David Lindsay-Abaire News

Seventies R&B meets big ogres and small villains in the biggest, greenest show around

OK. I remember loud music, bright lights, cheering audiences, lots of tea and chilly ocean breezes. I'll have to get some serious sleep before I can focus on any particular details for you. Despite my best efforts to be practical, I got overexcited like I always do and jammed a little too much into this trip. The cost? Temporary memory loss and extreme exhaustion.

Below are some of the highlights of another fantastic theatrical summer season in Colorado…

Earn your blood at the tag team match of the century, with the survival of two families in the balance. The Echo Theater Company presents the world premiere of an outrageously violent, seriously dark and surprisingly funny new play about backyard wrestling. Larry Biederman directs Backyard by Mickey Birnbaum, opening tonight, May 31 at the Echo's new home, Atwater Village Theatre.

Undercover Productions LLC will present the Off-Broadway Premiere of Ethel Sings, by Joan Beber beginning performances at Theatre Row's Beckett Theatre (410 West 42nd Street, between 9th and 10th Avenues) tonight, May 31st, with Opening Night set for Friday June 6th. This limited engagement will continue through July 13th.

According to the Daily Mail, Joanne Froggatt, known for her role as DOWNTON ABBEY maid 'Anna', will star as 'Becca' in RABBIT HOLE in the West End under the direction of fellow DOWNTON actor Nigel Harmen. David Lindsay-Abaire's play will begin previews at the Vaudeville Theatre on September 11.

New York Stage and Film and Vassar College, this summer celebrating the 30th year of their Powerhouse Theater collaboration, are thrilled to reveal the first round of casting for the upcoming Powerhouse Theater Season, running from June 20 to July 27 at Vassar College (Poughkeepsie, New York).

Maryland Ensemble Theatre (MET) is proud to announce its 2014-2015 Mainstage season. MET's seventeenth mainstage season will run from September of 2014 through June of 2015 and will feature a classic Shakespeare comedy, a German masterpiece, a World Premiere original, and contemporary crowd pleasers. Season subscriptions are on sale now at a special early bird rate. MET Artistic Director Tad Janes shared his excitement about all the plays, 'This season brings such great plays to the MET! Two very exciting newer plays, Clybourne Park and Good People, both have a great sense of humor, but also have a real depth of message. The Arsonists is a very funny, bordering on absurd, comedy, and we feature two excellent timeless pieces with The Elephant Man and Twelfth Night. Next season also brings a new MET created piece, brought to us by MET Mainstage writing alumni Reiner Prochaska.'

Artistic Director and All about Theatre (AAT) announce a hilarious new production of SHREK THE MUSICAL. SHREK THE MUSICAL opens tonight, May 16, 2014 at the Louden Nelson Center Auditorium (301 Center St. Santa Cruz, CA)

Boulder's Dinner Theatre (BDT) will present Shrek the Musical, a song-and-dance- filled stage adaptation of the Oscar-winning DreamWorks animated film series. Shrek the Musical brings the hilarious story of everyone's favorite ogre to life all summer long - playing May 17 through September 6, 2014 as part of BDT's Main Stage theatrical season.

The Village Voice, the nation's largest alternative weekly newspaper, announced today that the Lifetime Achievement Award Obie will go to the esteemed ESTELLE PARSONS. The OBIE Awards Ceremony Will Be Co-hosted by Tamara Tunie and Hamish Linklater, and presented by Betsy Aidem, Harvey Fierstein, Lena Hall, LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Andy Karl , David Bar Katz, Cristin Milioti , Kelli O'Hara , Lily Rabe and Stephen Trask.

Profiles Theatre announces the final extension for the Midwest premiere of Cock by Mike Bartlett, directed by Artistic Director Darrell W. Cox. The production opened February 20, 2014 and will extend for the second time through June 29, 2014. Cast members Torrey Hanson, Eleni Pappageorge, Jake Szczepaniak continue their roles with Nik Kourtis joining the cast. Performances are held at The Main Stage, 4139 N. Broadway.

New York Stage and Film and Vassar College, this summer celebrating thirty years of their Powerhouse Theater collaboration, have announced the Play Readings Festival lineups that will bookend their upcoming 30th Powerhouse Theater Season, running from June 20 - July 27 at Vassar College (Poughkeepsie, New York).

Artistic Director and All about Theatre (AAT) announce a hilarious new production of SHREK THE MUSICAL. SHREK THE MUSICAL opens on Friday, May 17, 2014 at the Louden Nelson Center Auditorium (301 Center St. Santa Cruz, CA)

Phoenix Theatre presents Kimberly Akimbo, by David Lindsay-Abaire and directed by Eric Lewis, May 30 thru June 22. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00pm and Sundays at 2:00pm.

Alley Theatre Artistic Director Gregory Boyd announces the cast and creative team for Pulitzer Prize winner David Lindsay-Abaire's Good People. Nominated for a Tony Award for Best Play, the cast of Good People includes Alley Theatre Resident Actors Elizabeth Bunch as Margaret, Chris Hutchison as Mike and Melissa Pritchett as Jean. Rounding out the cast are Dylan Godwin, returning to the Alley as Stevie after appearing in the world premiere of Ether Dome; Jennifer Harmon as Dottie, having previously appeared in August: Osage County; and Krystel Lucas making her Alley debut as Kate. Alley Theatre Associate Director James Black directs this production.

The TONY Award-winning score of PARADE will be brought to life for one night only at Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center, February 16, 2015. Recent TONY-nominee Jason Robert Brown will be at the helm to conduct a star-studded cast and full chorus as Music Director.

Expect the unexpected.

Undercover Productions LLC will present the Off-Broadway Premiere of Ethel Sings, by Joan Beber beginning performances at Theatre Row's Beckett Theatre (410 West 42nd Street, between 9th and 10th Avenues) on May 31st, with Opening Night set for Friday June 6th. This limited engagement will continue through July 13th.

WaterTower Theatre today announced the cast for David Lindsay-Abaire's Good People, running June 6 - June 29, 2014 at the Addison Theatre Centre. The ensemble cast stars Jessica Cavanagh as Margaret, Jim Crawford as Mike, Michelle Courtney Schwartz as Jean, Pam Dougherty as Dottie, JuNene K. as Kate and David Price as Stevie.