Ben Diskant News

KEVIN, a new musical starring Tony nominee AJ Shively and Marty Lauter, known for RuPaul's Drag Race, has been announced by Turnkey Theatrical. Learn more here!

The American Academy of Dramatic Arts will launch its New Works Project with readings of the original musicals WINNER and MUCH ADO. The two presentations will offer students a close look at new musical development processes guided by contemporary writers and creative teams.

Despite a few slower moments, the 90-minute production (presented without intermission) is quite delightful. While we are led to believe that unfulfilled kismet and the chance to right missed opportunity are the crux of the matter, twists and turns that I won’t spoil, yield a larger look at life itself through the eyes of these mid-life friends and family folks that Berkshire region residents or visitors will undoubtedly find rather familiar. I think it rather likely that most will find, as I did, much to relate as the characters and their reality unfold. The peppering of local references throughout do indeed provide many winks, nods, and even a couple of a-ha moments.

Barrington Stage Company has revealed the cast and creative team for the company's World Premiere production of The Weekend: A Stockbridge Story. See who is starring and learn more!

Barrington Stage Company has unveield the initial casts for the 2025 Season, which will feature Camelot, a world premiere and more. See who is starring in the season and learn how to purchase tickets.

RUTKA, a new indie-rock musical adapted from Rutka’s Notebook: A Voice from the Holocaust, will make its world premiere at the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. Check out all the details on the new musical here.

On March 18th, 2023, New York City Children's Theater will premiere their new show Fish in a Tree directed by Sammy Lopez and Melissa Jessel.

A private industry reading of Ask, I Will Tell, a new musical by Ben Diskant, will be presented in New York City on Thursday, June 23 at 3pm. 

The Shed is presenting a newly commissioned production of The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe, freshly revisited by playwright Jane Wagner. Tony nominated director Leigh Silverman (Lifespan of a Fact, Violet) stages the iconic play starring Cecily Strong (Saturday Night Live, Schmigadoon!) in her theatrical debut.

The BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop will present its top works at this year's showcase on Monday, April 1st at 3 PM and 6 PM. The shows will be held at The Marjorie S. Deane Little Theater in New York City (10 West 64th Street) and will premiere performances of the best of songs written and composed by recent members of this Drama League, Drama Desk and Tony honored workshop.   

New York's acclaimed Classic Stage Company recently marked its 50th birthday with a gala celebration on Monday evening, April 23 at Bohemian National Hall recognizing Artistic Director John Doyle and Board Chair Lynn Angelson. Check out the photos below!

New York's acclaimed Classic Stage Company will mark its 50th birthday with a gala celebration on Monday evening, April 23 at Bohemian National Hall (321 East 73rd Street) recognizing Artistic Director John Doyle and Board Chair Lynn Angelson. The evening will feature special guest performances from Doyle's New York career including Cynthia Erivo, Judy Kuhn, and Donna McKechnie.

Time stopped last night at the American Airlines Theatre, when Time and the Conways officially returned to Broadway. The Roundabout Theatre Company production opened last night, October 10, 2017 and BroadwayWorld was there to catch the company as they celebrated the special night. Check out full photo coverage below!

Roundabout Theatre Company presents the new Broadway production of J. B. Priestley's Time and the Conways, directed by Tony winner Rebecca Taichman (Indecent). The play returns to Broadway for the first time since its premiere in 1938 and opens officially tonight, October 10, 2017. This is a limited engagement through November 26, 2017 at the American Airlines Theatre on Broadway (227 West 42nd Street). Scroll down to learn more about the full company, plus check out the cast in rehearsal below!

For all the pathos in this, one of Shakespeare's greatest tragedies, director Ron Daniels has found a way to create and unexpectedly festive atmosphere. There is, refreshingly, room to laugh knowingly even as Iago weaves his evil plot.

The Shakespeare Theatre Company (STC) Free For All, one of the capital's most beloved annual traditions offering free performances of a Shakespearean classic to the general public each summer, will return next month with the Company's 2016 production of William Shakespeare's Othello. Helmed by internationally acclaimed director Ron Daniels and starring screen actor Faran Tahir in the titular role, the production will run at Sidney Harman Hall (610 F St. NW) from August 15-27, offering more than 12,000 people the chance to see the play free of charge.

Mint Theater Company will present a one-night "Further Reading" of Waters of the Moon by N.C. Hunter on Monday August 15th (7pm) at The Beckett Theatre at Theatre Row (home to Mint's current production, Hunter's A Day By The Sea, opening August 25).

Shakespeare Theatre Company proves once again their place as one of the nation's finest classical theatre companies with a new production of OTHELLO. A careful blend of grand spectacle and intimate relationships, William Shakespeare's mature tragedy leaps off of the stage with passion, wit, and pathos. Starring Pakistani-American Faran Tahir in the title role, this OTHELLO is filtered through the lens of Othello as a Muslim who has adopted Western dress and religion. The concept works and the tragedy still works as one of Shakespeare's best.

BLACK BUTTERFLIES, a ground-breaking new play by Marylou DiPietro, based on the life of Rose Williams, sister and muse to Tennessee Williams, will be presented in a reading December 7th, 3pm at The Peter Jay Sharp Theater, 416 West 42nd Street (4th floor), New York City.

"Hear it here first!" After an overwhelmingly successful inaugural season, The Gallery Players continues OVERTURES, their series of new musical theatre readings. Helmed by theatre director and scholar, Barrie Gelles, OVERTURES was created in order to foster the creation of new musical theatre and support the talented composers and writers as they develop their work.