Epic Theatre Ensemble News

Theater Breaking Through Barriers celebrates playwright A.R. Gurney with the first Off-Broadway revival of his comedy THE FOURTH WALL. Directed by Christopher Burris, performances run through June 23 at the Jeffrey and Paula Gural Theatre at The A.R.T./New York Theatres. 

'Epic Duets' featured fabulous duets of Epic Theatre Ensemble's students alongside renowned Broadway stars like headliner Ariana DeBose (Summer: The Donna Summer Musical), Gizel Jimenez (Miss You Like Hell), Daphne Rubin-Vega (Rent), Jacob Ming-Trent (Shrek: The Musical), and Aaron Krohn (Summer: The Donna Summer Musical).

Next week, FEINSTEIN'S/54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club & Private Event Destination, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit www.54Below.com/Feinsteins or call (646) 476-3551.

The American Theatre Wing and The Village Voice announce that Tony Award-nominated and three-time Obie-winning actress Kathleen Chalfant will receive a special Obie Award for Lifetime Achievement at the 63rd Annual Obie Awards.

People's Light proudly presents an inventive, intimate version of one of Shakespeare's most timeless plays. In Romeo & Juliet: A Requiem, the parents, Friar, and Nurse recreate the passion and recklessness of their star-crossed children to face their culpability and seek redemption.

Epic Theatre Ensemble, a diverse group of artists and collaborators who empower students through theater to address social issues, particularly in the New York City public schools they serve, today announced two promotions to its executive leadership team. Co-founders Melissa Friedman and James Wallert have been named as Co-Artistic Directors.

Esther and Schmuli are shy young Orthodox Jews embarking on an arranged marriage, despite barely knowing each other. Abe and Julia are high-profile celebrities embarking on a dangerously flirtatious correspondence, despite being married to other people. On the surface, the lives of these two couples couldn't be more different. But Anna Ziegler's funny, insightful, and mysterious new drama explores the hidden connections between seemingly disparate people, drawing audiences into an intriguing puzzle and a deeply sympathetic look at modern love.

Jeanne Sakata's one-man drama Hold These Truths tells the true story of Gordon Hirabayashi, the American son of Japanese immigrants who defied an unjust court order when America placed its own citizens in internment camps during World War II. Midway through Arena Stage's 2017/18 season, Hold These Truths brings an untold story to the stage that represents the diversity of our country and examines what it means to be an American. Under the direction of Jessica Kubzansky, Hold These Truths runs February 23-April 8, 2018 in the Kogod Cradle.

Epic Theatre Ensemble is proud to present the third edition of its three-week Youth Theatre Festival: Epic YTF. Epic YTF is a celebration of a diverse and inclusive community, fighting for social justice and equality. The festival showcases original performances by students from the award-winning after-school program Epic REMIX.

Following a five year search for a permanent home, Target Margin Theater (Founding Artistic Director David Herskovits, Associate Artistic Director Moe Yousuf, General Manager Lu Liu) is proud to present the world premiere of Pay No Attention To The Girl (March 29-April 21), which marks the Company's debut off-Broadway performances in their new 3,250 sq. ft. home in Brooklyn. Directed by Founding Artistic Director David Herskovits, Pay No Attention To The Girl is an interlocking set of tales about the deceptions of the sexes that lead us deep into the labyrinth of The Thousand and One Nights, a collection of Silk Road, MENA (Middle Eastern / North African), and South Asian stories.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director, Oskar Eustis; Executive Director, Patrick Willingham) announced the line-up today for the 2018 Free Shakespeare in the Park season, continuing a 56-year tradition of free theater in Central Park.

Jeanne Sakata's one-man drama Hold These Truths tells the true story of Gordon Hirabayashi, the American son of Japanese immigrants who defied an unjust court order when America placed its own citizens in internment camps during World War II. Midway through Arena Stage's 2017/18 season, Hold These Truths brings an untold story to the stage that represents the diversity of our country and examines what it means to be an American. Under the direction of Jessica Kubzansky, Hold These Truths runs February 23-April 8, 2018 in the Kogod Cradle.

Casting for Pride Films and Plays' Chicago premiere of YANK! A WWII Love Story was announced today by David Zak, Executive Director of Pride Films and Plays.

As part of the second Women's Voices Theater Festival, Shakespeare Theatre Company presents the world-premiere production of Noura, a new play written by award-winning playwright and performer Heather Raffo (Nine Parts of Desire). Directed by Joanna Settle and featuring Raffo in the titular role, the play will run at the Lansburgh Theatre (450 7th Street NW) February 6 March 11, 2018.

Joel de la Fuente (Amazon's 'The Man in the High Castle,' 'Hemlock Grove') made a triumphant return to the New York stage in his Drama Desk nominated role as Gordon Hirabayashi and 30 other characters in Jeanne Sakata's Hold These Truths, which opened on December 7 and is currently playing a limited run through December 20 at The Sheen Center for Thought & Culture (18 Bleecker Street at the corner of Elizabeth Street). Check out opening night photos below!

Following select performances of Jeanne Sakata's Hold These Truths, directed by Lisa Rothe and starring Joel de la Fuente (Amazon's The Man in the High Castle), Hang a Tale Theater Company will welcome a diverse panel of guests to discuss the history of forced Japanese internment during WWII and the parallels to our current time, when Muslims and other minorities are again fighting to preserve their civil liberties.

Performances of Hang A Tale Theater Company's special engagement of Jeanne Sakata's Hold These Truths, a solo play inspired by the life O. Gordon Hirabayashi, directed by Lisa Rothe (Science Fair: An Opera with Experiments at HERE), at The Sheen Center for Thought & Culture (18 Bleecker Street at the corner of Elizabeth Street) begin tonight, December 6, with opening night slated for Thursday, December 7.

Following select performances of Jeanne Sakata's Hold These Truths, directed by Lisa Rothe and starring Joel de la Fuente (Amazon's The Man in the High Castle), Hang a Tale Theater Company will welcome a diverse panel of guests to discuss the history of forced Japanese internment during WWII and the parallels to our current time, when Muslims and other minorities are again fighting to preserve their civil liberties.

Performances of Hang A Tale Theater Company's special engagement of Jeanne Sakata's Hold These Truths, a solo play inspired by the life of Gordon Hirabayashi, directed by Lisa Rothe (Science Fair: An Opera with Experiments at HERE), at The Sheen Center for Thought & Culture (18 Bleecker Street at the corner of Elizabeth Street) have been delayed due to star Joel de la Fuente's shooting schedule for Amazon's The Man in the High Castle.

Playwright Ken Urban was commissioned by Epic Theatre Ensemble to write a play about international aid workers, and his interviews with volunteers for Doctors Without Borders inform his new thought-provoking drama, A GUIDE FOR THE HOMESICK, now receiving its world premiere by the Huntington Theatre Company at the Boston Center for the Arts. Flawlessly directed by Colman Domingo, the two-hander features a pair of remarkable, synchronized performances by McKinley Belcher III and Samuel H. Levine.