Ars Nova News

SpongeBob SquarePants on Broadway officially opens tonight, December 4th, at The Palace Theatre (1564 Broadway - Broadway at 47th Street). Scroll down to learn more about the company, plus watch interviews with the cast and get a peek at them in rehearsal in the video below!

The Parisian Woman, the electrifying new play by 'House of Cards' creator Beau Willimon, directed by Tony Award winner Pam MacKinnon (Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Clybourne Park), starring Academy Award nominee Uma Thurman in her Broadway debut, opens on Broadway tonight, November 30, at Hudson Theatre (141 West 44th Street). Scroll down to learn more about the company, plus check out interviews with the cast below!

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 Kenny Mellman. One of the minds behind Kiki & Herb and Our Hit Parade, Mellman discusses his band The Julie Ruin with punk icon Kathleen Hanna, how he and Justin Vivian Bond met and developed characters for their famous duo, and his upcoming solo record. Also, Justin shares personal stories of how Kenny's various projects influenced his own life and work. SPARKLE & CIRCULATE was recently named among the 10 Comedy Podcasts You Should Listen To by Backstage. All episodes are available on iTunes HERE.

The Manhattan Association of Cabarets (MAC) has announced the 2017 winners of the Dottie Burman and John Wallowitch songwriting awards.

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).

The Fred Ebb Foundation, in association with the Roundabout Theatre Company, just presented the 13th annual Fred Ebb Award for aspiring musical theatre songwriters to Shaina Taub.

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.

The Pool, a pop-up theater company, will present three new plays in rotating rep from November 15 - December 16, 2017 in a limited 5-week engagement at The Flea Theater's brand-new Tribeca home, located at 20 Thomas Street. The plays are Susan Bernfield's TANIA IN THE GETAWAY VAN directed by Portia Krieger, Peter Gil-Sheridan's THE RAFA PLAY directed by Morgan Gould, and Lynn Rosen's WASHED UP ON THE POTOMAC directed by Jos Zayas.

Transgender performer and producer Donnie Cianciotto brings together a cast of huge voices and personalities for the first installment of Trans* Voices Cabaret in the heart of the village at The Duplex today, November 25th 2017 at 9:30pm.

Bulldozer Partners in association with Aaron Grant Theatrical has announced that previews of the off-Broadway engagement of BULLDOZER: THE BALLAD OF ROBERT MOSES, will begin today, November 25, 2017 and will run through Sunday, January 7, 2018 at the Theatre at St. Clement's (423 West 46th Street).

The Associates present the world premiere of SHEILA, created and written by The Associates, and directed by Jamal Abdunnasir.

Ars Nova, piece by piece productions and Z Space present the world premiere of The Lucky Ones, a new musical by The Bengsons (Hundred Days) and Sarah Gancher, commissioned and developed by Ars Nova.

FEINSTEIN'S/54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents LeeAnet Noble in In My Shoes on Thursday March 29, 2018 at 9:30pm. Internationally critically acclaimed multi-talented performer (STOMP, Drumstruck, Lion King Experience series, Rick Owens Paris Fashion Week) who has worked with and/or opened for such artist as Rihanna, Alicia Keys, Gwen Stefani and more, makes her Feinstein's/54 Below debut in her tour de force show In My Shoes taking you through her thirty year journey in the arts via stirring vocals, eclectic compositions, percussive dance and live drumming in the fashions of super designer Rick Owens of Paris. Featuring music stylings of her mother critically acclaimed vocalist and drummer Lauretta Noble and world renowned New York based chamber band CompCord Ensemble.

The Joust Theatre Company will present the NYC workshop premiere of Gina Stevensen's Book of Esther.

Here at BroadwayWorld, we love podcasts! So, starting today, we are going to be rounding up the best episodes of our favorite theatrical podcasts every week, so you can find them all in one place.

Comedian, storyteller and hoop-dancer Mimi Fischer (The Chris Gethard Show, Broad City) is 64 years young and all about comedy, improv and hoop dance. She announces her first solo show, A Late Bloomer, with SoloCom, the Peoples Improv Theater's annual solo show festival. The show's title is a nod to her starting her career in comedy at an age that most think should relegate her to knitting but she doesn't do that.

After their recent run in I'm Gorgeous Inside, comedian and writer, Justin Sayre returns to Joe's Pub with a new show, EGGPLANTS, PEACHES, & TEARS. The show, which chronicles the trials and tribulations of the modern queer life, runs November 17 & 18 at Joe's Pub at The Public Theater in New York City.

Artistic Directors Douglas Aibel and Sarah Stern announce casting for Vineyard Theatre's world premiere production of The Amateurs by Jordan Harrison (2015 Pulitzer Prize finalist for MARJORIE PRIME) directed by Oliver Butler (THE OPEN HOUSE, Obie Award for Direction).

The Hermitage Artist Retreat in Englewood, FL and New York City's American Opera Projects (AOP) announce the second Opera Genesis Fellowships to composer Joseph N. Rubinstein and librettist Jason Kim. The award includes a six-week Hermitage residency, in which these two artists will work on their new opera Legendary, about the drag balls of the 1980s in New York City. The Opera Genesis Fellowship awards are presented annually to artists who have completed training in AOP's Composer & the Voice (C&V) training program which helps to develop contemporary American opera.

New York City Center President & CEO Arlene Shuler today announced Anne Kauffman and Jeanine Tesori as Co-Artistic Directors for the 2018 Encores! Off-Center season.