John Guare News

Sundance Institute's Theatre Lab kicks off today with the announcement of this year's participating acting company and creative advisors.

Tonight, July 12th, 6-7pm, International Goodwill Cultural Ambassador/performing artist Ronald Rand will be joined by legendary film star Brian Cox, stage and screen actress Nicole Ansari, one of America's greatest sculptors Carolyn D. Palmer, singer extraordinaire Julie Budd, Encompass New Opera Theatre artistic director Nancy Rhodes, Broadway and film director Michael Pressman, historian Louise Hirschfeld, and legendary portrait painter Everett Raymond Kinstler for an exciting panel discussion about creativity in film, theater, music and art at Barnes & Noble-Union Square, 33 East 17th Street, NYC.

Red Bull Theater today announced that their seventh annual festival of 10-minute plays of heightened language and classic themes will feature two brand new commissions from Dael Orlandersmith and Arthur Kopit, alongside six brand new plays chosen from hundreds of submissions from playwrights across the country. 

Juilliard Drama, celebrating its 50th anniversary, announces its 2017-18 season of fully staged productions featuring Juilliard's Group 47 acting students in their fourth and final year in the drama program.

Producers Fox Theatricals (Kristin Caskey, Mike Isaacson) and Barbara Whitman are thrilled to announce the casting for the Seattle engagement of the first National Tour of Fun Home, the groundbreaking, Tony Award-winning Best Musical. The tour will premiere in Seattle at The 5th Avenue Theatre July 11-30, 2017.

Darren Lee Cole, producing director of the not-for-profit, SoHo Playhouse, will continue its tradition of bringing the 'Best of the Fests' for extended runs at the SoHo Playhouse (15 Vandam Street, NYC) with its celebrated Fringe Encore Series, taking place from September 5 - October 22, 2017.

BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! Festival is pleased to present a free performance by the world-renowned and ever-creative dance company, Pilobolus, on Thursday, July 6. The performance will take place at the Prospect Park Bandshell (9th St. & Prospect Park West), is free to the public (with a suggested $5 contribution at the gate) and begins at 8:00 P.M.

Roundabout Theatre Company presents the Broadway premiere of Marvin's Room by Scott McPherson directed by Obie Award winner Anne Kauffman, opening officially tonight, June 29, 2017.

Atlantic Theater Company will present Asian American Mixfest, a series of free readings co-produced by playwrights Lloyd Suh and Qui Nguyen that will run Wednesday, August 9 through Thursday, August 17 at Atlantic Stage 2 (330 West 16th Street).

On last night's LATE SHOW, guest John Benjamin Hickey discussed the final performances of Broadway's SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION. 'In the last few shows I was trying not to cry,' he explained.

On July 12th, 6-7pm - International Goodwill Cultural Ambassador/performing artist Ronald Rand will be joined by legendary film star Brian Cox, stage and screen actress Nicole Ansari, one of America's greatest sculptors Carolyn D. Palmer, singer extraordinaire Julie Budd, Encompass New Opera Theatre artistic director Nancy Rhodes, Broadway and film director Michael Pressman, historian Louise Hirschfeld, and legendary portrait painter Everett Raymond Kinstler for an exciting panel discussion about creativity in film, theater, music and art at Barnes & Noble-Union Square, 33 East 17th Street, NYC.

Trinity Repertory Company is proud to celebrate the recent accolades of its Brown University/Trinity Rep MFA programs and the successes of the programs' alumni. The master's degree in acting was recently ranked as the sixth best program in the world by The Hollywood Reporter and in the top twenty-five best programs across the U.S. and U.K. in Backstage.

Legendary actor/director/teacher, Austin Pendleton will discuss his experiences acting in and directing Tennessee Williams' work. Pendleton is currently directing 'The Two-Character Play,' for Playhouse Creatures Theatre Company (previews begin June 29).

Victory Gardens Theater begins its 43rd season with Fun Home, with music written by Jeanine Tesori, book and lyrics written by Lisa Kron and directed by Gary Griffin.

John Guare's Six Degrees of Separation, directed by Trip Cullman and starring seven-time Emmy Award winner Allison Janney, Tony Award winner John Benjamin Hickey and Tony Award nominee Corey Hawkins, will close on Sunday, June 18, 2017. It will have played 21 previews and 63 regular performances. The production began previews Wednesday, April 5 and opened Tuesday, April 25 at the Barrymore Theatre (243 West 47th Street).

There are so many things to love about New Line Theatre's latest production, SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS, that this review is certain to be filled with superlatives. I've watched the 1957 film a number of times, and I like the way John Guare's book for the show uses the first act as a backstory before it touches on the events that actually take place in the movie during the second act. By attacking the story this way Guare adds depth and establishes the characters in ways that the film doesn't. The score is a cool and jazz-tinged effort by the late Marvin Hamlisch, with lyrics, by Craig Camelia, which give the numbers added bite. It's clear to me that the show requires the intimacy this production provides to fully succeed, and also explains its short run on Broadway. That's just one of the things that New Line does so consistently well. The movie is a dark, film noir masterpiece, and in adapting it as a musical for a large stage that claustrophobic atmosphere that is so necessary to the genre is lost. Here, the viewer becomes a fly on the wall, observing the machinations of the plot unfolding in the same way that the film utilizes closeups and shadows to pull us into its cynical world. Superior performances, a great band, and sharp direction make this show a must-see.

Urban Stages' Board of Directors and founding artistic director Frances Hill presented the 2017 Urban Stages' Lifetime Achievement Award to Oscar, Emmy and Tony Award-winning legendary set and costume designer Tony Walton.  The celebrated Broadway, TV and film star,  Melissa Errico, ("Billions", My Fair Lady, High Society, Encores' Do I Hear a Waltz?), presented the award to her mentor and close friend, Tony Waltonat the annual benefit at the Boathouse in Central Park. 

Rattlestick Playwrights Theater and Rosalind Productions Inc. have announced the New Voices/New Works summer reading series. The New Voices/New Works program was launched earlier this year and actively scouts and incubates new voices.

Welcome to Broadway, the glamour, power, and sleaze capital of the universe.

Atlantic Theater Company has announced that the New York premiere play Animal by Clare Lizzimore (Mint) and directed by Gaye Taylor Upchurch (Harper Regan, Bluebird) has been extended an additional week through Sunday, July 2 in advance of officially opening next Tuesday, June 6.