Christopher Shinn News

STRANGE RAIN follows two reporters as they try to unravel the mystery of a prolonged rain with the aid of lesbian psychics, comic meteorologists, a street-kid poet, and a mysterious man who talks of UFOs and secret experiments in the desert, all leading back decades to the real-life experiments of Wilhelm Reich in the 1950s. The story, though, is not so much about Reich as about deciding what is real and making peace with a difficult past. There are several love stories-central, a boy's love for his father.

Winning upwards of 50 awards (including Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle, LA Weekly, Ovation, and Garland Awards) in just the past five years (BEST PRODUCTION two years in a row), Rogue Machine's first offering (which opened on May 18th) for the 2013 season has sold out the original run. They will now be extending the schedule for the Los Angeles premiere of Dying Cityby Christopher Shinn (OBIE winner, Pulitzer Prize finalist) through August 5th.

The Vineyard Theatre will present a one-night-only reading of Paula Vogel's Pulitzer Prize- winning play HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE tonight, Monday, July 1st at 8:00 PM. Reuniting for the first time since its celebrated premiere at The Vineyard in 1997 will be the original company: Mary-Louise Parker as 'L'il Bit,' David Morse as 'Uncle Peck,' Johanna Day, Kerry O'Malley and Justin Hagan. The reading, staged by the production's original director, Mark Brokaw, will take place at The Vineyard Theatre, located at 108 E. 15 Street.

A group of gifted artists will appear at VINEYARD CELEBRATES THE SONGS OF Dory Previn, a special, one-night-only benefit concert featuring the brilliant and iconic work of the legendary singer and songwriter tonight, June 17, 2013 at 7:00 PM at The Vineyard (108 E. 15 St., between Irving Place and Union Square East).

Winning upwards of 50 awards (including Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle, LA Weekly, Ovation, and Garland Awards) in just the past five years (BEST PRODUCTION two years in a row), Rogue Machine's first offering (which opened on May 18th) for the 2013 season has sold out the original run. They will now be extending the schedule for the Los Angeles premiere of Dying City by Christopher Shinn (OBIE winner, Pulitzer Prize finalist) through August 5th.

YALE REPERTORY THEATRE (James Bundy, Artistic Director; Victoria Nolan, Managing Director) has announced that Rene Augesen will play Blanche DuBois and Joe Manganiello will play Stanley Kowalski in its first-ever production of A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE, the Pulitzer Prize winning masterpiece by Tennessee Williams. Directed by Mark Rucker, the production, which will open Yale Rep's 2013-14 season, will play September 20-October 12, at the University Theatre (222 York Street).

A group of gifted artists have been added to the lineup of VINEYARD CELEBRATES THE SONGS OF DORY PREVIN, a special, one-night-only benefit concert featuring the brilliant and iconic work of the legendary singer and songwriter on Monday, June 17, 2013 at 7:00 PM at The Vineyard (108 E. 15 St., between Irving Place and Union Square East).

In Dying City, now in its West Coast premiere at the Rogue Machine Theatre, Christopher Shinn examines the devastating effects of the Iraq War on the American soldiers who participated in it and more urgently on those they left behind. At the core are Kelly (Laurie Okin), the wife of a deceased soldier, his identical twin brother Peter (Burt Grinstead) and in flashback, the deceased soldier/husband/brother Craig (also Grinstead).

Rogue Machine presents Los Angeles Premiere of DYING CITY by Christopher Shinn, opening tonight,, May 18, 2013 with reception to follow. The production runs 5pm Saturdays, 7pm Sundays, and 8pm Mondays through July 8, 2013, with Memorial weekend performances on May 23rd at 8pm and Sunday, May 26th at 7pm (No performance on June 24th).

The Vineyard Theatre (108 E. 15 St.) -- currently celebrating its 30th anniversary season -- will present one-night-only 'reunion' readings this summer with the entire original casts of two of the most acclaimed productions in the company's history: on Monday, June 24 at 8:00 p.m., Linda Emond, Cotter Smith, Tim Hopper and Robert Emmet Lunney will perform Craig Lucas' play THE DYING GAUL; and on Monday, July 1 at 8:00 p.m., Mary Louise Parker, David Morse and company will reunite for Paula Vogel's Pulitzer Prize winning play HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE.

Rogue Machine presents Los Angeles Premiere of DYING CITY by Christopher Shinn, opening May 18, 2013 with reception to follow. The production runs 5pm Saturdays, 7pm Sundays, and 8pm Mondays through July 8, 2013, with Memorial weekend performances on May 23rd at 8pm and Sunday, May 26th at 7pm (No performance on June 24th).

Huntington Theatre Company has received 35 IRNE Award nominations from the Independent Reviewers of New England, the most of any small or large theatre company in the region. The Committee recognized six of the eight productions the Huntington produced in 2012 with the following nominations.

'Should a woman sleep with a man she finds repellent if by doing so she serves a greater good?' (New York Times) is among the questions of William Shakespeare's Measure for Measure, at Goodman Theatre in a new production directed by Artistic Director Robert Falls. Falls sets his production of Shakespeare's dark comedy against the backdrop of New York City circa 1970s-an era in which economic challenges, urban flight and the sexual revolution transformed one of the greatest cities in the world into one of the most troubled.

'Should a woman sleep with a man she finds repellent if by doing so she serves a greater good?' (New York Times) is among the questions of William Shakespeare's Measure for Measure, at Goodman Theatre in a new production directed by Artistic Director Robert Falls. Falls sets his production of Shakespeare's dark comedy against the backdrop of New York City circa 1970s-an era in which economic challenges, urban flight and the sexual revolution transformed one of the greatest cities in the world into one of the most troubled.

One of the nation's leading programs for emerging playwrights -- Cherry Lane Theatre's award-winning MENTOR PROJECT -- celebrates its 15th anniversary this season with the production of four new plays by emerging writers -- each of whom is paired with an accomplished mentor playwright -- from tonight, February 20, 2012 to April 13 at the Cherry Lane Theatre (38 Commerce St.) in Manhattan.

Yesterday, it was announced that the BBC has started developing a televised adaptation of Leo Tolstoy's classic tome, WAR AND PEACE. As of today, the upcoming six-part series has found its star in LES MISERABLES' Eddie Redmayne, Entertainment Wise has reported.

The world-premiere production of the Goodman-commissioned Teddy Ferrara by Pulitzer Prize finalist Christopher Shinn is directed by Evan Cabnet. This stirring exploration of an on-campus tragedy features Liam Benzvi (Gabe), Patrick Clear (University President), Rashaad Hall (Nicky), Ryan Heindl (Teddy Ferrara), Christopher Imbrosciano (Jay), Jax Jackson (Jaq), Dev Kennedy and Fawzia Mirza (Campus Police), Paloma Nozicka (Jenny), Adam Poss (Drew), Josh Salt (Tim), Kelli Simpkins (Ellen) and Janet Ulrich Brooks (University Provost). BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast onstage below!

Directors Lisa Peterson, Bryan Davidson Blue, Elena Araoz and Chris Henry will direct the four new works debuting as part of Cherry Lane Theatre's 15th anniversary MENTOR PROJECT, it has been announced by Angelina Fiordellisi, Artistic Director of Cherry Lane Theatre (38 Commerce St. in Manhattan), where MENTOR PROJECT will run from February 20-April 13, 2013. As well, the performance schedule for each production has been set.

Rehearsals are underway for the world-premiere production of the Goodman-commissioned Teddy Ferrara by Pulitzer Prize finalist Christopher Shinn, praised as 'among the most provocative and probing of American playwrights today' (The New York Times). Evan Cabnet directs this stirring exploration of an on-campus tragedy with a cast that includes Liam Benzvi (Gabe), Patrick Clear (University President), Rashaad Hall (Nicky), Ryan Heindl (Teddy Ferrara), Christopher Imbrosciano (Jay), Jax Jackson (Jaq), Dev Kennedy and Fawzia Mirza (Campus Police), Paloma Nozicka (Jenny), Adam Poss (Drew), Josh Salt (Tim), Kelli Simpkins (Ellen) and Janet Ulrich Brooks (University Provost). The design team includes Jenny Mannis (Costume Designer), Keith Parham (Lighting Designer), Lee Savage (Set Designer) and Richard Woodbury (Sound Designer). Rehearsal photos, headshots and bio information can be found in the Press Room. Teddy Ferrara runs February 2 - March 3, 2013 in the Owen Theatre (opening night is Monday, February 11). Tickets ($14 - $45; subject to change) are now on sale and are available at GoodmanTheatre.org/Teddy, by phone at 312.443.3800 or at the box office (170 North Dearborn).

The Vineyard Theatre continues its series of one-night-only readings of notable plays from its acclaimed history in celebration of its 30th Anniversary with A BOY AND HIS SOUL. Written and performed by Colman Domingo, A BOY AND HIS SOUL will be performed at The Vineyard (108 E. 15 St., between Irving Place and Union Square East) today, January 7, 2013 at 7 PM.