David Young News

The Wilde Awards 2014 Ceremony will be taking place September 22nd and hosted by EncoreMichigan.com.

As one of the largest theatrical events in the world, The New York International Fringe Festival boasts an impressive roster of world premieres yearly. Of them, Los Angeles native Joshua Metzger's new play Sitting Shiva will see its first three dimensional presentation this August. Christopher Scott will direct the 90 minute play. The Broadway and Regional vet cast includes Eddie Boroevich*, Neal Mayer*, and Jeffery Plunkett*. The Production Stage Manager is Katy Moore*, and the production will be designed by Joan Racho-Jansen. *Appearing courtesy of Actors' Equity Association. Sitting Shiva is an AEA-approved showcase.

This July Horse Trade Theater Group will bring back the acclaimed work of their play development group, The Drafts, staging 8 play readings in 4 weeks! Each Today, the first 25 pages of two new plays will be read for an audience, who will vote for their favorite of the night. The two plays that accumulate the most votes at the end of the Summer run, will have a chance to be read in full and compete against each other in August. The winning script will be produced by Horse Trade as part of their 2015 season.

This July Horse Trade Theater Group will bring back the acclaimed work of their play development group, The Drafts, staging 8 play readings in 4 weeks! Each Tuesday, the first 25 pages of two new plays will be read for an audience, who will vote for their favorite of the night. The two plays that accumulate the most votes at the end of the Summer run, will have a chance to be read in full and compete against each other in August. The winning script will be produced by Horse Trade as part of their 2015 season.

The Purple Rose Theatre Company presents the final production of the 2013 / 2014 season, The Last Romance by Joe DiPietro. A crush can make anyone feel young again - even a widower named Ralph. On an ordinary day in a routine life, Ralph decides to take a different path on his daily walk - one that leads him to an unexpected second chance at love. Despite the misgivings of family and the initial reluctance of Carol, the object of his affections, Ralph embarks on the trip of a lifetime and regains a happiness that seemed all but lost. The Last Romance is a heart-warming comedy about the transformative power of love.

This July Horse Trade Theater Group will bring back the acclaimed work of their play development group, The Drafts, staging 8 play readings in 4 weeks! Each Tuesday, the first 25 pages of two new plays will be read for an audience, who will vote for their favorite of the night. The two plays that accumulate the most votes at the end of the Summer run, will have a chance to be read in full and compete against each other in August. The winning script will be produced by Horse Trade as part of their 2015 season. Come see new original works and help give an artist the opportunity to break through!

The Purple Rose Theatre Company presents the final production of the 2013 / 2014 season, The Last Romance by Joe DiPietro. A crush can make anyone feel young again - even a widower named Ralph. On an ordinary day in a routine life, Ralph decides to take a different path on his daily walk - one that leads him to an unexpected second chance at love. Despite the misgivings of family and the initial reluctance of Carol, the object of his affections, Ralph embarks on the trip of a lifetime and regains a happiness that seemed all but lost. The Last Romance is a heart-warming comedy about the transformative power of love.

A show that can continue to run for over 10 years worldwide despite wars, financial crises, and political unrest can be nothing other than a smash hit. There are few shows that can sustain such longevity and remain as remarkably fresh and true to its original product. The return Australian season of Stephen Schwartz's defining musical Wicked proves that this show will remain one of the greatest musicals of our lifetime. For while last night's opening in Melbourne felt very long there was always a single moment to remind us that we were watching a truly spectacular show, performed by an even more spectacular cast. It dragged in parts and flew in others. It was a rollercoaster of extreme highs and periods of flatness. Wicked's biggest strength, it's score, is also its greatest weakness in that dialogue seems so slow seemingly trudging to the next musical highlight. The magic of the score outweighs these mundane moments so overwhelmingly though that it is easily forgiven. It's hard to think of a greater end to Act I in any other musical than Defying Gravity, a more narratively driving opening than No One Mourns The Wicked or a more powerful dramatic moment in No Good Deed.

In a production commissioned by the Finborough Theatre, and another in its acclaimed series introducing Canada's finest playwrights to the UK, the European premiere of Daniel Macdonald's Velocity opens at the Finborough Theatre for a limited run of nine Sunday and Monday evening and Tuesday matinee performances from Sunday, 27 April 2014.

It was an all-consuming rebirth in color as cascades of lush and textured emerald lights sprung to life in an intense surge from the heart of the stage, as a map of Oz, especially rigged as a stage curtain for the Cultural Center of the Philippines' (CCP) Main Theater, raised to unravel a fantastic tale: One told in the Philippine premiere of the blockbuster megamusical WICKED.

A Finborough Theatre commission, and another in its series premiering the work of Canada's most acclaimed playwrights, the UK debut of award-winning Canadian playwright Matthew Edison - The Domino Heart, starring Amanda Hale - nominated for two Evening Standard Awards for Outstanding Newcomer and Best Actress, plays a limited run of nine Sunday and Monday evening and Tuesday matinee performances from 2 February 2014 (Press Night: Monday, 3 February 2014 at 7.30pm ).

Albert Schultz, Founding Artistic Director of Soulpepper Theatre Company, today announced Soulpepper's 2014 season (Jan. - Sept., 2014), including eight new plays, three Soulpepper favourites and three partner presentations.

The Martin E. Segal Theatre Center at the CUNY Graduate Center has announced its Fall 2013 season of public programs. Following the 10th anniversary of the Center's wildly successful PRELUDE Festival (attended by over 2,500 audience members), the season continues with 14 free public programs throughout the Fall, featuring contemporary theatre and performing artists from around the world.

The Film Society of Lincoln Center announced today the complete lineup for the 17th edition of Views from the Avant-Garde (VIEWS), taking place from October 3-7

With the coming of hit Broadway musical “Wicked” to Manila, James Cundall, CEO of Lunchbox Theatrical Productions Limited, one of the lead producers, is aware that not everybody is pleased with it. Without going into details, the producer points out that local theater companies are doing great in their own right; these negative reactions are unnecessary because there is room for both local and foreign shows. In as much as “Wicked” Manila would like to employ local talents, the touring company may only have administrative job openings for Filipinos--due to the show's limited run.

James Cundall, CEO of Lunchbox Theatrical Productions Limited, one of the lead producers of the highly-anticipated Manila premiere of Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman's smash hit musical 'Wicked: The Untold Stories of the Witches of Oz,' introduced to the members of the press yesterday Australian theater actresses Jemma Rix and Suzie Mathers, who will play Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, and Glinda, the Good Witch, respectively.

TicketWorld, the Philippines' leading ticket booking agent, has just released a teaser trailer, featuring an animated green witch hovering above Manila's famous landmarks, for the highly-anticipated Manila premiere of Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman's smash hit musical 'Wicked: The Untold Story of the Witches of Oz.'

James Cundall, CEO of Lunchbox Theatrical Productions Limited, one of the lead producers of the highly-anticipated Manila premiere of Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman's smash hit musical 'Wicked: The Untold Stories of the Witches of Oz,' introduced to the members of the press earlier today Australian theater actresses Jemma Rix and Suzie Mathers, who will play Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, and Glinda, the Good Witch, respectively.

The Purple Rose Theatre Company is proud to announce the 2013 / 2014 Season, which will feature a revival of a classic PRTC premiere, two plays by award-winning playwrights, and a world premiere comedy festival. The theatre company's 23rd professional season will include: The Vast Difference by Jeff Daniels, Redwood Curtain by Lanford Wilson, The Purple Rose Spring Comedy Festival: Lovers, Liars & Lunatics by various playwrights and The Last Romance by Joe DiPietro.

Starting June 6th WorkShop Theater Company presents the World Premiere of Daniel Damiano's The Golden Year. Kathy Gail MacGowan directs. The cast features Ellen Barry*(McCarter Theatre, Syracuse Stage, BoarsHead Theatre: "Best Leading Actress", Wit), Gerry Goodstein* (Interchange, "Law and Order") and Joseph Franchini* (2012 Drama Desk nominee: Best Actor, The Navigator). (*Member of Actors Equity)