Atlantic Theater Company News

Atlantic Theater Company has just announced its exciting 2008-2009 season. The main stage season at the Linda Gross Theater will mark premieres from Academy Award® winning filmmakers Ethan Coen and Martin McDonagh, who return to the Atlantic stage, and the debut of young playwright and screenwriter Beau Willimon.

Ars Nova presents, as part of the Out Loud series, a FREE reading of: GOOD EGG by Dorothy Fortenberry, directed by Jackson Gay. GOOD EGG Responsible Meg has always taken care of her bipolar younger brother Matt. But when she decides to get pregnant-and have her embryos screened for bipolar disorder-is she taking the idea of 'being responsible' too far? A funny and surprising play about bioethics, siblings, and the limits of unconditional love. Dorothy Fortenberry recently graduated from the Yale School of Drama with an MFA in Playwriting. Yale School of Drama: Good Egg (directed by Snehal Desai), Bibles and Candy (directed by Mike Donahue), After the Flood (directed by Shana Cooper). Yale Cabaret: Bicycling for Ladies (music by Colin Wambsgans, directed by Becca Wolff), We're Celebrities, We're Just Not Famous Yet (directed by Becca Wolff) and the solo piece Paint Show. Her work has been developed at Arena Stage, Perishable Theatre, Studio 42, and The Tank, and produced by Journeyman Productions and Vital Theatre Company. She is the winner of the ASCAP Cole Porter Prize in Playwriting from the Yale School of Drama and the Jane Chambers Student Playwriting Award. Jackson Gay's recent directing credits include Carly Mensch's Len, Asleep in Vinyl (Second Stage Uptown); Lucy Thurber's Scarcity, Kia Corthron's Master Disaster, Rolin Jones' The Intelligent Design of Jenny Chow (Atlantic Theater Company); Works & Process with Jennifer Tipton (Guggenheim Museum); Thurber's Stay (Rattlestick); f**k You, Eu.ro.Pa! (Play Company); David Adjmi's Marie Antoinette (Sundance Institute Theatre Lab/Public Theater); Best Production Connecticut Critic's Award Jenny Chow (Yale Rep) . UPCOMING: Jason Grote's Box Americana (Eugene O'Neill Playwright's Conference); Workshop of Saviana Stanescu's For a Barbarian Woman (Long Wharf / International Festival of Arts & Ideas); Andy Bragen's Mother Earth (Minneapolis' PlayLabs); Made In Poland, by Przemys Taw Wojcieszek. (Play Company); A Year With Frog and Toad (Two River Theater); End Days, by Deborah Zoe Laufer (People's Light and Theater Company). Founder of the film production company YARN, whose upcoming projects include Sugar Land, by Lucy Thurber. Recipient of the Jonathan Alper Directing Fellowship at Manhattan Theatre Club, the Williamstown Theater Festival Directing Fellowship and the Drama League's New Directors/New Works Fellowship. MFA Directing Yale School of Drama. Since 2002, OUT LOUD has attracted a variety of the industry's top artists, including writers Stephen Belber, Jorge Cortinas, Stephen Adly Guirgis, Rinne Groff, Jordan Harrison, Rolin Jones, Adam Rapp, Sarah Ruhl and Christopher Shinn; directors Peter Askin, Jo Bonney, Trip Cullman, David Esbjornson, Moises Kaufman, James Lapine, Lisa Peterson and Leigh Silverman; and actors Jason Biggs, Robert Sean Leonard, Marsha Mason, Denis O'Hare, Rosie Perez, Paul Rudd, Mercedes Reuhl, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Swoosie Kurtz, David Strathairn and Fred Weller. Many OUT LOUD plays have gone on to receive full New York productions, including: Liz Flahive's From Up Here, Adam Bock's Swimming In The Shallows, Rinne Groff's The Ruby Sunrise, Daniel Goldfarb's Modern Orthodox, Elizabeth Meriwether's The Mistakes Madeline Made and Beau Willimon's Lower Ninth. Two Out Loud plays have been nominated for the Pulitzer Prize: Rolin Jones' The Intelligent Design Of Jenny Chow and Sarah Ruhl's The Clean House. Ticket & Schedule Information GOOD EGG will be read on Monday, June 23 at 7 PM. The Out Loud Series is FREE and open to the public. Reservations are required. Please call 212-977-1700 or email rsvp@arsnovanyc.com. Ars Nova is located at 511 West 54th Street. For more information, check out www.arsnovanyc.com. As New York's premiere hub for emerging artists and new work, Ars Nova is committed to developing and producing eclectic theatre, comedy and music to feed today's popular culture. To that end, Ars Nova strives to create daring collaborations, meld disciplines and give voice to a new generation of artists. Past productions include Boom, Dixie's Tupperware Party, At Least It's Pink, 25 Questions for a Jewish Mother, Holy Cross Sucks!, Freestyle Love Supreme and The Wau Wau Sisters. In addition to its featured productions, Ars Nova supports and develops new work from the most promising emerging artists through its alternative comedy series (Tragedy Tomorrow), music series (Uncharted), public play-reading series (Out Loud), writer's group (Play Group) and artist-in-residence program. Ars Nova was founded in memory of Gabe Wiener. For more information, visit www.arsnovanyc.com.

The Perry-Mansfield New Works Festival (June Lindenmayer, Executive Director; Andrew Leynse, Artistic Director) has announced the casting for the 2008 summer season of music, dance and theatre at the venerable performing arts camp and school in Steamboat Springs, CO. The 11th Annual New Works Festival begins workshops and classes June 11th, culminating June 20 - 22 with staged readings of the plays and a special dance presentation.

On Wednesday, June 3rd the Atlantic Theater Company opened Annie Baker's BODY AWARENESS directed by Karen Kohlhaas and featuring Jonathan Clem, Peter Friedman, Mary McCann and JoBeth Williams.

The Civilians, the acclaimed New York-based experimental theater troupe, recently announced that Marion Friedman has been named as their Managing Director.

Atlantic Theater Company is proud to announce additional performances to the sold out, critically acclaimed New York premiere production of Oliver Award® winning and Tony Award® nominated playwright Conor McPherson's play PORT AUTHORITY.

The Public Theater announced today that post-show discussions will follow performances of 'The Good Negro' by Tracey Scott Wilson on Wednesday, May 28 and Saturday, May 31.

Atlantic Theater Company is proud to announce the world premiere production of Annie Baker's play 'Body Awarness', directed by Karen Kohlhaas and featuring Jonathan Clem, Peter Friedman, Mary McCann and JoBeth Williams.

Atlantic Theater Company announced the New York premiere production of Olivier Award® winning playwright Conor McPherson's play 'Port Authority,' directed by Henry Wishcamper and featuring Tony Award® nominee Brian d'Arcy James (Sweet Smell of Success), Tony Award® winner Jonathan Gallagher, Jr. (Spring Awakening) and Olivier Award® winner Jim Norton (The Seafarer).

This morning was one of excitement for the 2008 Tony nominees, BroadwayWorld.com was able steal a few joyful moments with some of the talented honorees to share in the celebration!

ALMOST AN EVENING, Academy Award® winning film maker Ethan Coen's trio of comic plays directed by Neil Pepe, will welcome Kate Blumberg and Peter Maloney to the cast of the hit Off-Broadway production on Tuesday, May 13, 2008.

Previews begin tomorrow, Tuesday May 6th, for Signature Theatre Company's world premiere production of Edward Albee's 'Occupant' starring Mercedes Ruehl and Larry Bryggman.

Second Stage Theatre will kick off this summer's Second Stage Theatre Uptown Series with the world premiere of Carly Mensch's 'Len, Asleep in Vinyl.'

Atlantic Theater Company (Neil Pepe, Artistic Director; Andrew D. Hamingson, Managing Director) is proud to announce the world premiere production of Annie Baker's play BODY AWARENESS, directed by Karen Kohlhaas and featuring Jonathan Clem, Peter Friedman, Mary McCann and JoBeth Williams.

Atlantic Theater Company (Neil Pepe, Artistic Director; Andrew D. Hamingson, Managing Director) is proud to announce an extension of the New York premiere production of Olivier Award® winning playwright Conor McPherson's play PORT AUTHORITY, directed by Henry Wishcamper and featuring Tony Award® nominee Brian d'Arcy James (Sweet Smell of Success), Tony Award® winner John Gallagher, Jr. (Spring Awakening) and Olivier Award® winner Jim Norton (The Seafarer).

The Perry-Mansfield New Works Festival (June Lindenmayer, Executive Director; Andrew Leynse, Artistic Director) has announced the line-up for the 2008 summer season of music, dance and theatre at the venerable performing arts camp and school in Steamboat Springs, CO. The 11th Annual New Works Festival of workshops and classes is scheduled from June 11 -20. The festival will culminate June 20 - 22 with staged readings of the plays and a special dance presentation. Now in its 95th year, Perry-Mansfield, founded by Charlotte Perry and Portia Mansfield, is recognized as the oldest continuously operating performing arts school and camp in the nation. The Perry-Mansfield New Works Festival, co-chaired by James Steinberg and Karolynn Lestrud, brings performing arts professionals together in the Rocky Mountains to develop new pieces of drama, musical theater and dance, and to mentor new talent in each medium. The 2008 New Works Festival welcomes the addition of New York's Atlantic Theater Company to the successful artistic partnership with Actors Theatre of Louisville, Denver Center Theatre Company, and Off-Broadway's Primary Stages. The New Works Festival continues Perry-Mansfield's founding principle of nurturing new talent with new work. Andrew Leynse and Primary Stages will bring the new play MAMA HATED DIESELS The Songs and Stories of the American Truck Driver conceived and adapted by Randal Myler and Dan Wheetman (Tony Award nominees for It Ain't Nothin' But The Blues; Joseph Jefferson Award nominees for Fire On The Mountain). The play is based on actual interviews from truck drivers and their families, and is filled with hard-drivin' traditional trucker tunes. Mr. Myler will also direct. Marc Masterson and Actors Theatre of Louisville will bring a piece titled Wild Blessings -- a Celebration of Wendell Berry, a collage piece from the writings of poet and philosopher Wendell Berry, created by Marc Masterson and Adrien-Alice Hansel. Mr. Masterson will also direct. Kent Thompson and the Denver Center Theatre Company will bring playwright Rogelio Martinez (Fizz, Learning Curve) to workshop a new play entitled When Tang Met Laika, with the following theme: In the 1990s Americans and Russians started to work together building the International Space Station. With more than a half century of hostilities under their space suits, can two old foes start to trust one another again? A play about the Cold War warming up, a space shuttle program finding its purpose as it nears retirement, one very large robotic arm, weightlessness, and a gun. Directed by Terrence J. Nolen. Neil Pepe and Atlantic Theater Company will bring a new musical What's That Smell: The Music of Jacob Sterling with book & lyrics by David Pittu and music by Randy Redd. What's That Smell: The Music of Jacob Sterling is an absurd musical-theater satire featuring songs and stories from the fictitious career of composer/lyricist Jacob Sterling and presented in a cable talk show format. A rare opportunity to catch up with an artist of questionable gifts as he discusses his inspiration and performs from his stunning repertoire of misbegotten shows. Written by and starring David Pittu, and featuring songs with lyrics by Mr. Pittu and music by Randy Redd. Co-directed by Neil Pepe and Mr. Pittu. All rehearsals and performances will take place at Perry-Mansfield (40755 Routt County Road 36, Steamboat Springs, CO 80487). Free open rehearsals will take place June 11 - 20. Single tickets for each presentation are $15 for performances June 20-22 and will be available for purchase after June 1st. A special Festival Weekend Ticket Package is available for $65 and includes all staged play readings, dance presentation and festival reception. For tickets and information, please call 800-430-2787 or 970-879-7125, or visit the website at www.perry-mansfield.org.

The Perry-Mansfield New Works Festival has announced the line-up for the 2008 summer season of music, dance and theatre at the venerable performing arts camp and school in Steamboat Springs, CO.

Roger Bart, Brian d'Arcy James, Priscilla Lopez, and Sherie Rene Scott will be on 'Working in the Theatre- Performing Musicals' on CUNY TV on Sunday, April 27th at 5pm.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Mara Manus) announced today that post-show discussions will follow performances of THE FEVER CHART: THREE VISIONS OF THE MIDDLE EAST by Naomi Wallace on Tuesday, April 29 and Sunday, May 11. Both discussions will immediately follow performances of THE FEVER CHART and no additional tickets are necessary.

Currently running at The Theatres at 45 Bleecker Street, Ethan Coen's 'Almost an Evening' sold out before performances began in its first home at the Atlantic Theater Company. Here, actor Del Pentecost sits down with BWW and talks about his experiences working with Ethan Coen, doing his first nude scene, and his favorite parts of the show.