Ensemble Studio Theatre News

The Boulevard Ensemble Studio Theatre, 2252 South Kinnickinnic, opens its 24th season with the Milwaukee premiere of New York playwright Douglas Carter Beane's skewering comedy of success As Bees in Honey Drown (July 29-August 29, 2009).

The Cut Beauty School Inc, The Dexter Family and Temar Underwood proudly present the world premiere of The Brokenhearteds. Directed by Pete Boisvert (Co-Artistic Director/Founder, Nosedive Productions), this political thriller for the 20th century's last generation premieres September 11, 2009.

The Tony Award® nominated hit musical IRVING BERLIN'S WHITE CHRISTMAS, the new stage reinvention of the beloved classic film, returns to Broadway at the Marquis Theatre this holiday season for 61 performances only - guaranteeing New York a white Christmas!

West Coast Ensemble presents the third show of their 2009 season, the West Coast Premiere of ANITA BRYANT DIED FOR YOUR SINS, written by Brian Christopher Williams and directed by Richard Israel (Big, Floyd Collins). ANITA BRYANT DIED FOR YOUR SINS will preview on Wednesday, August 19 and Thursday, August 20 at 8:00pm and will open on Friday, August 21 at 8:00pm and continue through Sunday, October 4 at West Coast Ensemble - The El Centro Theatre, 800 N. El Centro Ave. in Hollywood.

West Coast Ensemble presents the third show of their 2009 season, the West Coast Premiere of ANITA BRYANT DIED FOR YOUR SINS, written by Brian Christopher Williams and directed by Richard Israel (Big, Floyd Collins). ANITA BRYANT DIED FOR YOUR SINS will preview on Wednesday, August 19 and Thursday, August 20 at 8:00pm and will open on Friday, August 21 at 8:00pm and continue through Sunday, October 4 at West Coast Ensemble - The El Centro Theatre, 800 N. El Centro Ave. in Hollywood.

West Coast Ensemble presents the third show of their 2009 season, the West Coast Premiere of ANITA BRYANT DIED FOR YOUR SINS, written by Brian Christopher Williams and directed by Richard Israel (Big, Floyd Collins). ANITA BRYANT DIED FOR YOUR SINS will preview on Wednesday, August 19 and Thursday, August 20 at 8:00pm and will open on Friday, August 21 at 8:00pm and continue through Sunday, October 4 at West Coast Ensemble - The El Centro Theatre, 800 N. El Centro Ave. in Hollywood.

The Ensemble Studio Theatre and Going to the River have lined up some of the most gifted women playwrights of color - some new, some established - for a three-week presentation of thirteen short plays in a new play series entitled The River Crosses Rivers, a three-week festival of short one-act plays by women of color, September 9 through 27 at the Ensemble Studio Theatre, 549 West 52nd Street.

Natalie Joy Johnson, currently starring as Paulette in Legally Blonde at the Pantages Theatre, brings her popular club act to Upright Cabaret for its West Coast premiere, after sold out engagements at Joe's Pub, the Cutting Room, Feinstein's and Ars Nova. Natalie's act harkens back to a time when the great ladies of show business entertained every night in swanky, smoky rooms.

Thanks to the vision of BlueRare Productions, the collaboration of The SF Playhouse, PlayGround and of course, Aaron Loeb, Abraham Lincoln's Big Gay Dance Party has hit New York by storm. The shows are sold out, and we open in a few short hours!

Centre Stage will present its 7th annual New Play Festival September 14-19 featuring the works of four finalists selected from submissions of over 100 works. These plays will be presented in staged readings that are free and open to the public.

The Open Fist Theatre Company presents their First Ever, FIRST LOOK FESTIVAL OF NEW PLAYS, with new works written by Frances Ya-Chu Cowhig, Steven Haworth, Karen Hartman, Julie Hebert, Neil LaBute, Rick Pagano and directed by Bjorn Johnson, Neil LaBute, Marya Mazor, Charles Otte and Randee Trabitz. The Festival began on Thursday, July 23 and runs through Sunday, September 13 at The NEW Open Fist Theatre, 6209 Santa Monica Blvd. (former home of The Actor's Gang) in Hollywood.

West Coast Ensemble presents the third show of their 2009 season, the West Coast Premiere of ANITA BRYANT DIED FOR YOUR SINS, written by Brian Christopher Williams and directed by Richard Israel (Big, Floyd Collins). ANITA BRYANT DIED FOR YOUR SINS will preview on Wednesday, August 19 and Thursday, August 20 at 8:00pm and will open on Friday, August 21 at 8:00pm and continue through Sunday, October 4 at West Coast Ensemble - The El Centro Theatre, 800 N. El Centro Ave. in Hollywood.

Live Broadcast, a play by John William Schiffbauer, will be presented at the 13th Annual New York International Fringe Festival, a production of The Present Company. Erica Ruff will produce the presentation, which will be directed by Melissa Attebery. The cast will feature Andrea Day, Kyle Knauf, Amanda Brooke Lerner, and John William Schiffbauer. Live Broadcast was previously work-shopped as part of the Manhattan Repertory Theatre's Fall Play Festival in October 2008.

The San Francisco Playhouse, BlueRare Productions, and PlayGround team to present the SF Playhouse's critically acclaimed production of Abraham Lincoln's Big Gay Dance Party, by Aaron Loeb, directed by Chris Smith, as part of the13th Annual New York International Fringe Festival, thus furthering an SF Playhouse goal to deliver productions that can succeed on a national level. Performances will be held at HERE Arts Center (Mainstage Theater - Venue #17), 145 6th Avenue (between Spring and Broome).

Live Broadcast, a play by John William Schiffbauer, will be presented at the 13th Annual New York International Fringe Festival, a production of The Present Company. Erica Ruff will produce the presentation, which will be directed by Melissa Attebery. The cast will feature Andrea Day, Kyle Knauf, Amanda Brooke Lerner, and John William Schiffbauer. Live Broadcast was previously work-shopped as part of the Manhattan Repertory Theatre's Fall Play Festival in October 2008.

Florida Studio Theatre extends Willy Russell's Shirley Valentine into a sixth week at the Gompertz Theatre, through August 9, 2009. Shirley Valentine has been a hit with audiences and critics alike. Additional dates and times are Saturday August 1 at 8 PM, Saturday, August 8 at 8 PM & Sunday, August 9 at 3 PM.

The Open Fist Theatre Company presents their First Ever, FIRST LOOK FESTIVAL OF NEW PLAYS, with new works written by Frances Ya-Chu Cowhig, Steven Haworth, Karen Hartman, Julie Hebert, Neil LaBute, Rick Pagano and directed by Bjorn Johnson, Neil LaBute, Marya Mazor, Charles Otte and Randee Trabitz. The Festival began on Thursday, July 23 and runs through Sunday, September 13 at The NEW Open Fist Theatre, 6209 Santa Monica Blvd. (former home of The Actor's Gang) in Hollywood.

The Cut Beauty School Inc, The Dexter Family and Temar Underwood proudly present the world premiere of The Brokenhearteds. Directed by Pete Boisvert (Co-Artistic Director/Founder, Nosedive Productions), this political thriller for the 20th century's last generation premieres September 11, 2009.

West Coast Ensemble presents the third show of their 2009 season, the West Coast Premiere of ANITA BRYANT DIED FOR YOUR SINS, written by Brian Christopher Williams and directed by Richard Israel (Big, Floyd Collins). ANITA BRYANT DIED FOR YOUR SINS will preview on Wednesday, August 19 and Thursday, August 20 at 8:00pm and will open on Friday, August 21 at 8:00pm and continue through Sunday, October 4 at West Coast Ensemble - The El Centro Theatre, 800 N. El Centro Ave. in Hollywood.

Celebrated theater and film actor Jack Gilpin is signing on to the Edinburgh-bound cast of Couples Counseling in the role of Dr. Bob Melmud.