Ellen Stewart News

La MaMa E.T.C. presents the World Premiere of Triple Shadow's new theater production, 2 FROM THE SEA, composed of two solo adaptations of plays whose themes are based on stories of the sea: Holiday Memory by Dylan Thomas, performed by Seamus Maynard, and Riders to the Sea by John Millington Synge, performed by Mari Andrejco. Both are directed by Beth Skinner and feature live music composed and performed by Edward Herbst. Lighting design is by Bessie and Drama Desk-winner Paul Clay (RENT), and scenic design is by Obie Award-winner Jun Maeda. The three-week season runs October 18 through November 4 at La MaMa E.T.C., 74 East 4th Street, NYC.

AdA (Author directing Author)-an evening comprised of new one act plays by American playwright Neil LaBute and Italian playwright Marco Calvani, in which each playwright will direct the other's work-will be presented by La MaMa at the Ellen Stewart Theatre (66 E. 4 St.) in Manhattan, with preview performances starting September 28 prior to an official press opening Sunday, September 30. Both plays are receiving their American premieres and will be performed on the same program at every performance of AdA. The cast met the press yesterday and you can check out photo coverage below!

Since 1992, under the rubric of its UNDESIRABLE ELEMENTS series, the beloved Ping Chong + Company has created nearly 50 deeply moving theater productions that give voice to specific communities. Celebrating the 20th anniversary of the initiative, the company will offer a festival of these works-including CRY FOR PEACE: VOICES FROM THE CONGO; SECRET SURVIVORS , featuring adult survivors of child sexual abuse; and INSIDE/OUT… VOICES FROM THE DISABILITY COMMUNITY - running from October 18 through November 4 at La MaMa E.T.C.

Horse Trade Theater Group will present a one night only encore performance of Spookfish Theatre Company's Dream Up Festival hit, Pornography for the People, written by Ming Peiffer (Relax! Alice). The production will be directed by Kat Yen (Wabi Sabi! Not Wasabi) and will feature Vichet Chum, Ying Ying Li, Amora Lin, Josh Mendelow, Katie Peters, Nancy Sun, and Christopher J. Tan.

The Tony nominated actor Craig Bierko (THE MUSIC MAN) has joined the cast of AdA (Author directing Author) -- an evening comprised of new one act plays by American playwright Neil LaBute and Italian playwright Marco Calvani, in which each playwright will direct the other's work -- to be presented by La MaMa at the Ellen Stewart Theatre (66 E. 4 St.) in Manhattan, with preview performances starting September 28 prior to an official press opening Sunday, September 30. Both plays are receiving their American premieres and will be performed on the same program at every performance of AdA.

AdA (Author directing Author)-an evening comprised of new one act plays by American playwright Neil LaBute and Italian playwright Marco Calvani, in which each playwright will direct the other's work-will be presented by La MaMa at the Ellen Stewart Theatre (66 E. 4 St.) in Manhattan, with preview performances starting September 28 prior to an official press opening Sunday, September 30. The celebrated stage and film actor Larry Pine stars in Mr. LaBute's play LOVELY HEAD, directed by Mr. Calvani. The Oscar winning actress and four-time Tony nominee Estelle Parsons stars in Mr. Calvani's play THINGS OF THIS WORLD directed by Mr. LaBute.

LUZ-a new play by Catherine Filloux (DOG AND WOLF, LEMKIN'S HOUSE)-will be given its world-premiere production this fall, with previews beginning September 28 prior to an official press opening October 4 at La MaMa's First Floor Theatre (74A E. 4 St.) in Manhattan. LUZ is a Watson Arts Project, which presents original theater with a particular emphasis on women. LUZ is scheduled to run through October 14.

CONFESSIONS AND CONVERSATION-the newest work by the celebrated playwright, performer and longtime La MaMa artist Jean-Claude van Itallie -- will debut at La MaMa's Ellen Stewart Theatre (66 E. 4 St. in Manhattan) for four performances only September 20 to 23. Written and performed by Mr. van Itallie, CONFESSIONS AND CONVERSATION is directed by Rosemary Quinn. CONFESSIONS AND CONVERSATIONS is presented by La MaMa, one of the first productions of the internationally-renowned theatre's 51st season.

The New York Innovative Theatre Awards, the organization dedicated to celebrating Off-Off-Broadway, has announced the 2012 recipients of the Honorary Awards.

Horse Trade Theater Group (Artistic Director Heidi Grumelot, Managing Director Erez Ziv) announced today that performances for RadioTheatre's KING KONG will move from the 45th Street Theater to The Kraine Theater (85 East 4th Street between 2nd Avenue and Bowery) beginningSaturday, September 1. The show will perform Wednesday and Saturday matinees at 2pm, through September 15. All scheduled performances between now and September 1 will play at the 45th Street Theater, as previously announced.

John Arthur Pinckard, the Tony Award-Winning Producer of Clybourne Park,has joined with The New Colony, 2011 Broadway In Chicago Emerging Theater Award-recipient, to announce the acceptance of last summer's critically-acclaimed 5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche, written by Andrew Hobgood and Evan Linder and directed by Sarah Gitenstein, into The New York International Fringe Festival. Chicago audiences will be able to see the re-staging of last summer's hit production at Center on Halsted opening on Monday, July 30th with a limited run from August 2nd - August 5th before it heads to FringeNYC.

Horse Trade Theater Group presents RadioTheatre in the only LIVE ON STAGE performance of KING KONG in the history of the universe! Join the group for this monumental yarn of grand adventure and fabulous fantasy, complete with our cast of storytellers, an original orchestral score and a plethora of sound effects that turn the theater itself into an environmental experience! Just bring your imagination!

John Arthur Pinckard, the Tony Award-Winning Producer of Clybourne Park,has joined with The New Colony, 2011 Broadway In Chicago Emerging Theater Award-recipient, to announce the acceptance of last summer's critically-acclaimed 5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche, written by Andrew Hobgood and Evan Linder and directed by Sarah Gitenstein, into The New York International Fringe Festival. Chicago audiences will be able to see the re-staging of last summer's hit production at Center on Halsted opening tonight, July 30th with a limited run from August 2nd - August 5th before it heads to FringeNYC.

Casting is now complete for the world premiere of TAIL! SPIN!, a 'hilarious and heartbreaking verbatim reenactment of the preposterous sex scandals that brought down Former South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford, Former U.S. Congressman Anthony Wiener of New York, Former U.S. Congressman Mark Foley of Florida, and Former U.S. Senator Larry Craig of Idaho.'

Since 1992, under the rubric of its Undesirable Elements series, the beloved Ping Chong + Company has created nearly 50 deeply moving theater productions that give voice to specific communities. In the creation of each piece, local participants testify to their real lives and experiences, often for the first time.

La MaMa will begin its 51st season -- the theatre's 2nd half-century as one of the world's most influential experimental theatres -- with works by Neil LaBute, Marco Calvani, Jean-Claude van Itallie, Ping Chong, Catherine Filloux, Yara Arts Group, John Jahnke and The Hotel Savant, Sheila Callaghan and foolsFURY, The Foundry Theatre featuring Taylor Mac and companies from New York, the U.S., Poland, Uganda and other countries around the world, it has been announced by Mia Yoo, La MaMa's artistic director.

'Falling Future Forward' the EJA Theater Roster, features season highlights for 2012-2013 at La MaMa and Peak Performances. See more details below.

John Arthur Pinckard, the Tony Award-Winning Producer of Clybourne Park,has joined with The New Colony, 2011 Broadway In Chicago Emerging Theater Award-recipient, to announce the acceptance of last summer's critically-acclaimed 5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche, written by Andrew Hobgood and Evan Linder and directed by Sarah Gitenstein, into The New York International Fringe Festival. Chicago audiences will be able to see the re-staging of last summer's hit production at Center on Halsted opening on Monday, July 30th with a limited run from August 2nd - August 5th before it heads to FringeNYC.

Artistic Director Robert Falls announced today that he will direct a major revival and new adaptation of Measure for Measure, Shakespeare's darkly comic collision of vice and virtue, in Goodman Theatre's 2012/2013 season, March 9 - April 14, 2013. Also, director David Cromer announced partial casting for his production of Sweet Bird of Youth: Oscar, Emmy, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award-nominee Diane Lane appears as Princess Kosmonopolis and Finn Wittrock, who recently appeared in Broadway's Death of a Salesman with Philip Seymour Hoffman, is cast as the young-actor-turned-gigolo Chance Wayne. Complete casting to be announced soon. The production opens the Goodman's new season, September 15 - October 21; a September 24 Season Opening Benefit will take place at The Standard Club. Tickets available only on subscription; call 312.443.3800 or visit www.GoodmanTheatre.org. Individual tickets to Sweet Bird of Youth go on sale August 10; Abbott Fund, Fifth Third Bank, Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP and PwC LLP are the Corporate Sponsors Partners. Call 312.443.3811, ext. 586 for more information about the Season Opening Benefit.

La MaMa concluded its 50th anniversary season with a successful benefit evening highlighted by entertainment and tributes-the La MaMa 50 Big Bash-on Sunday, June 24 at the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts at NYU in Manhattan. The evening was emceed by the inimitable Tony nominee and longtime La MaMa artist Andre DeShields, who joined other performers, including Gavin Creel, Bill Irwin, David Shiner, Adrian Bailey, Everett Quinton, Lady J and Culture Hub, in entertaining the audience of 600-plus with music and dance that celebrated La MaMa's first 50 years, including an excerpt from its recent hit production of Scott Wittman's JUKEBOX JACKIE featuring Cole Escola and Bridget Everett. The evening was directed by Tony Award winner Michael Mayer, who appeared as an actor at La MaMa during the early days of his career. Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman, also La MaMa artists, served as the anniversary celebrations' co-chairs. See below for pictures of the BIG BASH's speakers and performers!