2015 was my 5th full year as a Twin Cities Theater Blogger, and I saw a record high 200+ shows. When I look at those numbers, or at my busy schedule, I sometimes think, why do I do this? Why do I devote all of my free time to this part-time job for which I don't get paid? And then I see a show that reminds me why I do this. That reminds me why I started going to theater, why I started writing about theater, why I think theater (and specifically music-theater) is the most beautiful and powerful art form we have. LULLABY is one such show. This new original play-with-music is everything I want music-theater to be: funny, smart, relevant, relatable, moving, poignant, with awesome songs and a brilliant cast and creative team pouring their heart and souls into the work. This is the first of 20 new works of 'theater musically' that Theater Latte Da has committed to developing by 2020 in a project they're calling 'Next 20/20.*' It's an exciting thing to create the future of music-theater, and LULLABY has set the bar high for this project.
Annie Enneking is an actor, singer and fight choreographer who plays Thea in new work, LULLABY, the world premiere in Theater Latte Da's new work initiative, NEXT 20/20. She tells a little about her part in this show and her future plans in this 6 Questions & a Plug.
The Twin Cities area is well known as a great theater town, so it is a fitting home to one of the nation's most celebrated new play festivals. The 32nd annual PlayLabs festival runs October 12-18 at the Playwrights' Center, a 44-year-old organization that is one of just a handful of play development centers in the country.
Olney Theatre Center, a Mid-Atlantic destination for extraordinary theater performance and education, continues its 2015-2016 season with the Rolling World Premiere of Jennifer Hoppe-House's Bad Dog, running September 30 - October 25, 2015 in the Mulitz-Gudelsky Theatre Lab. Presented as a part of DC's Women's Voice Theater Festival, Bad Dog began its Rolling World Premiere at Orlando Shakespeare Theatre in April 2015.
The Playwrights' Center has announced the plays and Core Writer playwrights to be featured in its 2015-16 season of free public readings, comprising the 2015 PlayLabs new play festival and the 2015-16 Ruth Easton New Play Series. The plays and playwrights:
?The Playwrights' Center has introduced eight new Core Writers, as well as the 2015-16 Many Voices Fellows, Many Voices Mentees, and Core Apprentices. These writers will join the continuing Core Writers and the previously announced 2015-16 Jerome Fellows, McKnight Fellows in Playwriting, and McKnight National Residency and Commission recipient as the Center's season of playwrights. McKnight Theater Artist Fellows will be announced in June.
As an addition to its 40th anniversary season lineup, People's Light presents acclaimed singer/songwriter Jonatha Brooke in her one-woman show My Mother Has 4 Noses. People's Light is located at 39 Conestoga Road, Malvern, PA 19355. For tickets, call 610.644.3500 or visit Peopleslight.org. Made possible in part by a grant from the Phoenixville Community Health Foundation.
The Playwrights' Center presents two public readings of Core Writer Kathryn Walat's 'Romeo & Naomi Ramirez,' April 6 and 7 at 7 p.m., as the final events in the Center's 2014-15 Ruth Easton New Play Series.
As an addition to its 40th anniversary season lineup, People's Light presents acclaimed singer/songwriter Jonatha Brooke in her one-woman show My Mother Has 4 Noses. People's Light is located at 39 Conestoga Road, Malvern, PA 19355. For tickets, call 610.644.3500 or visit Peopleslight.org.Made possible in part by a grant from the Phoenixville Community Health Foundation.
?The Ruth Easton New Play Series at the Playwrights' Center continues in March with readings of the new play 'The REALNESS: the second break beat play' by Core Writer Idris Goodwin. The play will have two public readings: Monday, March 2 and Tuesday, March 3 at 7 p.m. at the Playwrights' Center, 2301 E. Franklin Avenue in Minneapolis.
The popular Ruth Easton New Play series at the Playwrights' Center continues in February with readings of the new play "Marie and Rosetta" by Core Writer George Brant. The play with music, about gospel greats Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Marie Knight, will have two public readings: Monday, February 2 and Tuesday, February 3 at 7 p.m. at the Playwrights' Center, 2301 E. Franklin Avenue in Minneapolis. The readings are free but tickets go fast so claim yours at pwcenter.org before they are gone.
The Playwrights' Center kicked off its 2014-15 Ruth Easton New Play series in December with two full-to-fire-code-capacity readings of Kira Obolensky's new play "Forget Me Not When Far Away." In January, Twin Cities theater fans have another opportunity for an exclusive experience with a new play in progress, when the series continues with Core Writer Qui Nguyen's new play "Dust."
The Playwrights' Center kicks off its 2014-15 Ruth Easton New Play Series in December with Core Writer Kira Obolensky's new play 'Forget Me Not When Far Away.' There will be two readings of the play: Monday, December 8 and Tuesday, December 9 at 7 p.m. at the Playwrights' Center, 2301 E. Franklin Avenue in Minneapolis. The readings are free and open to the public.
The 31st annual PlayLabs new play festival runs Monday, October 20 through Sunday, October 26 at the Playwrights' Center. Audiences are invited to readings of new plays by Playwrights' Center Core Writers, brought to life by top actors and incorporating design elements-elevating the staged reading to an intimate art form all its own.
Workhaus Playwrights Collective announces its 8th season featuring world premiere productions of LAKE UNTERSEE, by Joe Waechter (September, 2014), SKIN DEEP SEA, by Stanton Wood (February, 2015), and THE REAGAN YEARS, by Dominic Orlando (April, 2015).
The Playwrights' Center has announced the plays and playwrights to be featured in its 2014 PlayLabs festival and 2014-15 Ruth Easton New Play Series. This year, the Ruth Easton New Play Series will grow from one reading of each play to two.
Workhaus Playwrights Collective announces its 8th season featuring world premiere productions of LAKE UNTERSEE, by Joe Waechter (September, 2014), SKIN DEEP SEA, by Stanton Wood (February, 2015), and THE REAGAN YEARS, by Dominic Orlando (April, 2015).
The Playwrights' Center has announced the 2014-15 recipients of its McKnight Theater Artist Fellowships: costume designer Mathew LeFebvre; actor, director and choreographer Austene Van and actor Sally Wingert.
