John Gassner News

Chicago's Goodman Theatre opens its 'Strong Women, Strong Voices' Owen Theatre Series with the world premiere of Lynn Nottage's RUINED, directed by Kate Whoriskey and co-produced with Manhattan Theatre Club.

The Herbert Berghof (HB) Studio and the HB Playwrights Foundation will host a tribute to the acclaimed and accomplished actors/comedians Anne Meara and Jerry Stiller in a gala celebration at The Players Club on Monday, November 10, 2008.

Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) presents The Language of Trees, a new play by Steven Levenson, directed by Alex Timbers, featuring Maggie Burke as 'Kay Danley,' Natalie Gold as 'Loretta Trumble-Pinkerstone,' Michael Hayden as 'Denton Pinkerstone,' Gio Perez as 'Eben Trumble-Pinkerstone' and Michael Warner as 'Bill Clinton.' The Language of Trees will officially open tonight Wednesday, October 29th, 2008

Set in the present-day DRC, Ruined is the captivating story of Mama Nadi (Ekulona), the owner of a canteen who serves up everything from a cold beer and a warm meal-to the company of a woman. Through the eyes of this savvy businesswoman who both protects and profits from the women whose bodies have become battlegrounds, Nottage captures the constantly shifting allegiances and tragic absurdity that marks the civil war in the DRC. Ruined, rendered with Nottage's trademark humanity, clarity and surprising humor, gives a glimpse of a country that has suffered immeasurable losses since the beginning of this war that has raged for more than a decade.

Chicago's Goodman Theatre opens its 'Strong Women, Strong Voices' Owen Theatre Series with the world premiere of Lynn Nottage's RUINED, directed by Kate Whoriskey and co-produced with Manhattan Theatre Club.

Josephson Entertainment, Erich Jungwirth/VoiceChair Productions and Richard Jordan Productions Ltd announced today the Off-Broadway premiere of BASIC TRAINING (www.BasicTrainingNYC.com), a new comedy created by and starring Kahlil Ashanti. BASIC TRAINING is a hilarious story based on one soldier's outrageous experience in the U.S. Air Force and will play the Barrow Street Theatre (27 Barrow St. at 7th Avenue, 1 block south of Christopher Street) beginning Friday, Sept. 26th with an official opening on Monday, Oct. 13th.

Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) presents The Language of Trees, a new play by Steven Levenson, directed by Alex Timbers, featuring Maggie Burke as 'Kay Danley,' Natalie Gold as 'Loretta Trumble-Pinkerstone,' Michael Hayden as 'Denton Pinkerstone,' Gio Perez as 'Eben Trumble-Pinkerstone' and Michael Warner as 'Bill Clinton.' Previews begin tonight, Saturday, October 4th.

Josephson Entertainment, Erich Jungwirth/VoiceChair Productions and Richard Jordan Productions Ltd announced today the Off-Broadway premiere of BASIC TRAINING (www.BasicTrainingNYC.com), a new comedy created by and starring Kahlil Ashanti. BASIC TRAINING is a hilarious story based on one soldier's outrageous experience in the U.S. Air Force and will play the Barrow Street Theatre (27 Barrow St. at 7th Avenue, 1 block south of Christopher Street) beginning Friday, Sept. 26th with an official opening on Monday, Oct. 13th.

Josephson Entertainment, Erich Jungwirth/VoiceChair Productions and Richard Jordan Productions Ltd announced today the Off-Broadway premiere of BASIC TRAINING (www.BasicTrainingNYC.com), a new comedy created by and starring Kahlil Ashanti. BASIC TRAINING is a hilarious story based on one soldier's outrageous experience in the U.S. Air Force and will play the Barrow Street Theatre (27 Barrow St. at 7th Avenue, 1 block south of Christopher Street) beginning Friday, Sept. 26th with an official opening on Monday, Oct. 13th.

Josephson Entertainment, Erich Jungwirth/VoiceChair Productions and Richard Jordan Productions Ltd announced today the Off-Broadway premiere of BASIC TRAINING (www.BasicTrainingNYC.com), a new comedy created by and starring Kahlil Ashanti. BASIC TRAINING is a hilarious story based on one soldier's outrageous experience in the U.S. Air Force and will play the Barrow Street Theatre (27 Barrow St. at 7th Avenue, 1 block south of Christopher Street) beginning Friday, Sept. 26th with an official opening on Monday, Oct. 13th.

Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) announces the full cast for The Language of Trees, a new play by Steven Levenson, directed by Alex Timbers. The Language of Trees will feature Maggie Burke as 'Kay Danley,' Natalie Gold as 'Loretta Trumble-Pinkerstone,' Michael Hayden as 'Denton Pinkerstone,' Gio Perez as 'Eben Trumble-Pinkerstone' and Michael Warner as 'Bill Clinton.'

Manhattan Theatre Club has announced the recipients of its first Bank of America Playwright Commissioning Program. The three recipients are David Lindsay-Abaire, Noah Haidle and Liz Flahive.

Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) presents The Language of Trees, a new play by Steven Levenson, directed by Alex Timbers.

The Manhattan Theatre Club production of Liz Flahive's award-winning 'From Up Here' begins its final week of performances on Tuesday, June 3.

Nominated for the 2008 Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards, 'From Up Here' premiered at Manhattan Theatre Club this spring with a flurry of praise for a great cast, engaging story and an impressive new playwright... Liz Flahive!

On May 22nd, 2008 the winners of the 2008 Outer Critics Circle Awards were announced at Sardi's Restaurant (234 W 44th Street). The Outer Critics Circle Awards are chosen by theater critics outside of the New York City area.

Bartlett Sher, who has received great acclaim as well as a Tony nomination and Drama Desk Award as Best Director of A Musical for the current Lincoln Center Theater production of South Pacific, will direct the new musical BRUCE LEE: JOURNEY TO THE WEST, to be produced on Broadway by Elephant Eye Theatrical. Joining Sher are Tony nominees David Yazbek (The Full Monty, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels) composing the music and writing the lyrics and David Henry Hwang (M Butterfly, Yellow Face) penning the book.

Tony Nominated Playwright Douglas Carter Beane Honored with Ovation Award by Lavender Footlights Festival.

Celebrating its 58th season of bestowing awards of excellence in the field of theater, the Outer Critics Circle, is an association with members affiliated with more than ninety newspapers, magazines, radio and television stations, and theatre publications in America and abroad. The annual awards ceremony will be held on Thursday, May 22nd (4PM) at the legendary Sardi's Restaurant.

Culture Project has announced that it will host The List Project for a special post-show discussion, following the Thursday, May 15 performance of George Packer's play 'Betrayed'.