Eric Simonson News

Manhattan Theatre Club (Lynne Meadow, Artistic Director; Barry Grove, Executive Producer) has announced the lineup for the 2020 Ted Snowdon Reading Series.

Steppenwolf's world premiere production of LINDIWE, a collaboration between ensemble member Eric Simonson and acclaimed South African music group Ladysmith Black Mambazo, finds the most success in its musical moments. The production, co-directed by Simonson and Jonathan Berry, features new music from Ladysmith Black Mambazo to tell the love story of the titular Lindiwe and her boyfriend Adam. It helps that the narrative focuses on Lindiwe's experience as a singer touring with Ladysmith Black Mambazo-and, indeed, the group literally accompanies her at several moments throughout the production. Lindiwe explains that she never goes anywhere without her 'guys,' as she affectionately refers to them. Thus, Ladysmith Black Mambazo functions as a kind of Greek chorus underscoring the romantic storyline at the play's center. The conceit also allows for the play to utilize the group's original music.

General Director and CEO Deborah Sandler today announced that an innovative new work celebrating the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, and a cabaret-style favorite that returns by popular demand comprise the 2020 Explorations series. The series leads audiences on a delightful journey of musical discovery through eclectic works performed in Lyric Opera's Michael and Ginger Frost Production Arts Building in the Crossroads District.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company announces the addition of ensemble member Randall Arney in the role of 'Dr. Sweet' to the cast of Bug by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning ensemble member Tracy Letts, directed by Tony Award winner David Cromer (January 23 a?" March 8, 2020). Completing the cast of this acclaimed cult classic are Chicago favorites Jennifer Engstrom (R.C.) and Steve Key (Jerry Goss) along with previously announced ensemble members Carrie Coon (Agnes White) and Namir Smallwood (Peter Evans).

Rehearsals are underway for Lindiwe, Steppenwolf's highly anticipated world premiere production written by ensemble member Eric Simonson and featuring music written and performed by the five-time GRAMMY® winning group, Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Directed by ensemble member Eric Simonson and Jonathan Berry, the life-affirming love story travels from Chicago's Kingston Mines to South Africa and beyond.

Rehearsals are underway for Lindiwe, Steppenwolf's highly anticipated world premiere production written by ensemble member Eric Simonson and featuring music written and performed by the five-time GRAMMY winning group, Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Directed by ensemble member Eric Simonson and Jonathan Berry, the life-affirming love story travels from Chicago's Kingston Mines to South Africa and beyond.

The rehearsal room was electric as artists came together today for the first day of Lindiwe, Steppenwolf's highly anticipated world premiere production written by ensemble member Eric Simonson and featuring music written and performed by the five-time GRAMMY winning group, Ladysmith Black Mambazo.

Tickets go on sale today for Steppenwolf Theatre Company's highly anticipated world premiere production of Lindiwe, featuring music written and performed by the five-time GRAMMY winning group, Ladysmith Black Mambazo.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company announces casting for the first four productions of the 2019/20 season featuring previously announced ensemble members Audrey Francis, Tim Hopper, Caroline Neff, Yasen Peyankov and Karen Rodriguez, and the return of Steppenwolf regulars including Michael Patrick Thornton, Cedric Young and Keith Kupferer, along with dozens of Chicago-based actors and an exciting debut by South African stage and screen star Nondumiso Tembe.

Each year, Broadway champions works both new and old, welcoming a fresh crop of plays from playwrights both at home and abroad every season. Their works enrapture audiences, offering takes on comedy, drama, history and everything in between, dazzling in their relevance, sparkling in their spectacle, and often challenging in their complexity.

Skyline Theatre Company, Bergen County's most established professional theatre company and in residence at the Fair Lawn Community Center in Bergen County's Fair Lawn, presents "LOMBARDI" this weekend only from Friday, May 3th through Sunday, May 5th.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts hosts more than 120 outstanding theater students from colleges and universities across the nation as part of the 50th annual Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF), which runs April 16-20, 2019 in multiple locations throughout the Center. The Center also announced the national awardees for the KCACTF. Selected awardees and representatives will be brought to Washington, D.C. for an expense-paid trip to participate in the National Festival. These student artists from across the United States have been recognized for their outstanding work from the eight regional festivals that were held January 8 through February 28, 2019.

Lynne Meadow (Artistic Director) and Barry Grove (Executive Producer) are pleased to announce the complete casting for the world premiere of Continuity, the new play by Lortel and Drama Desk Award nominee Bess Wohl (Small Mouth Sounds, American Hero) and directed by Tony Award nominee Rachel Chavkin (Hadestown; Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812). The production will feature Max Baker (1984, The Explorers Club), Jasmine Batchelor (The River), Rosal Colon ('Orange is the New Black,' Between Riverside and Crazy), Curran Connor (Pidgeon, A Picture of Autumn), Garcia ('Tales of the City'), Darren Goldstein (Lillian Hellman's The Little Foxes, The Madrid), Alex Hurt (Cardinal, The Whirligig) and Megan Ketch (The Big Wedding, 'American Gothic').

BroadwayWorld presents a comprehensive weekly roundup of regional stories around our Broadway World, which include videos, editor spotlights, regional reviews and more. This week, we feature The Color Purple Casting Controversy, Paper Mill's 2019/2020 Season, and More!

This past weekend at the Ordway Center, MN Opera unveiled their World Premiere The Fix in tribute to the All-American sport and spirt of baseball. The story created through the company's New Works Initiative by Eric Simonson, who wrote the libretto and also directed the production, was accompanied by composer Joel Puckett. With glowing nostalgia, the 1919 White Sox under Charles Comiskey's ownership and headed by baseball great Shoeless Joe Jackson, sought to 'fix' the 1919 World Series, which disappointed baseball fans across America.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company welcomes Leelai Demoz as the new Associate Artistic Director. Leelai Demoz has had a varied career in the arts, on stage, in front and behind the camera.

New Jersey Theatre Alliance presents Skyline Theatre Company's world premiere musical workshop production of 'Unbelievable' on Saturday, March 16 at 7pm. This event is part of the Alliance's Stages Festival, the state's largest annual theatre festival that provides free and discounted theatre events for all ages throughout the month of March. This one-night-only event is free to the public.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company announced the 2019/20 Season today. With seven Steppenwolf main series productions and two Steppenwolf for Young Adults (SYA) productions, the 44th season brings together the talents of revered Steppenwolf legends and captivating new ensemble members in a powerful lineup that celebrates a dynamic range of exciting voices.

Manhattan Theatre Club announces the lineup for the 2019 Ted Snowdon Reading Series.