Ensemble Studio Theatre News

MOTHER is set in an upscale resort in West Virginia where an eccentric family gathers for their annual New Year's holiday. The get-together turns out to be far from traditional when matters of infidelity, sibling rivalry, copious bottles of bubbly, and even attempted kidnapping come to call -- all in the hotel dining room.

Vampire Cowboys Theatre Company, now in its 8th season, will remount their award-winning production of the sci-fi adventure, 'FIGHT GIRL BATTLE WORLD,' created by co-artistic directors Qui Nguyen and Robert Ross Parker, written by Mr. Nguyen, directed by Mr. Parker, with fight choreography by Nguyen, when it begins performances on July 14th at HERE Arts Center, 145 Sixth Avenue (between Spring & Broome, enter on Dominick).

Buck Henry and Holland Taylor star in Lisa Ebersole's new Off-Broadway play MOTHER, receiving its world-premiere production, with previews set to begin July 8, prior to its official press opening on July 15 at The Wild Project Theater (195 East 3rd Street) in Manhattan. Andrew Grosso (PERFECT HARMONY) will direct.

Come give your happy feet a chance and jump, jive and wail at Pittsburgh CLO's production of Swing!, playing June 20 through 26 at the Benedum Center in the heart of downtown Pittsburgh's Cultural District.

Playwrights Horizons, under the leadership of Artistic Director Tim Sanford and Managing Director Leslie Marcus, proudly announces the sixth and final production of its upcoming 2009/2010 Season, as well as additional casting. Presented at the theater company's home at 416 West 42nd Street, the new production will be: A COOL DIP IN THE BARREN SAHARAN CRICK - the World Premiere of a new play by Playwrights Horizons alumna Kia Corthron (Breath, Boom at Playwrights Horizons, Force Continuum), directed by Obie Award winner Chay Yew (Durango at The Public). A co-production with The Play Company (Kate Loewald, Founding Producer) and Culture Project (Allan Buchman, Artistic Director).

Motherhood Out Loud, a new American play, conceived by Susan R. Rose and Joan Stein, produced by Ms. Rose, Ms. Stein, Renee Landegger and Judith Resnick, directed by Lisa Peterson, and written by more than 15 writers, will have a special work-in-progress, 3-performance engagement as part of Bay Street Theatre's 2009 'Bay Street at the Parrish' season. Motherhood Out Loud plays July 30 - August 1 at the Parrish Art Museum in Southampton, NY.

The Irish Repertory Theatre (132 West 22nd Street) is hosting a NEW WORKS READING SERIES to support new plays and emerging playwrights. As part of its mission statement, The Irish Repertory Theatre 'encourages the development of new works focusing on the Irish and Irish American experience, as well as a range of other cultures.'

White Pines Productions, a newly formed production company, is presenting a showcase of a heartfelt new work by local playwright William di Canzio. The play, Johnny Has Gone for A Soldier, will be showcased June 4-7 at the Playground at the Adrienne, 2030 Sansom Street

Ensemble Studio Theatre - LA & Open Fist Theatre Company, two of Los Angeles' most respected theatre companies join together for the first time to present a world premiere play, LOVE WATER, written by Jacqueline Wright (Eat Me, Buddy Buddette), directed by Dan Bonnell (Happy End) and produced by Isabel Storey.

Goodman Theatre proudly concludes its 2008/2009 season with José Rivera's newest play, Boleros for the Disenchanted, 'an epic study of wedded life that is simply?and not so simply?marvelous' (Variety). A true love story inspired by Rivera's parents' courtship and eventual migration from Puerto Rico to Alabama, Boleros for the Disenchanted makes its Chicago premiere directed by Henry Godinez?the Goodman's Resident Artistic Associate who was named 2008 Latino of the Year by the Chicago Latino Network. Chicago actors Elizabeth Ledo and Sandra Marquez command the stage in the role of Flora, based on Rivera's mother, at various points in her life. Godinez's cast also includes Liza Fernandez, Joe Minoso, Rene Rivera and Felix Solis. Boleros for the Disenchanted is performed in English in the Albert Theatre June 20 ? July 26, 2009. Tickets are $25 ? $70. A complete performance schedule including dates, times and ticket prices appears at the end of this release. Meet the playwright and director at a free post-performance discussion on Thursday, June 25, moderated by Myrna Salazar of the International Latino Cultural Center. Tickets and information: 312.443.3800 or GoodmanTheatre.org. The Chicago Community Trust is the Major Production Sponsor.

Geva Theatre Center is gearing up for the What's Next: Festival of New Theatre (formerly known as Hibernatus Interruptus) which offers audiences the rare opportunity to get in on the ground floor of a play in progress as well as the chance to talk to the playwrights about their work. Over the eleven days, each of the plays in the festival will undergo an intensive workshop and will then be presented in script-in-hand performances.

The American Theatre Wing has announced its newest episode of its popular 'Working in the Theater' series, titled 'Fluidity & Change: Directors 2009.' This episode features Thomas Kail (In the Heights), Moisés Kaufman (33 Variations) Bartlett Sher (Joe Turner's Come and Gone), Leigh Silverman (Coraline), and Kate Whoriskey (Ruined). The program, moderated by Variety reporter Gordon Cox, will air on CUNY Television beginning Sunday, May 31, at 5:00 pm, with additional airings Friday, June 5 at 9:00 am, 2:00 pm and 7:30 pm, Saturday, June 6 at 11:00 am, and Sunday, June 7 at 5:00 pm.

Hungry Hill, Ltd, today announced that Joseph Adams, Laura Bonarrigo, Molly Ephraim and Lauren Currie Lewis would comprise the cast of their new production, Dance of the Seven Headed Mouse, a new play by Carole Gaunt, directed by Christopher McElroen. Performances will begin June 17th at The Beckett at Theatre Row, 410 West 42nd Street (between 9th and 10th Avenues), for a limited engagement through July 25th. Opening Night is set for Tuesday, June 23rd (7 pm).

Performed by two-time Emmy® Award-winning actor and The Guiding Light star Tom Pelphrey, Joseph Gallo?s My Italy Story is a story of a young man from Hoboken, NJ who sets out to heal the rift that divides his family, and in the process traces his roots to a remote village in Italy, returning to America to face a surprising family secret.

Hartford Stage, under the leadership of Artistic Director Michael Wilson and Managing Director Michael Stotts, announced today that acclaimed actress Lois Smith will return to Hartford Stage in the role of matriarch Stella Gordon as she joins the Broadway cast of Horton Foote's hit comedy Dividing the Estate for the production's run at Hartford Stage May 28 - July 5.

Among the world premieres in Ensemble Studio Theatre's upcoming 31st annual Marathon of one-act plays are works by three members of the Ensemble's Playwrights Unit. Opening on May 22, Marathon 2009 will feature world premieres of 10 one act plays and will run through June 27. Playwrights Unit members' works are For the Love of God, Saint Teresa by Christine Farrell, Daughter by Cassandra Medley, and Blood from a Stoner by Jeanne Dorsey.

Ensemble Studio Theatre (William Carden, Artistic Director, Paul Alexander Slee, Executive Director) will present Marathon 2009, E.S.T.?s 31st annual festival of new one-act plays, at E.S.T. (549 West 52nd Street). Performances begin Friday, May 22nd, and continue through Saturday, June 27th.

ENSEMBLE STUDIO THEATRE (William Carden, Artistic Director, Paul Alexander Slee, Executive Director) will present MARATHON 2009, E.S.T.'s 31st annual festival of new one-act plays, at E.S.T. (549 West 52nd Street). Performances begin Friday, May 22nd, and continue through Saturday, June 27th.

Atlantic Theater Company (Neil Pepe, Artistic Director; Jeffory Lawson, Managing Director) is proud to announce the final production of its 2008-2009 season - the world premiere of Leslie Ayvazian's play MAKE ME, directed by Atlantic associate artistic director Christian Parker. Casting will be announced shortly.

ENSEMBLE STUDIO THEATRE (William Carden, Artistic Director, Paul Alexander Slee, Executive Director) cordially invites you to MARATHON 2009, E.S.T.'s 31st annual festival of new one-act plays, at E.S.T. (549 West 52nd Street). Performances begin Friday, May 22nd, and continue through Saturday, June 27th. Press dates for each series are indicated below.