Ars Nova News

The Guthrie Theater today announced casting for the first production on the Wurtele Thrust Stage in the 2014-2015 season, Wendy Wasserstein's Pulitzer Prize-winning play The Heidi Chronicles. Under the direction of 2014 Tony Award nominee Leigh Silverman (Broadway's Violet, Chinglish, Well), The Heidi Chronicles will feature the talents of Kate Wetherhead, Ben Graney, Tracey Maloney and Zach Shaffer, as well as Sam Bardwell, Eleonore Dendy, Mo Perry and Stacia Rice.

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).

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.

New York City Center's 2014-15 season features an exciting lineup of dance and musical theater that begins with the 11th season of City Center's acclaimed Fall for Dance Festival. The Festival features 24 acclaimed dance companies and artists from around the world, and will kick off in September with two free dance performances at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park in association with The Public Theater, followed by five unique programs at City Center in October. The Band Wagon, an Encores! Special Event starring Brian Stokes Mitchell, follows in November, and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, City Center's Principal Dance Company, returns for a month-long engagement in December.

Ars Nova announces an August and September lineup featuring exciting new comedy, music and theater events including fan favorite Showgasm, Those Lost Boys with Frankie J. Alvarez (HBO's Looking), and Isaac Oliver: Intimacy Idiot. Details below!

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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!

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.