbour Playwrights Award continues on Wednesday, March 28 at 7pm with a reading of Teresa Lotz's Mommy's Little Princess. In Mommy's Little Princess, Ingrid, her boyfriend, and her new roommate find a unique way to play house, upending our notions of relationship 'norms' and the definition of family. Directed by Daniella Caggiano, the cast includes Cynthia Bastidas, Azalea Lewis, Kevin Hoffman, and Isabella Schiller. Doors open at 6:40 pm. The reading will be followed by a wine and cheese reception.

Playwright Adam R. Burnett of New York, NY, has been awarded a fellowship by the Jentel Artist Residency Program for May through June, 2018.  Jentel is located in a rural setting on a working cattle ranch in the Lower Piney Creek Valley approximately 20 miles southeast of Sheridan, Wyoming. Adam will be among the award recipients focusing on their own creative projects at this working retreat for artists and writers.

 F*It Club, the New York Innovative Award-winning film and theatre company, continues its annual series of short, commissioned world-premiere plays at the IRT Theater as part of their 3B Development Series in Manhattan's West Village with The Spring Fling: Chemistry, seven new short plays by Mario Correa (Tail! Spin!), Jahna Ferron-Smith (Ensemble Studio Theatre's Youngblood), Jon Kern (Modern Terrorism), Dan McCabe (Christina Martinez), Mara Nelson-Greenberg (Do You Feel Anger?), Erica Saleh (Channel Zero, Wisdom of the Crowd) and Amy Staats (Eddie and Dave).

Atlantic Records has announced the release of MEAN GIRLS (ORIGINAL BROADWAY CAST RECORDING). The album will be available for digital pre-orders and pre-saves beginning Friday, April 6th at digital retailers nationwide.

The Traverse Theatre is excited to announce the full programme for Traverse 1 during Traverse Festival 2018. A collection of five vibrant, compelling and deeply human works, taking in a teenage girl's coming-of-age tale from schoolgirl to indie rock star (What Girls Are Made Of); a childhood remembered through taste and smell (Nigel Slater's 'Toast'); a fearless exploration of race relations (Underground Railroad Game); the state and future of the NHS (Check Up: Our NHS at 70); and a haunting vision of ruthless state control (Meek). 

The New Black Fest and The Lark, two theater organizations dedicated to celebrating and advocating for stories that explore the intersection of art and social justice, are proud to announce the fifth annual The New Black Fest at The Lark. This week-long event is aimed at showcasing diverse and provocative work in a festival of Black theater artists from throughout the Diaspora, and will feature talkbacks, a panel event, and staged readings of four plays-in-progress. The festival will take place April 9-13, 2018, and will include works by 2017 Djerassi Writer in Residence France-Luce Benson (Deux Femmes On the Edge De La Revolution), 2018 Laurents/Hatcher Foundation Award recipient Donja R. Love (soft), 2015 Princess Grace Award-Winner Jonathan Payne (Brother Rabbit), and artist, activist, and The New Black Fest alum Liza Jessie Peterson (Sistergurls and the Squirrel) who has performed excerpts of her one-person play The Peculiar Patriot in over 35 penitentiaries across the country.

Rebecca Faulkenberry (Groundhog Day), Hunter Ryan Herdlicka (A Little Night Music), and Carrie Manolakos (Mamma Mia) will lead a closed industry reading of the new musical ALIVE! by Josh Canfield on March 21.

Award-winning singer-songwriter Shaina Taub will independently release her second full-length studio solo album, Die Happy on Tuesday, May 1, 2018.

YALE REPERTORY THEATRE (James Bundy, Artistic Director; Victoria Nolan, Managing Director), the multiple Tony Award-winning theatre dedicated to the production of new plays and bold interpretations of classic works, has announced its 2018-19 Season.

Walton Arts Center is the place for all things a cappella during the annual VoiceJam Festival April 5-7, 2018. VoiceJam gives fans the opportunity to compete, learn about a cappella or just listen.

Project Y Theatre Company presents the 3rd Annual WOMEN IN THEATRE FESTIVAL from May 30 - June 24 at IRT Theatre (154 Christopher Street, between Washington & Greenwich Streets in the West Village). The Festival seeks to broaden the opportunities for women in the entertainment industry by producing new work by women with more than 50% female representation of all artists involved.

Good morning BroadwayWorld! Today's top stories: read an exclusive interview with the cast of Jesus Christ Superstar Live!, watch 'Mama Will Provide' in 360, and more!

Yoga apparel giant Jojomon are at the top of their game when a terrible scandal sends them into freefall. Newly hired CEO Joan stakes everything on a wild plan to recover their earnings and their reputation. YOGA PLAY is a comedy about enlightenment in a world determined to sell it.

La MaMa, in association with The Assembly, presents the world premiere of SEAGULLMACHINE, created by The Assembly, conceived by Nick Benacerraf, co-directed by Jess Chayes (Lucille Lortel Award winner) and Nick Benacerraf, and text by Anton Chekhov, Heiner Muller and The Assembly. SEAGULLMACHINE runs from April 14 - 29, 2018 in a limited engagement at La MaMa's Ellen Stewart Theatre, located at 66 East 4th Street between 2nd Avenue and the Bowery in New York City. Previews begin April 14 for an April 16 opening.

Victory Gardens Theater continues its 43rd season with the World Premiere of Lettie, written by Boo Killebrew and directed by Artistic Director Chay Yew. Lettie runs April 6 - May 6, 2018, with the press performance on Friday, April 13, 2018 at 7:30pm at Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is ready to il-lumos-nate your mind, tug at your dragon heart strings, and most importantly, welcome you back home to Hogwarts as it begins previews tonight. Get to know the cast below as they begin Broadway performances!

George Street Playhouse, located at 103 College Farm Road in New Brunswick, today announced Jonathan Kite (TV's 2 Broke Girls) will play the titular role in Larry Shue's The Nerd, on stage April 24 - May 20, 2018. Kevin Cahoon, who has appeared in many Broadway productions, including The Wedding Singer and The Lion King, will direct the popular comedy, which closes out GSP's mainstage season.