Ellen Stewart News

Last weekend in New York, Weston Playhouse Producing Artistic Director Steve Stettler accepted the 2015 Rosetta LeNoire Award from the Actors' Equity Association. The award, named after noted actor and producer Rosetta LeNoire, is given in recognition of outstanding artistic contributions that highlight the universality of the human spirit through diversity in casting and programming, and for commitment to cultivating new works by writers of all ages and cultural backgrounds.

New Brew Performs Select Scenes From: The Curse of the Rat King: Trav S.D. (libretto) and David Mallamud (music) have been collaborating on this campy comic opera since 2010. It is a post-modern mash-up of Universal horror films, The Pied Piper of Hamelin, the operas of Gilbert and Sullivan, the writings of Sigmund Freud, and numerous other elements. On the bill with him will be selections from Three Way, by David Cote (libretto) and Robert Paterson (music), which has been described as “a kind of NC-17 Il trittico”, and two works with lyrics by UTC#61's Edward Einhorn: The Velvet Oratorio (music by Henry Akona) and Money Lab (music by Avner Finberg).

Aurora Theatre Company continues its 23rd season with TALLEY'S FOLLY. In a season dedicated to his memory, the company pays homage to one of the most prolific and revered American playwrights of the 20th century, Lanford Wilson, with 'The Talley Trilogy,' of which TALLEY'S FOLLEY is the first entry in the series of three interrelated plays.

Witness Relocation presents Charles Mee's Daily Life Everlasting, directed and choreographed by Dan Safer, at La MaMa's Ellen Stewart Theatre tonight, April 2, through April 19, 2015.

In Jim Neu's musical 'The Floatones,' four rather strange characters meet at their encounter group and decide the best way to get better is through show business. They form a vocal quartet on the cutting edge of a new fusion between entertainment and self-help. Their night club act shares their group insights in speech and song, interweaving their individual stories, creating a post-Chorus Line. 'The Floatones' debuted in 1995 and will be revived by La MaMa E.T.C. on the play's 20th anniversary, March 1 to 10, 2015 co-directed by Catherine Galasso and Keith McDermott. It is the first production of a Jim Neu play since his death in 2010.

In Jim Neu's musical 'The Floatones,' four rather strange characters meet at their encounter group and decide the best way to get better is through show business. They form a vocal quartet on the cutting edge of a new fusion between entertainment and self-help. Their night club act shares their group insights in speech and song, interweaving their individual stories, creating a post-Chorus Line. 'The Floatones' debuted in 1995 and will be revived by La MaMa E.T.C. on the play's 20th anniversary, March 1 to 10, 2015 co-directed by Catherine Galasso and Keith McDermott. It is the first production of a Jim Neu play since his death in 2010.

New Brew Performs Select Scenes From: The Curse of the Rat King: Trav S.D. (libretto) and David Mallamud (music) have been collaborating on this campy comic opera since 2010. It is a post-modern mash-up of Universal horror films, The Pied Piper of Hamelin, the operas of Gilbert and Sullivan, the writings of Sigmund Freud, and numerous other elements. On the bill with him will be selections from Three Way, by David Cote (libretto) and Robert Paterson (music), which has been described as “a kind of NC-17 Il trittico”, and two works with lyrics by UTC#61's Edward Einhorn: The Velvet Oratorio (music by Henry Akona) and Money Lab (music by Avner Finberg).

The New Zealand based theatrical company, Playground NZ, under the Artistic Direction of Sam Trubridge, has announced that it will be staging NEW ZEALAND NEW PERFORMANCE FESTIVAL, a ten day showcase of contemporary performance featuring nine different works belonging to award winning and internationally respected artists from New Zealand from dance to standup comedy and physical theatre to installation today, March 12th - March 29th at one of New York City's most exciting venues, LaMaMa.

Elia Schneider, formerly of Venezuela, is known for hauntingly visual productions which transcend language with strong imagery and a dreamlike fresco of movement and design. In 'Judgment on a Gray Beach,' her newest work, themes of exile and totalitarianism are explored by a condemned man--he knows not for what--on a beach populated with ten sheepish antiheroes who agree to obey absurd laws and nonsensical orders. Will he escape or return for punishment? La MaMa E.T.C., her theatrical home in New York, will present the work's world premiere March 6 to 15 in its Ellen Stewart Theater, 66 East 4th Street.

Aurora Theatre Company continues its 23rd season with TALLEY'S FOLLY. In a season dedicated to his memory, the company pays homage to one of the most prolific and revered American playwrights of the 20th century, Lanford Wilson, with 'The Talley Trilogy,' of which TALLEY'S FOLLEY is the first entry in the series of three interrelated plays.

Lanford Wilson's 'Talley Trilogy' continues on the Aurora Theatre Company main stage with FIFTH OF JULY. Aurora Artistic Director Tom Ross (A Bright New Boise, This Is How It Goes, Edward Albee's A Delicate Balance, The Shape of Things) helms FIFTH OF JULY, featuring Craig Marker (The Shape of Things, The Persians), Elizabeth Benedict, John Girot, Jennifer Le Blanc, Oceana Ortiz, Harold Pierce, Josh Schell, and Nanci Zoppi. FIFTH OF JULY plays April 17 through May 17 at the Aurora Theatre in Berkeley. For tickets ($32-60) and information the public can call (510) 843-4822 or visit auroratheatre.org.

Elia Schneider, formerly of Venezuela, is known for hauntingly visual productions which transcend language with strong imagery and a dreamlike fresco of movement and design. In 'Judgment on a Gray Beach,' her newest work, themes of exile and totalitarianism are explored by a condemned man--he knows not for what--on a beach populated with ten sheepish antiheroes who agree to obey absurd laws and nonsensical orders. Will he escape or return for punishment? La MaMa E.T.C., her theatrical home in New York, will present the work's world premiere March 6 to 15 in its Ellen Stewart Theater, 66 East 4th Street.

The New Zealand based theatrical company, Playground NZ, under the Artistic Direction of Sam Trubridge, has announced that it will be staging NEW ZEALAND NEW PERFORMANCE FESTIVAL, a ten day showcase of contemporary performance featuring nine different works belonging to award winning and internationally respected artists from New Zealand from dance to standup comedy and physical theatre to installation, March 12th - March 29th at one of New York City's most exciting venues, LaMaMa.

Elia Schneider, formerly of Venezuela, is known for hauntingly visual productions which transcend language with strong imagery and a dreamlike fresco of movement and design. In 'Judgment on a Gray Beach,' her newest work, themes of exile and totalitarianism are explored by a condemned man--he knows not for what--on a beach populated with ten sheepish antiheroes who agree to obey absurd laws and nonsensical orders. Will he escape or return for punishment? La MaMa E.T.C., her theatrical home in New York, will present the work's world premiere March 6 to 15 in its Ellen Stewart Theater, 66 East 4th Street.

LA MaMa Experimental Theatre Club and Sheryl Lee Ralph and The D.I.V.A. Foundation present MAMA ROSE (A Solo Musical). This show gives a glimpse of Mr. Waits' life growing up in Buffalo, New York with his own MAMA ROSE, Rose Waits. In this dark comedy you'll find out that this 'southern belle' could have ruled the world...if they had only let her.

Due to popular pre-sale demand, Aurora Theatre Company announces that it will again extend Lanford Wilson's Pulitzer Prize-winning TALLEY'S FOLLY, the second fully staged production to be performed in the company's second stage performance space, Harry's UpStage.

Serrano NY, LLC is thrilled to present the World Premiere of SERRANO THE MUSICAL, book and lyrics by Madeline Sunshine, music by Robert Tepper, musical direction by Jeff Rizzo (Sunset Blvd. The Wizard of Oz), choreography by Peggy Hickey (A Gentlemen's Guide to Love and Murder) and directed by Tony nominee Joel Zwick (Dance With Me, 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding'). SERRANO THE MUSICAL will begin previews on Thursday, January 8, 2015 and will open tonight, January 16 at 8pm and run through Sunday, March 29 at the Matrix Theatre, 7657 Melrose Ave. in West Hollywood.

Serrano NY, LLC is thrilled to present the World Premiere of SERRANO THE MUSICAL, book and lyrics by Madeline Sunshine, music by Robert Tepper, musical direction by Jeff Rizzo (Sunset Blvd. The Wizard of Oz), choreography by Tony nominee Peggy Hickey (A Gentlemen's Guide to Love and Murder) and directed by Tony nominee Joel Zwick (Dance With Me, 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding').

LA MaMa Experimental Theatre Club and Sheryl Lee Ralph and The D.I.V.A. Foundation present MAMA ROSE (A Solo Musical). This show gives a glimpse of Mr. Waits' life growing up in Buffalo, New York with his own MAMA ROSE, Rose Waits. In this dark comedy you'll find out that this 'southern belle' could have ruled the world...if they had only let her.

In 'Winter Light' Yara Arts Group will perform a World Music Theater piece that includes the Koliadnyky, an ensemble of winter song singers from Kryvorivnia (Ukraine); scenes from the crisis in Ukraine today, and an 18th century Baroque Nativity folk opera staged by Yara artists. La MaMa E.T.C. will present the piece this weekend, December 27-28 in its Ellen Stewart Theater, 66 East Fourth Street (in Manhattan's East Village).