Arthur Kopit News

Seattle-based SHOWTUNES Theatre Company wraps their 15th year with a fun, sexy concert version of the Tony award winning musical Nine.

Emotions run high and battle lines are drawn when family and political loyalties collide in a powerful new family drama by John Fazakerley. Tony-nominated director Wilson Milam (The Lieutenant of Inishmore) helms a distinguished ensemble cast in the world premiere of Corktown '57, opening tonight, March 28 as a guest production at the Odyssey Theatre.

A musical with Italian opera-inspired songs about a philandering middle-aged film director with writer's block, and the dozens of women that influence his life and work, does not seem like an obvious choice for a college theatre program to undertake. However, under the direction of Earl D. Weaver (who also choreographed), Theatre UCF sinks its collective teeth into the neurotic, misogynistic, and childish mind of Guido Contini in NINE, running through March 29th. This seven-time Tony-winning musical is based on the semi-autobiographical film '8½' by Italian director Federico Fellini. The cast of 21 women, one man, and four boys creates an evocative world that seems to hover in the realm between fantasy and reality; much like many of Fellini's films. With striking talent, breath-taking design, and artistic vision, Theatre UCF succeeds where many professional companies would (and have) faltered; despite its unsettling premise, NINE is a joyful reminder of the power of young talent in the arts.

Theatre UCF, part of the UCF School of Performing Arts, will present Nine by Maury Yeston and Arthur Kopit from March 19-29, 2015 in the UCF Main Stage theater.

Seattle-based SHOWTUNES Theatre Company wraps their 15th year with a fun, sexy concert version of the Tony award winning musical Nine.

Cole Porter's classic feel-good musical HIGH SOCIETY comes to The Old Vic in a glittering new production staged in the round. According to the Daily Mail, Kate Fleetwood will star as socialite 'Tracy Lord' in the show, to be directed by Olivier-winning director and musical star Maria Friedman (Merrily We Roll Along). HIGH SOCIETY is slated to begin previews April 30 with an official opening on May 14, 2015.

First spotted by eagle-eyed viewers on the BroadwayWorld.com Message Boards, a tour is shaping up as promised for a show that built up a large fan base but didn't have a long run on the Great White Way.

The Players Club of Swarthmore presents Wings by Arthur Kopit, directed on the PCS Second Stage by George Mulford of Swarthmore. The cast, headed by Trina Tjersland of Hockessin, Delaware, includes Doris Chan of Garnet Valley, Kevin Doerr of Havertown, Sally Donovan of Blue Bell, Rick Gross of Philadelphia, Ellie Knickman of Ardmore, Suzette Krausen of Norristown, Jack Murphy of Hockessin, and Amy Stott of Chadds Ford.

La Jolla Playhouse is pleased to bring back its acclaimed new play development initiative, the DNA New Work Series, a two-week run of workshops and readings of new works, taking place February 16 - March 1, 2015.

The Dramatists Guild of America has announced the recipients of their annual awards, which will be presented at an awards ceremony hosted by David Henry Hwang on Monday, February 23, 2015, at The Harvard Club in New York.

The Players Club of Swarthmore presents Wings by Arthur Kopit, directed on the PCS Second Stage by George Mulford of Swarthmore. The cast, headed by Trina Tjersland of Hockessin, Delaware, includes Doris Chan of Garnet Valley, Kevin Doerr of Havertown, Sally Donovan of Blue Bell, Rick Gross of Philadelphia, Ellie Knickman of Ardmore, Suzette Krausen of Norristown, Jack Murphy of Hockessin, and Amy Stott of Chadds Ford.

The Playwrights Realm will present the world premiere of City Of by Anton Dudley, directed by Stephen Brackett (Buyer & Cellar). The production runs January 26 through February 21, 2015 with a February 5 opening at the Peter Jay Sharp Theater (416 W. 42nd Street, NYC). Tickets will go on sale to the public beginning December 29th, 2014.

The Colony Theatre will present the third production of its historic 40thAnniversary season, the West Coast Premiere of HANDLE WITH CARE by Jason Odell Williams, directed by Karen Carpenter. HANDLE WITH CARE will preview tonight, November 5; Thursday, November 6; and Friday, November 7 at 8:00pm. It will open on Saturday, November 8 at 8:00pm and continue through Sunday, December 14, with no performances Thanksgiving week.

The Colony Theatre will present the third production of its historic 40thAnniversary season, the West Coast Premiere of HANDLE WITH CARE by Jason Odell Williams, directed by Karen Carpenter. HANDLE WITH CARE will preview on Wednesday, November 5; Thursday, November 6; andFriday, November 7 at 8:00pm. It will open on Saturday, November 8 at 8:00pm and continue through Sunday, December 14, with no performances Thanksgiving week.

Dramatists Guild Fund Executive Director Rachel Routh and Board President Gretchen Cryer today announced the star-studded line up for their annual gala Great Writers Thank Their Lucky Stars, set for Monday, October 27 at The Edison Ballroom (240 West 47th Street). The cocktail reception will begin at 6:30pm, followed by the dinner and celebration at 7:30pm. The Gala is the most critical fundraising event for the Dramatists Guild Fund, the public charity arm of the Dramatists Guild of America. This very special evening pays tribute to legendary writers and recognizes their significant contributions to American theater.

Karen Carpenter, a producer, director and teacher, a theater-maker for more than 30 years, has been appointed the interim Artistic Director of the William Inge Center for the Arts and the 34th Annual William Inge Theatre Festival. The Inge Festival is the Official Theater Festival of the State of Kansas, hosted on the campus of Independence Community College, which houses the William Inge archives.

It's kind of gutsy to feature an alternative musical treatment of Gaston Leroux's Phantom of the Opera when its iconic award-winning Andrew Lloyd Weber namesake is liable to overshadow any such effort, but that's what Hale Centre Theatre has done, and with great success, in its season opener, Phantom.

The Lark Play Development Center named five New York City-based playwrights as Playwrights' Workshop Fellows for the 2014-15 season. The group spans a wide range of backgrounds and professional experiences and will meet regularly throughout the year to develop new plays.

Join O'Neill Center artistic directors Wendy Goldberg, of the National Playwrights Conference, and Paulette Haupt, of the National Music Theater Conference, distinguished alumni Adam Gwon, Sarah Hammond and Deborah Zoe Laufer, and moderator Anne G. Morgan, for a look at the O'Neill's influential role as a theatrical laboratory over the last 50 years.

The plays of A TEXAS TRILOGY run in repertory beginning today, August 7th, 2014 at the newly renovated McAlpin Hall at 165 W 86th St. For the performance schedule and ticketing information, please visit www.atexastrilogy.com