Eric Rosen News

Kansas City Repertory Theatre Artistic Director Eric Rosen today announced casting for the Pulitzer Prize- and Tony Award-winning play by Tony Kushner, Angels in America, to be directed by MacArthur 'Genius' Fellow David Cromer. Angels in America , which transformed the landscape of American theatre when it premiered in 1991, is a riveting, thought-provoking masterpiece about sexuality, identity, religion, and American's history and future, set in the AIDS crisis of the late 1980s.

It's that time of year, and everyone is making their lists. For me, this task is always harder than it probably should be. I wrestle with myself and debate the merits of everything. I worry about who might get their feelings hurt, and whom I may accidentally overlook. So, for 2014, I promised myself to make a simple list of the 10 albums from 2014 that I simply couldn't get enough of. Naturally, that list is actually 15 items long. (Surprise!)

Eric Rosen, artistic director of Kansas City Repertory Theatre has announced the 2014-15 season, continuing its tradition of presenting stirring classics and evocative new works created by the finest local and national talent available.

In a continued outpouring of solidarity among a giant consortium of the American theater's artistic directors, more than 30 additional artistic directors have signed the open letter that was issued yesterday in support of Ari Roth, following his recent dismissal from the Jewish Community Center in Washington, D.C., where he has served as Artistic Director of Theater J for the past 18 years.

In an unprecedented display of solidarity among a giant consortium of the American theater's artistic directors, an open letter has been issued in support of Ari Roth, following his recent dismissal from the Jewish Community Center in Washington, D.C., where he has served as Artistic Director of Theater J for the past 18 years. The letter, released earlier today represents the views of top theater brass from coast-to-coast, who believe that his dismissal was an act of politically motivated censorship in retaliation for Roth's choice to produce and publicly defend challenging and provocative work.

Recently Ghostlight Records released the astounding original cast recording of VENICE. The Off-Broadway musical features a book by Eric Rosen, music by Matt Sax, lyrics by Sax and Rosen, and additional music by Curtis Moore. The cast album is quite possibly one of the most exciting recordings I have ever had the pleasure to listen to.

Kansas City Repertory Theatre continues its 50th anniversary celebration with the return of David Sedaris' The Santaland Diaries, directed by Kansas City Repertory Theatre Artistic Director Eric Rosen. This hilarious send-up of David Sedaris' tale of elfin' woe in his brief, misguided career as a Macy's elf, skewers the sentimental love of all things Christmas. This show will feature Brian Sills, who starred in last year's production as Crumpet, the disgruntled Macy's holiday elf. Shanna Jones, whom audiences saw open the production last year as one half of The Shenanigans, will perform holiday musical numbers during the performance. Performances run December 6 through 24 at KC Rep's downtown Copaken Stage in the Power & Light District. Press night is Thursday, December 11, 7pm curtain. This performance, as a work of satire, contains material that might be objectionable to some audiences. Appropriate for ages 16 and up. Past production high resolution photos can be found here.

Kansas City Repertory Theatre continues its 50th anniversary celebration with the beloved holiday classic, Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, directed by Jerry Genochio. Performances run November 21 through December 26 at UMKC's Spencer Theatre.

Kansas City Repertory Theatre continues its 50th anniversary celebration with the return of David Sedaris' The Santaland Diaries, directed by Kansas City Repertory Theatre Artistic Director Eric Rosen. This hilarious send-up of David Sedaris' tale of elfin' woe in his brief, misguided career as a Macy's elf, skewers the sentimental love of all things Christmas. This show will feature Brian Sills, who starred in last year's production as Crumpet, the disgruntled Macy's holiday elf. Shanna Jones, whom audiences saw open the production last year as one half of The Shenanigans, will perform holiday musical numbers during the performance. Performances run December 6 through 24 at KC Rep's downtown Copaken Stage in the Power & Light District. Press night is Thursday, December 11, 7pm curtain. This performance, as a work of satire, contains material that might be objectionable to some audiences. Appropriate for ages 16 and up. Past production high resolution photos can be found here.

The Kansas City Repertory Theatre (KC Rep) today announced a $200,000 matching challenge grant from the Muriel McBrien Kauffman Foundation to support expanded programming and activities during KC Rep's 50th Anniversary. KC Rep has until December 31, 2014 to match the $200,000 challenge grant with additional community support.

Kansas City Repertory Theatre Artistic Director Eric Rosen today announced additions to KC Rep's artistic staff. Jason Chanos has been hired as the new Associate Artistic Director and Marissa Wolf in the newly created position as Director of New Work/Artistic Associate. Chanos will begin January 5, 2015 and Wolf will begin December 10, 2014.

From zero to sixty like a fast luxury car is how The Who & The What transitions from a comedy to an intense look at faith, relationships, gender roles, and culture. So sit back it is a delightfully entertaining ride. The Who & The What opened on Friday October 24 at the Copaken Stage in downtown Kansas City, Mo. Eric Rosen directs the new play by Ayad Akhtar for the Kansas City Repertory Theatre. Akhtar's earlier work Disgraced won the 2013 Pulitzer Prize and opened on Broadway this year.

Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for theatre, welcomes new officers and nine new members to its board of directors. Sarah Bellamy, co-artistic director of Penumbra Theatre Company, and Kevin Moriarty, artistic director of Dallas Theater Center, succeed Robert Hupp and Lydia R. Diamond as joint vice presidents. Jonathan Moscone, artistic director of California Shakespeare Theater, succeeds Ralph Bryan as secretary. Diane Rodriguez, associate artistic director of Center Theatre Group, and Tim Jennings, managing director of Children's Theatre Company, remain as president and treasurer, respectively.

The Kirk Douglas Theatre was originally an historic 1940s Streamlined Moderne-style movie house called the Culver Theater, and it is believed that Kirk Douglas' movie "Spartacus" played there in the early 1960s. In 2003 it was transformed into an intimate 317-seat live theatre venue and named for the theatre's initial major donor: Kirk Douglas. On Tuesday, October 14, 2014, CTG's Kirk Douglas Theatre celebrated its 10th birthday with Anne and Kirk Douglas in attendance.

Kansas City Repertory Theatre continues its 50th anniversary celebration with the Kansas City premiere of Ayad Akhtar's The Who & The What, directed by Kansas City Repertory Theatre's Artistic Director Eric Rosen. From the 2013 Pulitzer Prize-winning writer of Disgraced, Ayad Akhtar's play, The Who & The What takes a passionate and searing look at a family divided by faith, bonded by love and searching for truth in contemporary America. A brilliant young Pakistani writer is focused on finishing a controversial novel that bridges the gulf between her modern life and her traditional heritage. But when her conservative father and sister discover her manuscript, they are all forced to confront the beliefs that define then. This production, at KC Rep's downtown Copaken Stage in the Power & Light District, will run tonight, October 17 through November 16.

Eric Rosen, Artistic Director of Kansas City Repertory Theatre, announced that acclaimed director David Cromer will direct a major revival of Tony Kushner's Pulitzer Prize-winning Angels in America as part of KC Rep's 50th anniversary 2014-15 season.

Uzo Aduba (Broadway's Godspell) currently stars in Netflix's 'Orange is the New Black' for which she recieved an Emmy Award for her portrayal of Suzanne 'Crazy Eyes' Warren.

The original cast recording of VENICE - the new musical produced by The Public Theater - is now available as an online exclusive with a digital booklet through iTunes, Amazon.com and other outlets. The physical CD will be available online and in stores on December 2.

Kansas City Repertory Theatre continues its 50th anniversary celebration with the Kansas City premiere of Ayad Akhtar's The Who & The What, directed by Kansas City Repertory Theatre's Artistic Director Eric Rosen. From the 2013 Pulitzer Prize-winning writer of Disgraced, Ayad Akhtar's play, The Who & The What takes a passionate and searing look at a family divided by faith, bonded by love and searching for truth in contemporary America. A brilliant young Pakistani writer is focused on finishing a controversial novel that bridges the gulf between her modern life and her traditional heritage. But when her conservative father and sister discover her manuscript, they are all forced to confront the beliefs that define then. This production, at KC Rep's downtown Copaken Stage in the Power & Light District, will run October 17 through November 16. High resolution photos can be found here .

The William & Eva Fox Foundation and Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for theatre, have announced the ninth round of Fox Foundation Resident Actor Fellowships recipients. The program is designed to support actors' professional and artistic development, to enrich relationships between actors and nonprofit theatres and to ensure continued professional commitment to live theatre. Funded by the Fox Foundation and administered by TCG, the fellowship is one of only a few programs of its kind for actors in the country.