Ensemble Studio Theatre News

Sheena Metal, an entertainment icon who has anchored numerous radio shows for over 17 years in Los Angeles, has been named to the Board of Directors of Ensemble Studio Theatre Los Angeles, it was announced by Gates McFadden, Artistic Director.

New York Theatre Workshop (NYTW) Artistic Director James C. Nicola and Managing Director William Russo and Noor Theatre Artistic Director Lameece Isaaq, Executive Director Maha Chehlaoui, and Producing Director Nancy Vitale have announced that the world premiere of Food and Fadwa, written by Lameece Issaq and Jacob Kader, and directed by Shana Gold, begins performances tonight, Friday, May 18, 2012, at NYTW, 79 East 4 Street, between Bowery and Second Avenue. The opening night is scheduled for Thursday, June 7. Food and Fadwa is a co-production with Noor Theatre, a company-in-residence at New York Theatre Workshop.

Following an acclaimed season which included the world premiere of Paul Weitz's Lonely, I'm Not and a critically lauded second staging of Paula Vogel's Pulitzer Prize-winner, How I Learned To Drive, Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director) has just announced two of the four mainstage productions in the company's upcoming 34th season. For subscription or ticket information, please call the Second Stage Box Office at 212-246-4422 or visit the company's website, www.2ST.com. All productions are staged at Second Stage's Tony Kiser Theatre, 305 West 43rd Street (just west of Eighth Avenue).

RUBICON THEATRE continues the company's 14th season May 24 with August Wilson's powerful and poignant drama GEM OF THE OCEAN (first preview tonight, May 16).

Berkeley Repertory Theatre announced the cast and creative team for its world premiere of Eve Ensler's EMOTIONAL CREATURE. This positive and propulsive new show - from the Tony Award-winning playwright, performer, and activist who created The Vagina Monologues - features a choreographer, a composer, four top designers, and an ensemble of talented young women. Directed by Obie Award-winner Jo Bonney, Emotional Creature plays only 36 performances in the Roda Theatre. The limited engagement at Berkeley Rep begins previews on June 14, opens June 22, and runs through July 15. The lead producers of this premiere are Wayne Jordan and Quinn Delaney, Marjorie Randolph, and Jack and Betty Schafer; the executive producer is the Strauch Kulhanjian Family. The development of this production has been supported in part by The Mosse Artistic Development Fund.

Oberon in association with the Ministry of Theater will present a pre-New York tryout of ROLLER DISCO THE MUSICAL!, an unautherized parody of the classic film Roller Boogie, from May 30 to August 30 at Oberon in Cambridge Massachusetts, with its world premiere opening night on June 13. With executive producer Pablo Rojas, Roller Disco aims to transfer to Off-Broadway in Spring 2013.

22Q Entertainment LLC and GoAlleyCat Productions presents the West Coast Premiere of the New York hit, IT IS DONE, a thrilling new play in an environmental setting, written by award-winning playwright Alex Goldberg and directed by Ovation award-winner Michael Michetti (The Twentieth Century Way, Carousel, Paradise Lost: Shadows and Wings). IT IS DONE opens tonight, May 15 at 8:30pm and runs through Tuesday, June 12 at the Pig ‘N Whistle Restaurant, 6714 Hollywood Blvd. in Hollywood.

Downton Abbey meets Broadway! BWW can report that Dan Stevens, star of the Golden Globe-winning series "Downton Abbey," will play the role of "Morris Townsend" opposite Academy Award nominee Jessica Chastain (Catherine Sloper) and Academy Award nominee and Emmy Award winner David Strathairn (Dr. Austin Sloper) in the Tony Award-winning play The Heiress. Written by Ruth Goetz & Augustus Goetz, The Heiress will be directed by Tony Award nominated playwright and director Moises Kaufman. Performances will begin October 2012 at a theatre to be announced.

The Ensemble Studio Theatre honors two of its most distinguished members, the acclaimed actress Lois Smith and two-time Board chair G.H. 'Denny' Denniston, Jr with its 2012 Distinguished Member Award at a "Fun-Raiser" benefit celebration this evening, May 14.

Harry Carson, Hall of Fame Linebacker and all-time NY Giants great, Bennet Omalu, Forensic Pathologist/Neuropathologist/Epidemiologist and Stone Phillips, veteran news reporter, will participate in a panel discussion of the issues raised by Headstrong, the new play by Patrick Link, directed by Ensemble Studio Theatre Artistic Director William Carden, that tackles football's Post-Concussion Syndrome.

Becky Ann Baker (GOOD PEOPLE, "Freaks and Geeks") and Dylan Baker (GOD OF CARNAGE, "Kings") will join previously announced Christopher Abbott ("Martha Marcy May Marlene," HBO's Girls and 2011 Broadway revival of HOUSE OF BLUE LEAVES) for the "bake off" portion of Page 73 Productions' Spring Benefit on Friday, May 11 at 7:00pm at City Winery (155 Varick Street) in Manhattan. Tony Award-winner Julie White (THE LITTLE DOG LAUGHED) will host.

The Ensemble Studio Theatre will honor two of its most distinguished members, the acclaimed actress Lois Smith and two-time Board chair G.H. 'Denny' Denniston, Jr with its 2012 Distinguished Member Award at a "Fun-Raiser" benefit celebration Monday evening, May 14.

Tony Award-winner Julie White (THE LITTLE DOG LAUGHED) is set to host the 2012 Page 73 Spring Benefit on tonight, May 11 at 7:00pm at City Winery (155 Varick Street) in Manhattan, it has been announced by Page 73's Executive Directors Liz Jones and Asher Richelli.

Alley Theatre Artistic Director Gregory Boyd previously announced the cast and creative team for the Alley Theatre's new production of Theresa Rebeck's WHAT WE'RE UP AGAINST, part of the Alley Theatre's New Play Initiative. WHAT WE'RE UP AGAINST runs on the Alley Theatre's Neuhaus Stage tonight, May 11 through June 12, 2012.

Harry Carson, Hall of Fame Linebacker and all-time NY Giants great, Bennet Omalu, Forensic Pathologist/Neuropathologist/Epidemiologist and Stone Phillips, veteran news reporter, will participate in a panel discussion of the issues raised by Headstrong, the new play by Patrick Link, directed by Ensemble Studio Theatre Artistic Director William Carden, that tackles football's Post-Concussion Syndrome.

Ars Nova presents, as part of the Out Loud series, a FREE reading of: QUEEN BEE by Sharyn Rothstein, directed by Adrienne Campbell-Holt. The cast includes Leslie Ayvazian, Kyle Beltran, Aya Cash, Will Jackson Harper and Chip Zien.

RUBICON THEATRE continues the company's 14th season May 24 with August Wilson's powerful and poignant drama GEM OF THE OCEAN (first preview May 16).

RECALL, written by Eliza Clark, directed by Adrienne Campbell-Holt, and produced by Stephen Stout. Performances begin Friday, June 8th at 8pm, at the Wild Project, 195 East 3rd Street, New York, NY 10009. Opening night is set for Tuesday, June 12th at 7pm. The show must close Saturday, July 7th. Tickets are $25 general admission and may be purchased at Ovationtix or by calling 212.352.3101.

Asian and... today announced Right Here, Write Now, an evening of readings that will take place at Cherry Lane Theatre on May 15th, Tuesday, at 8pm.

This summer, New Haarlem Arts Theatre (NHAT), the professional theater company of City College of New York (CCNY), has expanded its programming and will present mainstage productions of 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom' and 'Sweet Charity,' as well as a show for young audiences and a readings series. The theater, led by Eugene Nesmith, is entering its second season and will again be in residence at Aaron Davis Hall, located at W. 135th Street and Convent Avenue, Manhattan (Hamilton Heights).