John Gassner News

The Lark Play Development Center named five New York City-based playwrights as Playwrights' Workshop Fellows for the 2014-15 season. The group spans a wide range of backgrounds and professional experiences and will meet regularly throughout the year to develop new plays.

Arden Theatre Company begins its 27th season of great stories with La Bete by David Hirson, under the direction of Emmanuelle Delpech. The production appears on the Arden's F. Otto Haas Stage from September 11 through October 12, 2014.

TimeLine Theatre Company opens its 2014-15 season-the company's 18th season-with the Chicago premiere of MY NAME IS ASHER LEV by Aaron Posner, based on the best-selling novel by Chaim Potok. MY NAME IS ASHER LEV is directed by Kimberly Senior, the Chicago-based director who after this production next directs Ayad Akhtar's Pulitzer Prize-winning play DISGRACED on Broadway. MY NAME IS ASHER LEV runs at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Avenue in Chicago, August 28 - October 18, 2014 (previews August 22 - 27). Press Opening is Thursday, August 28, 2014 at 7:30 p.m.

Theater LaB Houston has announced its 22nd season of Houston Premieres for the 2014/2015 season. Following a successful transition from its Alamo Street venue to Obsidian Art Space this past season, TLH will expand its performance calendar by adding two full productions with four week runs. This year's exciting season includes premieres of major Off Broadway productions and an award winning performer from recent Fringe Festivals.

The Factory has announced that CLICKBAIT, David M deLeon and Esther Ko's co-written and co-directed new low-tech high-tech love story about sex, suicide and cellphones will begin performances on September 4th at the Gallery Space at the Access Theater, 380 Broadway, TriBeCa. www.clickbaitplay.com

L.A. Theatre Works celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2014-15 with a season of ten radio-theater productions, each recorded by a star-studded cast in front of a live audience for future radio broadcast, distribution on CD, digital download and online streaming. All performances take place at the 300-seat, acoustically vibrant James Bridges Theater located on the campus of UCLA in West Los Angeles. In addition, the company heads out on its 10th annual national tour.

Samuel French previously announced a talented roster of judges for the Samuel French Off Off Broadway Short Play Festival (OOB Festival), the nation's premiere short play competition, running from today, August 5th-10th at the Peter Jay Sharp Theatre.

Next Fall, by award-winning writer Geoffrey Nauffts, will play at Southwark Playhouse from Wednesday 24 September - Saturday 25 October. Press night is Monday 29 September at 8.00pm.

Tony Award winner Brian Stokes Mitchell will star in The Band Wagon, an Encores! Special Event based on the classic MGM movie of the same title, from November 6 - 16, 2014 at City Center. The show has a book by Douglas Carter Beane adapted from the screenplay by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, with music by Arthur Schwartz and lyrics by Howard Dietz. The Band Wagon will be directed and choreographed by Tony Award winner Kathleen Marshall with music direction by Todd Ellison. The Band Wagon will run for 12 performances, by special arrangement with Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures.

TimeLine Theatre Company opens its 2014-15 season-the company's 18th season-with the Chicago premiere of MY NAME IS ASHER LEV by Aaron Posner, based on the best-selling novel by Chaim Potok. MY NAME IS ASHER LEV is directed by Kimberly Senior, the Chicago-based director who after this production next directs Ayad Akhtar's Pulitzer Prize-winning play DISGRACED on Broadway. MY NAME IS ASHER LEV runs at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Avenue in Chicago, August 28 - October 18, 2014 (previews August 22 - 27). Press Opening is Thursday, August 28, 2014 at 7:30 p.m.

Samuel French has announced a talented roster of judges for the Samuel French Off Off Broadway Short Play Festival (OOB Festival), the nation's premiere short play competition, running from August 5th-10th at the Peter Jay Sharp Theatre.

The Off-Broadway production of The Long Shrift, written by Robert Boswell and directed by James Franco, opens tonight at Rattlestick Playwrights Theater. The Long Shirt began previews on July 7th and will run through August 23rd. This play is James Franco's directing debut.

Rattlestick Playwrights Theater's Artistic Director David Van Asselt and Managing Director Brian Long previously announced that the World Premiere of The Long Shrift, written by Robert Boswell and directed by James Franco, would begin previews tonight, July 7th, 2014. The official opening night is set for July 13th, 2014 and closing night is August 23rd, 2014.

This summer Company of Fools (COF) will present Matthew Barber's award-winning romantic comedy, Enchanted April. This production will run now through July 26, 2014 at the Liberty Theatre in Hailey, Idaho. Scroll down for a first look at the cast in action!

Dorset Theatre Festival is proud to present the World Premiere of Leslie Ayvazian's new comedy Out of the City beginning July 10th. This is the third world premiere that Dorset has produced in the past five seasons, continuing a tradition of New Play Development to which Artistic Director Dina Janis has proven deeply committed. "Fostering new work is one of the most important things we do here at Dorset, from our Young Playwrights workshops, to our New Play Reading Series, to these exciting World Premieres. It's a thrilling and rewarding process." Past world premieres have included Theresa Rebeck's The Novelist and The Whore and Mr. Moore by Michael Cristofer.

The Theatre @ Boston Court and Circle X Theatre Co. present Stupid f**king Bird, by Aaron Posner, directed by Michael Michetti. Opening night is Today, June 28, 2014 on the Main Stage at Boston Court Performing Arts Center, 70 North Mentor Avenue.

Sand. Sun. Surfboards. Boys. Bikinis. Beaches. It's a party! A 'Psycho Beach Party!' And laughs. Don't forget the laughs. The City Theatre Company has plenty in their production of the Charles Busch high camp comedy playing today, June 27 through July 13 at City Theatre.

California Shakespeare Theater continues its 2014 season with Shakespeare's The Comedy of Errors, directed by Aaron Posner. The Comedy of Errors plays at the Bruns Amphitheater from today, June 25 through July 20.

Two estranged brothers face off in search of the truth about the troubled legacy of their shared past. Larry Moss directs the Los Angeles premiere of In A Dark Dark House by Neil LaBute, opening July 26 at the Matrix Theatre.

Don't forget the laughs. The City Theatre Company has plenty in their production of the Charles Busch high camp comedy playing June 27 through July 13 at City Theatre.