Atlantic Theatre Company News

Facing East, a new musical based on the play of the same name by Carol Lynn Pearson, will have a special preview reading this spring in Chicago. The showʼs book and lyrics are by Mark Garcia, and David Rigano will provide the score. The reading will be directed by Andrew Hobgood (NY Fringeʼs award winning Love is Dead), who will also direct the showʼs world premier next year. The reading will be held for invited guests, but a limited number of tickets willbe made available to the general public.

Commander Squish Productions invites you to the Off-Broadway Premiere of THE NEW HOPEVILLE COMICS. A hit at the 2002 New York International Fringe Festival, this new musical features music and lyrics by Nate Weida and a book co-written by Weida and Sarah Donnell. Jim Wren directs an ensemble of 20 actors backed by a 5 piece rock band. This strictly limited engagement runs March 10-28 at American Theater of Actors (315 West 54th Street), former home of the Fringe-to-Off-Broadway transfer of Urinetown.

Magnolia, Artistic Associate Regina Taylor's world premiere about possibility in the face of seismic social change, takes root at the Goodman this spring, March 14 - April 19, 2009. Directing for the first time at the Goodman, Tony Award winner Anna D. Shapiro helms a cast of 12 led by Academy Award nominee Annette O'Toole (Smallville, A Mighty Wind, 48 Hours) and Tony Award nominee John Earl Jelks (August Wilson's Radio Golf and Gem of the Ocean) in the leading roles of Lily and Thomas. Tickets to Magnolia are $25 - $70. A complete performance schedule including dates, times and ticket prices appears at the end of this release. Target is the lead Corporate Sponsor Partner of Magnolia and Lead Diversity Night Sponsor.

Columbia University School of the Arts Theatre Arts Program and Columbia Stages Present MASTERPIECES: Part Two of SPRING, a Series of Three Springtime Events Celebrating Columbia's M.F.A. Playwriting Class of 2009 Columbia University School of the Arts Theatre Arts Program and Columbia Stages present MASTERPIECES, the second event in SPRING, a celebration in three parts of Columbia's M.F.A. Playwriting Class of 2009. In MASTERPIECES, each playwright presents a staged reading of a full-length play in various locations around New York City.

Commander Squish Productions in association with Michael Roderick and Small Pond Entertainment, presents the Off-Broadway premiere of THE NEW HOPEVILLE COMICS beginning previews March 10 at American Theater of Actors. A hit at the 2002 New York International Fringe Festival, this new musical features music and lyrics by Nate Weida and a book co-written by Weida and Sarah Donnell. Jim Wren directs a cast that features an ensemble of 20 actors backed by a 5 piece rock band. Opening night is slated for Saturday, March 14.

Tony Award winner John Lloyd Young will guest star as a 'former wood shop instructor with a voice of gold' on the upcoming Fox series GLEE. Lloyd Young describes the role 'as great fun, the whole cast is top notch and full of talented film and theatre actors.'

The Producers of the worldwide smash WICKED announced casting for the 2nd North American Tour today. The role of Elphaba will be played by Marcie Dodd and the role of Glinda will be played by Helene Yorke. Playing the role of Madame Morrible will be Marilyn Caskey and The Wizard will be played by Tom McGowan.

Grammy and Tony award-winning songwriter and composer Duncan Sheik returns with his new album Whisper House, which hit stores on January 27 on the Victor Records/Sony label. BroadwayWorld is excited to bring you these stunning and haunting illustrations from the Whisper House cd booklet.

Commander Squish Productions will present the Off-Broadway premiere of THE NEW HOPEVILLE COMICS beginning previews March 10 at American Theater of Actors. A hit at the 2002 New York International Fringe Festival, this new musical features music and lyrics by Nate Weida and a book co-written by Weida and Sarah Donnell. Jim Wren directs a cast that features an ensemble of 20 actors backed by a 5 piece rock band. Casting will be announced shortly. Opening night is slated for Saturday, March 14. THE NEW HOPEVILLE COMICS is set in an average US town called Hopeville. Here, your average superhero named Perfect Man protects its trusting and oblivious citizens against danger. His good deeds include grabbing a pair of scissors out of the hands of a running boy and rescuing the mayor's baby from falling out of a window. All is swell until Perfect Man's girlfriend rejects him. He loses his confidence and his power. Soon Perfect Man meets his demise in the form of a villainous trio (Sex, Drugs and Rockenroll) who have been gleefully waiting for their opportunity to turn the unsuspecting town to chaos. Can the citizens wise-up, band together to fight villainy and put the hope back into Hopeville?

In her 13 years as artistic director of Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Sharon Ott led the company to new artistic heights, national prestige, and a well-deserved Tony Award. Now, after a 12-year absence, she returns with a gripping production of Fyodor Dostoevsky's classic Crime and Punishment. The scene of this Crime is Berkeley Rep's intimate Thrust Stage, where Ott earned her reputation as a dazzling director. The show begins previews on February 27, opens March 4, and closes March 29. Its executive producers are John and Helen Meyer and Richard H. Rubin and H. Marcia Smolens, with production sponsorship from the Bernard Osher Foundation. BART and Wells Fargo are the season sponsors for Berkeley Rep's 41st year of fearless theatre.

Variety is reporting that FOX has picked up 13 episodes of the hourlong comedy from 'Nip/Tuck' creator Ryan Murphy. Fox hopes to schedule the show -- which is set in the world of high school glee clubs -- as soon as this spring, in order to take advantage of the 'American Idol' lead in reports the entertainment publication.

Goodman Theatre is proud to present the world premiere of Regina Taylor's newest work, Magnolia, directed by Tony Award winner Anna D. Shapiro (August: Osage County). Magnolia runs March 14 - April 19, 2009, in the Albert Ivar Theatre. Tickets are $25 - 75. Target is the lead Corporate Sponsor Partner.

Babel Theatre Project (Geordie Broadwater, Artistic Director, Jeremy Blocker, Producing Director) is excited to present readings by six of New York's finest up-and-coming playwrights in their festival of readings entitled GROUNDWORK The readings will take place at the 78th Street Theatre Lab, Saturday, January 24th and Sunday, January 25th beginning at 1PM.

Variety is reporting that FOX has picked up 13 episodes of the hourlong comedy from 'Nip/Tuck' creator Ryan Murphy. Fox hopes to schedule the show -- which is set in the world of high school glee clubs -- as soon as this spring, in order to take advantage of the 'American Idol' lead in reports the entertainment publication.

The 66th Annual Golden Globe Award Nominations were announced today and several of the nominees have graced the Broadway stage many times, a few of them are currently threading the boards right now, Variety spoke to them to get their reactions, here are the latest, we'll update as new statements arrive.

Next month, Tony Award-winning director Mary Zimmerman returns to Berkeley Repertory Theatre with an alluring adaptation of The Arabian Nights. This is Zimmerman's sixth trip to Berkeley Rep, and for the first time she works her magic on the intimate Thrust Stage. The Arabian Nights runs from November 13 through January 4 with the official press night on November 19.

MCC THEATER (Robert LuPone, Bernard Telsey, Artistic Directors; William Cantler, Associate Artistic Director; Blake West, Executive Director) today announced that their World Premiere Production of Michael Weller's Fifty Words, under the direction of Austin Pendleton, has been extended Off Broadway. Performances of the two-character play began at the Lucille Lortel Theatre (121 Christopher Street, NYC) on September 10 and the show's stars Norbert Leo Butz and Elizabeth Marvel were showered with rave reviews following its October 1 opening. The show is now scheduled to run through Saturday, November 8.

Rattlestick Playwrights Theater's 14th Anniversary Gala, It's All About the Art, took place on October 6, 2008 at Caroline's on Broadway in New York City. Rattlestick celebrated the many artistic talents involved in their productions with this year's Gala, It's All About the Art, which featured a cocktail reception, dinner and a luxury auction of unique items and experiences in the company of Rattlestick alumni and friends. There was also be special entertainment, and proceeds went directly to support Rattlestick's pioneering theatrical work.

Next month, Tony Award-winning director Mary Zimmerman returns to Berkeley Repertory Theatre with an alluring adaptation of The Arabian Nights. This is Zimmerman's sixth trip to Berkeley Rep, and for the first time she works her magic on the intimate Thrust Stage. The Arabian Nights runs from November 13 through January 4 with the official press night on November 19.

The 20th Anniversary revival of DAVID MAMET's Speed-The-Plow begins preview performances tonight, Friday, October 3, 2008 with an official opening set for Sunday, October 26, 2008 at the Belasco Theatre (111 West 44th Street).