Jo Bonney News

Joe's Pub at The Public Theater, New York Theatre Workshop, and Friends of the Jenin Freedom Theatre announced today an evening of song, video and performance on October 30th, 2011 at 7:00pm to benefit the Freedom Theatre. Tickets are $100 and the event is hosted by Pulitzer Prize-winner Tony Kushner and featuring Academy Award-winner David Byrne, Pulitzer Prize-winner Suzan-Lori Parks, Grammy-winners Aimee Mann and Angelique Kidjo, Tony Award-winner Audra McDonald, Palestinian hip-hop group DAM, as well as a special performance by the acting company of The Freedom Theatre. The entire evening is directed by Jo Bonney.

Earlier today, prior to his appearance at Comic Con, I had the pleasure of speaking to WALKING DEAD lead actor Jon Bernthal all about his theatre background and his Ovation Award-nominated performance in SMALL ENGINE REPAIR, and, also, his critically praised work on the monster AMC hit series THE WALKING DEAD, which makes its grand return tomorrow night for the launch of its hotly-anticipated second season. I am also happy to share that I was just lucky enough to view the episode myself and I can tell you that it has certainly been worth the wait since THE WALKING DEAD was last seen on TV last year - although the pay-off certainly won't pay off completely until next week given the grisly occurrences in the premiere (and the mind-blowing cliffhanger)! Discussing all aspects of his WALKING DEAD character and what we can expect from tomorrow night's zombie apocalypse shocker - as well as the rest of Season Two - Bernthal and I shed some light on the production of the second season of the hit show so far and how the series will now fare without former show-runner Frank Darabont at the helm. Most importantly, Bernthal shares his deep understanding and passion for theatre and his devotion to his craft - musing on Brecht, Shakespeare and more - as we trace his career trajectory onstage and onscreen from his founding of the Fovea Floods theatre company and the film version of the hit Off-Broadway interactive play TONY N' TINA'S WEDDING in the early 1990s all the way up to HBO'S THE PACIFIC and Roman Polanski's THE GHOST WRITER more recently. Bernthal is also kind enough to share with us what we can look forward to coming up in the near future: RAMPARTS, co-starring fellow InDepth InterView participant Steve Buscemi! Plus, his comments on previous castmates Jason Ritter, Andrea Anders and more!

Sarah Rasmussen, who will co-produce the Oregon Shakespeare Festival's Black Swan Lab in 2012, was among this year's winners of the 2011 Princess Grace Awards.

AMERICAN NIGHT: THE BALLAD OF JUAN JOSÉ, by Richard Montoya developed by Culture Clash and Jo Bonney, will play the Denver Center Theatre Company's Ricketson Theatre tonight - November 20 (opening night Thursday, October 13.) Tickets are on sale now, by calling 303.893.4100 or www.denvercenter.org.

AMERICAN NIGHT: THE BALLAD OF JUAN JOSÉ, by Richard Montoya developed by Culture Clash and Jo Bonney, will play the Denver Center Theatre Company's Ricketson Theatre October 7 - November 20 (opening night Thursday, October 13.) Tickets are on sale now, by calling 303.893.4100 or www.denvercenter.org.

The OBIE Award-winning Classical Theatre of Harlem (Ty Jones, Producing Director) in conjunction with Hip-Hop Theater Festival (Clyde Valentin, Executive Director and Kamilah Forbes, Artistic Director) will present the world & Off-Broadway premiere of SEED, an award-winning play written by Radha Blank & directed by Niegel Smith, at the National Black Theatre in Harlem.

According to the NY Times, Lynne Nottage's BY THE WAY, MEET VERA STARK, which ran at SEcond stage theatre this past spring might make its way into the Fall 2011 Broadway line-up. Producer Elizabeth I. McCann revealed that she has accquired the rights to the show, and is currently searching for investors for a potential Broadway run.

Under new leadership, The Classical Theatre of Harlem is proud to present two gripping world premiere productions that mark the Company's return to full-scale works. From August 5 - September 4, The Classical Theatre of Harlem will present Shakespeare's great history play, Henry V, in a new staging directed by Jenny Bennett that features OBIE award-winner Ty Jones in the title role. An acclaimed veteran of the Company and driving force behind its survival, Jones heads a cast of 15 in a raw, timeless production. His interpretation of King Henry V not only highlights the character's charisma and inspirational power to lead, but also his heroic faults and morally questionable tactics.

Jonathan Solari's multi-media performance, 'The Love Letter You've Been Meaning to Write New York,' in which a 51-member ensemble performs in the street while an audience looks on from inside a theatre, receives its world premiere in a four-week engagement produced by Peace Belt Productions.

Off-Broadway's The New Group proudly announces that Lily Rabe will star in the company's world premiere of David Rabe's An Early History of Fire. Directed by Jo Bonney, this production opens in April 2012 at The New Group @ Theatre Row as part of the company's 2011-2012 Season.

Producer Ken Davenport announced today that Telly Leung ('Glee'), Uzo Aduba (Coram Boy), Nick Blaemire (Cry-Baby) and Morgan James are set to join previously announced star Hunter Parrish in the upcoming Broadway revival and 40th anniversary production of the legendary rock musical GODSPELL.

The OBIE award-winning Classical Theatre of Harlem (Ty Jones, producing director) in conjunction with Hip-Hop Theater Festival (Clyde Valentín, executive director and Kamilah Forbes, artistic director) will present the world and Off-Broadway premiere of SEED, an award-winning play written by Radha Blank and directed by Niegel Smith, at the National Black Theater in Harlem.

Rocco Landesman, Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, announced that Joe's Pub at The Public Theater has been approved for a grant to support New York Voices at Joe's Pub, a series celebrating New York City's diversity in performance and culture, presenting collaborations between artists from sound and stage.

The Denver Center Theatre Company will begin selling single tickets to the upcoming 2011/2012 season on Sunday, August 14. Tickets may be purchased online at www.denvercenter.org, by phone at 303.893.4100 (TTY 303.893.9582) or at the Denver Center Ticket Services in the lobby of the Helen Bonfils Theatre Complex, Mon - Sat from 10am to 6pm. Special hours on Sunday, August 14 are from 10am to 2pm at the walkup counter in the Helen Bonfils Theatre Complex. Phone agents will also take calls during this time.

The Denver Center Theatre Company will begin selling single tickets to the upcoming 2011/2012 season on Sunday, August 14. Tickets may be purchased online at www.denvercenter.org, by phone at 303.893.4100 (TTY 303.893.9582) or at the Denver Center Ticket Services in the lobby of the Helen Bonfils Theatre Complex, Mon - Sat from 10am to 6pm. Special hours on Sunday, August 14 are from 10am to 2pm at the walkup counter in the Helen Bonfils Theatre Complex. Phone agents will also take calls during this time.

According to the Boston Globe, Tony nominee Lily Rabe will star in the New Group premiere of her father, David Rabe's new play- An Early History of Fire. The off-Broadway production will be directed by Jo Bonney and will run in thir 2011-12 season.

La Jolla Playhouse has announced that the acclaimed Stratford Shakespeare Festival production of the musical Jesus Christ Superstar, lyrics by Tim Rice, music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, directed by Playhouse Director Emeritus and Stratford Shakespeare Festival Artistic Director Des McAnuff, will replace the previously-announced musical Finding Neverland. This thrilling revival will run in the Mandell Weiss Theatre November 18 - December 31, 2011.

Under new leadership, The Classical Theatre of Harlem is proud to present two gripping world premiere productions that mark the Company's return to full-scale works. From August 5 - September 4, The Classical Theatre of Harlem will present Shakespeare's great history play, Henry V, in a new staging directed by Jenny Bennett that features OBIE award-winner Ty Jones in the title role. An acclaimed veteran of the Company and driving force behind its survival, Jones heads a cast of 15 in a raw, timeless production. His interpretation of King Henry V not only highlights the character's charisma and inspirational power to lead, but also his heroic faults and morally questionable tactics.

Off-Broadway's The New Group proudly announces the productions slated for its 2011-2012 season.

The Stella Adler Studio of Acting announced today that Lemon Andersen will teach a spoken word intensive class at the Studio from May 31- June 10, 2011.