Joel Derfner News

The Micro-Musical Theatre Show's new production of the micro-musical SNOW WAY OUT is NOW AVAILABLE to subscribers!

Cabaret patroness Madame Mathieu has selected Devin Ilaw (Les Miserables, Miss Saigon) and AJ Shively (Bright Star, La Cage aux Folles) as guests of honor at the September edition of Bistro Awards Critics' Pick Madame's Soiree. The Broadway duo will be joined on the program by a distinguished group of emerging artists from a variety of disciplines.

Cabaret patroness Madame Mathieu has selected Devin Ilaw (Les Miserables, Miss Saigon) and AJ Shively (Bright Star, La Cage aux Folles) as guests of honor at the September edition of Bistro Awards Critics' Pick Madame's Soiree. The Broadway duo will be joined on the program by a distinguished group of emerging artists from a variety of disciplines.

EVERYTHING RHYMES WITH BLORANGE is pleased to announce the premiere of the new musical MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY VS THE DEVILL: AN AMERICAN MYTH as an official selection of the New York Musical Fesitval's Next Link Project.

Phoenix Theatre of Indianapolis announces the Indiana premiere of The Golem of Havana, which opens June 22, 2017 on the Livia and Steve Russell Stage. This production runs through July 16, 2017, with Bryan Fonseca serving as director.

Phoenix Theatre of Indianapolis announces the Indiana premiere of The Golem of Havana, which opens June 22, 2017 on the Livia and Steve Russell Stage. This production runs through July 16, 2017, with Bryan Fonseca serving as director.

MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY VS. THE DEVIL: AN AMERICAN MYTH  is an official selection of New York Musical Festival's (NYMF) 2017 Next Link Project. 

In what has become an annual ritual, a total of 32 established and emerging composers, lyricists, and librettists will converge on the Goodspeed campus from mid-January through mid-February 2017 to participate in the Johnny Mercer Foundation Writers Colony at Goodspeed Musicals. The writing teams, representing 18 new musicals, will populate the campus, creating a truly exciting environment for discovery and inspiration.

The hilarious new holiday musical Snow Way Out has been selected to close out the York Theatre Company's reading series for 2016 with a one-time only star-studded reading on December 19th at 2:00 PM at The York Theatre, 619 Lexington Ave (E. 54th Street) on the lower level of Saint Peter's Church.

The Dramatists Guild Fund and Program Chairs Michael Korie, Laurence O'Keefe, and Diana Son have announced the 2016-2017 class of DG Fellows James Christy, Khiyon Hursey, Patricia Ione Lloyd, Michael R. Jackson, C.A. Johnson, David Mallamud, Zoey Martinson, Madeline Myers, Nicole Pandolfo, and Len Schiff.

Barrington Stage Company (BSC), the award-winning theatre in downtown Pittsfield, MA, under the leadership of Julianne Boyd, Artistic Director, and Tristan Wilson, Managing Director, presents the BSC Musical Theatre Lab (William Finn Artistic Producer) world premiere production of The Golem of Havana, a new musical with book and direction by Michel Hausmann, lyrics by Len Schiff and music by Salomon Lerner.

Barrington Stage Company (BSC), the award-winning theatre in downtown Pittsfield, MA, under the leadership of Julianne Boyd, Artistic Director, and Tristan Wilson, Managing Director, presents the BSC Musical Theatre Lab (William Finn Artistic Producer) world premiere production of The Golem of Havana, a new musical with book and direction by Michel Hausmann, lyrics by Len Schiff and music by Salomon Lerner.

The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center has launched an exciting new division of the National Theater Institute, the National Music Theater Institute (NMTI). An unparalleled program, NMTI is for driven students seeking a launching pad into the music theater profession through broad-based, ensemble training.

The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center has launched an exciting new division of the National Theater Institute, the National Music Theater Institute (NMTI). An unparalleled program, NMTI is for driven students seeking a launching pad into the music theater profession through broad-based, ensemble training. Applications for the inaugural fall 2014 semester are due by March 20.

GAY HAIKU, the new play written and directed by Sam Perwin - based on the celebrated book of poetry of Joel Derfner - will debut at Dixon Place on Thursday, February 6 at 7:30 PM. The cast includes Jennifer Lauren Brown, Nic Cory, Trey Gerrald, Josh Hemphill, Patrick McAndrew, Eric Ulloa, and John-Michael Zeurlein. GAY HAIKU was a semi-finalist in the Strawberry One-Act Festival and was subsequently selected as part of the festival's Encores Series. This presentation at Dixon Place marks the premiere of the full-length version. The show is produced by Thomas Dolan.

SIGNS OF LIFE enters its final two weeks at the Zacek McVay Theater at the Biograph (2433 N Lincoln Ave), playing through October 27, 2013.

Joel Derfner didn't want to get gay married. He doesn't gay grocery shop and he doesn't have a gay driver's license. Joel's road to marriage was burdened with barriers and labels simply because the love of his life is of the same sex. Recognizing that his personal story is a reflection of the national conversation about the “new civil rights movement,” Joel, with searing wit and unrelenting honesty and humor, wrote LAWFULLY WEDDED HUSBAND: HOW MY GAY MARRIAGE WILL SAVE THE AMERICAN FAMILY (University of Wisconsin Press; September 19, 2013.)

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Three new works of music theater (at Victory Gardens, Writers' Theatre and the Goodman), Ben Vereen and Audra McDonald visit, plus 'Master Class,' a new cabaret revue, improvised Sondheim, a one-night 'Whistle' and more!

SIGNS OF LIFE, A Tale of Terezin, will host post-show discussions with Holocaust survivors, many of whom spent time in the Theresienstadtghetto. To continue the conversation sparked by SIGNS OF LIFE, survivors and their family members will share their own stories and experiences and offer unique perspectives to the show. SIGNS OF LIFE will play Chicago for a limited six week engagement playing September 18 through October 27, 2013.

Producer and creator of 'Signs of Life,' a new musical drama, talks about her inspiration for the show, audience response, and the musical's upcoming Chicago run.