George Street News

Minneapolis Musical Theatre's (MMT) new 2014-15 season will feature the area premieres of Eating Raoul, Calvin Berger and Happy Days-A New Musical at Hennepin Theatre Trust's New Century Theatre. Eating Raoul, based on the 1982 cult classic, black comedy film about a twisted take on the American dream, runs October 3-26, 2014. Calvin Berger, inspired by the classic French play Cyrano de Bergerac, runs January 23-February 15, 2015. TV's favorite family, the Cunninghams join The Fonz to save their favorite malt shop from demolition in Happy Days-A New Musical, running April 24-May 17, 2015. Three-show season subscription packages are just $66 and go on sale Friday, June 6 at 11 a.m. by calling 612.455.9501 or in person at the New Century Theatre Box Office (street level of City Center in downtown Minneapolis). Please visit HennepinTheatreTrust.org/mmt for complete ordering information. Individual tickets will go on sale at a later date.

Earn your blood at the tag team match of the century, with the survival of two families in the balance. The Echo Theater Company presents the world premiere of an outrageously violent, seriously dark and surprisingly funny new play about backyard wrestling. Larry Biederman directs Backyard by Mickey Birnbaum, opening tonight, May 31 at the Echo's new home, Atwater Village Theatre.

Artistic Director David Saint has announced the slate of plays scheduled for the New Brunswick theatre's 2014-2015 season. George Street, which celebrated its fortieth season in 2013-14, continues the celebration with a slate of four plays ranging from direct-from New York dramas, to an a capella musical celebrating barbershop; to an examination of the Jewish faith in the years following America's Civil War. John Patrick Shanley's Outside Mullingar, direct from Broadway, opens the season in a production directed by Mr. Saint. John Markus and Mark St. Germain's a capella musical The Fabulous Lipitones follows, directed by Michael Mastro. Matthew Lopez's searing drama The Whipping Man begins 2015, followed by the 25th Anniversary Production of John Guare's Six Degrees of Separation, also directed by Mr. Saint. One additional production is yet to be selected, and will be announced at a later date.

Rubicon Theatre continues the company's 16th Not Your Typical Season with Collected Stories. Written by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Donald Margulies and directed by James O'Neil, Collected Stories is a two-person play featuring Susan Clark (Emmy Winner - 'Babe Zaharias,' 'Webster,' Shaw Festival and the Taper) as a brilliant, direct writing professor and Meghan Andrews (Frost/Nixon and The Grapes of Wrath on Broadway) as her eager-yet-talented student. Opening tonight, May 28th at 7:00 p.m., Collected Stories runs Wednesdays through Sundays until June 21st.

American actor/director Frank Ferrante known for his stage performances as legendary comedian Groucho Marx in New York, London and over 400 cities worldwide debuts his 'An Evening With Groucho' in Australia beginning June 27th. The tour plays eleven cities closing July 19th. Dreya Weber directs. Pianist Eric Ebbenga provides musical accompaniment. Australian based Jally Entertainment produces.

Building on Slant Theatre Project's success with last season's The Steadfast, the company presents The Cloud, a world premiere mistaken-identity comedy written by playwright/comedian Matt Moses. Wes Grantom (Eager to Lose, The Steadfast) directs a cast of four including Teddy Bergman* (B'way: Peter and the Starcatcher, Off-B'way: Sex Lives of Our Parents), Mikaela Feely-Lehmann* (B'way: Cyrano de Bergerac), Ryan King* (Now Or Later at Huntington Theatre, The Intelligent Design Of Jenny Chow at the Atlantic Theater Company), and Polly Lee* (Marie Antoinette at Yale Rep, Wasps at Studio 42). Scroll down for a first look at the cast in action!

Today the Zimmerli Art Museum at Rutgers University announced the launch of Blue Star Museums, a collaboration among the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense, and more than 2,000 museums across America to offer free admission to all active duty military personnel and their families from Memorial Day through Labor Day 2014. Leadership support has been provided by MetLife Foundation through Blue Star Families. The program provides families an opportunity to enjoy the nation's cultural heritage and learn more about their new communities after a military move. The complete list of participating museums is available at arts.gov/national/blue-star-museums.

Asolo Repertory Theatre's sizzling summer production of I LOVED, I LOST, I MADE SPAGHETTI opens tonight, May 21 at 8pm and will run through Sunday, June 15 in Asolo Rep's Cook Theatre. Starring Antoinette LaVecchia, who originated the role of Giulia at TheaterWorks in Connecticut in 2012, previews for the 2012 Broadwayworld.com winner for Best Original/New Work will be Sunday, May 18 at 8pm and Tuesday, May 20 at 7:30pm. The play will be directed by Rob Ruggiero (Asolo Rep's Show Boat). Asolo Rep's production transfers from a highly successful April 2014 run at George Street Playhouse in New Jersey where it received both critical and public acclaim.

Rubicon Theatre continues the company's 16th Not Your Typical Season with Collected Stories. Written by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Donald Margulies and directed by James O'Neil, Collected Stories is a two-person play featuring Susan Clark (Emmy Winner - "Babe Zaharias," "Webster," Shaw Festival and the Taper) as a brilliant, direct writing professor and Meghan Andrews (Frost/Nixon and The Grapes of Wrath on Broadway) as her eager-yet-talented student. Opening May 28th at 7:00 p.m., Collected Stories runs Wednesdays through Sundays until June 21st.

Marlo Thomas newly released book, 'It Ain't Over...Till It's Over: Reinventing Your Life--and Realizing Your Dreams--Anytime, at Any Age' book will be featured on Dr. Oz today (3pmET) as one of his book picks.

Rubicon Theatre continues the company's 16th Not Your Typical Season with Collected Stories. Written by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Donald Margulies and directed by James O'Neil, Collected Stories is a two-person play featuring Susan Clark (Emmy Winner - "Babe Zaharias," "Webster," Shaw Festival and the Taper) as a brilliant, direct writing professor and Meghan Andrews (Frost/Nixon and The Grapes of Wrath on Broadway) as her eager-yet-talented student. Opening May 28th at 7:00 p.m., Collected Stories runs Wednesdays through Sundays until June 21st.

The Dogs of Desire, Albany Symphony Orchestra's groundbreaking chamber ensemble, will present the world premiere of composer David Mallamud's new work, "Glam Guignonl," with libretto by Rochelle Bright ("Donny Vomit") and Michael Cooper ("Lizardman").

Building on Slant Theatre Project's success with last season's The Steadfast, the company has announced the full cast for The Cloud, a world premiere mistaken-identity comedy written by playwright/comedian Matt Moses. Wes Grantom (Eager to Lose, The Steadfast) directs a cast of four including Teddy Bergman* (B'way: Peter and the Starcatcher, Off-B'way: Sex Lives of Our Parents), Mikaela Feely-Lehmann* (B'way: Cyrano de Bergerac), Ryan King* (Now Or Later at Huntington Theatre, The Intelligent Design Of Jenny Chow at the Atlantic Theater Company), and Polly Lee* (Marie Antoinette at Yale Rep, Wasps at Studio 42). *Member, Actors' Equity Association. AEA Showcase.

The Zimmerli Art Museum at Rutgers announced today that it will offer free admission from today, May 16, through Sunday, May 18. The Zimmerli looks forward to celebrating Alumni Weekend (www.alumni.rutgers.edu) and Commencement (commencement.rutgers.edu) with other departments across the Rutgers University-New Brunswick campus. The museum also is pleased to continue its annual participation in the Association of Art Museum Directors' (AAMD aamd.org) Art Museum Day on May 18, coinciding with International Museum Day. The Zimmerli is open 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Friday, and noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Playwrights Theatre is pleased to announce the winners of the 31st Annual New Jersey Young Playwrights Contest. From the 470 plays submitted by young writers throughout the state, a panel of theatre professionals has selected four High School plays, three Junior High School plays and four Elementary Schools plays. In each category, selection was blind; plays were selected without knowledge of playwrights' schools, grade or background. The 31st Annual New Jersey Young Playwrights Contest Festival will be held on June 2 and 3, 2014, as part of a partnership between Playwrights Theatre and Premiere Stages at Kean University. Select plays from this festival may be reprised at Playwrights Theatre's nationally-recognized Forum Reading Series in December 2014. This reading series brings together writers from all over the United States.

Playwrights Theatre's will present a free reading at the Chase Room of the Madison Public Library, 39 Keep Street, Madison, NJ tonight, May 15, 2014 beginning at 7:00pm. Penny Harter will be reading excerpts of new poetry book THE RESONANCE AROUND US.

Barrington Stage Company (BSC), under the leadership of Julianne Boyd Artistic Director and Tristan Wilson Managing Director, announces four new Associate Artists, all of whom are working at Barrington Stage in 2014 - casting director Pat McCorkle, lighting designer Scott Pinkney, scenic designer Brian Prather, and press director Charlie Siedenburg.

Marlo Thomas spoke to BWW and other members of the press about her newly released book 'It Ain't Over...Till It's Over: Reinventing Your Life--and Realizing Your Dreams--Anytime, at Any Age'