James Lecesne News

The Square One Theatre Company in Stratford, Connecticut completes its 28th Anniversary Season with The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey by James Lescene. Lecesne's multihued play glows with such humanity (and robust humor) that the audience may find itself choking back a tear or two. The play, directed by Tom Holehan, is a dazzling beacon of theatrical talent.

The Square One Theatre Company in Stratford, Connecticut completes its 28th Anniversary Season with The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey by James Lescene. Lecesne's multihued play glows with such humanity (and robust humor) that the audience may find itself choking back a tear or two. The play, directed by Tom Holehan, is a dazzling beacon of theatrical talent. The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey, hailed by The New York Times "…leaves you beaming with joy…a superlative solo show…" opens Thursday, May 3 and continues Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through May 20 (2018) at Stratford Academy located at 719 Birdseye Street in Stratford, Connecticut.

Abingdon Theatre Company (Tony Speciale, Artistic Director; Denise Dickens, Producing Director) has announced casting for the first production of its 25th Anniversary main stage season, The Gentleman Caller, a new play by Philip Dawkins (Charm, Le Switch, The Homosexuals).

This Master Class with Fiona Shaw is a rare opportunity to meet and work with one of the most influential actresses and directors of contemporary theatre. Participants are expected to prepare a short piece of text of their choice to work on, such as: an audition speech of any kind, a speech from a scene, a poem, any text (classical or contemporary), even their original writing, or - as recommended by Ms. Shaw herself - a compilation of things, which may include, for example: some sonnets mixed with contemporary writing, basically any text that is two-minutes or less in length.

Abingdon Theatre Company (Tony Speciale, Artistic Director; Denise Dickens, Producing Director) continues its 2017-2018 Ghostlight Reading Series this month with a provocative new work inspired by the legacy of legendary comic Lenny Bruce: Buyer Beware, a new play by Michael Weller, will receive a reading presentation Monday March 26 at 7PM at The DR2 Theatre, 101 E. 15th Street. The event is free but reservations are required. Visit abingdontheatre.org for reservations and further information including casting updates.

American Blues Theater, under the continued leadership of Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside, announces the lineup for its 2018 - 2019 Season, "Home Sweet Home." American Blues' 33rd Season will include the Chicago Premieres of On Clover Road by Steven Dietz, directed by Halena Kays and The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey by James Lecesne, directed by Kurt Johns; Flyin' West by Pearl Cleage, directed by Chuck Smith; the 17th annual production of It's a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago! from Frank Capra's film, directed by Gwendolyn Whiteside; and The Spitfire Grill - a musical book, lyrics, and music by James Valeq & Fred Alley, music directed by Malcolm Ruhl.

Veteran Raleigh actor David Henderson portrays every character in a small Jersey shore town as they unravel the story of Leonard Pelkey, a tenaciously optimistic and flamboyant 14-year-old boy who has gone missing. A luminous force of nature whose magic is only truly felt once he is gone, Leonard becomes an unexpected inspiration as the town's citizens question how they live, who they love, and what they leave behind. An amazing tour-de-force one-man performance that will enthrall you as several characters are brought fully to life without the use of costumes or props.

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There are some things it's hard to joke about, but the tasteful crime tragicomedy of James Lecesne's one-man show somehow holds it together.

Due to audience demand, City Theatre is announcing a one-week extension of the uplifting one-man drama,The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey by Academy Award-Winner James Lecesne.

Abingdon Theatre Company (Tony Speciale, Artistic Director; Denise Dickens, Producing Director) has announced its latest Studio Series of intensive classes focusing on audition technique and script analysis. For registration and further information visit abingdontheatre.org or call (212) 868-2055, ext. 1.

Abingdon Theatre Company (Tony Speciale, Artistic Director; Denise Dickens, Producing Director) will launch its 25th Anniversary main stage season with The Gentleman Caller, the New York premiere of a new play by Philip Dawkins (Charm, Le Switch, The Homosexuals).

The San Diego Theatre Critics Circle has announced the nominations for its 16th annual Craig Noel Awards for Theatrical Excellence, which will be presented in a ceremony on Feb. 12, 2018, at the Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation in San Diego.

City Theatre's 2017-18 season continues with the uplifting one-man drama The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey by Academy Award-Winner James Lecesne. Keith Randolph Smith (Sunset Baby, November 2015) stars as Chuck DeSantis, a small-town detective recounting the disappearance of a gay teenager named Leonard Pelkey, and the community who helped him uncover the truth. Directed by Laura Savia, Associate Artistic Director of internationally renowned Williamstown Theatre Festival, the play runs January 20 February 18, 2018, in the Lester Hamburg Studio Theatre. Tickets are on sale now.

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Abingdon Theatre Company, in association with Music-Theatre Group, presents James Lecesne in Eve Ensler's Extraordinary Measures for three performances only: this weekend, December 1, 2 and 3 at 7PM at The DR2 Theatre, 101 E. 15th Street.

This December, Abingdon Theatre Company continues its 25th Anniversary Season with two very special events. Scroll down for details!

United Solo, the world's largest solo theatre festival, concluded its eighth season with a Gala at Theatre Row in New York. Throughout its ten-week run, the festival offered 120 stage productions, representing six continents, performed mostly in English, but also in Bulgarian, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Polish, Russian, Spanish, and in the category of physical theatre through body language. Nearly 60 shows sold out, and were presented several times due to popular demand. Fiona Show called United Solo 'the mecca of the solo shows in the world.' This past season, the festival presented productions created by new talents, as well as show business veterans, including Oscar winner Milton Justice and Emmy winner Bill Oberst Jr. This year's festival also offered Master Classes led by Pau Aran Gimeno, a performer at Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch; James Lecesne, an actor, activist, author of the screenplay for an Oscar-winning film; and Austin Pendleton, a renowned actor and director, and a recipient of the Drama Desk Special Award.

Abingdon Theatre Company, in association with Music-Theatre Group, presents James Lecesne in Eve Ensler's Extraordinary Measures for three performances only: December 1, 2 and 3 at 7PM at The DR2 Theatre, 101 E. 15th Street. Featuring original music by William Harper and directed by Tony Speciale, proceeds from the event will be shared with Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

In addition to presenting 120 productions, the world's largest solo theatre festival has launched a series of Master Classes, for theater artists, students, and enthusiasts with all levels of experience.