Emily Donahoe News

Lead by Helen Carey and Larry Bryggman, Jon Robin Baitz's OTHER DESERT CITIES at Arena Stage boasts strong performances and clear direction by Kyle Donnelly.

Helen Hayes Award winner and former Arena Stage Associate Artistic Director Kyle Donnelly (Ah, Wilderness!) directs the D.C.-area premiere of Jon Robin Baitz's smash hit OTHER DESERT CITIES with a cast that features Tony Award nominee and two-time Helen Hayes Award winner Helen Carey (Arena Stage's Long Day's Journey into Night, Broadway's Hedda Gabler) and two-time Daytime Emmy Award winner Larry Bryggman (Broadway's Harvey, CBS's As the World Turns). The show opened last night, May 2, and BroadwayWorld has photos from the festivities!

Helen Hayes Award winner and former Arena Stage Associate Artistic Director Kyle Donnelly (Ah, Wilderness!) directs the D.C.-area premiere of Jon Robin Baitz's smash hit OTHER DESERT CITIES with a cast that features Tony Award nominee and two-time Helen Hayes Award winner Helen Carey (Arena Stage's Long Day's Journey into Night, Broadway's Hedda Gabler) and two-time Daytime Emmy Award winner Larry Bryggman (Broadway's Harvey, CBS's As the World Turns).

Helen Hayes Award winner and former Arena Stage Associate Artistic Director Kyle Donnelly (Ah, Wilderness!) directs the D.C.-area premiere of Jon Robin Baitz's smash hit OTHER DESERT CITIES with a cast that features Tony Award nominee and two-time Helen Hayes Award winner Helen Carey (Arena Stage's Long Day's Journey into Night, Broadway's Hedda Gabler) and two-time Daytime Emmy Award winner Larry Bryggman (Broadway's Harvey, CBS's As the World Turns).

Hidden secrets are unearthed and family tensions fly high in Pulitzer Prize nominee Jon Robin Baitz's contemporary family drama Other Desert Cities. Helen Hayes Award winner and former Arena Stage Associate Artistic Director Kyle Donnelly returns to direct the D.C.-area premiere of the show with a cast that features Tony Award nominee and two-time Helen Hayes Award winner Helen Carey (Mary Tyrone in Arena Stage's Long Day's Journey into Night, Broadway's Hedda Gabler) as matriarch Polly Wyeth and two-time Tony Award nominee Larry Bryggman (Broadway's Harvey, CBS's As the World Turns) as patriarch Lyman Wyeth. Rounding out the cast are Emily Donahoe (Broadway's 33 Variations) as daughter Brooke Wyeth, Scott Drummond (Cherry Lane Theatre's A Perfect Future) as son Trip Wyeth and Martha Hackett (Pacific Resident Theatre's Nora) as their aunt Silda Grauman. Other Desert Cities runs April 26-May 26, 2013 in the Fichandler Stage.

A humorous and thought-provoking journey into nostalgia, Maple and Vine begins with a fun, relaxing first act that follows a couple's decision to join a sort of "cult" community that chooses to live in 1955 every year. But don't let the first half fool you, the 50s weren't as perfect as they seem on television, and this play quickly escalates into a second act with shocking changes, F-words thrown loosely about in sexually provocative (and likely offensive to some) manners, and exaggerated kisses from two main characters.

American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) continues its 2011-12 season with the West Coast premiere of Maple and Vine, written by Jordan Harrison and directed by A.C.T. Associate Artistic Director Mark Rucker. Fresh from a run at Playwrights Horizons in New York City, Maple and Vine tells the story of married couple Katha and Ryu, a pair of stressed-out urban professionals who feel unfulfilled by the impersonal gadgets and fast-paced lifestyle of the modern world. After meeting a charismatic man from a community of 1950s reenactors, they decide to swap cell phones and sushi for phone trees and fish sticks by joining a community where life is slower, passion is risqué, and a cocktail is a daily accessory. In this recreated world, where retro attitudes about gender, race, and sexuality stir up powerful questions, Katha and Ryu must decide how much they are willing to sacrifice for happiness and whether the 'good old days' were really that good. Maple and Vine performs a limited run March 29-April 22, 2012, at the American Conservatory Theater (415 Geary Street, San Francisco). Tickets (starting at $10) are on sale now and may be purchased online at act-sf.org or by calling 415.749.2228. Check out the video preview with clips from the show and audience interviews below!

American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) continues its 2011-12 season with the West Coast premiere of Maple and Vine, written by Jordan Harrison and directed by A.C.T. Associate Artistic Director Mark Rucker. Fresh from a run at Playwrights Horizons in New York City, Maple and Vine tells the story of married couple Katha and Ryu, a pair of stressed-out urban professionals who feel unfulfilled by the impersonal gadgets and fast-paced lifestyle of the modern world. After meeting a charismatic man from a community of 1950s reenactors, they decide to swap cell phones and sushi for phone trees and fish sticks by joining a community where life is slower, passion is risque, and a cocktail is a daily accessory. In this recreated world, where retro attitudes about gender, race, and sexuality stir up powerful questions, Katha and Ryu must decide how much they are willing to sacrifice for happiness and whether the "good old days" were really that good. Maple and Vine performs a limited run March 29-April 22, 2012, at the American Conservatory Theater (415 Geary Street, San Francisco). Tickets (starting at $10) are on sale now and may be purchased online at act-sf.org or by calling 415.749.2228.

This spring, Berkeley Repertory Theatre and Center Theatre Group present In the Wake, a powerful world premiere from the creators of Broadway's Well. Obie Award-winners Lisa Kron and Leigh Silverman reunite for a searing show which questions whether we as Americans appreciate our freedom.

This spring, Berkeley Repertory Theatre and Center Theatre Group present In the Wake, a powerful world premiere from the creators of Broadway's Well. Obie Award winners Lisa Kron and Leigh Silverman reunite for a searing show which questions whether we as Americans appreciate our freedom.

This spring, Berkeley Repertory Theatre and Center Theatre Group present In the Wake, a powerful world premiere from the creators of Broadway's Well. Obie Award-winners Lisa Kron and Leigh Silverman reunite for a searing show which questions whether we as Americans appreciate our freedom.

This spring, Berkeley Repertory Theatre and Center Theatre Group present In the Wake, a powerful world premiere from the creators of Broadway's Well. Obie Award-winners Lisa Kron and Leigh Silverman reunite for a searing show which questions whether we as Americans appreciate our freedom.

This spring, Berkeley Repertory Theatre and Center Theatre Group present In the Wake, a powerful world premiere from the creators of Broadway's Well. Obie Award-winners Lisa Kron and Leigh Silverman reunite for a searing show which questions whether we as Americans appreciate our freedom.

The Los Angeles Times has interviewed THE WAKE author Lisa Kron about her new play that discusses the 2000 Presidential Election and 9/11. Obie Award-winner Lisa Kron reunites with Leigh Silverman, who directed Kron's highly acclaimed 2006 production of 'Well' on Broadway, to present this new play to Los Angeles audiences.

The cast and designers have been set and rehearsals have begun for the world premiere of Lisa Kron's "The Wake," presented by Center Theatre Group at the Kirk Douglas Theatre in a co-production with Berkeley Repertory Theatre. "The Wake" opens on March 28, 2010, and continues through April 18. Previews begin March 21.

The National Playwrights Conference (NPC) at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center concludes its 45th year with staged readings of Carthage by Emily Schwend on July 23 at 8:15 pm and July 24 at 7:15 pm and Bogwog by Abbie Spallen on July 25 at 8:15 pm and July 26 at 3:15 pm. The conference, founded in 1964 and led by Lloyd Richards from 1968-1999, is now helmed by Artistic Director Wendy C. Goldberg.

The National Playwrights Conference (NPC) at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center concludes its 45th year with staged readings of Carthage by Emily Schwend on July 23 at 8:15 pm and July 24 at 7:15 pm and Bogwog by Abbie Spallen on July 25 at 8:15 pm and July 26 at 3:15 pm. The conference, founded in 1964 and led by Lloyd Richards from 1968-1999, is now helmed by Artistic Director Wendy C. Goldberg.

Deathbed by Mark Schultz makes its Off-Broadway world premiere at the McGinn/Cazale Theatre. Wendy C. Goldberg directs the limited six week engagement January 21 - March 1 with opening night set for Thursday, January 31.

Deathbed by Mark Schultz will make its Off-Broadway world premiere at the McGinn/Cazale Theatre. Wendy C. Goldberg directs the limited six week engagement January 21 - March 1 with opening night set for Thursday, January 31.

Signature Theatre Company opened their world premiere production of Queens Boulevard (the musical) on Monday, December 3 at The Peter Norton Space, and has also announced a one-week extension of the production, to now run through January 6.