Gail Cooper-Hecht News

Urban Stages' Board of Directors and founding artistic director Frances Hill presented the 2017 Urban Stages' Lifetime Achievement Award to Oscar, Emmy and Tony Award-winning legendary set and costume designer Tony Walton.  The celebrated Broadway, TV and film star,  Melissa Errico, ("Billions", My Fair Lady, High Society, Encores' Do I Hear a Waltz?), presented the award to her mentor and close friend, Tony Waltonat the annual benefit at the Boathouse in Central Park. 

To celebrate Zora Neale Hurston's 125th birthday, Woodie King, Jr.'s New Federal Theatre, in association with Castillo Theatre, will present 'Zora Neale Hurston: a Theatrical Biography' by Laurence Holder from tonight, October 20, to November 20 at Castillo Theatre, 543 West 42nd Street. Scroll down for a sneak peek at the cast and the historical figures they embody!

New York: As part of Urban Stages' mission to use theater as a means for conversation and education, Frances Hill, Founding Artistic Director of Urban Stages is proud to announce a special talkback series for their current production, Communion by OBIE, GLADD and Governor General's award-winning playwright Daniel MacIvor.  This series will include discussions with psychiatrists, therapists and grief counselors to address the issues featured in Communion.  Talkback are included with the price of a ticket to see Communion, they are $40 and may be purchased via OvationTix at www.urbanstages.org or by phone at 1.866.811.4111. The show will run at Urban Stages (259 W 30 Street) through October 30th.

Urban Stages (Frances Hill, Founding Artistic Director) will kick off its 33rd season with the American Premiere of the award-winning drama Communion by celebrated Obie Award- winning, Canadian playwright Daniel MacIvor, who will direct the production. This limited engagement will run at Urban Stages (259 West 30th Street, between Seventh and Eighth Avenues) will begin performances tonightand will run through October 30th, 2016 with Opening Night set for Thursday, October 6th.

Urban Stages will kick off its 33rd season with the American Premiere of the award-winning drama Communion by celebrated Obie Award- winning, Canadian playwright Daniel MacIvor, who will direct the production.

This Today, October 1, 2016 between 1-2pm, celebrated Obie Award-Winning playwright, Daniel MacIvor, who will be at The Drama Book Shop to meet and greet fans and sign copies of his plays.

Urban Stages kicks off its 33rd season with the American Premiere of the award-winning drama Communion by celebrated Obie Award- winning, Canadian playwright Daniel MacIvor, who will direct the production.

This Saturday, October 1, 2016 between 1-2pm, celebrated Obie Award-Winning playwright, Daniel MacIvor, who will be at The Drama Book Shop to meet and greet fans and sign copies of his plays.

To celebrate Zora Neale Hurston's 125th birthday, Woodie King, Jr.'s New Federal Theatre, in association with Castillo Theatre, will present 'Zora Neale Hurston: a Theatrical Biography' by Laurence Holder from October 20 to November 20 at Castillo Theatre, 543 West 42nd Street. Scroll down for a sneak peek at the cast and the historical figures they embody!

Urban Stages will kick off its 33rd season with the American Premiere of the award-winning drama Communion by celebrated Obie Award- winning, Canadian playwright Daniel MacIvor, who will direct the production.

Urban Stages will extend its critically acclaimed World Premiere of Mabel Madness written and performed by Tony Award Winner Trezana Beverley (For Colored Girls...) tells the dramatic story with music about the life of the famous cabaret chanteuse, Mabel Mercer. Co-directed by Frances Hill and Peter Napolitano with musical direction by Tuffus Zimbabwe, Mabel Madness began performances on February 19 and was originally set to end its run on March 20, will now play Wednesday nights at 7PM and Sundays at 3PM & 7PM through April 10, 2016. Tickets are $40 and are available at www.urbanstages.org or by calling 1-866-811-4111.

Some years ago when Tony Award-winning actress (for For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf (Ntozake Shange) and playwright Trezanna Beverley's voice coach suggested she listen to Mabel Mercer, the artist had not heard of the nightclub and cabaret singing icon. A trip to the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture (Harlem) began a protracted period of research into Mercer's life and work. Beverley found she not only respected and admired her subject, but felt a kinship both in spirit and color. Inspired, she decided to write her own theatrical script about Mercer's life and art with the goal of playing her in a one-woman show. Her dream has been realized with Mabel Madness, a play with music that opened this week at Urban Stages and runs until March 20.

Urban Stages (Frances Hill, Founding Artistic Director; Peter Napolitano, Associate Producer) continues its 32nd season with the World Premiere of Mabel Madness, the dramatic story with music about the life of the famous cabaret chanteuse, Mabel Mercer, written and performed by Tony Award Winner Trezana Beverley (For Colored Girls...).  Co-directed by Frances Hill and Peter Napolitano with musical direction by Tuffus Zimbabwe, Mabel Madness begins its Off-Broadway run at Urban Stages Theatre (259 West 30th Street) beginning February 19, opening on Thursday, February 25 and running through March 20, 2016. Tickets are $40 ($25 during previews; Students are $15) and are available at www.urbanstages.org or by calling 1-866-811-4111.

Take Wing And Soar Productions & Voza Rivers/New Heritage Theatre Group invite you to THE HARLEM SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL'S All-Female, Multi-Racial THE TRAGEDY OF OTHELLO: The Moor of Venice.

Take Wing And Soar Productions & Voza Rivers/New Heritage Theatre Group are proud to present THE HARLEM SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL'S All-Female, Multi-Racial THE TRAGEDY OF OTHELLO: The Moor of Venice.

Woodie King Jr.'s New Federal Theatre, in association with Castillo Theatre, will revive Martin Duberman's IN WHITE AMERICA, one of the signature plays of the Civil Rights Era, in a Off-Broadway production tonight, October 15, to November 15 at Castillo Theatre, 543 West 42nd Street.

Woodie King Jr.'s New Federal Theatre, in association with Castillo Theatre, will revive Martin Duberman's IN WHITE AMERICA, one of the signature plays of the Civil Rights Era, in a Off-Broadway production October 15 to November 15 at Castillo Theatre, 543 West 42nd Street.

 Woodie King Jr.'s New Federal Theatre, in association with Castillo Theatre, will revive Martin Duberman's 'In White America,' one of the signature plays of the Civil Rights Era, in a Off-Broadway production October 15 to November 15 at Castillo Theatre, 543 West 42nd Street.  The famed documentary play traces the American quest for racial equality from the earliest days of the republic to the Little Rock crisis of 1957, with dialogue drawn from historical letters, speeches, journals, songs and other personal accounts including recordings of former slaves. Charles Maryan directs an ensemble of seven which includes actor-turned-newscaster-turned-actor Art McFarland.

Woodie King Jr's New Federal Theatre kicks off its 47th season a rare revival of Martin Duberman's In White America, not seen in NYC for 50 years! In White America, directed by Charles Maryan, will begin performances October 15th, with opening night set for October 29th at the Castillo Theater (543 West 42nd Street). This limited Off-Broadway engagement will continue through November 15th only.