Bess Wohl News

Thalia's Umbrella is thrilled to present the Seattle premiere of Bess Wohl's (mostly) silent comedy Small Mouth Sounds at 12th Avenue Arts April 18 to May 11, 2019.

Atlantic Theater Company is proud to announce that Little Known Facts at Atlantic, a live podcast hosted by Ilana Levine, will be returning as a full series this spring. Little Known Facts at Atlantic was originally presented as a one night only event featuring Atlantic Ensemble member Mary Steenburgen and Ted Danson. Following the first event's success, three additional live podcasts have been announced.

Custom Made Theatre Co. presents the Bay Area Premiere of Bess Wohl's comedy "American Hero" which runs March 7th through April 6th at Custom Made Theatre, 533 Sutter St. in San Francisco, just one block north of Union Square.

Ars Nova, "one of the most adventurous Off-Broadway companies" (New York Times), under the leadership of Founding Artistic Director Jason Eagan and Managing Director Renee Blinkwolt, is proud to kick-off Ars Nova at Greenwich House with the world premiere commission of Mrs. Murray's Menagerie, created by The Mad Ones and Phillip James Brannon, Brad Heberlee, Carmen M. Herlihy and January LaVoy. Directed by Lila Neugebauer, Mrs. Murray's Menagerie marks The Mad Ones' first production since their critically acclaimed play Miles For Mary and celebrates 10 years of "triumphantly original" and "skillfully acted" (New York Times) theater that is saturated with "precision, invention, and richness" (Time Out New York). The Mad Ones has been Ars Nova's Company-in-Residence since 2015, developing Mrs. Murray's Menagerie and Miles For Mary.

Williamstown Theatre Festival has announced its lineup for its 65th season. Among those set to perform are Uma Thurman in Ghosts, Jesse Tyler Ferguson in Grand Horizons, and more. 

Just last night, Williamstown Theatre Festival celebrated its annual Gala: "An Evening with Audra McDonald" honoring WTF Board Chairman Matt Harris with special appearances by Eden Espinosa, Jessica Hechtand Martyna Majok. Check out photos from inside the special night below!

New York Stage and Film announced today that, following a nationwide search, Christopher Burney will become its next Artistic Director. Additionally, New York Stage and Film's longtime Associate Artistic Director, Liz Carlson, has been promoted to the newly created position of Artistic Producer.

Ars Nova has announced the Ars Nova at Greenwich HouseWarming Party, a benefit performance of Freestyle Love Supreme with Lin-Manuel Miranda that will take place on Sunday, March 3, 6pm at Ars Nova at Greenwich House (27 Barrow Street, Manhattan). The HouseWarming Party will celebrate Ars Nova's expansion into the historic Greenwich House Theater and support the development of new artistic programs at two New York theaters: Ars Nova at Greenwich House and the Ars Nova Hub on 54th Street.

Second Stage Theater has announced that playwright Bess Wohl and director Michael Greif will return to Second Stage Theater next summer with the New York premiere of MAKE BELIEVE.

Award-winning artists and activists are joining forces to bring the #MeToo movement to the stage. Inspired by the women who have come forward with personal accounts of President Donald Trump's sexual harassment and assaults, "The Pussy Grabber Plays" will premiere Monday, January 14 at 9:30 p.m. at Joe's Pub at The Public Theater. An acclaimed, all-female production team will make the play available royalty-free to theaters, community groups and colleges across the country, creating a new platform for survivors of sexual abuse.

Make a joyful noise! Last night, January 8, Manhattan Theatre Club's Broadway premiere of Choir Boy, written by Academy Award winner Tarell Alvin McCraney(Moonlight, The Brother/Sister Plays) and directed by Drama Desk Award nominee Trip Cullman, officially opened at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre (261 West 47th Street).

SpeakEasy Stage Company presents Boston premiere of Bess Wohl's 2015 Off-Broadway comedy with a stellar cast of locals under the masterful direction of M. Bevin O'Gara. A play with limited dialogue challenges the actors to bare their inner personae, while requiring that the audience listen harder and sit with the awkward experience. The reward is tons of fun and, perhaps, enlightenment? A great start for the 2019 theater season.

Award-winning artists and activists are joining forces to bring the #MeToo movement to the stage. Inspired by the women who have come forward with personal accounts of President Donald Trump's sexual harassment and assaults, "The Pussy Grabber Plays" will premiere Monday, January 14 at 9:30 p.m. at Joe's Pub at The Public Theater. An acclaimed, all-female production team will make the play available royalty-free to theaters, community groups and colleges across the country, creating a new platform for survivors of sexual abuse.

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater announces the full company for the world premiere of Kenneth Lin's timely cautionary tale of capitalism run amok, Kleptocracy. Inspired by the power struggle between the richest of the Oligarchs and an ambitious Vladimir Putin after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Lin (House of Cards) explores U.S. - Russia relations then and now. Directed by Jackson Gay, and by special arrangement with Robert Ahrens, Mickey Liddell and Michael Mills, Kleptocracy runs January 18 - February 24, 2019 in the Kreeger Theater.

From January 4 through February 2, 2019, SpeakEasy Stage will proudly present the Boston Premiere of the hit Off-Broadway comedy SMALL MOUTH SOUNDS by Bess Wohl.  

Continuing its 40th Anniversary Season, Second Stage Theater presents the world premiere of Steven Levenson's play, Days of Rage, directed by Trip Cullman. The show officially opened last night, October 30, at the Tony Kiser Theater. BroadwayWorld was there and you can check out photos from the red carpet below!

A Red Orchid Theatre presents Small Mouth Sounds by Bess Wohl, directed by Ensemble Member Shade Murray. Small Mouth Sounds runs October 18 - December 9, 2018 at A Red Orchid Theatre, 1531 N Wells in Chicago.  Press performances are scheduled for Saturday, October 27 at 3:00pm and 7:30pm.

Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for theatre, is pleased to announce the recipients of the second and third rounds of the 2018 Edgerton Foundation New Play Awards. The awards, totaling $1,114,000 allow 27 productions extra time for the development and rehearsal of new plays with the entire creative team, hoping to extend the life of the world premiere play after its first run.

Henry V is the first Shakespeare production, and the second play overall, in Hartford Stage's 55-year history to be staged in the round. In addition to Grush, the ensemble cast - comprised of half men and half women - features Karen Aldridge as Exeter, Miles Anderson as Pistol, Kate Forbes as the Constable of France and Burgundy, Peter Francis James as the Chorus and Sir Thomas Erpingham, Felicity Jones Latta as the Archbishop of Canterbury, Nym and Alice, and Baron Vaughn as Fluellen and Mistress Quickly. Hartford Stage Associate Artistic Director Elizabeth Williamson will helm the production, which marks her Shakespeare directorial debut for the Tony Award-winning theatre.

Ars Nova, "one of the most adventurous Off-Broadway companies" (New York Times), under the leadership of Founding Artistic Director Jason Eagan and Managing Director Renee Blinkwolt, will host Over/Under Unplugged, a free concert series following select Friday evening performances of Andrew R. Butler's Rags Parkland Sings the Songs of The Future. Concerts will feature performers from The Future and special guests performing unplugged and up close. They'll #playforchange with any donations dropped in their bucket going to select charities including the National Network of Abortion Funds, The Trevor Project, and The National Eating Disorders Association.