Ars Nova News

PlayPenn, Philadelphia's nationally recognized professional new play development organization, will hold its 12th annual New Play Development Conference from July 5 - July 24 in Philadelphia at The Drake, a new home for new plays. The Conference, including three weeks of intensive work on six works-in-progress, will offer staged readings open to the public. The six selected plays and playwrights are:

Molly Pope -- brassy belter/whiskey guzzler/benevolent lunatic -- will return with the acclaimed concert MOLLY POPE LIKES YOUR STATUS for one night only at The Duplex (61 Christopher Street) today, March 31 at 9:30 PM.

In an opium den at the turn of the 20th century, Willow sacrifices her life to pay off her father's debt by working in an occult underground society called 'The Cave.' In this musical exploration of fairy tales, myths, and spiritualism, Willow fights to find light not only in the grim and strange shadow-world around her, but also within herself.

The Huntington Theatre Company's 2016 Breaking Ground festival of new plays will be held April 14 - 17 at the Huntington's home for new work, the Calderwood Pavilion at the BCA.

Abrons Arts Center and New York City Players' American Playwrights Division present REALLY, a new play written by Jackie Sibblies Drury, directed by Richard Maxwell and designed by photographer Michael Schmelling.

The Off-Broadway League today announced nominations in 18 categories for the 31st Annual Lucille Lortel Awards for Outstanding Achievement Off-Broadway. The Lortel Awards will be presented on Sunday, May 1, 2016 at NYU Skirball Center beginning at 7:00 PM EST. This year's event will once again benefit The Actors Fund.

Broadwayworld.com interviewed Jess Chayes, director of The Assembly's World Premiere play, 'I Will Look Forward to This Later.' The show will be on the New Ohio Theatre stage from April 4th to April 23rd.

PlayMakers Repertory Company concludes its Mainstage Season with Stephen Sondheim's musical masterpiece 'Sweeney Todd,' onstage tonight, March 30, through April 23.

Full casting has been announced for the new musical THE GREAT COMET, featuring the Broadway debuts of 18 cast and creative team members including Josh Groban as 'Pierre' and Denee Benton as 'Natasha.' Created by Dave Malloy (Preludes, Ghost Quartet) and directed by Rachel Chavkin (Small Mouth Sounds, Preludes) - also making their Broadway debuts - THE GREAT COMET will blaze intoBroadway's Imperial Theatre (249 West 45th Street) beginning in the first week of October with opening night set for Monday, November 14, 2016.Ticketing info will be announced shortly. To sign up for news updates and presale ticketing opportunities, visit www.greatcometbroadway.com.

Full casting has been announced for the new musical THE GREAT COMET, featuring the Broadway debuts of 18 cast and creative team members including Josh Groban as 'Pierre' and Denee Benton as 'Natasha.' Created by Dave Malloy (Preludes, Ghost Quartet) and directed by Rachel Chavkin (Small Mouth Sounds, Preludes) - also making their Broadway debuts - THE GREAT COMET will blaze intoBroadway's Imperial Theatre (249 West 45th Street) beginning in the first week of October with opening night set for Monday, November 14, 2016.Ticketing info will be announced shortly. To sign up for news updates and presale ticketing opportunities, visit www.greatcometbroadway.com.

Dramatists Guild Fund President Andrew Lippa and Executive Director Rachel Routh announce an upcoming Traveling Masters Program in Ashland, Oregon, with playwright Laura Jacqmin.

The Flea Theater is excited to welcome playwright Sarah Gancher with the world premiere of THE PLACE WE BUILT. Artistic Associate Danya Taymor (My Daughter Keeps Our Hammer, I Hate Mexicans) directs members of The Bats, The Flea's resident acting company, with music direction and arrangements by The Bengsons. Previews start April 14th, with opening night slated for April 25th.

The 5th Avenue Theatre presents the critically-acclaimed Broadway musical, A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN, beginning tonight, March 25, in Seattle.

One of the most romantic stories ever written, THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY won the 2014 Tony Awards® for Best Original Score and Best Orchestrations. The musical adaptation of the best-selling novel and popular film will play at The Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts April 26 - May 1. Tickets are on sale now.

Dramatists Guild Fund President Andrew Lippa and Executive Director Rachel Routh announce an upcoming Traveling Masters Program in Ashland, Oregon, with playwright Laura Jacqmin.

Black Lab Theatre announced today that Crude, a new dark comedy by Jordan Jaffe, will play a strictly limited world premiere engagement at Theater 511 at Ars Nova (511 West 54th Street) for an Ars Nova Fling, as part of Black Lab Theatre's new play development program, 'The Pipeline."

With direction by Tony Award winner Walter Bobbie and choreography by Josh Rhodes, BRIGHT STAR began performances on February 25th and opens officially tonight, March 24th, 2016 at at the Cort Theatre (138 West 48th Street). Scroll down to learn more about the cast and watch interviews with the company!

Philadelphia Theatre Company has just announced its 2016/17 season, with four plays and one musical that showcase work by some of the most exciting and provocative playwrights in America.

New York Theatre Workshop (NYTW) has announced the cast for 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).

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 - will take place at Merkin Concert Hall at the Kaufman Center (129 West 67th Street in Manhattan) on Monday, June 6.