Diane Rodriguez News

Yesterday, November 10, 2014, Theatre Communications Group (TCG) celebrated its annual gala. This year the organization honored Jules Fisher, Lynn Nottage, and the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation at 583 Park Avenue in New York City. The performances included previews of two productions from TCG Member Theatres: A Walk on the Moon (New York Stage and Film) and Immediate Family (About Face Theatre, Center Theatre Group, and the Goodman Theatre). Scroll down for photos from the event!

Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for theatre, welcomes new officers and nine new members to its board of directors. Sarah Bellamy, co-artistic director of Penumbra Theatre Company, and Kevin Moriarty, artistic director of Dallas Theater Center, succeed Robert Hupp and Lydia R. Diamond as joint vice presidents. Jonathan Moscone, artistic director of California Shakespeare Theater, succeeds Ralph Bryan as secretary. Diane Rodriguez, associate artistic director of Center Theatre Group, and Tim Jennings, managing director of Children's Theatre Company, remain as president and treasurer, respectively.

The Kirk Douglas Theatre was originally an historic 1940s Streamlined Moderne-style movie house called the Culver Theater, and it is believed that Kirk Douglas' movie "Spartacus" played there in the early 1960s. In 2003 it was transformed into an intimate 317-seat live theatre venue and named for the theatre's initial major donor: Kirk Douglas. On Tuesday, October 14, 2014, CTG's Kirk Douglas Theatre celebrated its 10th birthday with Anne and Kirk Douglas in attendance.

Center Theatre Group Artistic Director Michael Ritchie recently gathered with CTG Founding Artistic Director Gordon Davidson, Kirk Douglas, Anne Douglas and more to celebrate the Kirk Douglas Theatre's 10th birthday in Culver City. Scroll down for photos!

Atlantic Theater Company will present LATINO MIXFEST, a series of free readings that will run Thursday, June 12 - Friday, June 27 at Atlantic Stage 2 (330 West 16th Street).

Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for theatre and home of the U.S. Center of the International Theatre Institute (ITI-US), has released Brett Bailey and Diane Rodriguez's World Theatre Day 2014 messages. Each year, a renowned theatre artist of world stature is invited by ITI Worldwide in Paris to craft the International Message, which is then translated into more than 20 languages to mark the global occasion. This year, TCG has renewed their tradition of asking a noted U.S. artist to also reflect on the themes of World Theatre Day.

Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for theatre, announces new leadership of its board of directors and three new members. Diane Rodriguez, associate producer/director of new play production at Center Theatre Group, succeeds Phillip Himberg, producing artistic director of the Sundance Institute Theatre Program, as board president. Robert Hupp, producing artistic director of Arkansas Repertory Theatre, joins playwright Lydia. R. Diamond as joint vice presidents. Tim Jennings, managing director of Children's Theatre Company, succeeds Roche Schulfer, executive director of Goodman Theatre, as treasurer. Ralph Bryan, managing director-investments of Wells Fargo Advisors, remains as secretary.

BARBIE LIVE!, the musical, follows the story of Barbie (Chelsea Rae Bernier) and her best friend Teresa (Kristina Miller) who are both starring in their new Hollywood movie. But when Teresa becomes uncertain of accepting the role assigned to her--doubting her talent--Barbie comes to the rescue. Barbie then starts to tell stories of the 'Swan Lake,' 'Mariposa' and 'Princess and the Popstar' to teach Teresa to be confident and believe in herself. Teresa eventually accepts the role as Barbie's co-star.

When famous Mattel Inc. dolls Barbie and Ken rekindled their romance on Valentine's Day in 2011-- after their much publicized separation in 2004--throngs of people packed Times Square to witness the ex-couple's reunion, acted out by real-life Barbie and Ken dolls. So it is no surprise that a stage musical, featuring real-life Barbie and Ken dolls, and their friends, was in the offing.

Emmy award-winning director/writer Larry Charles (Borat, Religulous, Bruno, Seinfeld) and his son Francesco DeSantis join forces for the first time to pen the world premiere of 'Treason or Reason'. 'Treason or Reason' is part of HERO Theatre's Classic Film Project, world premiere scenes inspired by classic films performed live on a historical soundstage today, September 7th, 2013 in Los Angeles for two shows only.

Emmy award-winning director/writer Larry Charles (Borat, Religulous, Bruno, Seinfeld) and his son Francesco DeSantis join forces for the first time to pen the world premiere of 'Treason or Reason'. 'Treason or Reason' is part of HERO Theatre's Classic Film Project, world premiere scenes inspired by classic films performed live on a historical soundstage on September 7th, 2013 in Los Angeles for two shows only.

On September 7, 2013 for two benefit performances, HERO Theatre presents "The Classic Film Project." "The Classic Film Project" consists of scenes inspired by classic films. They will be presented live and written by Quiara Alegria Hudes (Pulitzer winning "Water By the Spoonful" and "In the Heights"), film/TV director and writer Larry Charles (Borat, Bruno, Curb Your Enthusiasm), Colman Domingo (Public Theater's "Wild With Happy"), Susan Blackburn Award-Winner Jennifer Haley, Luis Alfaro, Ricardo A. Bracho, Juri Henley-Cohn, Francesco DeSantis, Tamar Halpern, Danny Hoch, Carmen Rivera, Ethan Sandler, Candido Tirado and Annie Weisman. Directors include Michael-John Garces, Yetta Gottesman, Diane Rodriguez and Tina Sanchez. The scenes will be performed by members of HERO Theatre's acting ensemble alongside special guest artists.

Center Theatre Group (CTG) has been awarded a four-year, $1 million grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. The grant will make possible a program focusing on collaboratively created contemporary work from ensembles, devisers and writers, supporting the creative arc from commissioning through development and production; the program will build on the work generated by a multi-year 2009 Mellon Foundation grant supporting the development of non-text based work.

The internationally acclaimed drama Neva by Chilean writer Guillermo Calderon wraps up the Studio SCR series at South Coast Repertory this month, with a six-performance run, June 19-23. Tickets are $25-35. More information is available online: www.scr.org.

On Monday, May 13 Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for Theatre honored Ruth and Stephen Hendel and Ming Cho Lee at their Gala Evening. The evening was held at the Angel Orensanz Foundation (172 Norfolk Street) in New York City, cocktails started at 6pm and dinner started at 7pm. Jessica Hecht was the emcee of the evening; the Gala co-chairs were playwright Lydia R. Diamond and interior designer Jasmine M. Keller. The Gala honorary chairs were Anne Kaufman, Obie award-winning director; Nelle Nugent, Broadway producer; Judith O. Rubin, chairman of the board of Playwrights Horizons; and Liz Smith, gossip columnist. The event hosted 200 guests and surpassed its financial goal. Scroll down for photos from the gala!

Join Teatro Luna for a staged reading of You, Me & Tuno by Milta Ortiz, winner of the 2013 Diane Rodriguez Award for the Advancement of Latina Voices in Theatre. The reading will be directed by Jacob Padron and roduced by Alexandra Meda* today, May 11, 2013 at 2pm at Stage773, 1225 W. Belmont, Chicago, IL.

Join Teatro Luna for a staged reading of You, Me & Tuno by Milta Ortiz, winner of the 2013 Diane Rodriguez Award for the Advancement of Latina Voices in Theatre. The reading will be directed by Jacob Padron and roduced by Alexandra Meda* on Saturday, May 11, 2013 at 2pm at Stage773, 1225 W. Belmont, Chicago, IL.

After a year of programming at Luna Central, formerly Live Bait Theater, Teatro Luna has officially transitioned out of the Clark Street storefront space and the ladies are lacing up their character shoes in preparation for a year of touring and new work development and presenation. As they say goodbye to Luna Central, they say hello to Stage 773 as the season continues with a groundbreaking first-ever mainstage play written by a male-identified playwright, Your Problem With Men by Emilio Williams opening tonight, March 22, 2013 in rep with Chicago Theatre Sweatshops inaugural production, Tables & Beds - also by Williams.

After a year of programming at Luna Central, formerly Live Bait Theater, Teatro Luna has officially transitioned out of the Clark Street storefront space and the ladies are lacing up their character shoes in preparation for a year of touring and new work development and presenation. As they say goodbye to Luna Central, they say hello to Stage 773 as the season continues with a groundbreaking first-ever mainstage play written by a male-identified playwright, Your Problem With Men by Emilio Williams opening March 22, 2013 in rep with Chicago Theatre Sweatshops inaugural production, Tables & Beds - also by Williams.