Eugene O'Neill News

On the heels of hit comedy Barbecue Apocalypse, The Ruckus continues its 2014-15 season, dubbed the "season of catastrophe," with the world premiere of MATAWAN, Dan Caffrey's thrilling physical story of terror, coming of age, and the transformative power of total disaster. The Allison Shoemaker-directed production will run June 26th-July 26th at the Athenaeum Theatre (2936 N Southport Ave) in Chicago.

Kathy Evans, Founding Executive Director of Rhinebeck Writers Retreat, announced the 17 writers and 8 new musicals selected for the fifth summer of weeklong retreats. For eight consecutive weeks beginning July 5th, each writing team will have a residency in Rhinebeck, New York. Writers are provided a private home, transportation, food, and a $400 stipend. This year's writers include Obie winner Kirsten Childs, Tony nominee Elizabeth Davis, and 2015 Jonathan Larson award-winners Charlie Sohne, Tim Rosser, and Sam Willmott, who also just won the Kleban Prize. 

Mary Foster Conklin and Amy Engelhardt, two of New York City's most unique cabaret artists, return to the Duplex to make their own fun on Wednesday, June 3 at 7 pm. Sprung from different parts of New Jersey's underbelly, these unique storytellers with serious potty mouths recently discovered each other's talents--and are now proud members of a mutual admiration society.

54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents Ilana Gabrielle and Ashley Griffin: Girl+Friend on Saturday, June 13th 11:30pm. 

This week, colleges and universities across the country are celebrating the class of 2015 with commencement ceremonies. High-profile speakers -- including Eugene O'Neill Theater Center alums Lin-Manuel Miranda and Robert Redford -- are congratulating students on their accomplishments and entreating them to make a positive difference as they enter the real world. Today, RISK AGAIN! shares NTI Artistic Director Rachel Jett's commencement speech, given at the beginning of a semester at the National Theater Institute.

The complete cast and creative team have been announced for The Old Globe production of William Shakespeare's delightful and romantic Twelfth Night. Rebecca Taichman, whose production of the time-traveling Time and the Conways fascinated audiences last April, is back to direct the first show of the 2015 Summer Shakespeare Festival. The Old Globe engagement will begin performances on June 21 and run through July 26, 2015, with opening night on Saturday, June 27 at 8:00 p.m., in the Lowell Davies Festival Theatre.

In the wake of the Charlie Hebdo massacre in Paris, the political controversy surrounding the release of The Interview, and continued suppression of plays, books, and art in American schools, libraries and museums, the battle for freedom of speech and expression is more essential than ever. Planet Connections Theatre Festivity will present an evening of world premiere plays by Erik Ehn, Halley Feiffer, Israel Horovitz and Neil LaBute addressing censorship in the arts in Playwrights for a Cause, to be held at 7:30pm on June 14, 2015 at the Sheen Center, located at 18 Bleecker Street.

The Skivvies, Cyrille Aimee, Adam Kantor, Julie Hill, Josh Sharp and Aaron Jackson will join the previously announced headliners Melissa Errico, Liz Callaway, Michael McElroy, Lauren Worsham, Rachel  York, Randy Graff, Kim David Smith and Danielle Grabianowski for the fifth annual "Night Of A Thousand Judys" - presented by The Meeting* hosted by Justin Sayre - on Monday, June 1. The Pride concert to benefit The Ali Forney Center will take place at Merkin Concert Hall at the Kaufman Center (129 West 67th Street in Manhattan). Called "a rambunctious, uproarious, unpredictable all-star concert" by The Wall Street Journal, "Night Of A Thousand Judys" will honor the iconic Judy Garland with special skits, tributes and songs from her legendary career as movie star, recording artist and stage performer. There will be a pre-show VIP reception at 6:30 PM and the performance at 8:00 PM.

BroadwayWorld.com's SHOW BIZ: Rush, Lottery & Standing Room Only Ticketing Policies - updated on 5/15/2015.

IRT and Ricochet Collective announce the addition of Jody Flader (The Slug Bearers… at The Vineyard), to the cast of the World Premiere of GORDY CRASHES, by Sam Byron. Directed by Sherri Eden Barber, previews begin June 5 at IRT Theater with opening night slated for Friday, June 12. Flader replaces Clea Alsip, who leaves to join the cast of Neil Labute's The Way We Get By with Amanda Seyfried and Thomas Sadoski.

THIRTEEN's American Masters series teams up with Emmy- and Peabody Award-winning filmmaker Ric Burns to co-produce a new documentary about American Ballet Theatre (ABT) in honor of its 75th anniversary.

Marcus Hummon, who penned numerous country hits including the Grammy-winning, 'Bless the Broken Road,' and playwright of six award-winning musicals, has announced his newest creation, a concert theatrical adaptation of the great American abolitionist and social reformer, Frederick Douglass.

The Drama League (Executive Director, Gabriel Shanks) gathers for the 81st Annual Drama LeagueAwards Ceremony, hosted by 2014 Tony Award nominee, Hand to God's Steven Boyer with special guest Tyrone, today May 15, 2015 in the Broadway Ballroom at the Marriott Marquis Times Square (1535 Broadway).  Below, BroadwayWorld will be bringing you the complete list of winners live!

SPARKLE & CIRCULATE with JUSTIN SAYRE - the official monthly podcast of the International Order of Sodomites - has posted the seventh episode, which features an in-depth conversation with Carl Siciliano, founder of the Ali Forney Center, which provides shelter and services for homeless LGBT youth. The show is available on iTunes here.  Every June, Sayre's event Night of a Thousand Judys honors Judy Garland for Pride and raises money for the organization. Carl explains how the center was formed, who Ali Forney was and the challenges they face with fundraising. The first six episodes of the show - featuring interviews with Randy Harrison, Michael Musto, Frank DeCaro, Kim David Smith, Jeffery Self and R&B legend Sarah Dash - are also available. SPARKLE & CIRCULATE is produced by Dan Fortune and Tyrus Emory.

Marcus Hummon, who penned numerous country hits including the Grammy-winning, 'Bless the Broken Road,' and playwright of six award-winning musicals, has announced his newest creation, a concert theatrical adaptation of the great American abolitionist and social reformer, Frederick Douglass.

The Meeting* hosted by Justin Sayre, the acclaimed comedy/variety show, will return to JOE'S PUB at The Public Theater on Sunday, May 17 at 9:30 PM to conclude the Spring 2015 Season. The Meeting* has been called 'delicious and delightfully droll' by The New York Post and 'hilarious and sardonic' by The Village Voice. A story for Slate.com called the evening 'so deliciously icy that it left me shivering with fear and delight.' The Fall 2014 shows sold out after a New York Times 'Arts & Leisure' piece ran last September. The May show will be a celebration of The Scissor Sisters with special guests Amber Martin, Edgar Oliver, Tammy Faye Starlight, Michael Cavadias, Bridget Barkan, Jamie Wright, Angela DiCarlo, Philip Taratula and Brendan Michael. David Nagler serves as the show's Music Director.

This year -- the 10th annual Young Playwrights Festival -- featured 35 alums from the last 20 years of the National Theater Institute returning to the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center to nurture new works and new voices through the Young Playwrights Festival. 

Yale School of Drama presents the tenth annual Carlotta Festival of New Plays, May 8-15 at the Iseman Theater (1156 Chapel Street,). The Carlotta Festival is comprised of three fully-produced plays by graduating playwrights performed in repertory of twelve performances over eight days.

The original 1960's inspired sci-fi musical WILD WOMEN OF PLANET WONGO gets an immersive, dance-party infused production beginning June 11. This theatrical extravaganza will transform the bar and gallery space of Bushwick's Brooklyn Fireproof into Planet Wongo where audience members can dance, interact with sexy alien beings and be part of the show. Wongo is based on a concept by Ben Budick with music by Dave Ogrin, lyrics by Ben Budick, Steve Mackes and Dave Ogrin and a book by Steve Mackes. David Rigano directs. Performances begin June 11.

Darling Grenadine is the whimsical new musical from singer-songwriter Daniel Zaitchik.  It tells the story of a successful commercial composer and his precarious relationships with his girlfriend, his brother, and his Labrador Retriever.