Classic Stage Company News

Anton Chekhov's The Seagull, as anyone who has ever committed suicide will tell you, is a comedy.  Maybe not as reflective a comedy as set designer Santo Loquasto's mirrored floor would suggest, but Russian director Vlachesalv Dolgachev's new production at Classic Stage Company neatly balances the humorous with the somber and, despite a few stumbles along the way, turns out to be a rather enjoyable and swift-moving three hours and fifteen minutes.

Two-time winners of the Edinburgh Fringe First Award, The TEAM (Particularly in the Heartland ) presents its newest work-in-process ARCHITECTING at Manhattan's 3LD Art and Technology Center. Workshop performances of this new American saga for the 21st century will be presented May 14 - 18.

SECRETS OF A SOCCER MOM, a new play by Kathleen Clark directed by two-time Tony Award winner Judith Ivey, will be hosting two talk backs & book signings with critically acclaimed authors Nancy Star, Adriana Trigiani, Meg Wolitzer and Jill A. Davis respectively, to kick-off the spring soccer season.

Tony Award winner Mandy Patinkin returns to Broadway for one night only to benefit off-Broadway's Classic Stage Company on Monday, May 19.

Columbia Stages announces a 24-person cast for the upcoming production of Tennessee Williams' Camino Real directed by Tony Speciale.

THE LEAGUE OF OFF-BROADWAY THEATRES AND PRODUCERS today announced the nominations for THE 23rd ANNUAL LUCILLE LORTEL AWARDS FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT OFF-BROADWAY, which will be presented on Monday, May 5th at the Union Square Theatre (100 East 17th Street).

The Playwrights Realm, Off-Broadway's newest theater company, willpresent the World Premiere of Anton Dudley's SUBSTITUTION at SoHo Playhouse. The play was written specifically for Tony Award nominee Jan Maxwell, who stars in the production, directed by Katherine Kovner.

Kathleen Chalfant, one of the theater's most celebrated actors, will star in the World Premiere of Alexander Dinelaris' searing new play, 'Red Dog Howls' at the El Portal Theatre for a strictly limited five week engagement from May 14 to June 13.

Obie winner and Tony Award nominee Reg Rogers will star in The Injured Party, a new comedy by Tony Award-winning playwright Richard Greenberg. Commissioned by SCR and directed by Trip Cullman, The Injured Party will receive its World Premiere at South Coast Repertory during the 11th annual Pacific Playwrights Festival. The show will run from April 20 through May 11, 2008 on the Julianne Argyros Stage. Low-priced previews are available from April 20 through April 24. Opening night is April 25. Press night is Saturday, April 26 at 7:45 p.m. Tickets to The Injured Party may be purchased online at www.scr.org, by phone at (714) 708-5555 or in person at the SCR box office

he American Theatre Wing and XM Satellite Radio proudly present an interview with playwright David Ives, on their weekly theatrical interview show, 'Downstage Center,' on XM's On Broadway (XM Channel 28).

Manhattan Theatre Club (Lynne Meadow, Artistic Director; Barry Grove, Executive Producer; Daniel Sullivan, Acting Artistic Director 2007-2008 Season) is pleased to announce the lineup for this spring's Ernst C. Stiefel '7@7' Reading Series, formerly known as '6@6.'

Hourglass Group (Trouble in Paradise, Beebo Brinker) and 45 Bleecker present BabyLove, written and performed by Christen Clifford, directed by Julie Kramer.

New Repertory Theatre announces the extension of My Name is Rachel Corrie. My Name is Rachel Corrie and Pieces, two solo plays, each about a young woman whose coming of age took place within the context of the Israeli/Palestinian situation run in rotating repertory until March 30, 2008. My Name is Rachel Corrie will extend until April 5, 2008. Both shows play at the Arsenal Center for the Arts in Watertown.

The American Theatre Wing and XM Satellite Radio present an interview with actor Michael Cumpsty, on their weekly theatrical interview show, 'Downstage Center,' on XM's On Broadway (XM Channel 28).

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Jessica R. Jenen, will present the return of its popular First Look Festival - a program of one-night only staged readings of rarely seen classics, performed by notable actors.

The award-winning actor currently costars in 'Hunting and Gathering', the second of three plays he's in this season.

The Public Theater announced that Barry Edelstein will be the Director of The Public Theater Shakespeare Lab. The Public is now accepting applications for the 2008 Shakespeare Lab, a twelve-week acting intensive scheduled to take place June 2 through August 25, 2008. The application deadline is Friday, March 21.

South Coast Repertory's third NewSCRipts reading of the 2007-08 season will be Zayd Dohrn's Reborning. Reborning is the 104th play to receive a staged reading as part of SCR's venerable play reading program. The NewSCRipts reading of Reborning will take place on February 25 at 7:30 p.m. on the Julianne Argyros Stage. Tickets are $12 each and may be purchased online at www.scr.org or by phone at (714) 708-5555 or in person at the SCR box office.

The American Theatre Wing and XM Satellite Radio proudly present an interview with Tony Award winning actor, Richard Easton, on their weekly theatrical interview show, 'Downstage Center,' on XM's On Broadway (XM Channel 28). Easton will appear as the special guest on Friday, February 1 at 6 p.m. The show will repeat on Saturday February 2 at noon, Sunday, February 3 at 7 p.m., and Wednesday, February 6 at midnight. The program becomes available as streaming audio and podcast from www.americantheatrewing.org beginning Monday afternoon, February 4.

Wide critical acclaim and brisk ticket sales have prompted Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Jessica R. Jenen, by special arrangement with Bob Boyett, to extend the run of David Ives' New Jerusalem, directed by Tony Award-winner Walter Bobbie, by an additional week through Sunday, February 10 at CSC (136 East 13th Street).