John Eckert News

Mix a Hitchcock masterpiece with a juicy spy novel and a dash of Monty Python and you have The 39 Steps, the hilarious whodonit opening Bristol Riverside Theatre's season on September 30-October 26. Directed by Gus Kaikkonen, the ensemble cast features Dan Hodge, Matt Leisy, Karen Peakes, and Adam Sowers.

THE SECRET GARDEN needs a good dose of Miracle-Gro to overcome a lack of vitality. A beautiful, lush score is weighed down by the sluggishness of the tale and static direction. The company has the vocals to do justice to the music and several performers shine, but this garden has a dearth of color.

Stoneham Theatre presents the world premiere of Michael Aman's THE UNBLEACHED AMERICAN, a play about Ernest Hogan, the "father of ragtime." A long forgotten African American musical innovator, Hogan attained great success before tumbling into infamy. This important story imagines his relationship with an Irish immigrant nurse charged with caring for him in the final months of his life at the turn of the 20th century.

The world premiere of BREATHING TIME, a new play written by Beau Willimon and presented Off-Broadway by Fault Line Theatre, opens tonight, Thursday, March 27, 2014 at Teatro IATI (64 E. 4th Street, New York, NY) after beginning previews on Friday, March 21, 2014. Directed by Aaron Rossini, BREATHING TIME runs through Sunday, April 13, 2014. Tickets are available now on SmartTix.com.

Performances begin tomorrow night - Friday, March 21 - for the world premiere of BREATHING TIME, a new play written by Beau Willimon and presented Off-Broadway by Fault Line Theatre. BREATHING TIME is directed by Aaron Rossini and officially opens on Thursday, March 27, 2014 at Teatro IATI (64 E. 4th Street, New York, NY) and runs through Sunday, April 13, 2014. Tickets are available now on SmartTix.com.

Casting has been announced for the world premiere of BREATHING TIME, a new play by "House of Cards" creator Beau Willimon, directed by Aaron Rossini and presented Off-Broadway by Fault Line Theatre. The cast will feature Whitney Conkling, Craig Wesley Divino, Lee Dolson, John Racioppo, Shannon Marie Sullivan and Molly Thomas. Preview performances begin Friday, March 21 prior to an official press opening of Thursday, March 27 at Teatro Iati (64 East 4th Street) in Manhattan.

The New Hampshire Theatre Awards have announced the finalists for both the professional and community productions for 2013. Each year these awards recognize the talent and dedication necessary to produce outstanding theatrical productions across the state.

Fault Line Theatre will present two world-premiere's in early 2014 - Crystal Finn's THE FAIRE, about the behind the scenes lives of five Renaissance Faire performers in Northern California from February 7 through March 2 at the 4th Street Theatre (83 East 4th Street) in Manhattan; followed by BREATHING TIME by Beau Willimon ("Farragut North" and Netflix's "House of Cards" with Kevin Spacey) from March 21 through April 13 at Teatro Iati (64 East 4th Street) in Manhattan. Both productions will be directed by Fault Line Theatre co-Artistic Director Aaron Rossini.

The Flea Theater has announced the World Premiere of Mallery Avidon's MARY-KATE OLSEN IS IN LOVE. This satire about love and growing-up and "being real" will be directed by Flea Resident Director Kristen Seemel and feature members of The Bats. Previews begin November 1 with opening slated for November 18. Says Producing Director Carol Ostrow, "this witty and wise play by on-the-rise writer Mallery Avidon tackles the notion of love, sex and marriage and the challenges of 20-somethings who think they know how to have it all."

When a young director receives international recognition for a film based on his experience of bullying in high school, he names the real-life bully in his acceptance speech. The two lives that once intersected in high school now run parallel in adulthood. Is forgiveness possible? Or can the consequences of one's actions be so dire that no amount of remorse will open the door to resolution? These are some of the questions asked by FROM WHITE PLAINS, playing at the Kitchen Theatre Company from October 16 to November 10, 2013. Check out a first look at the cast in action below!

When a young director receives international recognition for a film based on his experience of bullying in high school, he names the real-life bully in his acceptance speech. The two lives that once intersected in high school now run parallel in adulthood. Is forgiveness possible? Or can the consequences of one's actions be so dire that no amount of remorse will open the door to resolution? These are some of the questions asked by FROM WHITE PLAINS, playing at the Kitchen Theatre Company from October 16 to November 10, 2013.

The Kitchen Theatre Company is excited to announce that its 2013-14 Season begins September 4, 2013. This marks the start of the Kitchen's 23rd Season and the fourth in its beautiful, LEED-certified, 99-seat space located at 417 W. Martin Luther King, Jr. Street, Ithaca, NY. Led by Artistic Director Rachel Lampert and Managing Director Stephen Nunley, the Kitchen Theatre Company is a professional Equity Theater that produces new and recent plays. 'Important conversations happen in the Kitchen' is the catchphrase and the philosophy behind over two decades of thought-provoking work. Subscriptions and single tickets for the eight-play season are on sale now through a new, improved ticketing system added this season. The new number to call for tickets and subscriptions is 607 272-0570, or purchase online at kitchentheatre.org.

Undercover Productions will present the WORLD PREMIERE of ETHEL SINGS: Espionage in High C, written by Joan Beber. ETHEL SINGS begins previews on June 27th, with tonight's June 28th opening at Walker Space. Directed by Jules Aaron, ETHEL SINGS has set design by Gary Guidinger, lighting design by John Eckert Original Music by Max Kinberg & costume design by Michele Young. Sarah Brown stages manages & Sherry Netherland assistant directs. Ethel Sings is produced by Linda Toliver & Gary Guidinger for Undercover Productions.

Undercover Productions will present the WORLD PREMIERE of ETHEL SINGS: Espionage in High C, written by Joan Beber. ETHEL SINGS begins previews on June 27th, with a June 28th opening at Walker Space. Directed by Jules Aaron, ETHEL SINGS has set design by Gary Guidinger, lighting design by John Eckert Original Music by Max Kinberg & costume design by Michele Young. Sarah Brown stages manages & Sherry Netherland assistant directs. Ethel Sings is produced by Linda Toliver & Gary Guidinger for Undercover Productions.

GAYFEST NYC, Inc., the country's premier producer of new LGBT- themed plays, concludes the Fifth Festival of Plays, a four-week event filled with powerful theatre works spotlighting gay issues, with the World Premiere of the new play, The Loves of Mr. Lincoln, written by David Brendan Hopes and directed by Sidney J. Burgoyne. The five-member cast features Don Burroughs, Leah Curney, Tyrone Davis, Jr., Steven Hauck and Stacey Todd Holt. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

GAYFEST NYC, Inc. (Bruce Robert Harris and Jack W. Batman, Producers; Craig Wesley Divino, Associate Producer), the country's premier producer of new LGBT-themed plays, concludes the Fifth Festival of Plays, a four-week event filled with powerful theatre works spotlighting gay issues, with the World Premiere of the new play, The Loves of Mr. Lincoln, written by David Brendan Hopes and directed by Sidney J. Burgoyne.

GAYFEST NYC, Inc. (Bruce Robert Harris and Jack W. Batman, Producers; Craig Wesley Divino, Associate Producer), the country's premier producer of new LGBT-themed plays, concludes the Fifth Festival of Plays, a four-week event filled with powerful theatre works spotlighting gay issues, with the World Premiere of the new play, The Loves of Mr. Lincoln, written by David Brendan Hopes and directed by Sidney J. Burgoyne.

Award winning theatre companies Rescue Agreement and CAP21 are proud to announce their Co-Production, If [or When] the Roof Falls In, premiering this month at CAP21 in New York City. This 1.5 hour theatrical experience uses cutting edge technology and explores the delicate balance between holding on to your past and shaping your future. Set in 'The Library' at CAP21's intimate 78-seat black box, If [or When] the Roof Falls In plays tonight, June 3 - 29, 2013 at 8pm on Mondays and Wednesdays-Saturdays.

GAYFEST NYC, Inc. (Bruce Robert Harris and Jack W. Batman, Producers; Craig Wesley Divino, Associate Producer), the country's premier producer of new LGBT- themed plays, present the Fifth Festival of Plays, a four-week event filled with powerful theatre works spotlighting gay issues. The Festival opens tonight with the New York premiere of Moonlight & Love Songs written by Scott C. Sickles and directed by Steven Petrillo. Check out a first look at the production below!