Ars Nova News

ARTISTIC NEW DIRECTION (AND) will present the New York premiere of FELICITAS, as part of the 18th Annual New York International Fringe Festival - FringeNYC, written and performed by Libby Skala (Best Solo Performer, A Time To Dance - London Fringe Theatre Festival; Off-Bway: Lilia!; Film: Birth with Nicole Kidman), with original music written and performed by Steven May, and directed by Artistic New Direction's Co-Artistic Director Janice L. Goldberg (The Kennedy Center Gold Medallion Award).

The Old Globe today announced the full cast and creative team for the World Premiere of Bright Star, a new American musical featuring music by Edie Brickell and Steve Martin, lyrics by Brickell, and book by Martin, based on an original story by Martin and Brickell. Directed by Walter Bobbie, Bright Star will run September 13 - November 2, 2014 on the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage in the Old Globe Theatre, part of the Globe's Conrad Prebys Theatre Center. Preview performances run September 13 - September 27. Opening night is Sunday, September 28 at 7:00 p.m. Single tickets go on sale on Friday, August 8 at noon.

Washington National Opera (WNO) today announced details for the third season of the American Opera Initiative, its comprehensive commissioning program that brings contemporary American stories to the stage while fostering the talents of rising American composers and librettists. Three teams of new opera composers and librettists—John Liberatore and Niloufar Talebi, Jake Runestad and David Johnston, and Rene Orth and Jason Kim—will premiere new 20-minute operas, each based on a contemporary American story, in a semi-staged concert performance on November 21, 2014 in the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater.

54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents "RELATIVITY: A New Musical In Concert" on August 28th at 9:30pm. From the award-winning team of Rob Rokicki (The Lightning Thief) and Michael Ruby (Ethan Frome), and featuring F. Michael Haynie (Wicked, Holler If You Hear Me) and Sarah Beth Pfeifer (Legally Blonde, The Lightning Thief), the show makes its New York debut following its recent development at the Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival (Merry-Go-Round Playhouse).

DBD PRODUCTIONS will present the world premiere of HALFWAY, NEBRASKA as part of the 18th Annual New York International Fringe Festival - FringeNYC, written by Briandaniel Oglesby (She Gets Naked in the End - Latinidad Award) and directed by Daniel R. Melnick.

Samuel French previously announced a talented roster of judges for the Samuel French Off Off Broadway Short Play Festival (OOB Festival), the nation's premiere short play competition, running from today, August 5th-10th at the Peter Jay Sharp Theatre.

Performances of Dead Behind These Eyes will take place at Sing Sing Karaoke (81 Avenue A) on August 29-31 at 7.30pm and September 3-5, 7, 10-14 and 17-19 at 7.30pm Tickets are $18 and can be purchased by calling 212.352.3101 or visiting www.abronsartscenter.org. Performance suitable for ages 21 and above.

Gloucester Stage Company's 35th Anniversary Season continues with Amy Herzog's funny and moving 4000 Miles from today, July 31 through August 17 at the Gorton Theatre, 267 East Main Street, Gloucester, MA.

square product theatre kicks off its 9th Season with the World Premiere of SLAB, adapted by Gleason Bauer and Emily K. Harrison from the forthcoming novel by Mississippi born, Denver-based writer Selah Saterstrom. SLAB will be presented in the ATLAS Black Box theater on the University of Colorado Boulder campus, today, July 31-August 16, 2014.

Joe's Pub at the Public has announced its upcoming performances, today, July 30 - August 10, 2014. Details below!

54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents 'Something New' LIVE! on Monday, August 25th. 'Something New', the theatre podcast that dissects what it means to be a working, multifaceted artist in America, comes to 54 Below to wrap up its second season with a special live concert. Award-winning songwriter and host Joel B. New has invited some of his favorite guests to join him to swap stories, take a quiz or two (with audience prizes), and bring his songs to life onstage.

Joe's Pub at the Public has announced its upcoming performances, July 30 - August 10, 2014. Details below!

Gloucester Stage Company's 35th Anniversary Season continues with Amy Herzog's funny and moving 4000 Miles from July 31 through August 17 at the Gorton Theatre, 267 East Main Street, Gloucester, MA. Winner of the 2012 Obie Award for Best New American Play and a Pulitzer Prize for Drama Finalist, Amy Herzog's 4000 Miles looks at how two outsiders find their way in today's world. After suffering a major loss while he was on a cross-country bike trip, 21 year-old Leo seeks solace from his feisty 91 year-old grandmother Vera in her West Village apartment in New York City. Over the course of a single month, these unlikely roommates infuriate, bewilder, and ultimately reach each other. Directed by Gloucester Stage Artistic Director Eric C. Engel, the production features GSC favorite and Rockport resident Nancy E. Carroll as Vera and Rockport native Tom Rash as Vera's grandson Leo. The reminder of the cast features Sarah Oakes Muirhead, last seen at GSC in 2013's award winning Spring Awakening and GSC newcomer Samantha Ma.

54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents Margo Seibert in 'Busy Being Free' tonight, July 28, 2014.

A great, big Broadway season is on its way, with fourteen productions already slated to open in the next few months. With several weeks until the craziness begins, there is still plenty of time to catch up on what's been going on at Broadway's already occupied theaters . BroadwayWorld will be profiling the hits of the Great White Way that continue to draw crowds after months, years, and (in some cases) decades. Meet the current cast of Broadway's THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA below!

GABRIELLE STRAVELLI, the celebrated pop/jazz vocalist, has extended her exclusive engagement at The Metropolitan Room through August. After sold out shows and amazing reviews - including a rave in The New York Times - a special encore performance has been added on Wednesday, August 13, in addition to remaining shows on Tuesday, July 29 and Thursday, July 31 at 7:00 PM. Stravelli, called an 'outstanding singer' by The Wall Street Journal, is known from her tours with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, appearances at the 92nd Street Y and her long-running Soho jazz brunch. Her new show, directed by nightlife legend Marilyn Maye, includes selections from her debut CD Waiting in Vain previews tracks for her upcoming sophomore release. The evening features classic standards like 'While We're Young' and 'Goody Goody,' pop hits such as 'Young Folks' (Peter, Bjorn and John) and 'Have You Ever Seen the Rain' (John Fogerty), in addition to distinctive original compositions. She is joined by Joshua Richman on piano, Pat O'Leary on bass and Eric Halvorson on drums.

A great, big Broadway season is on its way, with fourteen productions already slated to open in the next few months. With several weeks until the craziness begins, there is plenty of time to catch up on what's been going on at Broadway's occupied theaters . BroadwayWorld will be profiling the hits of the Great White Way that continue to draw crowds after months, years, and (in some cases) decades. Meet the current cast of Broadway's WICKED below!

The Meeting* hosted by Justin Sayre, the acclaimed comedy/variety show, will return to THE BOOTLEG THEATER on Friday, July 25 and Saturday, July 26 at 7:30 PM. After extended runs at 54 Below and Joe's Pub in New York, the show recently made its Los Angeles debut and is back for two more performances. The Meeting* has been called "delicious and delightfully droll" by The New York Post, and "hilarious and sardonic" by The Village Voice. A recent story for Slate.com called the evening "so deliciously icy that it left me shivering with fear and delight." The Friday night show will feature special guests Maude Maggart (award-winning vocalist), Frank DeCaro (Sirius XM Radio), Ryan O'Connor and Jason Powell ("Tell All with Ryan O'Connor"). The Saturday show will feature special guests Frank DeCaro (Sirius XM Radio), Scout Durwood (comedienne and chanteuse) and Rikki Bones (acclaimed rapper), with others to be announced.

Workhaus Playwrights Collective announces its 8th season featuring world premiere productions of LAKE UNTERSEE, by Joe Waechter (September, 2014), SKIN DEEP SEA, by Stanton Wood (February, 2015), and THE REAGAN YEARS, by Dominic Orlando (April, 2015).

The Meeting* hosted by Justin Sayre, the acclaimed comedy/variety show, will return to THE BOOTLEG THEATER tonight, July 25 and Saturday, July 26 at 7:30 PM. After extended runs at 54 Below and Joe's Pub in New York, the show recently made its Los Angeles debut and is back for two more performances. The show will feature special guests to be announced.