Ars Nova News

New York Theatre Workshop (NYTW) presents HADESTOWN, written by celebrated singer-songwriter Anais Mitchell and developed with and directed by the inventive two-time OBIE award-winning director Rachel Chavkin (Three Pianos; Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812).

Pioneer Theatre Company presents the American professional premiere of the new musical THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO, written by Frank Wildhorn and Jack Murphy. Performances take place tonight, May 6, through May 21, 2016.

Lesser America (The Bachelors, Carnival Kids, Trevor) will present HALF MOON BAY by Dan Moyer. It is directed by Jess Chayes (AD of Peter and The Starcatcher) starring Keilly McQuail (You Got Older, Her Requiem) and Gabriel King (These Seven Sicknesses). Previews begin May 12 at Cherry Lane Theatre, where Lesser America is the inaugural Company in Residence. Opening set for Thursday, May 19.

Alice Ripley, Nathan Lee Graham, Gay Marshall, Carol Lipnik, Rob Maitner and Gabrielle Stravelli have joined the cast of the sixth annual "Night Of A Thousand Judys" - the Pride concert to benefit The Ali Forney Center presented by The Meeting* hosted by Justin Sayre. The event will take place at Merkin Concert Hall at the Kaufman Center (129 West 67th Street in Manhattan) on Monday, June 6.

Diversionary Theatre, under the leadership of Executive Artistic Director Matt M. Morrow, presents the daring new musical The Boy Who Danced On Air with Book and Lyrics by Charlie Sohne, Music by Tim Rosser, featuring direction by Tony Speciale, choreography by Nejla Yatkin, and musical direction by Cris O' Bryon.  

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 'RuPaul's Drag Race' star Alaska 5000, who discusses her time on the hit Logo TV reality show, her debut album and the current 'Battle of the Seasons' tour.

Barrett Foa, acclaimed star of stage and screen, brings his one-man show, Grin and Barrett, to Feinstein's at the Nikko for two performances only - Friday, June 24 (8 p.m.) and Saturday, June 25 (7 p.m.). After seven seasons of spouting intricate tech geekery on the hit CBS television show, 'NCIS: Los Angeles,' the star of Broadway's Avenue Q, Mamma Mia!, and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and off-Broadway's Buyer & Cellar will present an evening of pride, desperation, and show-offsmanship in a one-man cabaret that is sure to be... an hour long! Produced by Andrew Carlberg, Grin and Barrett is directed by Christopher Youngsman and features choreography by Rene?e Felice Smith and musical direction and arrangements by David O. Tickets for Barrett Foa range in price from $45-$65 and are available now by calling 866.663.1063 or visiting www.feinsteinsatthenikko.com.

Led by Founding Artistic Director Katherine Kovner and Producing Director Roberta Pereira, The Playwrights Realm is pleased to announce its 2016-17 10th anniversary season. Over the past decade, The Realm has continually produced work by brave new voices and worked to introduce new initiatives to expand its commitment to providing holistic support to playwrights as they strive to make a life in the arts.

The New Group has announced additional guests for post-show talkbacks at The Sensuality Party, with playwrights Thomas Bradshaw (Burning, Intimacy) and Erika Sheffer (Russian Transport) joining in the conversation at Brooklyn College following the 7:00pm performances on May 2 and May 3, respectively, and Wallace Shawn (Aunt Dan and Lemon, The Fever, Marie and Bruce) joining at LaGuardia Community College following the 2:30pm performance on May 11.

In Episode 410 of 'Something New' -- a musical theatre podcast that interviews artists and premieres original songs -- award-winning songwriter Joel B. New sat down with Lauren Ruff, a musical theatre performer, filmmaker, voice-over artist, and teaching artist.

The Off-Broadway League tonight presents the 31st Annual Lucille Lortel Awards for Outstanding Achievement Off-Broadway at NYU Skirball Center. BroadwayWorld will be bringing you the full list of winners below. Stay tuned to find out who will win big!

Pick a night, Thursday through Sunday, June 2 through 19, and you'll get to see all six of this year's "Best of PlayGround" - 6 short plays by some of the Bay Area's top new writers, staged by 6 different leading directors.  All are chosen from PlayGround's 2015-16  Monday Night Series that included over 180 different submissions. 

Gulfshore Playhouse (www.GulfshorePlayhouse.org) - Southwest Florida's premier professional theatre - is pleased to announce its upcoming production of The Who and the What, a poignant and funny play about identity, religion, and the contradictions that make us who we are from Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Ayad Akhtar, scheduled for tonight, April 30, through May 15 at The Norris Center in Naples.

Five-time Obie Award-winning theater company Clubbed Thumb has announced initial casting for SUMMERWORKS, its annual series of new plays.

If it's not one thing, it's your mother. McCarter Theatre Center is proud to present the World Premiere of Sharyn Rothstein's ALL THE DAYS, a blend of drama and comedy about the hectic history among eccentric mother, her grown daughter, and extended family.

Five-time Obie Award-winning theater company Clubbed Thumb has announced initial casting for SUMMERWORKS, its annual series of new plays.

This May, Feinstein's/54 Below, Broadway's Supper Club, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond. Scroll down for the full lineup!

Drama Desk, Tony®, and Emmy® Award nominee and Theater World Award and NAACP Image Award winner Vanessa Williams (Into The Woods, The Trip to Bountiful, 'Ugly Betty') and Drama Desk, Tony®, Emmy, Golden Globe, and Drama League Award Nominee and SAG & TV Land Award winner Matthew Morrison (Finding Neverland, Hairspray, The Light in the Piazza, 'Glee') just announced the nominations for the 61st Annual Drama Desk Awards.

Gulfshore Playhouse (www.GulfshorePlayhouse.org) - Southwest Florida's premier professional theatre - is pleased to announce its upcoming production of The Who and the What, a poignant and funny play about identity, religion, and the contradictions that make us who we are from Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Ayad Akhtar, scheduled for April 30 through May 15 at The Norris Center in Naples.

Ato Essandoh ("Vinyl" (HBO), Mother Courage and Her Children, Shakespeare in the Park) will join Adrienne Campbell-Holt (Cal in Camo, Colt Coeur & Rattlestick Plawrights Theater), Genesis Oliver (How to Live on Earth, Colt Coeur), Adam Harrington (How to Live on Earth, Colt Coeur), Eden Marryshow (Pass Over, Cherry Lane), and Anna Loyd Bradshaw in a performance of new plays by Brooklyn public school students ages 11 to 15.