Austin Pendleton News

Mississippi Mud Productions is proud to present The Blonde Bombshell Project, a new solo play written and starring Jen Danby and directed by Tony Nominee and Obie-Winning Director Austin Pendleton. Fresh from their collaboration as Catharine Holly and Dr. Sugar in Suddenly, Last Summer with Mississippi Mud, this new solo work is about about legendary Hollywood 'Blonde Bombshell' Marilyn Monroe in her final summer of 1962.

Performances begin in just five weeks for the third annual Next Up, continuing Steppenwolf Theatre Company's commitment to Chicago's next generation of theater artists. Next Up features three productions presented in rotating repertory, in collaboration with Northwestern University's MFA programs in Direction and Design. Next Up 2013 showcases the work of graduates of those programs with casts of professional Chicago actors-including nine alumni of the School at Steppenwolf: Fat Pig by Neil LaBute, directed by David Prete; The Drunken City by Adam Bock, directed by Johnny Michael DiResta; and The Internationalist by Anne Washburn, directed by Erin Murray.

Artists Rep is thrilled to present the West Coast premiere of Jeffrey Hatcher's play Ten Chimneys from April 23 through May 26, 2013. This revealing comedy peers into the backstage lives of Broadway power-duo Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne and summers spent at their legendary Wisconsin estate, Ten Chimneys.

The Group Theatre Too, along with choreographer, Justin Boccitto and director, Kimberly Vaughn presents the 2013 Broadway Performance Project (BPP), an evening of young, aspiring Broadway bound talent performing on Tuesday, June 11th and Thursday, June 13th, 7:00pm at cabaret hub, The Laurie Beechman Theater. BPP selected twelve participants from among those who auditioned, including: Caitlin Catanella, Melissa Coffey, Isaac Dayley, Kristin Feeney, Anelena Frollini, Billy Hannon, Erica Kimble, Amelia Rose Ortman, Kelly Reader, Daniel Schultz, Alan Simon and Micki Weiner. In preparation for their Beechman performances these artists will have coached with Justin and Kimberly, along with musical director Andrea Grody, and workshopped their songs in an 'in studio' performance class with a panel of industry professionals who include talent manager Naomi Kolstein and casting director Dale Brown. The project also had a successful benefit show last December where they unveiled "The Nicole Fosse Scholarship" and saw performances from Richard Kline, Phillip Boykin, Anita Gillette, Kurt Peterson, Wayne Alan Wilcox, Colleen Zenk, Kevin Spirtas, Raissa Katona Bennett and Sheri Sanders.

Rehearsals begin today for Manhattan Theatre Club's American premiere of Tarell Alvin McCraney's CHOIR BOY, the new play featuring gospel music directed by Trip Cullman at MTC's The Studio at Stage II - Harold and Mimi Steinberg New Play Series at New York City Center - Stage II (131 West 55th Street).

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Greg Reiner, announced today that their new production of Bertolt Brecht's THE CAUCASIAN CHALK CIRCLE featuring Christopher Lloyd (Azdak), directed by Brian Kulick (who directed Brecht's Galileo last season), and featuring new music by Tony Award-winning singer/songwriter Duncan Sheik (Spring Awakening), will extend for two additional weeks through Sunday, June 23.

Can't Sleep, Inc. presents sExtOrtiOn by Patrick Thomas McCarthy, directed by Christopher Caines, with set, costume, and lighting design by Caines and projections design by Katherine Hammond. At the ALL OUT ARTS Fresh Fruit Festival, at The Wild Project, 195 E. 3rd St @ Ave. B (near Ave. B and Houston St.; F train to 2nd Ave.) on Monday, July 8 @ 7pm, Tuesday, July 9 @ 9pm, and Sunday, July 14 @ 2pm.

Mary-Arrchie Theater Co. is excited to announce that on it's 27th Anniversary, Thursday, June 13, 2013 at 8 p.m. it will open a production of Austin Pendleton's Uncle Bob. It will run Thursday-Saturday at 8 p.m.and Sunday at 7 p.m. Tickets will be $25. There will be previews on June 11 and 12 at 8 p.m. and the preview ticket price will be $15. It will be mounted at Angel Island which is at 735 W. Sheridan in Chicago, Illinois. There is parking available at the Mobil Gas station across from the theater for a price to be determined by Mobil.

Performances begin in just five weeks for the third annual Next Up, continuing Steppenwolf Theatre Company's commitment to Chicago's next generation of theater artists. Next Up features three productions presented in rotating repertory, in collaboration with Northwestern University's MFA programs in Direction and Design. Next Up 2013 showcases the work of graduates of those programs with casts of professional Chicago actors-including nine alumni of the School at Steppenwolf: Fat Pig by Neil LaBute, directed by David Prete; The Drunken City by Adam Bock, directed by Johnny Michael DiResta; and The Internationalist by Anne Washburn, directed by Erin Murray.

Sprat Theatre Company will present the world premiere of One Day in the Life of Henri Shnuffle at Henri Shnuffle's Apartment at the Loomstate/Rogan Showroom on Bond Street. Performances begin tonight, May 16, 2013.

New York Shakespeare Exchange (Ross Williams, Artistic Director) is thrilled the announce the 12 sonnets that will launch the year-long interactive SONNET PROJECT on May 20, with an invitation only launch event happening from 7 - 9 PM at The Museum of the Moving Image (36-01 35 Avenue in Astoria). For more information, visit www.ShakespeareExchange.org.

Sprat Theatre Company will present the world premiere of One Day in the Life of Henri Shnuffle at Henri Shnuffle's Apartment at the Loomstate/Rogan Showroom on Bond Street. Performances begin May 16, 2013.

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Greg Reiner, will celebrate the theater's past, present and future at its 45th Anniversary Bash this Friday evening, May 10 at the Edison Ballroom (240 West 47th Street). The evening will include an exclusive sneak peek at works under consideration for the company's future Musical Theatre Initiative productions with performances from Judy Kuhn, Stephen Bogardus and Jeffry Denman-all of whom were featured in this season's critically-acclaimed Passion-as well as Alexander Gemignani, Alexandra Silba, Jenny Fellner and more, directed by Jack Cummings III, with musical direction by Greg Jarrett.

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Greg Reiner, will present a new production of Bertolt Brecht's The Caucasian Chalk Circle featuring Christopher Lloyd (Azdak), directed by Brian Kulick (who directed Brecht's Galileo last season), and featuring new music by Tony Award-winning singer/songwriter Duncan Sheik (Spring Awakening). The Caucasian Chalk Circle will begin performances tonight, May 3 at CSC (136 East 13th Street) for a limited engagement through Sunday, June 9. The official opening is Thursday, May 30.

Village Green Productions has announced the return of THE BOOMERANG EFFECT, written by Matthew Leavitt, produced by Del Shores and directed by Damaso Rodriguz. THE BOOMERANG EFFECT will mark the final production Mr. Rodriguez will direct in Los Angeles prior to his becoming Artistic Director of the Artists Repertory Theatre in Portland. THE BOOMERANG EFFECT will preview on Thursday, June 6 & Friday, June 7 at 8pm and will open on Saturday, June 8 and will run through Saturday, July 27 at the Zephyr Theatre, 7456 Melrose Ave., in West Hollywood.