Ars Nova News

Chautauqua Theater Company (CTC) continues its significant commitment to new play development under the co-leadership of Artistic Directors Vivienne Benesch and Andrew Borba with Signature Staged Readings of The Glow Overhead written by Nick Gandiello, and directed by Sherri Eden Barber, running August 3 - 5 as part of the 2016 season's New Play Workshop. The Glow Overhead plays on the Bratton Theater stage at the Chautauqua Institution.

Grab your friends and head out for an evening of humor, heart, and harmony as Chick Flick the Musical comes to The Royal George Theatre Cabaret, 1641 N. Halsted Street in Chicago. This uniquely female-positive new musical begins previews November 1, and opens November 10 for an open run.

The Meeting* hosted by Justin Sayre - the monthly gathering of the International Order of Sodomites, the centuries-old organization which sets the mythic Gay Agenda - will come to an end at the conclusion of its upcoming season.

The Old Globe presents the world premiere of Steve Martin's new play METEOR SHOWER, an adult comedy, marking his welcome return to the Globe following the great success of Bright Star. It will be directed by Gordon Edelstein in a co-production with Long Wharf Theatre, where Edelstein serves as Artistic Director (and no, he is not related to Barry).

Victory Gardens Theater announces casting for each of the 2016 IGNITION Festival of New Plays selected works, including The Wayward Bunny by Greg Kotis; BREACH: a manifesto on race in America through the eyes of a black girl recovering from self-hate by Antoinette Nwandu; EOM (end of message) by Laura Jacqmin; Kill Move Paradise by James Ijames; Gaza Rehearsal by Karen Hartman; and Girls In Cars Underwater by Tegan McLeod.

The 'half-lament, half-rallying cry' was originally written in response to the Sandy Hook shootings.

Camille Harris announces the release of her upcoming EP Where I Go, which is out on July 29th on all digital platforms.

The Bushwick Starr presents the very first performance of The Mayor's Office of Media & Entertainment's Off Broadway in the Boros inaugural series. For one night only, tonight, July 29th, 2016, Dave Malloy, composer/playwright of the Broadway-bound Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812, brings his award-winning chamber musical GHOST QUARTET, a haunted song cycle about love, death, and whisky, to Bushwick's Maria Hernandez Park for a very special outdoor performance at sunset.

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 vocalist and songwriter Carol Lipnik. Called "an ethereal vocal phenomenon' by The New York Times, Lipnik tells Justin about her latest album "Almost Back to Normal," her Sundaynight residency at the downtown NYC club Pangea, and her influences from Mothra to Laura Nyro. She and Justin wax rhapsodic about Tennessee Williams, the 13th Century poet Rumi and B-movies of the 50s. Plus, Justin offers some simple tips on staying cool, calm and collected during the summer. SPARKLE & CIRCULATE was recently named among the "10 Comedy Podcasts You Should Listen To" by Backstage. All episodes are available on iTunes HERE.  

To-By-For Productions is proud to present the New York Premiere of Dipika Guha's MECHANICS OF LOVE, directed by Elena Araoz (She-She-She in Ice Factory Festival; Architecture of Becoming with Women's Project) at The Paradise Factory (64 East 4th Street between 2nd Avenue and Bowery) September 8-24.

American Theater Company (ATC) has restructured its 2016-17 Season and will present three of four previously announced plays, with an updated production schedule.

New Light Theater Project and Access Theater present STRANGE COUNTRY by award-winning playwright Anne Adams. Winner of the New Light New Voices award, it is directed by Jay Stull (Utility, Rantoul and Die). Performances run through August 13 at Access Theater.

The show will include the two songwriters doing arrangements of each other's work.

The Playwrights Realm, led by Founding Artistic Director Katherine Kovner and Producing Director Roberta Pereira, has announced the cast and creative team for the world premiere of Sarah Delappe's THE WOLVES.

The Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University announces that Stephen Agosto will lead a team of Broadway performers as Artistic Director of The Rutgers High School Musical Theatre Academy. He succeeds founding Artistic Director Alistair Williams. Agosto has a long history in Arts Education, having served on faculty for the TONY award-winning Paper Mill Playhouse and contributing musical theatre curriculum to The New York City Department of Education. Agosto will oversee comprehensive training in Acting led by Frances Mercanti-Anthony, Singing Technique led by Marian Murphy Powell, and Musical Theatre Dance led by Ivette Sosa Dempsey.

The Bushwick Starr is thrilled to present the very first performance of The Mayor's Office of Media & Entertainment's Off Broadway in the Boros inaugural series. For one night only, July 29th, 2016, Dave Malloy, composer/playwright of the Broadway-bound Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812, brings his award-winning chamber musical Ghost Quartet, a haunted song cycle about love, death, and whisky, to Bushwick's Maria Hernandez Park for a very special outdoor performance at sunset.

Amid the current fractured national landscape - where political and cultural tensions have many people deeply angered, saddened, and retreating to their own ideological camps - the grassroots reading and discussion series, Community Matters at People's Light aims to spark conversation about relevant issues in our community with a diverse array of perspectives and voices. Performed readings of new plays are the centerpiece of each evening, followed by a discussion with community partners, special guests, artists, and audiences. The fifth season of Community Matters features the reading and discussion of plays focused on the American work-force, mental illness, and the representation of race, gender, and sexuality in art.

In Episode 415 of 'Something New' -- a musical theatre podcast that interviews diverse artists and premieres original songs -- award-winning songwriter Joel B. New sat down with Devin Ilaw. Devin Ilaw is a performer, musician, music director, and vocal coach. He can currently be seen making his Broadway debut in LES MISERABLES, now playing through September 4th. Favorite credits include the 25th anniversary tour of LES MISERABLES, MISS SAIGON, BERNSTEIN'S MASS, WEARING BLACK, and THE KING AND I. He is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon.

Before their August 3rd opening at NYMF, LUDO's Broken Bride is presenting a... 'Broken Bride Preview Cabaret' on Saturday, July 23rd at 7:30pm (doors open at 7pm) at The West End Lounge 955 West End Avenue (at 107th Street). 

Jared Zirilli, of RAIN at The Old Globe, ROMANCE LANGUAGE at Ars Nova, The Civilians PRETTY FILTHY, Broadway LYSISTRATA JONES, touring WE WILL ROCK YOU and WICKED, as well as Off Broadway FAT CAMP, BULLETS OVER BROADWAY, BARE, and TWILIGHT THE MUSICAL plus The Alley Theatre's A FEW GOOD MEN brings you the latest 'Jared's Broadway Boo's' # 73 with WICKED and BROOKLYN's Eden Espinosa. Check out the episode below: