Ars Nova News

The Kleban Foundation just announced the recipients of the 28th Annual Kleban Prize for Musical Theatre. Adjudication in the 2018 Kleban Prize for the most promising musical theatre lyricist category resulted in a tiebetween Alan Schmuckler and Amanda Yesnowitz, andthe 2018 Kleban Prize for the most promising musical theatre librettist has been awarded to Christian Duhamel. The 2018 prizes will be presented on Monday, February 5, 2018, in a private ceremony (by invitation only) hosted by ASCAP and BMI at ASCAP.

Following the opening of the Company's first permanent home, Target Margin Theater has announced that 13 diverse artists, via three distinct programs, will be supported in 2018. The Company's new home, located in the Sunset Park section of Brooklyn, enables Target Margin Theater to deepen their support of the next generation of theater makers through its annual incubator LAB festival, it's five-year-old fellowship program, and its new artist-in-residency program.

Folger Theatre continues its 2017/18 season with The Way of the World, a new comedy freely adapted from the classic play by William Congreve. Written and directed by renowned author Theresa Rebeck (Mauritus and Seminar and Broadway; creator and head writer of TV's Smash), the production will star Tony Award nominee Kristine Nielsen (Present Laughter, You Can't Take It With You, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike on Broadway).

This summer, LCT3/Lincoln Center Theater will produce the New York premiere of PASS OVER, a new play by Antoinette Nwandu, directed by Danya Taymor, at the Claire Tow Theater (150 West 65 Street). PASS OVER will begin performances Saturday evening, June 2 and run for six weeks only through Sunday, July 15. Opening night is Monday, June 18.

The Hearth (Artistic Directors Julia Greer and Emma Miller) will present the World Premiere of Gracie Gardner's female coming of age story, ATHENA, directed by Emma Miller

Love appears in unlikely places in Adam Szymkowicz's new play, Kodachrome, which makes its world premiere at The Armory directed by Associate Artistic Director Rose Riordan. The production opens February 9, with previews beginning February 3 and performances running through March 10 in the Ellyn Bye Studio. Kodachrome was developed at The Armory's JAW: A Playwrights Festival in 2015 under the title Colchester and will be the company's 26th world premiere production.

Following the show's development at The Orchard Project in 2017, LubDub Theatre presents The Doubtful Guest, an immersive contemporary s ance featuring cocktails and sleight-of-hand and exploring the legacy of American spiritualism. The piece premieres at The Public Hotel (215 Chrystie St., New York, NY) following sold-out developmental performances at The Inn at Saratoga and Guild Greene Gallery.

Following a year-long search, Ars Nova one of the most adventurous Off Broadway companies (New York Times) has been selected by Greenwich House as the new tenant of their historic, 199-seat Greenwich House Theater, which opened in 1917 and is located at 27 Barrow Street. In addition to operating and filling the beloved venue with new work by its emerging artists, Ars Nova will partner with Greenwich House on new community engagement and educational initiatives that will deepen the mission of both non-profit organizations.

The Associates world premiere of 'SHEILA,' created and written by The Associates, and directed by Jamal Abdunnasir, runs January 12 to January 27 at the Jeffrey and Paula Gural Theatre at the A.R.T./New York Theatres. Broadwayworld.com had the pleasure of interviewing The Associates Theater Ensemble's Artistic Director, Peregrine Heard about her career and 'SHEILA.'

Pipeline Theatre Company (Ari Schrier*, Artistic Director; Natalie Gershtein*, Producing Director) is proud to announce tickets are now on sale for all performances of the world premiere production of Folk Wandering, a new musical conceived by Jaclyn Backhaus (Men on Boats) and Andrew Neisler (Clown Bar), featuring a book and lyrics byBackhaus and music and additional lyrics by collaborating composers Blake Allen (Boston Nebraska), Mike Brun (Music Director, Mr. Burns), Andrew R. Butler (Finn the Fearless), Joel Esher(PharmaBro: an American Douchical!), Alex Fast (The Drawer Boy), Jo Lampert (Joan of Arc: Into The Fire), Barrie McLain (Hundred Days), Annie Tippe (Director, Ghost Quartet), and Dominique Toney ( Crazy Ex-Girlfriend ). Andrew Neisler will direct.

SPARKLE & CIRCULATE with JUSTIN SAYRE the official monthly podcast of the International Order of Sodomites has posted its new episode, which features an interview with the chanteuse and songwriter Lady Rizo. The Grammy Award winner discusses her sophomore album 'Indigo recorded at the legendary Royal Studios in Memphis and her annual concert tribute to the legendary Nina Simone. Rizo comes to the IOS studio to talk about growing up in a theatrical hippy family in Oregon and how motherhood has affected her as a performer.

Penn State Centre Stage presents the premiere production of the musical Love in Hate Nation, February 13-24, in the Playhouse Theatre, University Park. With Music, lyrics, and book by Joe Iconis, Love in Hate Nation was commissioned by Penn State Musical Theatre as part of their New Works Initiative.

The Joyce Theater Foundation, Inc. (Linda Shelton, Executive Director) is thrilled to present the return of the critically acclaimed Cuban contemporary dance troupe Malpaso Dance Company from January 17 21 on The Joyce Theater stage. Tickets, ranging in price from $10-$56, can be purchased at www.Joyce.org, or by calling JoyceCharge at 212-242-0800. Please note: ticket prices are subject to change. The Joyce Theater is located at 175 Eighth Avenue at West 19th Street. For more information, please visit www.Joyce.org.

From January 17 to February 3, 2018, the University Musical Society of the University of Michigan (UMS) presents No Safety Net, a three-week theater festival of four productions that foster timely conversations around slavery, terrorism, transgender identity, and radical wellness and healing. Two of the titles are U.S. premieres and will receive their only U.S. performances as part of No Safety Net. Performances will be held in Arthur Miller Theatre (1226 Murfin Ave, Ann Arbor) and the Stamps Gallery (201 S. Division St, Ann Arbor), with each title examining a different topic related to contemporary social issues.

Thank goodness for the grand feats of woke escapism that took over New York venues this year. Charles Quittner reflects on his favorite theatrical events featuring pirates, pirates, more pirates, and drag queens.

Sinking Ship Productions is thrilled to return to NYC with their production A HUNGER ARTIST, adapted from the story by Franz Kafka. Created collaboratively by performer Jonathan Levin, writer Josh Luxenberg, and director Joshua William Gelb, A HUNGER ARTIST begins performances on Wednesday, January 10th for a 7-performance limited engagement through January 16th. Performances are at the Connelly Theater (220 East 4th Street, between Avenues A & B). Tickets are $25 - $35. For more information, to view a trailer, and to purchase tickets, visit www.sinkingshipproductions.com.

A workshop production of the new musical Going South will be presented Wednesday, January 10, 2018 at Dixon Place. Going South has book, music & lyrics by Katya Stanislavskaya.

The Bushwick Starr is thrilled to present the world premiere of Cute Activist, a new play by Milo Cramer, directed by Morgan Green, and produced in collaboration with their exciting young company, New Saloon (Minor Character), in association with Clubbed Thumb.

Feinstein's/54 Below, Broadway's Supper Club, presents, a darkly funny and entertaining evening featuring the songs of the Obie Award-winning? ?A Very Merry Unauthorized Children's Scientology Pageant! In an an unforgettable celebration of Kyle Jarrow and Alex Timbers' musical, experience Hey! It' A Happy Day, Science Of The Mind, and Rain like never before! Featuring an all-star cast of Broadway and New York's finest young talent.

Feinstein's/54 Below, Broadway's Supper Club, presents a darkly funny and entertaining evening featuring the songs of the Obie Award-winning A Very Merry Unauthorized Children's Scientology Pageant!