Ellen Stewart News

A modern-day Hades gets more than he bargained for from a precocious Persephone in this spring's world premiere of 'The Maiden,' a rowdy reboot of the ancient Greek abduction myth by acclaimed genre-bending theater company The Nerve Tank. From tonight, March 28th to April 13th, The Nerve Tank will adapt the raw, downtown ambiance of The Club at La MaMa to the immersive production's setting: a dark trailer-park disco, replete with original music by multidisciplinary artist Admiral Grey.

La MaMa, in association with Monk Parrots, presents the World Premiere of Bum Phillips All-American Opera, a new contemporary opera conceptualized and directed by Luke Leonard, composed and conducted by Peter Stopschinski, with a libretto by Kirk Lynn. Bum Phillips All-American Opera runs from March 12 - 30, 2014 in a limited engagement at La MaMa's Ellen Stewart Theatre, located at 66 East 4th Street between 2nd Avenue & the Bowery in New York City. BroadwayWorld has photos from the show's special benefit performance!

'Pagbabalik: Tracing the Path Home' by Kinding Sindaw (http://kindingsindaw.org), the New York-based southern Philippine performance troupe, entwines a contemporary story of the modern Philipines with a dramatic adaptation of the third chapter of the epic Derangen. The Derangen is a Mindanao epic shared by the Maranao, Maguindanao and Iranun tribes of the southern Philippines which celebrates episodes from regional history and stories of the tribulations of mythical heroes. This splendorous new work of dance theater is conceived and directed by Potri Ranka Manis, the daughter of a Sultan of the Maranao people of Mindanao, a true modern-day princess and tradition-bearer. La MaMa E.T.C. will present the piece April 24 to 27 in its Ellen Stewart Theatre, 66 East Fourth 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.

La MaMa, in association with Monk Parrots, presents the World Premiere of Bum Phillips All-American Opera, a new contemporary opera conceptualized and directed by Luke Leonard, composed and conducted by Peter Stopschinski, with a libretto by Kirk Lynn. Bum Phillips All-American Opera runs from March 12 - 30, 2014 in a limited engagement at La MaMa's Ellen Stewart Theatre, located at 66 East 4th Street between 2nd Avenue & the Bowery in New York City. Previews begin March 12 for a March 15 opening.

La MaMa, in association with Monk Parrots, presents the World Premiere of Bum Phillips All-American Opera, a new contemporary opera conceptualized and directed by Luke Leonard, composed and conducted by Peter Stopschinski, with a libretto by Kirk Lynn. Bum Phillips All-American Opera runs through March 30, 2014 in a limited engagement at La MaMa's Ellen Stewart Theatre, located at 66 East 4th Street between 2nd Avenue & the Bowery in New York City. Previews began March 12 for a March 15 opening. Check out a first look below!

La MaMa ETC presents resident artist Kinding Sindaw's production of Pagbabalik (Tracing the Path Home), a piece that explores the migratory experience of displaced indigenous peoples of the Southern Philippines, on April 24th-27th at La MaMa ETC, Ellen Stewart Theatre, 66 East 4th Street, between 2nd Avenue and Bowery. The performance runs 90 minutes and includes live music, dance, storytelling, and videography.

La MaMa, in association with Monk Parrots, proudly presents the World Premiere of Bum Phillips All-American Opera, a new contemporary opera conceptualized and directed by Luke Leonard, composed and conducted by Peter Stopschinski, with a libretto by Kirk Lynn. Bum Phillips All-American Opera runs from today, March 12 - 30, 2014 in a limited engagement at La MaMa's Ellen Stewart Theatre, located at 66 East 4th Street between 2nd Avenue & the Bowery in New York City. Previews begin today, March 12 for a March 15 opening. Scroll down for a first look at the cast of the show!

A modern-day Hades gets more than he bargained for from a precocious Persephone in this spring's world premiere of 'The Maiden,' a rowdy reboot of the ancient Greek abduction myth by acclaimed genre-bending theater company The Nerve Tank. From March 28th to April 13th, The Nerve Tank will adapt the raw, downtown ambiance of The Club at La MaMa to the immersive production's setting: a dark trailer-park disco, replete with original music by multidisciplinary artist Admiral Grey.

The Martin E. Segal Theatre Center at the CUNY Graduate Center has announced its SPRING 2014 season of public programs. The season includes the Center's inaugural PEN World Voices International Play Festival, featuring 9 free readings of plays from around the globe, including HAITI, JAPAN, TUNISIA, CHILE, POLAND, AUSTRALIA, SINGAPORE, AUSTRIA and INDIA. The season also features 11 free public programs throughout the spring, featuring contemporary theatre and performing artists from around the world.

La MaMa, in association with Monk Parrots, proudly presents the World Premiere of Bum Phillips All-American Opera, a new contemporary opera conceptualized and directed by Luke Leonard, composed and conducted by Peter Stopschinski, with a libretto by Kirk Lynn. Bum Phillips All-American Opera runs from March 12 - 30, 2014 in a limited engagement at La MaMa's Ellen Stewart Theatre, located at 66 East 4th Street between 2nd Avenue & the Bowery in New York City. Previews begin March 12 for a March 15 opening. Scroll down for a first look at the cast of the show!

La MaMa, in association with Monk Parrots, presents the World Premiere of Bum Phillips All-American Opera, a new contemporary opera conceptualized and directed by Luke Leonard, composed and conducted by Peter Stopschinski, with a libretto by Kirk Lynn. Bum Phillips All-American Opera runs from March 12 - 30, 2014 in a limited engagement at La MaMa's Ellen Stewart Theatre, located at 66 East 4th Street between 2nd Avenue & the Bowery in New York City. Previews begin March 12 for a March 15 opening.

Tonight, February 7 at 5:30pm at The Players, Elements Theatre Company of Orleans, MA will present an original work, Labyrinth: A Legacy of Language, exploring Shakespeare's influence on playwrights through the past four and a half centuries, from Sheridan to Ibsen to Stoppard. The production will be a springboard for a 7:00pm discussion in the ARTS IN CONVERSATION panel series hosted by Elements Theatre Company, on How Shakespeare Humanizes Our Culture: The Transforming Power of His Work. Panelists include:

On Friday, February 7 at 5:30pm at The Players, Elements Theatre Company of Orleans, MA will present an original work, Labyrinth: A Legacy of Language, exploring Shakespeare's influence on playwrights through the past four and a half centuries, from Sheridan to Ibsen to Stoppard. The production will be a springboard for a 7:00pm discussion in the ARTS IN CONVERSATION panel series hosted by Elements Theatre Company, on How Shakespeare Humanizes Our Culture: The Transforming Power of His Work. Panelists include:

Looking Glass Theatre will bring back a limited run of Frankie Little Hardin's East of the Sun, West of the Moon, a new children's play directed by Julia Sterling Martin. East of the Sun, West of the Moon will perform a limited engagement at The Gallery Players in Park Slope. Performances are scheduled for Saturdays, today, February 1st, March 22nd, May 3rd, May 31st, and June 21st.

Nominations are being accepted through Friday, February 14, 2014 for Actors' Equity Association's annual Rosetta LeNoire Award. The award, established in 1988, recognizes an individual or institution that has made outstanding contributions to American theater while also holding an exemplary record in hiring or promoting ethnic minorities, female actors, senior actors and actors with disabilities. Nominees must have a working relationship (and history) with Equity.

On Friday, February 7 at 5:30pm at The Players (16 Gramercy Park, New York, NY), Elements Theatre Company of Orleans, MA will present an original work, Labyrinth: A Legacy of Language, exploring Shakespeare's influence on playwrights through the past four and a half centuries, from Sheridan to Ibsen to Stoppard. The production will be a springboard for a 7:00pm discussion in the ARTS IN CONVERSATION panel series, on How Shakespeare Humanizes Our Culture: The Transforming Power of His Work. Panelists include George Drance, SJ, Artist in Residence at Fordham University, Louis Colaianni, author of How to Speak Shakespeare and Teacher/Coach, Rob Weinert-Kendt, Associate Editor at American Theatre, and Josh Cabat, Co-founder of the New York City Student Shakespeare Festival. Danielle Dwyer, CJ, Elements Artistic Director, will moderate. Admission is FREE to both the performance and panel discussion. Reservations are recommended; call 508-240-2400.

Looking Glass Theatre is proud to bring back a limited run of Frankie Little Hardin's East of the Sun, West of the Moon, a new children's play directed by Julia Sterling Martin. East of the Sun, West of the Moon will perform a limited engagement at The Gallery Players in Park Slope. Performances are scheduled for Saturdays, February 1st, March 22nd, May 3rd, May 31st, and June 21st. Tickets are $12 kids, $8 adults and are available at www.lookingglasstheatrenyc.com or through TheaterMania.com by calling (866)-411-8111. Running time is approximately 60 minutes with no intermission.

La MaMa in association with The Ma-Yi Theater Company, now in its 25th anniversary season, will present the New York premiere of THE WONG KIDS IN THE SECRET OF THE SPACE CHUPACABRA GO! Tuesday, January 28 - Sunday, February 16, 2014 at La MaMa's Ellen Stewart Theater (66 East 4th Street - between Bowery and 2nd Ave). Opening night is set for Friday, January 31.

During rehearsals for The Underpants by Steve Martin, Hartford Stage administrators learned of plans for an 'accidental' wardrobe malfunction. Horrified, the administrators noted that Hartford Stage does not condone wardrobe malfunctions of any kind.