Gertrude Stein News

Artistic Director Bonnie Metzgar and Managing Director Rick Dildine today announced the postponement of the spring 2009 world premiere production of 'What Once We Felt,' a new play by Ann-Marie Healy to October-November 2009. Simultaneously, the About Face Theatre Board of Directors launched a national 'FACE THE FUTURE' campaign to save the organization by raising $300,000.

BOO-Arts Productions is pleased to announce their production of George Bernard Shaw's MRS. WARREN'S PROFESSION, directed by Kathleen O'Neill. MRS. WARREN'S PROFESSION will play a three-week limited engagement at Manhattan Theatre Source (177 MacDougal Street, New York, NY 10011). Performances begin Wednesday, April 1st and continue through Saturday, April 18th. Opening Night is Thursday, April 2nd (7 p.m.).

Florida Studio Theatre brings back the popular summer hit Always...Patsy Cline for a special two week limited engagement. Patsy Cline was the original cross-over sensation with her acclaimed hit 'Walkin' After Midnight' in 1957 (#2 on the Country Charts and #12 on the Pop Charts) and followed in the early 60s with 'I Fall to Pieces,' 'Crazy' and 'She's Got You.' These songs and 24 others will pay tribute to the one-of-a-kind Patsy Cline. Cline's rise to legendary stardom is told through personal letters shared with her best friend and biggest fan, Louise. From her performance at the Grand Ole Opry to her tragic death in 1963, Patsy Cline will 'always' have a place in country music and with music enthusiasts across multiple genres.

San Francisco's cutting-edge Cutting Ball Theater continues its 2008-09 season with the Bay Area Premiere of Will Eno's London and Off-Broadway hit THOM PAIN (based on nothing). Crowded Fire Artistic Director Marissa Wolf helms this Pulitzer Prize-nominated one-man meditation on the empty promises that life makes, starring Jonathan Bock. THOM PAIN (based on nothing) plays March 13 through April 5 (Press opening: Friday, March 13) at the Cutting Ball Theater in residence at Exit on Taylor (277 Taylor Street) in San Francisco. Will Eno will be in residence at Cutting Ball; there will be a special opening night reception and Q&A on March 13 at 6:30pm with Eno, director Marissa Wolf, and Cutting Ball Artistic Director Rob Melrose. For tickets ($15-30) and more information, the public may visit cuttingball.com or call 800-838-3006.

Artistic Director Bonnie Metzgar and Managing Director Rick Dildine are pleased to announce About Face Theatre's second show of its 2008/2009 season, a dynamic, multimedia adaptation of 'Stupid Kids' by the late John C. Russell. The production, directed by Metzgar and Youth Theatre Program co- founder Megan Carney, will be presented at the Center on Halsted. 'Though set in the late '80s, our production incorporates very contemporary, interactive elements that kids are using today to express who they are- blogging, social networks, texting, personal video,' says co-director Metzgar. 'In fact, we will encourage audience members to leave cell phones on during the show and become a part of the action. We wanted to create a live collage of images and impressions from both eras to build a mash-up of these two generations.' To celebrate stupid stories about high school, About Face has launched the Stupid Kids Stuff Blog (http://stupidkidstuff.blogspot.com/), providing an opportunity for visitors to share their personal stories about being a 'stupid kid' and to participate in the Stupid Kids Multimedia Art Contest. Winning submissions will be featured in performances of the show and artists will receive complimentary tickets.

Join us as we celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Broadway premiere of FOUR SAINTS IN THREE ACTS, written by the creative genius Gertrude Stein and the inimitable Virgil Thomson, presented in collaboration with Nancy Rhodes (Artistic Director, Encompass New Opera Theatre), poet and librettist Karren Alenier, and the CUNY Ph.D. Program in Music. Four Saints in Three Acts holds a unique place in the American avant-garde opera of the 20th century. It will be honored in a daylong event by leading scholars and practitioners in the field of avant-garde literature and performance, with a screening and discussions. The highlight of the celebration is a staged oratorio version of Four Saints in Three Acts prepared by Virgil Thomson himself, directed by Nancy Rhodes, and presented by Encompass New Opera Theatre, with 8 principles, a 24-member chorus, 3 dancers, and a 16 piece orchestra conducted by Mara Waldman.

The new concert series, entitled 'Love Songs' will premiere on Saturday, January 31st and continue through Saturday, February 28th at Broadway's premiere destination, Sardi's (234 West 44th Street between Broadway & Eighth Avenue).

Astoria Performing Arts Center is pleased to announce the production of RAGTIME, a musical directed by APAC's very own Artistic Director, Tom Wojtunik. Ragtime will play a 3-week limited engagement at the Good Shepherd United Methodist Church (30-44 Crescent St, Astoria, NY 11102). Performances begin Thursday, February 5th and continue through Sunday, February 22nd.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts today announced casting for its production of RAGTIME in the Eisenhower Theater April 18 - May 10, 2009. Based on a 1975 novel by E.L. Doctorow, the production features book by Terrence McNally, music by Stephen Flaherty and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, and will be directed and choreographed by Marcia Milgrom Dodge. The musical is part of the Kennedy Center's Broadway: The Third Generation, a series celebrating the current generation of Broadway musical composers. The official press night will take place on Saturday, April 25, 2009 at 7:30 p.m.

Due to the overwhelming audience and critical response Sardi's management has scheduled additional Saturday evening concerts with Broadway star and vocal power house, James Barbour. The new concert series, entitled 'Love Songs' will premiere on Saturday, January 31st and continue through Saturday, February 28th at Broadway's premiere destination, Sardi's (234 West 44th Street ? between Broadway & Eighth Avenue). Musical Direction is by Jeremy Roberts. Broadway's J. Mark McVey will join Jemmy Powers as a Special Guest Artist on Saturday, February 7.

Artistic Director Bonnie Metzgar and Managing Director Rick Dildine are pleased to announce About Face Theatre's second show of its 2008/2009 season, a dynamic, multimedia adaptation of 'Stupid Kids' by the late John C. Russell. The production, directed by Metzgar and Youth Theatre Program co- founder Megan Carney, will be presented at the Center on Halsted. 'Though set in the late '80s, our production incorporates very contemporary, interactive elements that kids are using today to express who they are- blogging, social networks, texting, personal video,' says co-director Metzgar. 'In fact, we will encourage audience members to leave cell phones on during the show and become a part of the action. We wanted to create a live collage of images and impressions from both eras to build a mash-up of these two generations.' To celebrate stupid stories about high school, About Face has launched the Stupid Kids Stuff Blog (http://stupidkidstuff.blogspot.com/), providing an opportunity for visitors to share their personal stories about being a 'stupid kid' and to participate in the Stupid Kids Multimedia Art Contest. Winning submissions will be featured in performances of the show and artists will receive complimentary tickets.

Josh Kornbluth, the renowned playwright, performer and former host of KQED TV's 'The Josh Kornbluth Show,' will debut his new one-man show, Andy Warhol: Good for the Jews?, at the Contemporary Jewish Museum on January 10, 2009.

Arizona-based actress Susan Claassen, who completed a highly successful engagement on London's West End this summer as legendary Hollywood designer Edith Head in 'A CONVERSATION WITH EDITH HEAD', recently began an intermittent US tour which will bring her to Arizona and California. (The month-long engagement at London's new Leicester Square Theatre was preceded by a sold out run at the 2007 Edinburgh Festival Fringe.)

Goodman Theatre kicks off 2009 with one of the most groundbreaking theatrical events of the last 15 years: the Chicago premiere of The Wooster Group's (New York City) critically acclaimed 1993 production of The Emperor Jones by Eugene O'Neill. Directed by Elizabeth LeCompte, this provocative story of a delusional self-appointed West Indian emperor features Kate Valk reprising her 'riveting, haunting, altogether astonishing' (The New York Times) performance of the title role, joined by Ari Fliakos and Scott Shepherd.

Goodman Theatre kicks off 2009 with one of the most groundbreaking theatrical events of the last 15 years: the Chicago premiere of The Wooster Group's (New York City) critically acclaimed 1993 production of The Emperor Jones by Eugene O'Neill. Directed by Elizabeth LeCompte, this provocative story of a delusional self-appointed West Indian emperor features Kate Valk reprising her 'riveting, haunting, altogether astonishing' (The New York Times) performance of the title role, joined by Ari Fliakos and Scott Shepherd.

Here is a sampling of what you can expect from Josh Kornbluth's new comedic monologue, Andy Warhol: Good For the Jews?, which opens at the Contemporary Jewish Museum on January 10 at 8 PM.

Astoria Performing Arts Center is pleased to announce the production of RAGTIME, a musical directed by APAC's very own Artistic Director, Tom Wojtunik. Ragtime will play a 3-week limited engagement at the Good Shepherd United Methodist Church (30-44 Crescent St, Astoria, NY 11102). Performances begin Thursday, February 5th and continue through Sunday, February 22nd.

The Living Theatre (19 Clinton St.), the oldest experimental theatre group still exisiting in the country, will celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of THE CONNECTION by playwright Jack Gelber with a new production directed by Judith Malina. The Living Theatre will present the 50th anniversary revival in collaboration with New York City jazz musician Rene McLean, who will conduct a New York jazz ensemble. The Production will begin performances on December 30, 2008 and will open on Thursday, January 8, 2009. and will continue until Feburary 13, 2009. Judith Malina directs.

Target Margin Theater (David Herskovits, Artistic Director), Off-Broadway's extraordinary, Obie Award-winning theater company, has announced the cast for the New York premiere of the never-before-seen production of Ten Blocks on the Camino Real by Tennessee Williams. Under the direction of David Herskovits, the six-member cast features Purva Bedi, Satya Bhabha, Curt Hostetter, McKenna Kerrigan, Dara Seitzman and Raphael Nash Thompson. This production will offer an extremely rare view of the theatrical process of playwright Tennessee Williams.

Target Margin Theater, Off Broadway's Obie Award-winning theater company, will explore the world of classic American playwrights and authors in its upcoming 2009 season. Launching the season, the company will offer an extremely rare view of the theatrical process of playwright Tennessee Williams with the first-ever never before seen in New York production of Ten Blocks on the Camino Real.