Ars Nova News

Manhattan Theatre Club's American premiere of The Lion, the new musical written and performed by 2013 ASCAP Cole Porter Songwriting Award winner Benjamin Scheuer, and directed by Sean Daniels, runs at The Studio at Stage II - Harold and Mimi Steinberg New Play Series at New York City Center - Stage II (131 West 55th Street). The five-week limited engagement for The Lion will open tonight, June 26.

Experience the passion and seduction in this elegant masterpiece - Tony Award-winning musical EVITA, July 8-13 at the Benedum Center.

Artistic Director Robert Lyons presents the 21st annual Obie Award-winning Ice Factory Festival. Ice Factory 2014 takes place at the New Ohio Theatre, located at 154 Christopher Street between Greenwich and Washington Streets in New York City. Ice Factory 2014 will present six new works over six weeks, beginning tonight, June 25, and continuing through August 2, 2014.

Artistic Director Robert Lyons presents the 21st annual Obie Award-winning Ice Factory Festival. Ice Factory 2014 takes place at the New Ohio Theatre, located at 154 Christopher Street between Greenwich and Washington Streets in New York City. Ice Factory 2014 will present six new works over six weeks, running from today, June 25 - August 2, 2014.

Ars Nova is now accepting applications for Play Group, a vibrant and eclectic group of emerging writers who gather twice a month at Ars Nova to share new work and get peer feedback. The group offers members the chance to develop their plays with peer support; to be inspired by each other's work; to form collaborative relationships; and to build a strong sense of community within Ars Nova. All emerging playwrights are eligible for membership. If selected, new members will be invited to join for a period of two years beginning in January of 2015.

Berkshire Theatre Group and Artistic Director/CEO, Kate Maguire have announced the Summer 2014 Theatre Season offering classic works coupled with contemporary plays.

54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents ARLO HILL in I'VE BEEN IN LOVE BEFORE: THE SONGS AND STORIES OF FRANK LOESSER on Wednesday July 2nd. I'VE BEEN IN LOVE BEFORE goes behind the scenes with the man who wrote Guys & Dolls, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, 'Baby it's Cold Outside,' and much, much more. A brash college dropout journeys from the back rooms of the Tin Pan Alley to the silver screen of Hollywood to the Great White Way - and through two marriages, five Broadway shows, and over 700 songs of life and love.

LUDO'S BROKEN BRIDE: A ROCK OPERA, starring Drew Gasparini (John Lennon Songwriting Award), Alysha Umphress (American Idiot) and Caitlin Kinnunen (Bridges of Madison County) will make its world premiere tonight to a sold out audience at The Cutting Room. The concert will also star Randy Blair (Fat Camp) and Brian Charles Rooney (The Threepenny Opera) with Nate Begle (John Tartaglia's ImaginOcean), Aymee Garcia (Shrek, Avenue Q), Maddy Jarmon (), Dan Kohler (Flashdance), Brendan Malafronte (John Tartaglia's ImaginOcean), Anthea Neri (NAA's Oliver), Azudi Onyejekwe (Violet), and Kate Steinberg.

54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents ARLO HILL in I'VE BEEN IN LOVE BEFORE: THE SONGS AND STORIES OF FRANK LOESSER on Wednesday July 2nd. I'VE BEEN IN LOVE BEFORE goes behind the scenes with the man who wrote Guys & Dolls, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, 'Baby it's Cold Outside,' and much, much more. A brash college dropout journeys from the back rooms of the Tin Pan Alley to the silver screen of Hollywood to the Great White Way - and through two marriages, five Broadway shows, and over 700 songs of life and love.

Gabrielle Stravelli - the acclaimed pop/jazz vocalist called "ingenious" by The Wall Street Journal and known from her tours with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, appearances at the 92nd Street Y and her long-running Soho jazz brunch - will perform an exclusive engagement at The Metropolitan Room for a two week run in July 2014. Her new show, directed by nightlife legend Marilyn Maye, will include selections from her debut CD Waiting in Vain and preview tracks for her upcoming sophomore release. The evening will feature 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 will be joined by Joshua Richman on piano, Pat O'Leary on bass and Eric Halvorson on drums.

Stage Left Theatre announces the upcoming Midwest premiere of The Coward written by Nick Jones and directed by Artistic Director Vance Smith. The Coward is the first production of Stage Left's 33rd season. Press opening is Wednesday, September 3 at 8:00 PM at Theater Wit, 1229 W Belmont. The show runs through October 5.

The Shakespeare Theatre Company is proud to present Buyer & Cellar as a part of its STC Presentation Series. Written by Jonathan Tolins and directed by Stephen Brackett, Buyer & Cellar will launch its North American tour in Chicago in May before coming to D.C. Buyer & Cellar had its world premiere in April 2013 at Rattlestick Playwrights Theater, where it received rave reviews and played a sold-out, extended run before transferring to the Barrow Street Theatre where it opened June 24, 2013. Buyer & Cellar stars Michael Urie (Ugly Betty) as a struggling (and recently fired) L.A. actor named Alex More, who finds himself taking an odd job working in the Malibu basement of a Hollywood mega-star (and though her name is not mentioned, there are numerous similarities to Barbara Streisand). When the A-lister makes a rare appearance one day, the comedy launches into an outrageous look at fame and the price that accompanies it. Buyer & Cellar will run from June 20-29, 2014, at STC's Sidney Harman Hall (610 F Street NW).

Artistic Director Robert Lyons presents the 21st annual Obie Award-winning Ice Factory Festival. Ice Factory 2014 takes place at the New Ohio Theatre, located at 154 Christopher Street between Greenwich and Washington Streets in New York City. Ice Factory 2014 will present six new works over six weeks, running from June 25 - August 2, 2014. Scroll down for a sneak peek at two of this year's productions -- THE UPPER ROOM and TOO MANY LENAS!

The World Premiere of Lucas Kavner's (Fish Eye with Colt Coeur/HERE Arts Center; Love Money at Ars Nova) Carnival Kids, directed by Stephen Brackett and presented by Lesser America, opened at the TBG Theatre (312 West 36th Street between 8th and 9th Avenue) on Monday, June 9th. The production, which has already received a New York Times Critics Pick, will run through Saturday, June 28th. Tickets ($18; $15 students) may be purchased online at www.lesseramerica.com.box-office or by calling 212-868-4444.

The Kilroys, an independent LA-based band of female playwrights and producers, have released THE LIST, the results of the first annual industry survey of excellent new plays by female-identified playwrights.

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit www.54Below.com or call (646) 476-3551.

Upcoming Equity Auditions from Sunday, June 15, 2014.

Craving a show after the show? 54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, is expanding its popular late-night series with fresh faces and hot new performances to keep the party buzzing into the wee hours. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit www.54Below.com or call (646) 476-3551. 54 BELOW welcomes you to loosen your tie and embrace the night at its upcoming events:

Washington National Opera (WNO) presents the world premiere of An American Soldier, June 13-14, 2014 in the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater. An American Soldier features music by composer Huang Ruo and a libretto by David Henry Hwang. This new work, to be performed in English, is the second hourlong opera created under the auspices of the American Opera Initiative, WNO's commissioning program for contemporary American opera. An American Soldier is directed by David Paul and a chamber orchestra is conducted by Steven Jarvi; both are alumni of WNO's Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) in association with Chinese Mother Jewish Daughter, LLC present Rescue Rue, a new musical fairytale with puppets; Concept, Book and Additional Lyrics by Stacey Weingarten, and Music and Lyrics by Kate Steinberg & Joshua Zecher-Ross. Stacey Weingarten directs a cast of seven including Jennifer Barnhart* (Bway: Avenue Q), Nate Begle(Off Bway: John Tartaglia's ImaginOcean), Sarah Liz Haines* (Off Bway: Freckle Face Strawberry), Jason Jacoby* (Off Bway: Avenue Q), Lisa Helmi Johanson* (Off Bway: Avenue Q), Brendan Malafronte (Nat. Tour: John Tartaglia's ImaginOcean), and Gretchen Wylder* (Off Bway: 'Til Divorce Do Us Part). Rescue Rue will be staged at the Ford Foundation Studio Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center, 480 West 42nd Street (bet. 9th and 10th Avenues) in NYC for five performances from July 8-20, 2014. A special TDF Autism-Friendly performance will be held at July 20th at 11am. The Pershing Square Signature Center is the official hub of The New York Musical Theatre Festival. *Appearing courtesy of Actors' Equity Association.