Ellen McLaughlin News

Motherhood Out Loud, a new American play, conceived by Susan R. Rose and Joan Stein, produced by Ms. Rose, Ms. Stein, Renee Landegger and Judith Resnick, directed by Lisa Peterson, and written by more than 15 writers, will have a special work-in-progress, 3-performance engagement as part of Bay Street Theatre's 2009 'Bay Street at the Parrish' season. Motherhood Out Loud plays July 30 - August 1 at the Parrish Art Museum in Southampton, NY.

Playwrights Horizons, under the leadership of Artistic Director Tim Sanford and Managing Director Leslie Marcus, is proud to announce four World Premieres for its 2009/2010 Season. Presented at the theater company's home at 416 West 42nd Street.

The Humana Festival of New American Plays, Actors Theatre of Louisville's main venue for producing new work, is an annual event held in February and March.

Ripe Time has announced that it will present the world premiere of Fire Throws, written and directed by Rachel Dickstein, based on Sophocles's Antigone, beginning Wednesday, February 18, at 8pm at 3LD Art & Technology Center, 80 Greenwich Street at Rector Street. Opening night is set for Sunday, February 22 at 8pm. In Fire Throws a contemporary Antigone challenges her past, re-examining her own story of sacrifice through the kaleidoscopic frenzy of a fever dream. Through video projection, live music, and dance-inspired staging, Fire Throws explodes the classic text into a cutting-edge meditation on desire, drive, and what is at stake in breaking the rules. Fire Throws features two Antigones: the one we know from the original story and the 2400-year-old symbol she has become, looking back on her story and searching for the person inside the icon. Antigone's brazen defense of the sanctity of burial takes a new relevance when staged blocks away from ground zero; and Creon's misguided use and abuse of power is a cautionary tale in a world of divisive politics. Ripe Time uses its signature physical and visual story-telling style to re-invigorate a great classic with a contemporary and relevant energy.

Winner of the 1967 Pulitzer Prize, Edward Albee's A Delicate Balance comes to Arena Stage in a contemporary and provocative new staging under the direction of experienced Albee collaborator Pam MacKinnon. Featuring Broadway stars Kathleen Chalfant (Wit, Angels in America), Terry Beaver (Henry IV, The Last Night of Ballyhoo), Ellen McLaughlin (Angels in America) and Carla Harting (Eurydice),joined by Helen Hedman and James Slaughter, A Delicate Balance runs February 6-March 15, 2009 at Arena Stage in Crystal City. The press opening performance is Thursday, February 12, 2009 at 8:00 p.m. 'Albee is fearless about writing stories that get us in the solar plexus, and he does so with his brilliant wit, dynamic storytelling and rigorous use of language,' shares Artistic Director Molly Smith. 'His work draws the best artists, and with this production audiences are fortunate to have an enormously strong cast and creative team-approved by Albee himself.' A frequent director of Albee plays, MacKinnon has directed The Play About the Baby, the world premieres of Peter and Jerry: Homelife and The Zoo Story (now titled At Home at the Zoo) and Occupant, as well as the U.S. regional and European premieres of The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia?

The previously announced Kathleen Chalfant (Obie Award-winner for Wit) and Ellen McLaughlin (original Angel in Broadway's Angels in America) will be joined by Terry Beaver, Carla Harting, Helen Hedman and James Slaughter for the upcoming production of Edward Albee's provocative drama A Delicate Balance. Directed by Pam MacKinnon, A Delicate Balance will officially open February 12, 2009 at 8:00 p.m. at Arena Stage in Crystal City. The show will run February 6 through March 15, 2009. Full release to follow at a later date.

Primary Stages (Casey Childs, Executive Producer; Andrew Leynse, Artistic Director; Elliot Fox, Managing Director) has announced complete casting for the New York premiere of Shipwrecked!

Winner of the 1967 Pulitzer Prize, Edward Albee's A Delicate Balance comes to Arena Stage in a contemporary and provocative new staging under the direction of experienced Albee collaborator Pam MacKinnon. Featuring Broadway stars Kathleen Chalfant (Wit, Angels in America), Terry Beaver (Henry IV, The Last Night of Ballyhoo), Ellen McLaughlin (Angels in America) and Carla Harting (Eurydice),joined by Helen Hedman and James Slaughter, A Delicate Balance runs February 6-March 15, 2009 at Arena Stage in Crystal City. The press opening performance is Thursday, February 12, 2009 at 8:00 p.m. 'Albee is fearless about writing stories that get us in the solar plexus, and he does so with his brilliant wit, dynamic storytelling and rigorous use of language,' shares Artistic Director Molly Smith. 'His work draws the best artists, and with this production audiences are fortunate to have an enormously strong cast and creative team-approved by Albee himself.' A frequent director of Albee plays, MacKinnon has directed The Play About the Baby, the world premieres of Peter and Jerry: Homelife and The Zoo Story (now titled At Home at the Zoo) and Occupant, as well as the U.S. regional and European premieres of The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia?

Ripe Time has announced that it will present the world premiere of Fire Throws, written and directed by Rachel Dickstein, based on Sophocles's Antigone, beginning Wednesday, February 18, at 8pm at 3LD Art & Technology Center, 80 Greenwich Street at Rector Street. Opening night is set for Sunday, February 22 at 8pm. In Fire Throws a contemporary Antigone challenges her past, re-examining her own story of sacrifice through the kaleidoscopic frenzy of a fever dream. Through video projection, live music, and dance-inspired staging, Fire Throws explodes the classic text into a cutting-edge meditation on desire, drive, and what is at stake in breaking the rules. Fire Throws features two Antigones: the one we know from the original story and the 2400-year-old symbol she has become, looking back on her story and searching for the person inside the icon. Antigone's brazen defense of the sanctity of burial takes a new relevance when staged blocks away from ground zero; and Creon's misguided use and abuse of power is a cautionary tale in a world of divisive politics. Ripe Time uses its signature physical and visual story-telling style to re-invigorate a great classic with a contemporary and relevant energy.

MCC THEATER (Robert LuPone, Bernard Telsey, Artistic Directors; William Cantler, Associate Artistic Director; Blake West, Executive Director) today announced that Jennifer Van Dyck, Scott Parkinson, Sarah Rafferty and Jonathan Walker will complete the cast for their production of Charles Busch's The Third Story, directed by Carl Andress. As previously announced Kathleen Turner and Mr. Busch will appear as dueling divas.

MCC THEATER (Robert LuPone, Bernard Telsey, Artistic Directors; William Cantler, Associate Artistic Director; Blake West, Executive Director) today announced that Jennifer Van Dyck, Scott Parkinson, Sarah Rafferty and Jonathan Walker will complete the cast for their production of Charles Busch's The Third Story, directed by Carl Andress. As previously announced Kathleen Turner and Mr. Busch will appear as dueling divas.

Primary Stages (Casey Childs, Executive Producer; Andrew Leynse, Artistic Director; Elliot Fox, Managing Director) has announced complete casting for the New York premiere of Shipwrecked!

The previously announced Kathleen Chalfant (Obie Award-winner for Wit) and Ellen McLaughlin (original Angel in Broadway's Angels in America) will be joined by Terry Beaver, Carla Harting, Helen Hedman and James Slaughter for the upcoming production of Edward Albee's provocative drama A Delicate Balance. Directed by Pam MacKinnon, A Delicate Balance will officially open February 12, 2009 at 8:00 p.m. at Arena Stage in Crystal City. The show will run February 6 through March 15, 2009. Full release to follow at a later date.

The Humana Festival of New American Plays, Actors Theatre of Louisville's main venue for producing new work, is an annual event held in February and March.

Ripe Time and New Dramatists will present "Shape Shifting: Antigone In Action," an evening of new work created in response to what makes Antigone necessary today. The event is on Monday, November 10 at 7 pm at New Dramatists. Admission is free.

Aurora Theatre Company continues its American trilogy with THE DEVIL'S DISCIPLE from the master of English wit George Bernard Shaw.

Tracy Letts' AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY, winner of the 2008 Tony, Pulitzer Prize, Drama Desk, New York Drama Critics Circle, and Outer Critics Circle Awards for Best Play, is proud to welcome Tony Award-nominee Johanna Day, in the role of 'Barbara Fordham,' and Michael Milligan, in the role of 'Little Charles' to the Broadway company tonight Tuesday, October 14th.

Tracy Letts' AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY, winner of the 2008 Tony, Pulitzer Prize, Drama Desk, New York Drama Critics Circle, and Outer Critics Circle Awards for Best Play, is proud to welcome Tony Award-nominee Johanna Day, in the role of 'Barbara Fordham,' and Michael Milligan, in the role of 'Little Charles' to the Broadway company on Tuesday, October 14th.

Actress and playwright ELLEN MCLAUGHLIN, best known for originating the role of the Angel in Tony Kushner's 'ANGELS IN AMERICA', appearing in every U.S. production from its earliest workshops through its Broadway run, will present a workshop presentation of her new play 'PENELOPE' at NYU this fall. 'PENELOPE' is a music-theater piece featuring Ms. Mc Laughlin and a string quartet with original music by Sarah Kirkland Snider. It will be presented at NYU Gallatin School's new Labowitz theatre, 715 Broadway, on October 29, 20, 31 and November 1st at 7 PM with a 2 PM matinee on November 1.

Aurora Theatre Company continues its American trilogy with THE DEVIL'S DISCIPLE from the master of English wit George Bernard Shaw.