Dramatists Guild News

Bill Nabel; a veteran actor of eight Broadway shows with 30 plus years on Broadway with over 9400 performances, a member of the original casts of '42nd Street' and 'Beauty and the Beast' - the latter of which he was the only cast member to do the entire 13 year run; has switched hats and will now see two of his many works mounted within weeks of each other. Utah Shakespeare Festival will present the World Premiere of Mr. Nabel's new play LYING TO SPIELBERG at the Auditorium Theatre (351 West Center Street) in Cedar City, Utah on August 11, 12 and 31. And the Village Theatre will present the West Coast Premiere of TAKE ME AMERICA, a new musical with book and lyrics by Mr. Nabel and music by Bob Christianson from September 14 through November 20 at the Village Theatre of Issaquah, WA and the Village Theatre of Everett, WA.

Bailiwick Chicago's upcoming production of the award-winning off-Broadway hit 'Violet,' a powerful and heartwarming story of a vulnerable young woman's challenges, loves and emotional journey, will now be staged September 16 - October 16 at the Mercury Theater, 3745 North Southport Avenue. With a score by Jeanine Tesori ('Caroline or Change' 'Thoroughly Modern Millie') and book and lyrics by Brian Crawley, 'Violet' is directed by Bailiwick Artistic Advisor Elizabeth Margolius. The press night is Tuesday, Sept. 20 at 7:30 p.m.

The John W. Engeman Theater's production of Hairspray will close on August 28, 2011.

Mind The Gap Theatre and Early Bird Theatricals will present Jessica Fleitman's award winning comedy The Average-Sized Mermaid in August 2011 at The New York International Fringe Festival. The production will be directed by Mind The Gap's Artistic Director, Paula D'Alessandris (Under The Blue Sky at The Kraine; The Cleric at 59E59).

Parade Productions, a brand new theatrical company based in Boca Raton, has scored an impressive coup their first time out of the gate: Acclaimed South Florida actor Avi Hoffman will star in the company's premiere production - Donald Margulies' Brooklyn Boy.

Partial Comfort Productions follows up its 3-time Drama Desk Award nominated and Obie Award-winning production of Samuel D. Hunter's A Bright New Boise with the World Premiere of Chad Beckim's AFTER. (formerly titled A Good Ending). Stephen Brackett directs.

The Attic Theater presents 'Smudge', a dark comedy about the changing face of the American family, today through September 4, 2011.

Stephen Byrd and Alia Jones have announced that the role of 'Stella' will be played by two-time Tony Nominee Daphne Rubin-Vega and the role of 'Mitch' will be played by Wood Harris, in the upcoming Broadway production of A Streetcar Named Desire directed by Emily Mann. They will join Blair Underwood as 'Stanley' and Nicole Ari Parker as 'Blanche'. This production is slated to hit the boards, Spring, 2012. Theatre is TBA.

President Marilynn Sheldon and the Board of Directors of the National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) announced today that Betsy King Militello has been appointed the new Executive Director of NAMT and will begin her duties on August 22, 2011.

On September 1st at 8pm, The Nuyorican Poets Cafe will honor Mr. John Leguizamo with a lifetime achievement award.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis, Interim Executive Director Joey Parnes) starts the 2011-2012 season with the return of NEW WORK NOW!, the popular reading series that allows audiences an opportunity to experience new work by a diverse selection of established and emerging theater artists.

Juilliard's Drama Division announces the complete schedule for its 2011-2012 season of fully-staged productions featuring students in their fourth and final year of acting training at Juilliard. This season's plays include Arthur Miller's All My Sons, directed by Harris Yulin, October 19-23; Juilliard alumnus Nathan Jackson's Broke-ology, directed by Kent Gash, November 10-14; and Noel Coward's Hay Fever, directed by Dakin Matthews, December 8-12. The Drama Division is led by James Houghton, Richard Rodgers Director of Drama.

Rachel Reiner Productions is proud to present the World Premiere of Victor L. Cahn's Dally With The Devil, directed by Eric Parness. Dally With The Devil will begin performances on Saturday, September 10 and will open on September 14 running thru October 8, 2011 at Theatre Row's Beckett Theatre (410 West 42nd Street). Tickets are $55 and can be purchased at www.Telecharge.com or by calling (212) 239-6200.

Midwest New Musicals kicks off Words and Music, its new concert reading series of original musicals beginning Monday, October 24 at 7:30 PM at the Light Opera Works Second Stage, 1420 Maple (at Lake) in Evanston. Tickets are $15 at the door.

The Theatre Alliance of Greater Philadelphia announces that Harry Dietzler, Executive and Artistic Director of Upper Darby Summer Stage, will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 17th Annual Barrymore Awards for Excellence in Theatre on Monday, October 3 at 7 p.m. at the Walnut Street Theatre. In addition, American Playwright Terrence McNally will receive the Distinguished Artist Award, a new honor recognizing theatre artists of national and international renown who choose to bring their talents to Philadelphia.

Partial Comfort Productions follows up its 3-time Drama Desk Award nominated and Obie Award-winning production of Samuel D. Hunter's A Bright New Boise with the World Premiere of Chad Beckim's AFTER. (formerly titled A Good Ending). Stephen Brackett directs.

Producers Jeffrey Finn, Jill Furman and Smuggler Films announced today that Tony Award nominee and two-time Drama Desk Award nominee Lily Rabe (The Merchant of Venice, Steel Magnolias, this summer's lauded A Doll's House at Williamstown) and Obie Award winner and Drama Desk nominee Hamish Linklater (The School for Lies, Twelfth Night, 'The New Adventures of Old Christine') have joined two-time Tony Award nominee, Emmy Award and Golden Globe winner Alan Rickman (Private Lives, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, the Harry Potter franchise) in the World Premiere of SEMINAR, a new play by Pulitzer Prize finalist and Peabody Award winner Theresa Rebeck (Mauritius, The Understudy, Omnium Gatherum, The Family of Mann, Spike Heels, NBC's upcoming 'Smash').