Ensemble Studio Theatre News

Marin Theatre Company continues its 48th Season with the West Coast premiere of Mona Manour's The Way West, winner of the company's 2013 Sky Cooper New American Play Prize.

Due to unforeseen circumstances, BRITANNIA WAVES THE RULES has pulled out of the 2015 Brits Off Broadway festival at 59E59 Theaters. Replacing the show is Godlight Theatre Company's production of COOL HAND LUKE, an adaptation of Donn Pearce's searing novel. This production is not part of Brits Off Broadway. COOL HAND LUKE is adapted for the stage by Emma Reeves and directed by Joe Tantalo. COOL HAND LUKE begins performances on Tuesday, May 5 for a limited engagement through Sunday, May 31. Press opening is Thursday, May 7 at 7:15 PM. The performance schedule is Tuesday - Thursday at 7:15 PM; Friday at 8:15 PM; Saturday at 2:15 PM & 8:15 PM; and Sunday at 3:15 PM. Performances are at 59E59 Theaters (59 East 59th Street, between Park and Madison Avenues). Tickets are $30 ($21 for 59E59 Members). To purchase tickets, call Ticket Central at ?(212) 279-4200 or go to www.59e59.org.

Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) just announced the fourth annual Roundabout Underground Reading Series, a five-night event that includes nightly readings of new plays written and directed by emerging artists, curtain speeches by Roundabout Underground artist alumni and post-show receptions.

April 14, 2015…It was an awards show born in a moment of relevance. An electrified contingent of professional Los Angeles Intimate theater companies and their friends sold out Los Angeles theatre Center to support the first-everSTAGE RAW THEATRE AWARDS. Picking up where the LA WEEKLY Awards, left off, and hosted by the Celebration Theatre and the hilarious duo of Alec Mapa and Parvesh Cheena, it was a night to celebrate the best of 99-seat theatre and a rallying cry against the Equity proposal and referendum that is currently being voted on. Impassioned speeches were given by Steven Leigh Morris and Bill Raden to open the show, followed by an introduction of the original plaintiffs in the Equity wars of 30 years ago who all received a standing ovation. One of those plaintiffs, Gary Grossman, gave a rousing speech as he presented the "Queen of the Angels" award to Rebecca Metz, who brought down the house with her heartfelt message of community and standing up for what is right in the face of adversity. The emotion in the room was palpable from start to finish and it was a fitting start to a tradition that it sure to last for decades to come!

The Old Globe today announced the complete cast and creative team for George Bernard Shaw's Arms and the Man, joining celebrated director Jessica Stone, who recently made her Globe debut with Christopher Durang's Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike. Shaw's romantic comedy, which continues the Globe's 80th Anniversary festivities as part of the Balboa Park Centennial Celebration, will run May 9 - June 14, 2015 on the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage in the Old Globe Theatre, part of the Globe's Conrad Prebys Theatre Center. Preview performances run May 9 through 13. Opening night is Thursday, May 14 at 8:00 p.m.

The Lark and Playwrights of New York (PoNY) are proud to announce that Martyna Majok, author of Ironbound, a Top Ten play for the 2014 Kilroys' list, will be the recipient of the 2015-16 PoNY Fellowship which provides over $100,000 in comprehensive career support.

BAD WITH MONEY, Ben Rimalower's new play about spending beyond his means - performed in rep with his first piece PATTI ISSUES - will be extended at The Duplex (61 Christopher Street at Seventh Avenue) through June 21. Ben was featured in today's New York Times and a recent interview on WNYC / New York Public Radio, available to listen here. In a recent four star review from Time Out New York, BAD WITH MONEY was hailed as "light, funny" and "vividly personal," as well as "courageously honest, keenly specific and emotionally naked" by The Advocate. PATTI ISSUES, which ran for a year at the same venue and subsequently toured the country and abroad, explores his obsession with Broadway diva Patti LuPone and his relationship with his troubled gay father. The pieces will be performed on alternating Wednesday nights at 7:00 PM through April 29 and then various days and times through June 21. Both shows are written and performed by Ben Rimalower and directed by Aaron Mark.

Dating Depression and Dirtbags...A Love Story written by and starring Elza Zagreda returns to Stage Left Studios starting tonight, April 10th. Joan Kane directs.

Cleveland Play House's 99th season will draw to a close with an equal dose of hilarity and heart with the world premiere production of Fairfield.

Half Moon Theatre opens its inaugural spring season at The Culinary Institute of America with the beloved classic, The Fantasticks, the world's longest-running musical that has entranced generations of audiences the world over. The Fantasticks will run from April 24-May 10 (weekends only).

Robert Askins' downright audacious drama of demonic possession moves from Off-Off to Off- to Broadway.

MULTISTAGES THEATRE presents the world premiere of Desi Moreno-Penson's Comida de Puta (F%&king Lousy Food), directed by producing artistic director Lorca Peress.

Let's see what the critics had to say...

The new American play Hand to God opens on Broadway tonight, April 7, 2015 at the Booth Theatre (222 West 45th Street), marking the Broadway debuts of playwright Robert Askins and director Moritz von Stuelpnagel. Scroll down to learn more about the cast and watch interviews with the company!

San Francisco Playhouse continues its twelfth season with the world premiere of Trouble Cometh by Richard Dresser and directed by May Adrales.

Barrington Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Julianne Boyd and Managing Director Tristan Wilson, announces additions to its 2015 season schedule.

In the West Coast premiere of 'Lost Generation' the complex and dangerous friendship of Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald with Ernest Hemingway is traced in this funny, surreal and dark play which presents their evolving attractions, entanglements, jealousies, conflicts, and madness.

Drama of Works will present the World Premiere of Blood Red Roses: The Female Pirate Project, a puppet theater piece created by the ensemble and directed by Drama of Works Artistic Director Gretchen Van Lente, May 11-31 at The Waterfront Museum (290 Conover Street in Red Hook, Brooklyn).

The Los Angeles-based duo of playwright Jennifer Maisel and director Lindsay Allbaugh spearheads Out of Orbit in the final show of the 2014-2015 California Repertory season. The creative team demonstrates the distance between communication and connection can sometimes be worlds apart.

MULTISTAGES THEATRE is pleased to announce the world premiere of Desi Moreno-Penson's Comida de Puta (F%&king Lousy Food), directed by producing artistic director Lorca Peress. Comida de Puta (F%&king Lousy Food) will play a limited engagement at The West End Theatre (Church of St Paul and St Andrew at 263 West 86th Street, New York, NY 10024). Performances begin Wednesday, April 8th and continue through Sunday, April 26th. Opening Night is Friday, April 10th at 8 p.m.