Ars Nova News

Ars Nova is set to present their latest mainstage production, NATASHA, PIERRE, & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812, from October 1 through November 10. Ticket prices for the performances between tonight, October 1st-6th are $10, October 9th-20th are $20, and the subsequent performances until closing are $30. Tickets for all performances may be purchased at www.arsnovanyc.com.

Ars Nova presents the world premiere of Ars Nova 2011 Composer-in-Residence Dave Malloy's Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812. Directed by Rachel Chavkin, this production will play a limited Off-Broadway engagement, beginning previews this coming Monday, October 1 and running through November 10. Official Opening Night is set for Tuesday, October 16 at 7:00 PM. Get a first look at the cast below!

For the first time ever, regular Joe's Pub performer Justin Levine will dedicate an entire evening to his own eclectic work, which ranges from jazz to rock to gospel to the blues and more. The concert, tonight, September 24th at 9:30 p.m., will feature music from a few of his latest projects, including songs inspired by the life of Madam C.J. Walker, the first African American millionaire, and a jazz-fueled romp into the madness of Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot.

Jonathan Whitton (Bistro & MAC Award Winner, HEDWIG & THE ANGRY INCH) returns to the solo concert stage with an intimate concert series, THE FREE RESIDENCY. All performances are presented by Don't Tell Mama at no cover charge.

For the first time ever, regular Joe's Pub performer Justin Levine will dedicate an entire evening to his own eclectic work, which ranges from jazz to rock to gospel to the blues and more. The concert, on September 24th at 9:30 p.m., will feature music from a few of his latest projects, including songs inspired by the life of Madam C.J. Walker, the first African American millionaire, and a jazz-fueled romp into the madness of Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot.

After an acclaimed run at the 2012 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, writer/performer Peter Michael Marino returns to NYC with his comic autopsy on his $6 million West End musical fiasco Desperately Seeking Susan in DESPERATELY SEEKING THE EXIT. Directed by Obie Award winner John Clancy, performances of this solo tell-all comedy run October 14 & 28 at the Triple Crown.

The Meeting* hosted by Justin Sayre - the acclaimed gay comedy/variety show - will open its fourth season tonight, September 20, 2012 at The Duplex in New York's West Village. Each edition of The Meeting* honors a different gay icon; the September show will pay tribute to Disco chart-topper Sylvester with special guests Bridget Everett, Ben Rimalower and Xavier. Musical Director is Brandon James Gwinn.

Following a critically acclaimed Eastern European tour, Built for Collapse returns to New York with its award-winning, physically charged production. Witness the fall of the American Empire in this "extraordinary tale of victory, hypocrisy and ignorance" (NYTheatre.com). NUCLEAR LOVE AFFAIR runs tonight, September 20 through Saturday, October 6 at HERE. The official press night is scheduled for Monday, September 24.

Artistic Director Les Waters and Managing Director Jennifer Bielstein have announced the commission of Sleep Rock Thy Brain, a suite of three one-act plays by Rinne Groff, Lucas Hnath and Anne Washburn that will utilize aerial performance to explore the brain science of sleep.

Ars Nova is set to present their latest mainstage production, NATASHA, PIERRE, & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812, from October 1 through November 10. Ticket prices for the performances between October 1st-6th are $10, October 9th-20th are $20, and the subsequent performances until closing are $30. Tickets for all performances may be purchased at www.arsnovanyc.com.

Continuing its commitment to nurturing and producing the next generation of musical theatre artists, Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director) has awarded its first annual Donna Perret Rosen Award for excellence in musical theatre to composer/lyricist Adam Gwon. The $10,000 award was established at the off-Broadway company's 2011 gala to honor Second Stage Theatre trustee Donna Perret Rosen in recognition of her long-standing commitment to young artists and new works. The award was chosen by Tony Award winners James Lapine, Susan Stroman, and Jack Viertel.

Mark Giordano is 40! And single. And he wishes he lived during the era of the three martini lunch when it was good to be bad. But, he didn't. Former flames, Reality TV, Che' Gueverra, suburban dads, soccer games, an astute nephew and Christmas aren't safe from the musings of this mad man. The 50-minute solo comedy show, MAD MAN, is served chilled with a retro twist of lemon and, an acerbic shot of funny.

In Song of a Convalescent Ayn Rand Giving Thanks to the Godhead (in the Lydian Mode), longtime collaborators Michael Yates Crowley and Michael Rau once again tap into the political zeitgeist with an audacious collage of ideas, scenes, sketches, songs, poetry, and PowerPoint lectures that challenges the myth of the suffering artist. The production will have its world premiere at the Greenwich Village theater incubator IRT from tonight, September 15th to 29th.

The Meeting* hosted by Justin Sayre - the acclaimed gay comedy/variety show - will open its fourth season on September 20, 2012 at The Duplex in New York's West Village. Each edition of The Meeting* honors a different gay icon; the September show will pay tribute to Disco chart-topper Sylvester with special guests Bridget Everett, Ben Rimalower and Xavier.

Cleveland Play House opens its 98th consecutive season with its new production of the smash Broadway hit Lombardi. Bob Ari, seen last season as Mark Rothko in Red, returns to CPH to play the legendary coach who defined inspiration.

On Oct 4, Six-Word Memoirs returns to 92YTribeca with a new show with a six-word title and wonderful theme: 'Let Me in You Narrative Whore' -- A Six-Word Memoir Story Show on the Creative Life. Six performers will each start with a Six-Word Memoir about the creative life and then open it up into a six-minute backstory. You'll hear true tales about the creation moment of the smash fiction series and Broadway musical "Wicked" from its creator, Gregory Maguire and more!

Theatre Seven of Chicago, recipient of the 2012 Emerging Theater Award, has announced its full 2012/13 Season: AMERICAN STORM by Carter Lewis, directed by Artistic Director Brian Golden at the Greenhouse Theater Center; BLACKTOP SKY by Christina Anderson, directed by Cassy Sanders, presented as part of Steppenwolf Theatre Company's 4th annual Garage Rep in The Steppenwolf Garage; JOHNNY by Artistic Director Brian Golden at the Greenhouse Theater Center; and UNWILLING AND HOSTILE INSTRUMENTS: 100 Years of Extraordinary Chicago Women, a collection of seven new plays by some of the industry's most talented playwrights and directors.