Jason Butler News

Just last night, Roundabout Theatre Company New York premiere of Birthday Candles by Noah Haidle, starring Emmy Award winner Debra Messing, directed by Vivienne Benesch, celebrated opening night and BroadwayWorld was there to capture pictures.

CSC will host a one-night-only benefit staged reading of Measure for Measure by William Shakespeare, directed by Founding Artistic Director Steven Maler. This production will feature Christian Coulson (Harry Potter, The Hours, Mozart in the Jungle, Nashville) as Angelo and features a dynamic cast of the area’s extraordinary talent. 

Off Broadway will be available to the public via Broadstream from June 24th-June 27th. Learn more about how to receive a link to the show here!

The 2021 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize has been awarded to U.S. playwright Erika Dickerson-Despenza for her play about the Flint, Michigan water crisis, cullud wattah. Awarded annually since 1977, The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize is the largest and oldest international prize honoring Women+ playwrights.

The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize will present a virtual presentation to announce the 2021 winner of one of the most prestigious playwriting awards, and the oldest and largest prize awarded to women+ playwrights, today, April 7, 2021 at 3pm EST/ 8pm BST. Tune in right here at BroadwayWorld to watch the presentation, hosted by Pulitzer Prize-winning Playwright and Susan Smith Blackburn Prize winner (1983) Marsha Norman.

Today, Red Bull Theater announced the first public presentation of a new dramatization of John Milton’s epic poem Paradise Lost, adapted and directed by Michael Barakiva. Presented in two parts, this event will feature Jason Butler Harner, Saidah Arrika Ekulona, Stephen Bel Davies, Sheldon Best, Gisela Chípe, Robert Cuccioli and more.

Williamstown Theatre Festival announced today that the 2021 WTF Gala will take place virtually on Wednesday, April 7. The Gala will start at 7:30 PM ET, preceded by an interactive VIP pre-show for event sponsors and virtual table buyers, and will feature musical performances and special appearances from beloved friends of the Festival.

The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize has announced 10 Finalists for 2021 for its prestigious playwriting award, the oldest and largest prize awarded to women+ playwrights.

Today, Williamstown Theatre Festival and Audible Theater announced casting as rehearsals and recording sessions commence for Wish You Were Here, part of the unprecedented collaboration to bring Williamstown Theatre Festival’s season to Audible. Additionally, release dates for the final three productions in the season have been announced.

Directed by Obie Award Winner, Whitney White, the piece is billed as a comedy that “marches into the muddy intersection of romantic entanglement, identity, pride, and survival.”  For me the piece is something like the theatrical (verbal) equivalent of a mixed doubles tennis match. There are lots of volley’s, some overhead smashes and an occasional Ace leaving the recipient unable to respond but stinging none the less.  The four characters engage in relatively rapid-fire banter that includes a fair amount of intensity and emotion.  The subject matter often deals with sensitive issues that include political correctness, cancel culture, race, roles, and even some romance.  The dialogue is real, sometimes raw, rarely funny.  The piece packs a lot of drama and emotion, but not much oomph, sizzle, or pizazz.

The Williamstown Theatre Festival and Audible Theater world premiere presentation of Animals is available worldwide tomorrow, December 17 at 3 AM ET within the Audible Plus catalog. Animals is part of the 2020 Williamstown Theatre Festival summer season produced on Audible.

A who's who of stage, screen, and music stars came together virtually last night to help The 24 Hour Plays celebrate its milestone 20th Annual Broadway Gala. Hugh Dancy, Rachel Dratch, Carly Hughes, Gillian Jacobs and Bebe Neuwirth were among the incredible talents who teamed up to write, rehearse, produce, and perform six original plays in 24 hours. The performance was entirely LIVE and streamed in living rooms around the world! 

Play-PerView has announced programming and casting for upcoming events through December 19th and concludes its 2020 season of online productions. On Saturday December 12th at 7:00pm EST, Play-PerView will live stream Cock by Mike Bartlett (King Charles III).