Benjamin Simpson News

MOVING ARTS presents the Los Angeles premiere production of APPLE SEASON, written by E. M. Lewis and directed by Darin Anthony (BLISS (or Emily Post is Dead!)). APPLE SEASON is produced by Moving Arts at Atwater Village Theatre as a part of a National New Play Network Rolling World Premiere. Other partnering theaters are New Jersey Repertory Company (NJ) and Riverside Theatre (IA). Mr. Anthony and E. M. Lewis are long time collaborators, he has directed three premiere productions of E. M. Lewis' work, plus two “Car Plays” and a one-act for the Samuel French Ten Minute Play Festival in New York. APPLE SEASON will preview on Thursday, July 11 & Friday, July 12 at 8pm; will open on Saturday, July 13 at 4:00pm and will run through Monday, August 5, 2019 at the Atwater Village Theatre, 3269 Casitas Ave. in Los Angeles, 90039.

Community Little Theatre has announced the cast of its final production of their 79th Season, the smash ABBA musical Mamma Mia!

Community Little Theatre is thrilled to announce the cast of its final of their 79th Season, the smash ABBA musical Mamma Mia! Mamma Mia ran over 14 years on Broadway, making it the 9th longest running show in Broadway history. The music, all originally composed by the Swedish Pop Group ABBA, includes such hits as 'Dancing Queen', 'Knowing Me, Knowing You', 'Take a Chance on Me', 'The Winner Takes It All', 'Voulez-Vous', 'SOS' and of course the title track.

OSCAR at The Crown, a new immersive nightclub musical celebrated its official opening night last night.

An industry reading of WINGS will be held on Thursday, May 9th at 3 PM and Friday, May 10th at 11 AM in New York City. WINGS is a new musical with Book, Music, and Lyrics by Danny K Bernstein.

The Nyack College School of Music will present 'Yesterday, Today, Forever,' a concert of classical, contemporary, gospel and sacred music, on the stage of David Geffen Hall, Lincoln Center. Students, faculty, staff and alumni will headline the one-night event at the iconic cultural arts venue located at Columbus Avenue and 65th Street in New York City on Friday, April 12 at 7:30 p.m.

Second Stage Theater has announced five initial productions for its upcoming 2019-2020 Season, including two world premieres and three productions at its Broadway home, The Hayes Theater. 

The Commercial Theater Institute (CTI) and Executive Director Tom Viertel have announced speakers for the upcoming 2-day Marketing Seminar, taking place on Thursday, November 29th and Friday, November 30th, 2018.  CTI is the theater industry's leading training and professional development program and features over 100 of the most distinguished industry professionals as lecturers and panelists including many Tony Award- winning producers.

An industry reading of Far From Canterbury will be held today, October 18th at 3 PM and Friday, October 19th at 11 AM in New York City. Far From Canterbury is a new musical with Book, Music, and Lyrics by Danny K Bernstein.

An industry concert reading of Dear Prospective Student will be held today, October 23rd at 7 PM at The Green Room 42 on the 4th floor of Yotel NYC. Dear Prospective Student is a new musical with book by Caryn Robbins, and Music & Lyrics by Michael Hicks.

Welcome to the 60s - 1960s era Baltimore, to be exact, where hopes are high and hairstyles are even higher, as Reston Community Players opens its 52nd season with the beloved musical Hairspray. Tracy Turnblad, a big girl with an even bigger heart (and hair) is on a mission to follow her dreams and dance her way onto national television. Along the way, she finds true love, equality and the chance to be accepted for who she really is. Hairspray runs October 19-November 10, 2018 at Reston Community Center.

An industry reading of Far From Canterbury will be held on Thursday, October 18th at 3 PM and Friday, October 19th at 11 AM in New York City. Far From Canterbury is a new musical with Book, Music, and Lyrics by Danny K Bernstein.

An industry concert reading of Dear Prospective Student will be held on Tuesday, October 23rd at 7 PM at The Green Room 42 on the 4th floor of Yotel NYC. Dear Prospective Student is a new musical with book by Caryn Robbins, and Music & Lyrics by Michael Hicks.

Welcome to the 60s - 1960s era Baltimore, to be exact, where hopes are high and hairstyles are even higher, as Reston Community Players opens its 52nd season with the beloved musical Hairspray. Tracy Turnblad, a big girl with an even bigger heart (and hair) is on a mission to follow her dreams and dance her way onto national television. Along the way, she finds true love, equality and the chance to be accepted for who she really is. Hairspray runs October 19-November 10, 2018 at Reston Community Center.

Award-winning playwright Patricia Loughrey and composer Thomas Hodges announce that five-time NYMF alum Erin Leigh Peck (Motherfreakinghood, Grease! on Broadway) will step into the lead role of Margaret Evans in their original LGBTQ musical Sonata 1962.The production, which will make its Off-Broadway debut this August as part of the 2018 New York Musical Festival's Next Link Project, was originally slated to star Becca Ayers who has had to step out of the show due to booking a Broadway contract.

Award-winning playwright Patricia Loughrey and composer Thomas Hodges, whose critically acclaimed play Dear Harvey has been making waves across the nation since its debut in 2010, are thrilled to announce their original LGBTQ musical Sonata 1962 will making its Off-Broadway debut this August as part of the 2018 New York Musical Festival's (NYMF) Next Link Project.

Creators Carly Brooke Feinman and Cassie Willson are thrilled to announce the casting for their original musical If Sand Were Stone, making its Off-Broadway debut this July as part of the 2018 New York Musical Festival's (NYMF) Next Link Project. Featuring original music by Ms. Willson and original book & lyrics by Ms. Feinman, If Sand Were Stone will play a 5-performance run at The Acorn Theatre at Theatre Row beginning July 18, 2018.

The late Arnold Wesker is highly regarded as a distinguished voice of the British Theater. Following his death in January 2016, Vicky Featherstone, artistic director at the Royal Court Theater, said that his working-class characters and his outsider status changed who theater was for, and enabled a new generation of audience, actors and playwrights to feel they had a right to belong. Yet much of his work, while celebrated by scholars and historians the world over, is hardly ever produced for an American audience. But Director Charles Maryan is about to change that with GROUPIE.

A private industry reading of Philly will be held today, October 13th at 11 AM and 3:30 PM. Philly is a new musical with book by Kevin Coughlin & John Cal, and Music & Lyrics by John Cal.

A private industry reading of Philly will be held on Friday, October 13th at 11 AM and 3:30 PM. Philly is a new musical with book by Kevin Coughlin & John Cal, and Music & Lyrics by John Cal.