Charles Fuller News

The Dramatists Guild of America has announced the recipients of their annual awards, which will be presented at an awards ceremony hosted by David Henry Hwang on Monday, February 23, 2015, at The Harvard Club in New York.

The Public Theater announced a second extension for the critically acclaimed FATHER COMES HOME FROM THE WARS (PARTS 1, 2 & 3), a world premiere play written by Public Theater Master Writer Chair Suzan-Lori Parks. Directed by Jo Bonney, FATHER COMES HOME FROM THE WARS (PARTS 1, 2 & 3) will now run through Sunday, December 7. It was originally scheduled to close on November 16 and extended the first time through November 30.

The Public Theater announced a two-week extension today for the critically acclaimed FATHER COMES HOME FROM THE WARS (PARTS 1, 2 & 3), a world premiere play written by Public Theater Master Writer Chair Suzan-Lori Parks. Directed by Jo Bonney, FATHER COMES HOME FROM THE WARS (PARTS 1, 2 & 3) began previews on Tuesday, October 14 in the Anspacher Theater and was originally scheduled to close on Sunday, November 16. It will now run an additional two weeks through Sunday, November 30.

Dramatists Guild Fund Executive Director Rachel Routh and Board President Gretchen Cryer today announced the star-studded line up for their annual gala Great Writers Thank Their Lucky Stars, set for Monday, October 27 at The Edison Ballroom (240 West 47th Street). The cocktail reception will begin at 6:30pm, followed by the dinner and celebration at 7:30pm. The Gala is the most critical fundraising event for the Dramatists Guild Fund, the public charity arm of the Dramatists Guild of America. This very special evening pays tribute to legendary writers and recognizes their significant contributions to American theater.

The Des Moines Community Playhouse play reading series presents Naomi Wallace's 'The Trestle at Pope Lick Creek,' 7:00 PM, Monday, Aug. 4. The evening is free; beverages will be available for purchase.

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director) just announced the U.S. premiere of the new musical, AMERICAN PSYCHO, featuring a book by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa (2ST's Good Boys and True, 'Glee,' Broadway's Spider-Man: Turn off the Dark), music and lyrics by Grammy and Tony-Award Winner Duncan Sheik (Spring Awakening), directed by Rupert Goold (Broadway's Macbeth with Patrick Stewart, ENRON). AMERICAN PSYCHO is based on the novel by Bret Easton Ellis.

There are the bones here of a perfectly respectable play about rape and what comes after in the U.S. military and veterans' system. They are often overwhelmed by formulaic exposition and too much going on. The play needs to be broken down and retooled.

The Contemporary American Theater Festival at Shepherd University has announced its 2014 Humanities events. The events, produced in tandem with CATF's July 11-August 3 repertory season, will feature playwrights Christina Anderson, Charles Fuller (winner of the 1982 Pulitzer Prize for Drama), Thomas Gibbons, Bruce Graham, and Chisa Hutchinson; CATF will also host guest speakers Miranda Petersen (Protect Our Defenders Foundation), Bruce Duncan and the Bina48 Artificial Intelligence unit (Terasem Movement Foundation), Theresa M. Davis (University of Virginia), Dr. Julia Sandy-Bailey (Shepherd University), and David Leong (Theatre VCU).

Expanded this year! CATF's Pay-What-You-Can Preview series allows you to experience the 2014 repertory of plays before they open at whatever price you care to pay. While the playwrights, directors, and designers are still working and changing the plays (you might even still see them in the theater!), the performances are fully produced with all sets, lights, video, sound, and costumes. In many ways, the Preview audiences are the final important piece in the the decision-making of these NEW plays. Come join us in shaping the FUTURE of American theater!

The Contemporary American Theater Festival at Shepherd University (CATF) begins preview performances on Sunday, July 6th. All five plays that make up the 2014 repertory will receive at least two preview performances before the Festival officially opens on Friday, July 11th.

Meet the five playwrights of the Contemporary American Theater Festival! Click here for the performance shcedule and here for tickets.

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director) has announced two productions for its upcoming 36th season: the first New York production in 23 years of Terrence McNally's acclaimed play, LIPS TOGETHER, TEETH APART, directed by Peter DuBois, and the world premiere of Neil LaBute's dark comedy, THE WAY WE GET BY.

Theaters in West Virginia this summer will offer a much more contemporary and controversial offering of new plays. However, traditional blockbuster summer stock musicals will still be readily available in any number of summer theater seasons in the state. The top three summer theater seasons and events from West Virginia are listed below, but are only a small offering of the many fantastic performances and live theater seasons occurring in West Virginia this summer.

Cow. Slob. Pig. How many insults can you tolerate before taking a stand to defend the woman you love? Neil LaBute's provocative comedy, Fat Pig opens April 26 at the Hudson Mainstage in Hollywood. The revival, directed by Alexis Jacknow, features new material not seen before in L.A.

Marin Theatre Company, in association with Lorraine Hansberry Theatre, will stage August Wilson's Fences, the 1950s entry into his Century Cycle (also known as his Pittsburgh Cycle) - a decade-by-decade exploration of the black experience in 20th century America. Directed by Derrick Sanders, the Pulitzer Prize and two-time Tony Award-winning play will feature veteran film and television actor Carl Lumbly as Troy Maxson, Steven Anthony Jones, the artistic director of Lorraine Hansberry Theatre, as Jim Bono and award-winning actor, playwright and director Margo Hall as Rose, as well as Oregon Shakespeare Festival's Eddy Ray Jackson as Cory, Adrian Roberts as Gabriel, Tyee Tilghman as Lyons and two Marin City youths - Jade Sweeney, who attends Willow Creek Academy, and Makaelah Bashir, Bayside Martin Luther King, Jr. Academy - splitting the role of Raynell.

Second Stage Theatre's production of THE HAPPIEST SONG PLAYS LAST, written by 2012 Pulitzer Prize winner Quiara Alegria Hudes and directed by Tony Award winner Ruben Santiago-Hudson, begins performances tonight, February 11.

Groupies, trophies and fast, beautiful cars. Is winning all there is? Terri Hanauer directs a rare revival of the celebrated Broadway drama that kick-started playwright/screenwriter John Bishop's career. Nick Stabile (Bride of Chucky, Dennis Wilson in ABC's award-winning The Beach Boys) heads the cast as once-great NASCAR racer Bobby Horvath in The Trip Back Down, opening Feb. 21 at the Whitefire Theatre.

Grammy Award-nominated musician Nelson Gonzalez has joined the creative team of the upcoming Second Stage Theatre production of THE HAPPIEST SONG PLAYS LAST, written by 2012 Pulitzer Prize winner Quiara Alegria Hudes and directed by Tony Award winner Ruben Santiago-Hudson. Mr. Gonzalez, who is widely considered the master of the Cuban Tres guitar, will oversee the production's musical elements and will lead a live band during performances.

Rattlestick Playwrights Theater announced the 2013 F*ck!ng Good Plays (festival, IV) -three (3) days of new play readings by four (4) of today's hottest playwrights. The festival, to be presented at Rattlestick Playwrights Theater (224 Waverly Place - off 7th Avenue South between West 11th & Perry Streets) will begin on Monday the 16th, and continue on Wednesday the 18th and Thursday the 19th. Playwrights include: Denis Johnson, Basil Kreimendahl, Michael Laurence, and Jen Silverman. The readings will be directed by David Kennedy, Lisa Peterson, Francine Volpe, and Davis McCallum.

In a neighborhood torn by gun violence between black and Mexican youth, a prominent black minister, haunted by the ghosts of his struggles as a 60's radical, faces his own impotence to restore order in 'Welcome Home Sonny T,' a new play written and directed by William Electric Black. Theater for the New City, 155 First Ave., will present the work tonight, December 5 to 22, 2013.