Chuck Cooper News

The Fire Dept Artistic Directors Erica Gould and Audrey Rosenberg have announced that the return of the company's Salon Series-staged readings of new plays, presented in non-proscenium environments that encourage an intimacy between audience and performer, followed by a discussion with the artists and noted guest speakers whose life experiences speak to the issues raised by the material-will begin with The Minotaur by Anna Ziegler (BFF), directed by Erica Gould (Neil LaBute's autobahn and Stand Up), and starring Mario Cantone (Sex and the City), Jill Clayburgh (Dirty Sexy Money, An Unmarried Woman), Campbell Scott (Dying Young, Singles, Longtime Companion), and Jeremy Webb (The Glorious Ones, Kander & Ebb's The Visit) on Friday, March 27 at 7 pm at the historic Players Club, 16 Gramercy Park South at 20th Street. The event will be produced by Audrey Rosenberg (Infamous with Sandra Bullock, upcoming documentary about Barack Obama).

Told through 24 songs and actual first-hand accounts, the new musical revue----'Brother, Can You Spare A Dime?? Songs and Stories from The Great Depression will open Sunday, March 8th (3PM) at Off-Broadway?s Triad Theatre (158 West 72nd Street ~ between Broadway & Columbus Avenue). Conceived and staged by Bill Daugherty, this musical time capsule is produced by Thoroughbred Records and Max Weintraub. Preview performances begin March 6th (7PM) & March 7th (3PM) This engagement will run through June 14th.

Van Hill Entertainment is proud to announce that the Off-Broadway premiere of ROOMS a rock romance, starring Leslie Kritzer and Doug Kreeger, will begin performances on Friday February 27th at New World Stages/Stage 2 (340 West 50th Street). Opening Night is set for Monday March 16th (7 PM). ROOMS a rock romance has music and lyrics by Paul Scott Goodman (Bright Lights Big City) and book by Goodman and Miriam Gordon, and will be directed by Scott Schwartz (Golda's Balcony, Bat Boy: The Musical, tick, tick... BOOM!, Jane Eyre).

Told through 24 songs and actual first-hand accounts, the new musical revue----Brother, Can You Spare A Dime? Songs and Stories from The Great Depression will open Sunday, March 8th (3PM) at Off-Broadway's Triad Theatre (158 West 72nd Street ~ between Broadway & Columbus Avenue). Conceived and staged by Bill Daugherty, this musical time capsule is produced by Thoroughbred Records and Max Weintraub. Preview performances begin March 6th (7PM) & March 7th (3PM) This engagement will run through June 14th.

Syracuse Stage's production of Putting It Together has announced casting including Lillias White, Chuck Cooper, Tyler Hanes, Andre Ward, and Stephanie Youell. Book, Lyrics and Music by Stephen Sondheim, Conceived by Stephen Sondheim and Julia McKenzie, Directed and Choreographed by Rajendra Ramoon Maharaj, Musical Direction by Dianne Adams McDowell.

Van Hill Entertainment is proud to announce that the Off-Broadway premiere of ROOMS a rock romance, starring Leslie Kritzer and Doug Kreeger, will begin performances on Friday February 27th at New World Stages/Stage 2 (340 West 50th Street). Opening Night is set for Monday March 16th (7 PM). ROOMS a rock romance has music and lyrics by Paul Scott Goodman (Bright Lights Big City) and book by Goodman and Miriam Gordon, and will be directed by Scott Schwartz (Golda's Balcony, Bat Boy: The Musical, tick, tick... BOOM!, Jane Eyre).

Lincoln Center's acclaimed series American Songbook returns in January for its eleventh season celebrating the diversity of American popular song. For 17 nights of pop, folk, cabaret, R&B, country, rock, show tunes, bluegrass and multimedia, the series will explore the best of the golden age of musical standards through to today's most dynamic contemporary songwriting. The 2009 season - January 14 through March 6 - will bring to the stage some of today's most gifted interpreters of song, including top vocalist Kurt Elling and country's winning Patty Loveless. It will feature the rare opportunity to hear Paulo Szot, star of Broadway's South Pacific, and film and stage star Alan Cumming, in intimate concert settings.

Syracuse Stage's production of Putting It Together has announced casting including Lillias White, Chuck Cooper, Tyler Hanes, Andre Ward, and Stephanie Youell. Book, Lyrics and Music by Stephen Sondheim, Conceived by Stephen Sondheim and Julia McKenzie, Directed and Choreographed by Rajendra Ramoon Maharaj, Musical Direction by Dianne Adams McDowell.

Theater Resources Unlimited (TRU) seeks submissions for the 11th Annual TRU VOICES New Plays Reading Series (deadline December 29, 2008). The TRU VOICES New Plays Reading Series is a unique series geared towards producers who have an interest in developing new plays. Shows selected will receive staged readings to be presented in the spring of 2009. Each reading will be followed by a 'Dollars and Sense' panel discussion with prominent New York producers, general managers and artistic directors focusing on potential venues, marketing and budgeting of the work. The series was created to help develop new plays and to help producers develop the skills needed to produce new works.

Signature Theatre Company continues its celebration of the Negro Ensemble Company (NEC) with special presentations of three more plays from the historic NEC repertoire. Curated by NEC Founder Douglas Turner Ward, Signature Associate Artist Ruben Santiago-Hudson and the Signature Theatre Company staff, these plays will be read on stage at the Peter Norton Space (555 West 42nd Street) on select evenings throughout the season. These classic works give greater insight into the history of this vital and groundbreaking company.

Theater Resources Unlimited (TRU) seeks submissions for the 11th Annual TRU VOICES New Plays Reading Series (deadline December 29, 2008). The TRU VOICES New Plays Reading Series is a unique series geared towards producers who have an interest in developing new plays. Shows selected will receive staged readings to be presented in the spring of 2009. Each reading will be followed by a 'Dollars and Sense' panel discussion with prominent New York producers, general managers and artistic directors focusing on potential venues, marketing and budgeting of the work. The series was created to help develop new plays and to help producers develop the skills needed to produce new works.

Theater Resources Unlimited (TRU) is pleased to announce that an exciting lineup of prominent Broadway producers and general managers has joined the Dollars and Sense panels to follow readings of the winning selections of the 2008 TRU Voices New Musicals Series. The series is unique because it develops new producers as well as new musicals, and in keeping true to its mission, the TRU talkbacks focus on producer concerns regarding the development of these works beyond the series. The panels will follow readings of the works on Mondays, December 8 and 15, 2008 at 7:30pm at the Players Theatre, located at 115 MacDougal Street, NYC.

Theater Resources Unlimited (TRU) is pleased to announce that an exciting lineup of prominent Broadway producers and general managers has joined the Dollars and Sense panels to follow readings of the winning selections of the 2008 TRU Voices New Musicals Series. The series is unique because it develops new producers as well as new musicals, and in keeping true to its mission, the TRU talkbacks focus on producer concerns regarding the development of these works beyond the series. The panels will follow readings of the works on Mondays, December 8 and 15, 2008 at 7:30pm at the Players Theatre, located at 115 MacDougal Street, NYC.

Theater Resources Unlimited (TRU) is pleased to announce the winning selections of the 2008 TRU Voices New Musicals Series. In a series that is unique because it develops new producers as well as new musicals, two works were chosen from submissions by emerging or established producers, as well as writers. The works will be read on Mondays, December 8 and 15, 2008 at 7:30pm at the Players Theatre, located at 115 MacDougal Street, NYC.

Scott Siegel turned off the microphones for the fifth time this week to celebrate the raw power of the human voice at the annual Broadway by the Year concert.

Casting has been announced for the Los Angeles premiere of Cy Coleman and Ira Gasman's gritty musical The Life.

On Monday, November 17th at 8 PM, The Town Hall stage thundered with the sound of Broadway's greatest voices in the 5th Annual Broadway Unplugged. After the concert the cast 'unplugged' at the party to celebrate the successful evening.

On Monday, November 17th at 8 PM, The Town Hall stage thundered with the sound of Broadway's greatest voices in the 5th Annual Broadway Unplugged. The thunder was provided without any microphones; just with just terrific singers singing great Broadway show tunes.

More than a dozen Broadway and Cabaret Stars will be shaking the rafters in the 5th Annual Broadway Unplugged concert at Town Hall on Monday night, November 17th. Aaron Lazar, late of Tale of Two Cities will be joining a stellar cast that already boasts Broadway's Mary Poppins, Ashley Brown, as well as Marc Kudisch, Jeff McCarthy, Julia Murney, Matt Cavenaugh, Cheryl Freeman, Christiane Noll, William Michals, Lorinda Lisitza, Chuck Cooper, Erin Denman, Bill Daugherty, and Ron Bohmer.

It was announced today that the 5th Annual Broadway Unplugged will feature a special guest appearance by the legendary nightclub entertainer that Johnny Carson famously called a 'Super Singer' -- Marilyn Maye.