Jo Bonney News

Signature Theatre today announced eight productions for its 2012-13 season at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street between 9th and 10th Avenues), the company's new Frank Gehry-designed permanent home.

The New Group presents the world premiere of An Early History of Fire, a new play by Tony Award-winning playwright David Rabe. Directed by Jo Bonney, this production features Gordon Clapp, Erin Darke, Jonny Orsini, Devin Ratray, Dennis Staroselsky, Theo Stockman and Claire van der Boom. Limited Off-Broadway engagement plays through May 26 at The New Group @ Theatre Row (410 West 42nd Street). Official Opening Night is set for Monday, April 30 at 7:00 PM.

Eve Ensler, the Tony Award®-winning playwright, performer, activist, and author of the international sensation The Vagina Monologues, launches her new website, www.eveensler.org, today, April 16. The site serves as a virtual home base for Ensler's creative works, including a comprehensive archive of her extensive articles, essays, books, plays, films, documentaries, and speeches, as well as up to the moment information on her activities.

On Sunday, April 15, at 4 pm, The New Group presents this season's final presentation in Dark Nights at The New Group - Reflecting Rabe: Readings from David Rabe's Work. This event features readings of excerpts from David Rabe's acclaimed writing, from plays to fiction. Special guests, including Bobby Cannavale, Judith Ivey and Matthew Modine, will read selections and reflect on Rabe's singular career. Discussion with David Rabe and guests will follow.

Eve Ensler, the Tony Award®-winning playwright, performer, activist, and author of the international sensation The Vagina Monologues, today announced her new website www.eveensler.org, launching on Monday, April 16. The site serves as a virtual home base for Ensler's creative works, including a comprehensive archive of her extensive articles, essays, books, plays, films, documentaries, and speeches, as well as up to the moment information on her activities.

The Geffen Playhouse announces an unprecedented eight plays - five in the Gil Cates Theater and three in the Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater - for its 2012/2013 season. With an ongoing focus on introducing audiences to new plays, reimagined classics and emerging voices, the Geffen's season features three world premieres - including a commission by Pulitzer Prize winner Donald Margulies (Coney Island Christmas), a classic adaptation by Tony Award nominee Neil LaBute (August Strindberg's Miss Julie) and a new work by Michael Golamco (Build); two American premieres - one marking the return of Olivier Award nominee Joanna Murray-Smith (The Gift) and the other a riotous British import by Antony Jay and Jonathan Lynn (Yes, Prime Minister); two West Coast premieres - including Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage's new work (By the Way, Meet Vera Stark) and comedienne Judy Gold's acclaimed off-Broadway memoir (The Judy Show); and a brand new production of David Mamet's defining work American Buffalo helmed by Geffen Playhouse Artistic Director Randall Arney.

The Geffen Playhouse announces an unprecedented eight plays - five in the Gil Cates Theater and three in the Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater - for its 2012/2013 season. With an ongoing focus on introducing audiences to new plays, reimagined classics and emerging voices, the Geffen's season features three world premieres - including a commission by Pulitzer Prize winner Donald Margulies (Coney Island Christmas), a classic adaptation by Tony Award nominee Neil LaBute (August Strindberg's Miss Julie) and a new work byMichael Golamco (Build).

On Sunday, April 15 at 4:00pm, The New Group will present this season's final presentation in Dark Nights at The New Group - Reflecting Rabe: Readings from David Rabe's Work. This event features readings of excerpts from David Rabe's acclaimed writing, from plays to fiction.

Nominations in 14 categories were announced today by the Off-Broadway League for the 2012 Lucille Lortel Awards for Outstanding Achievement Off-Broadway. This year's ceremony will once again benefit The Actors Fund. The Lortel Awards will be handed out on Sunday, May 6, 2012 at NYU Skirball Center beginning at 7:00pm EST.

On Monday, May 7, Women Behind Bars arrives at The New Group @ Theatre Row in a one-night-only benefit reading of the play by Tom Eyen. Directed by Scott Elliott, Women Behind Bars features: Charles Busch (The Matron), Janeane Garofalo (Louise), Nancy Giles (Jo-Jo), Josh Hamilton (the men), Natasha Lyonne (Cheri), Cynthia Nixon (Blanche), Rosie O'Donnell (Gloria), Rosie Perez (Guadalupe), Rhea Perlman (Granny, The Warden), Chloe Sevigny (Mary-Eleanor) and Jennifer Tilly (Ada).

The New Group presents the world premiere of An Early History of Fire, a new play by Tony Award-winning playwright David Rabe. Directed by Jo Bonney, this production features Deema Aitken, Gordon Clapp, Erin Darke, Jonny Orsini, Devin Ratray, Dennis Staroselsky, Theo Stockman and Claire van der Boom. Limited Off-Broadway engagement is slated April 5 - May 26 at The New Group at Theatre Row (410 West 42nd Street). Official Opening Night is set for Monday, April 30 at 7:00 PM.

Yale Repertory Theatre (James Bundy, Artistic Director; Victoria Nolan, Managing Director) announces its 2012-2013 Season, which will include Academy Award-nominated actor Paul Giamatti in William Shakespeare's Hamlet, three world premieres, and more new and favorite shows.

'American Night: The Ballad of Juan José,' written by Richard Montoya, developed by Culture Clash and Jo Bonney, and directed by Bonney, opens Sunday, March 11 at 6:30 p.m. at Center Theatre Group's Kirk Douglas Theatre. Performances begin March 9 and continue through April 1, 2012.

The cast has been set for the new work, "American Night: The Ballad of Juan Jose," written by Richard Montoya, developed by Culture Clash and Jo Bonney and directed by Bonney.

"American Night: The Ballad of Juan Jose," written by Richard Montoya, developed by Culture Clash and Jo Bonney, and directed by Bonney, opens Sunday, March 11 at 6:30 p.m. at Center Theatre Group's Kirk Douglas Theatre. Performances begin March 9 and continue through April 1, 2012.

The cast has been set for the new work, "American Night: The Ballad of Juan Jose," written by Richard Montoya, developed by Culture Clash and Jo Bonney and directed by Bonney.

"American Night: The Ballad of Juan Jose," written by Richard Montoya, developed by Culture Clash and Jo Bonney, and directed by Bonney, opens Sunday, March 11 at 6:30 p.m. at Center Theatre Group's Kirk Douglas Theatre. Performances begin March 9 and continue through April 1, 2012.

Off-Broadway's The New Group honors David Rabe and Nancy Manocherian, founding Artistic Director of the cell theater in Chelsea, at the company's 2012 Gala, hosted by Janeane Garofalo & Morgan Spector. Rabe and Manocherian are recipients of the sixth annual Michael Mendelson Award for Outstanding Commitment to Theater. Founded in 2005, this award recognizes individuals who show outstanding commitment to the theatrical community. Past recipients include Wallace Shawn, Fred Wistow, Robyn Goodman, Ethan Hawke, Ruth and Stephen Hendel, Wendy Ettinger and Derek McLane.

The New Group will present the world premiere of An Early History of Fire, a new play by Tony Award-winning playwright David Rabe. Directed by Jo Bonney, this production features Deema Aitken, Gordon Clapp, Erin Darke, Jonny Orsini, Devin Ratray, Dennis Staroselsky, Theo Stockman and Claire van der Boom. Limited Off-Broadway engagement is slated April 5 - May 26 at The New Group @ Theatre Row (410 West 42nd Street). Official Opening Night is set for Monday, April 23 at 7:00 PM. Lily Rabe, who was previously slated to star in the play will no longer be taking part in the production.

Off-Broadway's The New Group honored David Rabe and Nancy Manocherian with the Michael Mendelson Award for Outstanding Commitment to Theater at its 2012 Gala, hosted by Janeane Garofalo & Morgan Spector, last night, February 27. The evening offered cocktails, dinner, entertainment and silent & live auctions, along with performances by Alan Cumming, Veanne Cox, Jay Rogers, Penny Fuller, Leslie Uggams and Jeremiah James. Check out event photos below!