Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Today's big news: The Bessie Awards celebrate top dancers tonight, KILL FLOOR opens off-Broadway, and the creators/subjects of ON YOUR FEET! chat with Rita Moreno!
The Dramatists Guild of America, Inc is pleased to announce the publication of the November/December issue of The Dramatist. This issue will feature "Why The Count Matters" by Marsha Norman; "The Count" full report by Julia Jordan and Rebecca Stump; "Responses to The Count" by Rehana Lew Mirza, Mario Correa, Maxie Rockymore, Jonathan Reynolds, Velina Hasu Houston, Dana Levinson, and Steven Dietz; "Why Parity?" by Madeleine George and Lisa Kron.
Alongside their production of WICKED book writer Winnie Holzman's new play CHOICE, the Huntington Theatre Company will host a number of special events and post-show conversations.
Central Works concludes its 25th season with a commissioned new work by local playwright Lauren Gunderson, Ada and the Memory Engine, opening tonight, October 17 (previews Oct 15 & 16), and running through November 22 at the historic Berkeley City Club.
International City Theatre winds up its 30th anniversary season with an intimate portrait of musical icon Stephen Sondheim in his own words and music. DJ Gray directs and stages the Los Angeles premiere of James Lapine's award-winning Broadway hit, Sondheim on Sondheim. Previews were October 14 and 15, and opening night is tonight, October 16 at ICT's newly renovated home in the Long Beach Performing Arts Center. BroadwayWorld brings you a first look below!
Dramatists Guild Fund President Andrew Lippa and Executive Director Rachel Routh announce that actor, musician and Emmy-nominated composer, Darren Criss will host and perform at the annual gala Great Writers Thank Their Lucky Stars on October 26. Joining the previously announced line up are Tony Award winner Kristin Chenoweth honoring Stephen Schwartz and Mo Rocca honoring Laurence O'Keefe & Nell Benjamin.
The Aviva Players will begin its 40th season tonight, October 16 with 'Songs, Piano Rags & Chamber Music by Women Composers, including the Piano Trio by Fanny Mendelssohn,' the first installment of a three-part concert series at Opera America, 330 Seventh Ave. The concert will include piano rags by May Frances Aufderheide, Irene Giblin and Adeline Shepard; songs by Mira J. Spektor, and 'Vocal Duets' and 'The Piano Trio' by Fanny Mendelssohn. The evening is presented in conjunction with Downtown Music Productions.
The Huntington Theatre Company presents the world premiere of CHOICE by award-winning playwright Winnie Holzman and directed by Sheryl Kaller (Next Fall on Broadway). Performances begin tonight, October 16 and continue through November 15, 2015 at the South End / Calderwood Pavilion at the BCA.
International City Theatre winds up its 30th anniversary season with an intimate portrait of musical icon Stephen Sondheim in his own words and music. DJ Gray directs and stages the Los Angeles premiere of James Lapine's award-winning Broadway hit, Sondheim on Sondheim. Previews are set for October 14 and 15, and opening night is tonight, October 16 at ICT's newly renovated home in the Long Beach Performing Arts Center.
Sundance Institute today announced the projects and artists participating in its two Fall artist development programs: the Alumni Writers Studio at Flying Point in Water Mill, NY, which ran October 4-11, as well as the two-week Theatre Lab for musical theatre, ensemble-generated projects and solo work at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA), taking place November 8-22. Under the supervision of Artistic Director Philip Himberg and Producing Director Christopher Hibma, the initiatives are among the 24 residency Labs the Institute hosts each year for independent artists in theatre, film, new media and episodic content.
The Colony Theatre is pleased to announce that it is bringing to its mid-size Equity theatre the wildly successful, LA Times Critic's Choice production of EL GRANDE CIRCUS DE COCA-COLA by Ron House, directed by Alan Shearman and based on El Grande de Coca-Cola by Ron House, Diz White, Alan Shearman, and John Neville-Andrews.
Vampingo Productions has announced that it will present two special backers presentations of Buzz…Son Of A Bee, a new musical comedy spotlighting the actor's life - featuring a book by Andrew Johns, Lyrics by Ariana Johns and music by Darryl Curry. Both presentations will take place at the Actor's Temple Theatre (339 West 47th Street) on Monday, November 2nd at 2PM & 7PM. Tickets are free. http://www.buzzsonofabee.com
Good Theater is proud to present the world premiere of MAMA'S BOY, an exciting new play from Rob Urbinati the author of Death by Design. Broadway veteran, Betsy Aidem, plays Marguerite Oswald with Graham (The Rainmaker) Emmons as Lee Harvey Oswald, Laurel (The Rainmaker) Casillo as Marina Oswald and Erik (4000 Miles) Moody as Robert Oswald in this fascinating look at the mother and the family behind an event that changed the course of history. The show will open October 28 for a run through November 22.
BroadwayWorld has just learned that film, television, and theatre actor Geoffrey Arend (MADAM SECRETARY on CBS) will be joining previously announced Stephanie J. Block and Sebastian Arcelus in Midtown Direct Rep's staged reading of THE IMPOSSIBILITY OF NOW, a new play written by Y York and directed by Will Pomerantz. Broadway actress Marni Raab (The Phantom of the Opera) will read the stage directions.
National Alliance for Musical Theatre (Betsy King Militello, Executive Director) is thrilled to announce the cast for the SONGWRITERS SHOWCASE and the SONGWRITERS CABARET at the 27th ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF NEW MUSICALS on Thursday, October 15 and Friday, October 16. Both events take place at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street, between 8th and 9th Avenues). In person registration for industry members will be available on Thursday at 9:30 AM at New World Stages (340 West 50 Street). (Please note the admission process for each event in the individual descriptions.)
Nashville Repertory Theatre is proud to announce its Ingram New Works Playwriting Fellow for the 2015-16 season: Pulitzer Prize nominee Rebecca Gilman.
The Dramatists Guild Fund with TeCo Theatrical Productions presented A Conversation with Terrence McNally (Master Class, Corpus Christi, Ragtime, Kiss of the Spider Woman) as part of DGF's Traveling Masters Program last night, October 8 2015 7:30 PM at The Bishop Arts Theatre Center in Dallas, TX. Scroll down for photos from McNally's appearance!
InProximity Theatre Company will present the NYC premiere of PROMISING, written by Michelle Elliott and directed by Terry Berliner. PROMISING begins performances on Saturday, November 14 for a limited engagement through Saturday, December 5. Opening Night is Wednesday, November 18 at 8 PM. The performance schedule is Tuesday at 7 PM; Wednesday - Friday at 8 PM; Saturday at 2 PM & 8 PM; Sunday at 3 PM. Please note, there are added Wednesday matinee performances on November 25 and December 2 at 2 PM; there is no performance on Thanksgiving (Thursday, November 26). Performances are at the Beckett Theatre on Theatre Row (410 W 42nd Street, between 9th and Dyer). Tickets are $25 and are available by calling Telecharge at 212-239-6200 or online via telecharge.com.
The Dramatists Guild Fund with TeCo Theatrical Productions will present A Conversation with Terrence McNally (MASTER CLASS, CORPUS CHRISTI, RAGTIME, KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN) as part of DGF's Traveling Masters Program tonight, October 8 2015 7:30 PM at The Bishop Arts Theatre Center in Dallas, TX.