Ars Nova News

Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II were established hit makers when they teamed up to make a musical about cowboys and farmers. What follows was a miracle-Oklahoma!, then Carousel and South Pacific; the list of extraordinary hits goes on. On April 5, 6 and 7 get to know these legends even better at Getting to Know You: Rodgers & Hammerstein, Lyrics & Lyricists first look at the two songwriters as a team. Guest artistic director, writer and host Ted Chapin, head of the Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization, shares an insider's perspective on the pair, gleaned from his years with the Rodgers and Hammerstein families; joined by vocalists Lewis Cleale, Mandy Gonzalez, Jonathan Groff, Rebecca Luker, and Phillipa Soo.

LANCE HORNE - the Emmy Award winning composer, musician, vocalist and producer - will make his Birdland debut with a special concert on Monday, March 31 at 7:00 PM. Lea DeLaria, Joey Arias, Stephen Wallem and Michael Rose have joined the evening as special guests, in addition to the previously-announced Alan Cumming, Alice Ripley and Rachel Dratch. They will perform songs from his acclaimed CD First Things Last in addition to a special preview of The Night Before My Wedding, Horne's upcoming collaboration with Neil Gaiman. Lance will also headline a special concert at Rockwood LA on April 15 with guest stars to be announced and an additional event this spring in San Francisco. He has contributed a movement to Tyler's Suite, a choral song-cycle dedicated to Tyler Clementi, the 18-year-old Rutgers University student that took his life three years ago. The piece, which also includes contributions from Stephen Schwartz, Ann Hampton Callaway and Craig Carnelia, will premiere from the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus on March 25-26. Birdland is located at 315 West 44th Street in Manhattan. Tickets are $30 with a $10 minimum. Visit BirdlandJazz.com for more information.

Erica Saleh's plays have been produced and developed by theaters including Ensemble Studio Theatre, The 52nd Street Project, Studio 42, 3 Graces and The Claque. She is the recipient of a Michener Fellowship and commissions from the EST/SLOAN project and Dramatics Magazine. Erica is a member of the Ars Nova Play Group, the Ensemble Studio Theatre, and an alumna of Youngblood. She is a graduate of the Michener Center at the University of Texas and Brown University.

Pulitzer Prize winner Marsha Norman has selected playwright Janine Nabers as the winner of the 2014 Yale Drama Series for her play Serial Black Face, chosen from 1638 entries from 41 countries. As winner of the competition, Serial Black Face will be published by Yale University Press, receive a staged reading at Lincoln Center Theater's Claire Tow Theater, and Ms. Nabers will be presented with the David Charles Horn Prize, a cash award of $10,000.

Producer Robb Nanus (Andrew Lippa's I Am Harvey Milk) is pleased to announce the full cast for the world-premiere production of DEBUTANTE., written by Ryann Weir and directed/created by Annie Tippe. After a sold out presentation at Ars Nova's ANT Fest last June, DEBUTANTE. returns to New York City this spring at the Bernie Wohl Center (647 Columbus Avenue) starting April 23.

INTAR (Lou Moreno, Artistic Director/John McCormack, Executive Director) today announced that Adoration of the Old Woman by Jose Rivera and directed by Patricia McGregor, starring Raul Castillo (HBO's 'Looking'), Danielle Davenport, Jose Joaquin Perez, Socorro Santiago and Carmen Zilles, will continue through April 19th only.

New Georges will present The New Georges Jam On Toast, a brand-new festival featuring work by The New Georges Jam, a 'performance gym' for early-career playwrights and directors founded in 2010 by Lucy Alibar, Jess Chayes, and Portia Krieger. New Georges will take over the legendary downtown performance space Dixon Place (161 Chrystie Street between Rivington and Delancey) from May 14-31 with World Premiere productions running in rep, works-in-progress presentations and cabaret-style shows, for a total of 47 performances over two and a half weeks.

Jennifer Bowles will play the title role opposite Rob McClure in New York City Center Encores! production of Irma La Douce, running for seven performances,May 7 - 11, 2014. The final production of the 2014 Encores! season will also feature Sam Bolen, Allan Corduner, Ben Crawford, Stephen DeRosa, Ken Krugman, Zachary James and Chris Sullivan. Irma La Douce will be directed by John Doyle and choreographed by Chase Brock, with music direction by Rob Berman.

Noor Theatre Artistic Director Lameece Issaq, Executive Director Maha Chehlaoui, and Producing Artistic Director Nancy Vitale announce the world premiere of The Myth Project. This director-driven workshop production in three parts from Director/Writers Kareem Fahmy, Noelle Ghoussaini, and Pirronne Yousefzadeh, will run from Thursday, May 1 - Sunday, May 4 at New York Theatre Workshop's 4th Street Theatre.

Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II were established hit makers when they teamed up to make a musical about cowboys and farmers. What follows was a miracle—Oklahoma!, then Carousel and South Pacific; the list of extraordinary hits goes on. On April 5, 6 and 7 get to know these legends even better at Getting to Know You: Rodgers and Hammerstein, Lyrics & Lyricists first look at the two songwriters as a team. Guest artistic director, writer and host Ted Chapin, head of the Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization, shares an insider's perspective on the pair, gleaned from his years with the Rodgers and Hammerstein families; joined by vocalists Brandon Victor Dixon, Mandy Gonzalez, Jonathan Groff, Rebecca Luker, and Phillipa Soo.

Ars Nova announces Ars Nova's Diamond Ball, not just another f*@%ing benefit. The evening will honor Elizabeth Meriwether, Ars Nova's inaugural Playwright-in-Residence and creator of Fox's New Girl, Stephen Siderow, member of Ars Nova's Board of Directors and Co-founder and President of BlueMountain Capital, and Beau Willimon, founding member of Ars Nova's Play Group and creator of Netflix's House of Cards.

Lincoln Center Theater presents Act One, a play written and directed by James Lapine from the autobiography by Moss Hart. The production is scheduled to begin previews tomorrow night, March 20 and will open on Thursday, April 17 at the Vivian Beaumont Theater (150 West 65 Street). Scroll down to learn more about the full company, plus check out the latest TV spot for the production!

BAY STREET THEATRE NEW WORKS FESTIVAL will take place on April 25-27 at the Bay Street Theatre on the Long Wharf in Sag Harbor, NY. The Festival is produced in Association with SPACE on Ryder Farm.

The Atlantic Acting School and Atlantic Alumni Program present The Witchelor, an original comedy written by John Early and Nicole Spiezio. Performances take place Thursday, March 20, 8:00 PM, Friday, March 21, 8:00 PM, and Saturday, March 22, 8:00 PM & 11:00 PM at Atlantic Stage 2, 330 W. 16th Street, New York, NY. In this live episode of The Bachelor, our handsome hero falls for a lovely, bright-eyed contestant who also happens to be a witch. Can their love survive the other contestants' jealous, white-wine-soaked rage? Will you accept this eye of newt?

Ars Nova presents the world premiere of Charlatan, in a limited Off-Broadway engagement, Tuesday, March 18 through Saturday, April 12 at Ars Nova (511 West 54th Street). Official Opening Night takes place Monday, March 31 at 7:00 PM.

The American Theatre Wing announced today that the recipients of the 2014 Jonathan Larson Grants are writing team Sara Cooper (lyricist/bookwriter) & Zach Redler (composer), receiving $12,500 and the Running Deer Residency; and Shaina Taub (composer/lyricist), receiving $12,500. The prestigious grants, totaling $15,000 more than last year's grants, will be presented on Monday, April 7, 2014 at a private event at the WNYC Greene Space. The event will feature special performances of the recipients' work.

2013 BroadwayWorld Award Winner for Best Male Vocalist Jonathan Whitton (Bistro & MAC Award Winner, HEDWIG & THE ANGRY INCH) his returns with guitarist Aaron Jones for one night only at Don't Tell Mama. Following an acclaimed monthly residency at Don't Tell Mama from October 2012 - November 2013, BLACK SHEEP CARNIVAL returns to Don't Tell Mama tonight, March 13 @ 7:30PM. Tickets are $12 plus a two-drink minimum.

Rock out at JOE'S PUB tonight, March 12th at 7pm with this one- night-only concert reading of MORTALITY PLAY, the new hybrid rock show/morality play by Composer Scotty Arnold and Bookwriter/Lyricist Alana Jacoby.

Jackalope Theatre Company, The Edgewater-based group which cultivates theatre that manifests the adventure deeply rooted in the American mythos, announces the second production in its sixth season. Jackalope's season continues with the world premiere of THE KILLING OF MICHAEL X written by Cory Hinkle and directed by Associate Artistic Director Kaiser Ahmed. It will play today, March 12 - April 13 at Broadway Armory Park, 5917 N. Broadway in Chicago. Tickets will be available starting February 7 through jackalopetheatre.org. The Press Performance is Monday, March 17 at 7:30pm.

After a sold out presentation at Ars Nova's ANT Fest last June, DEBUTANTE. returns to New York City for its world premiere production. Written by Ryann Weir, created & directed by Annie Tippe and produced by Robb Nanus (Andrew Lippa's I Am Harvey Milk), the production will be staged at the Bernie Wohl Center (647 Columbus Avenue).