Arthur French News

That cultish assemblage that likes to recite my reviews from memory on open mic nights at the Nuyorican Poets Café (it's weird being an icon for the culturally disenfranchised) may notice many similarities between my following scribblings on Lincoln Center Theater's Broadway production of Horton Foote's Dividing The Estate and my review of this mounting's original Off-Broadway run last season at Primary Stages. But if director Michael Wilson can do a cut and paste job, with minor adjustments here and there, there's no reason I can't do the same.

Hartford Stage, under the leadership of Artistic Director Michael Wilson and Managing Director Michael Stotts, announced today that acclaimed actress Lois Smith will return to Hartford Stage in the role of matriarch Stella Gordon as she joins the Broadway cast of Horton Foote's hit comedy Dividing the Estate for the production's run at Hartford Stage May 28 - July 5.

Hartford Stage, under the leadership of Michael Wilson, artistic director, and Michael Stotts, managing director, announced today that the Broadway hit comedy Dividing the Estate, by Horton Foote, directed by Wilson, will transfer to Hartford Stage in May 2009 to close the Tony Award-winning theatre's 45th season. The gospel musical drama Gee's Bend, which was to have been the sixth and final MainStage offering this year, has been postponed until next season.

Creative Alternatives of New York (225 West 99th Street), celebrating the use of theater to help New York's most vulnerable children and adults, honored Tony Award winner & Board Chairman, Dick Latessa, and Emily Nash, Artistic Director at this year's 25th Anniversary celebration, 'Broadway at the Boathouse,' which held at Loeb Central Park Boathouse (at East 72nd Street entrance) on May 4, 2009.

Working Theater celebrated the Off-Broadway opening of EXIT CUCKOO -- a new play written and performed by Lisa Ramirez about the intricate and colorful culture of nannies in New York and the people who employ them, at Theater Row's Clurman Theatre (410 West 42nd Street) through May 17 -- with a party Thursday night at nearby West Bank Café.

Hartford Stage, under the leadership of Artistic Director Michael Wilson and Managing Director Michael Stotts, announced today that acclaimed actress Lois Smith will return to Hartford Stage in the role of matriarch Stella Gordon as she joins the Broadway cast of Horton Foote's hit comedy Dividing the Estate for the production's run at Hartford Stage May 28 - July 5.

This year, the prestigious National Black Theatre Festival? will honor Jubilee Theatre Artistic Director Ed Smith with the festival's first annual Lloyd Richards' Director's Award. Smith is receiving this award because of his significant contributions to black theatre and American theatre in general. The festival will be held from August 3 through 8, 2009 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The theme for this year's festival remains the same as the past ten festivals: An International Celebration and Reunion of Spirit. Mr. Smith will be presented with the award at the Opening Night Gala Awards Banquet, which will be held on Monday, August 3.

The Book of Lambert opened on February 14 and continues through March 1, 2009 in a limited engagement at the historic La MaMa e.t.c. as part of their Black History Month celebration.

La MaMa e.t.c. proudly presents the World Premiere of The Book of Lambert, written by Tony Award nominated and Obie/Audelco Award winning playwright Leslie Lee. The play, directed by Cyndy A. Marion, features Lucille Lortel and Obie Award winning actor Arthur French, who recently performed on Broadway in Horton Foote's Dividing The Estate. The Book of Lambert runs from February 13th to March 1st, 2009 in a limited engagement at the historic La MaMa e.t.c. as part of their Black History Month celebration. Lambert previews on February 13th and officially opens on February 14th, Valentines Day.

Signature Theatre Company (James Houghton, Founding Artistic Director; Erika Mallin, Executive Director) is proud to announce casting for a staged reading of DAY OF ABSENCE, written and directed by Douglas Turner Ward. The staged reading, which is by invitation only, is part of Signature's 2008-2009 Season, celebrating the historic works of the Negro Ensemble Company (NEC). DAY OF ABSENCE is the landmark 1965 play that launched the founding of the NEC.

Signature Theatre Company (James Houghton, Founding Artistic Director; Erika Mallin, Executive Director) is proud to announce casting for a staged reading of DAY OF ABSENCE, written and directed by Douglas Turner Ward. The staged reading, which is by invitation only, is part of Signature's 2008-2009 Season, celebrating the historic works of the Negro Ensemble Company (NEC). DAY OF ABSENCE is the landmark 1965 play that launched the founding of the NEC.

Columbia Stages' presents their production of Euripides' MEDEA, translated by Michael Collier and Georgia Machemer and directed by Alicia Dhyana House, atThe Riverside Theatre (91 Claremont Avenue b/w 120th and 122nd Streets). The production features an ensemble cast of 17 including Jessica Bates*, David Elyha*, Jillian Lynn Johnson, Meera Rohit Kumbhani, Jason Martin, Asher Muldoon, Joy Notoma,Anjili J. Pal, Janet Prince, Monica Santana,Alexis Savino*, J. H. Smith III*, Tai Verley,Emily Ward, Lucy York, and Broadway veterans Michael Tommer* (Fiddler on the Roof, Medea) and Obie Award-winner Arthur French* (Dividing the Estate, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, Death of a Salesman, The Iceman Cometh). Victim of a man's world. Child butcher. Refugee. Lover. Monster. Behind the 2000 year-old myth of jealousy and revenge, there was once a real person. Discover MEDEA.

Columbia Stages presents Euripides' MEDEA, translated by Michael Collier and Georgia Machemer and directed by Alicia Dhyana House, running January 28th - 31st, 2009, at The Riverside Theatre, located in the historic Riverside Church at 91 Claremont Avenue between 120th and 122nd Streets.

La MaMa e.t.c. proudly presents the World Premiere of The Book of Lambert, written by Tony Award nominated and Obie Award winning playwright Leslie Lee. The play, directed by Cyndy A. Marion, features Lucille Lortel and Obie Award winning actor Arthur French, who recently performed on Broadway in Horton Foote's Dividing The Estate. The Book of Lambert runs from February 13th to March 1st, 2009 in a limited engagement at the historic La MaMa e.t.c. as part of their Black History Month celebration. Lambert previews on February 13th and officially opens on February 14th, Valentines Day. Founded by the venerable Ellen Stewart, La MaMa e.t.c. is located at 74A East 4th Street between 2nd Avenue & Bowery in NYC. Performances take place in the First Floor Theatre and run Thursdays-Saturdays at 7:30pm and Sundays at 2pm with an added performance on Wed 2/18 at 7:30pm. Tickets are $18 for adults and $13 for students and seniors and can be purchased by calling 212-475-7710 or visiting www.LaMaMa.org. The Book of Lambert depicts the lives of six lost souls hiding from society in the subterranean depths of an abandoned NYC subway tunnel. Their leader is Lambert, an African-American man who has been hurt - possibly beyond repair - by his former love, a beautiful Caucasian woman. A bright but disillusioned ex-college professor, Lambert begins writing a prophetic book on life. In an effort to guide and re-focus this wayward flock, Lambert unleashes his own identity issues while coming face to face with the demons of his past. The Book of Lambert is a telling story of how our histories can haunt us, and how we may or may not recover from them.

Columbia Stages' presents their production of Euripides' MEDEA, translated by Michael Collier and Georgia Machemer and directed by Alicia Dhyana House, atThe Riverside Theatre (91 Claremont Avenue b/w 120th and 122nd Streets). The production features an ensemble cast of 17 including Jessica Bates*, David Elyha*, Jillian Lynn Johnson, Meera Rohit Kumbhani, Jason Martin, Asher Muldoon, Joy Notoma,Anjili J. Pal, Janet Prince, Monica Santana,Alexis Savino*, J. H. Smith III*, Tai Verley,Emily Ward, Lucy York, and Broadway veterans Michael Tommer* (Fiddler on the Roof, Medea) and Obie Award-winner Arthur French* (Dividing the Estate, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, Death of a Salesman, The Iceman Cometh). Victim of a man's world. Child butcher. Refugee. Lover. Monster. Behind the 2000 year-old myth of jealousy and revenge, there was once a real person. Discover MEDEA.

Columbia Stages presents Euripides' MEDEA, translated by Michael Collier and Georgia Machemer and directed by Alicia Dhyana House, running January 28th - 31st, 2009, at The Riverside Theatre, located in the historic Riverside Church at 91 Claremont Avenue between 120th and 122nd Streets.

Hartford Stage, under the leadership of Michael Wilson, artistic director, and Michael Stotts, managing director, announced today that the Broadway hit comedy Dividing the Estate, by Horton Foote, directed by Wilson, will transfer to Hartford Stage in May 2009 to close the Tony Award-winning theatre's 45th season. The gospel musical drama Gee's Bend, which was to have been the sixth and final MainStage offering this year, has been postponed until next season.

Theatre Talk presents a conversation about Dividing The Estate, the insightful comedy about greed and the American family, with its 92 year-old playwright Horton Foote and two of its stars, Elizabeth Ashley and Hallie Foote.

Theatre Talk presents a conversation about Dividing The Estate, the insightful comedy about greed and the American family, with its 92 year-old playwright Horton Foote and two of its stars, Elizabeth Ashley and Hallie Foote.

Lincoln Center Theater (under the direction of Andre Bishop, Artistic Director, and Bernard Gersten, Executive Producer), by arrangement with Primary Stages (Casey Childs, Founder and Executive Producer, Andrew Leynse, Artistic Director, Elliot Fox, Managing Director),presents Horton Foote's critically acclaimed new play, DIVIDING THE ESTATE, directed by Michael Wilson at The Booth Theatre (222 West 45 Street). The production began preview performances on Thursday, October 23th. It celebrated its official Openign Nigh on Thursday, November 20th, BroadwayWorld.com's cameras joined the celebration at the after party for the show.