Ars Nova News

Opera Saratoga's Artistic and General Director Lawrence Edelson announced today complete casting for the three exciting new productions that will comprise the company's 2017 Summer Festival, which will build on the company's commitment to producing masterpieces from the operatic cannon, important American works, and works in which dance plays an integral role. In addition, a wide variety of free and ticketed concert events will be presented from May 28th through July 16th at venues throughout the region.

Theatre for a New Audience (TFANA; Jeffrey Horowitz, Founding Artistic Director) is pleased to announce casting for British director Simon Godwin's new staging of Measure for Measure, William Shakespeare's dark comedy about justice, faith, power, sex, and family. The production, which marks Godwin's first time directing Shakespeare for an American company, runs June 17 - July 16 at Polonsky Shakespeare Center (262 Ashland Place) in the Brooklyn Cultural District.

The Vineyard Theatre's Annual Emerging Artists Luncheon was just held at the National Arts Club, featuring the presentation of the 2016-2017 Paula Vogel Playwriting Award by Paula Vogel to Kate Tarker (THUNDERBODIES), who began her residency last fall.

Primary Stages announced today that the world premiere of A WALK WITH MR. HEIFETZ, written by James Inverne (Wrestling with Elephants) and directed by Benjamin Kamine (Washer/Dryer), will now play on the Primary Stages Mainstage in January of 2018 at the Cherry Lane Theatre (38 Commerce St, New York, NY, 10014).

Anatole is so much more than hot. Lucas Steele has been a part of Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812 from the very beginning, and in his years in the show, he's developed an incredibly nuanced version of Tolstoy's character. Below, watch as he explains why this is the project of his dreams. 

Feinstein's/54 Below, Broadway's Supper Club, welcomes back Alexis Michelle, star of Season 9 of RuPaul's Drag Race, for the final performance of her headline run of her solo show It Takes A Woman next Thursday, June 13, 2017 at 9:30 PM. This time with lots of surprises for Pride including a duest with Andrew Keenan-Bolger!

La Jolla Playhouse announces the cast and creative team for its world-premiere production of At the Old Place, by Rachel Bonds, directed by Playhouse Associate Artistic Director Jaime Castañeda, running in the Mandell Weiss Forum July 5 - 31.

This summer, Theatreworks USA, the nation's leading not-for-profit professional theatre for young audiences, will present the Off-Broadway Premiere of the new musical PETE THE CAT. It will begin performances on July 19 and run through August 18, with its benefit opening on July 25 at the Lucille Lortel Theatre (121 Christopher Street, between Bleecker and Hudson Streets).

TACT concludes its 2016 - '17 season with its 7th annual newTACTics New Play Festival, a fresh collection of four unpredictable and engaging new works. The original plays at newTACTics always invite you to expect the unexpected, and this year's offerings are no exception.

For the first time ever, dance superstars and online sensations WilldaBeast ("So You Think You Can Dance" choreographer; 2.6 million followers), Nia Sioux ("Dance Moms"; 5.8 million followers), Kenneth San Jose (685K followers), and Janelle Ginestra (587K followers) will join forces and hit the road in a brand new live dance show #FOLLOWME. The show will make a stop in St. Louis at the Fabulous Fox Theatre on August 2 at 7:30 p.m. Directed by Jennifer Weber (The Hip Hop Nutcracker, BRING IT LIVE!), the show will kick off a 20-city National Tour next month in Los Angeles on July 28, 2017 at The Alex Theatre and will offer fans the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to dance alongside their favorite dance and social media stars. Additional #FOLLOWME tour stops include: Phoenix, Atlanta, Charlotte, Ft. Lauderdale, St. Louis, Denver, Newark, Hartford, Uniondale LI and more.

Producers Fox Stage Productions and Aged In Wood Productions have announced plans to adapt the blockbuster film WORKING GIRL into a Broadway musical with music and lyrics by Grammy, Emmy, and Tony Award-winner Cyndi Lauper and book by FOX TV's 'New Girl' writer and Tigers Be Still playwright Kim Rosenstock. WORKING GIRL is based upon the Twentieth Century Fox motion picture written by Kevin Wade.

For the first time ever, dance superstars and online sensations WilldaBeast ("So You Think You Can Dance" choreographer; 2.6 million followers), Nia Sioux ("Dance Moms"; 5.8 million followers), Kenneth San Jose (685K followers), and Janelle Ginestra (587K followers) will join forces and hit the road in a brand new live dance show #FOLLOWME.

The Riant Theatre -- the Audelco Award-winning nonprofit providing a nurturing developmental environment for playwrights and theatre creators of diverse cultural backgrounds -- proudly presents THE STRAWBERRY ONE-ACT FESTIVAL.

For the first time ever, dance superstars and online sensations WilldaBeast ('So You Think You Can Dance' choreographer; 2.6 million followers), Nia Sioux ('Dance Moms'; 5.8 million followers), Kenneth San Jose (685K followers), and Janelle Ginestra (587K followers) will join forces and hit the road in a brand new live dance show #FOLLOWME.

Jason Robert Brown is hosting his 3rd Annual POST-TONY EXTRAVAGANZA with Amelie's Phillipa Soo on Monday, June 12 at 8 p.m. at SubCulture.

A friendly reminder! Manhattan Theatre Club's world premiere of Fulfillment Center, the new play by Abe Koogler (Kill Floor), directed by Daniel Aukin (Fool For Love at MTC), begins performances tomorrow, Tuesday, June 6, at The Studio at Stage II - Harold and Mimi Steinberg New Play Series at New York City Center - Stage II (131 West 55th Street). The limited engagement will open Tuesday, June 20.

It takes a village to recreate the giant world of War and Peace in a supper club-style Broadway theatre. Chief of that village is Rachel Chavkin, who earned her first Tony nomination for Best Direction for her ingenious work on Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812. Below, watch as she explains why the show's long journey to the Imperial has been so rewarding. 

Sharon Playhouse has announced complete casting for its 2017 Season. The season kicks off with MINOR CHARACTER: SIX TRANSLATIONS OF UNCLE VANYA, created by New Saloon (Morgan Green, Madeline Wise, and Milo Cramer), followed by FAR AWAY by Caryl Churchill (Love and Information). The season will conclude with a new, intimate chamber production of Meredith Willson's THE MUSIC MAN. In a shift that begins this season, Morgan Green (William Shakespeare's Mom) will direct all three productions, showcasing the talents and range of the rising director.

Lighting designer Bradley King picked up his first Tony nomination for his daring design of Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812. Watch below as he explains how he made the show shine!

Zeiders American Dream Theater (ZADT) in Town Center, under the leadership of Artistic Director Bart Kuebler and Executive Director Terry Flint, is pleased to present the world premiere new musical, Second To Nun, written by Broadway songwriter Michael Cooper and award-winning librettist Anton Dudley.