John Patrick Shanley News

American Theater Company announces two American classics in rotating repertory - The Catholic Repertory: Doubt & Agnes of God - directed by ATC Artistic Director PJ Paparelli and featuring ATC Ensemble Member Sadieh Rifai, Lance Baker, and Karen Aldridge. The productions are slated to run in rotation September 6 - October 14, 2012 at ATC, 1909 W. Byron St. The press opening is Wednesday, September 19, 2012 at 7:00PM.

Vassar & New York Stage and Film's Powerhouse Theater announces casting updates for the season, including Griffin Dunne (After Hours, An American Werewolf in London) and Samantha Mathis (33 Variations, Pump Up the Volume) who join the cast of Fires Are Confusing by Eva Anderson, Will Berson, and Zach Helm, created by Teatro de Facto. Ilana Levine (Jake's Women, You're A Good Man Charlie Brown, The Last Night of Ballyhoo) joins Dominic Fumusa, Greg Kinnear, and Jennifer Westfeldt in the cast of the second Mainstage production of The Power of Duff by Stephen Belber, directed by Peter DuBois (7/18-29).

Kentwood Players presents "DOUBT, A Parable" by John Patrick Shanley from tonight, July 13 to August 18, 2012 on Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00pm and Sundays at 2:00pm at the Westchester Playhouse, located at 8301 Hindry Avenue in Westchester (LA 90045). The production is directed by Gail Bernardi and produced by Calia Mintzer-Wolf and Linda Reinhardt by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc., New York. Get a first look at the production in the photos below!

What starts off as a seeming battle of wills and words between two writers soon devolves and reveals itself to be more of a geo-political statement in John Patrick Shanley's "A Dirty Story" which opens the Intiman's Summer Theatre Festival. At times a bit clunky and forced the show ultimately amounts to a crazy ride with some outstanding performances that will give you plenty to discuss afterward.

Today we are talking to a celebrated comedienne and actress known for her decades-spanning career on screens and stages large and small - from making her Broadway debut in the original Jerome Robbins production of GYPSY on Broadway in 1960 to her many musical roles throughout the 60s to her countless game show and variety show appearances following that all the way to creating an unforgettable character in MOONSTRUCK in the 1980s, as well as her subsequent oft-Neil Simon stage work; now, playing Tina Fey's sweet and daffy mom on NBC's 30 ROCK and, most recently, appearing in Nora & Celia Ephron's LOVE, LOSS AND WHAT I WORE and the Playwright's Horizons premiere production of THE BIG MEAL in the new millennium - the one of a kind Anita Gillette. Analyzing her nearly sixty-year career and sharing candid stories of her brushes with some of Broadway and Hollywood's brightest talents - Jule Styne to Ethel Merman to Irving Berlin to Burt Lancaster and beyond - Gillette paints a vivid portrait of the tail end of the Golden Age of Broadway and the heady game show days of TV in the 1960s and 70s to her lauded stage work with Neil Simon and many of the great comedy and musical writers in the years since. Additionally, Gillette and I discuss her current essaying of the role of Mae Peterson in the new Regal Music Theatre production of Charles Strouse and Lee Adams's BYE BYE BIRDIE in Massachusetts as she looks towards opening night tomorrow and relates her joy in participating in a production that has some behind-the-scenes help by her loving granddaughter (while another attends their summer camp). Plus, Gillette's observations on sharing a soundstage with Alec Baldwin, Tina Fey, Elaine Stritch and Buck Henry for a recent 30 ROCK shoot, reflections on her fondest and most celebrated comedy roles, hilarious memories of appearing in some short-running flops (JIMMY, SKYSKRAPER) as well as in some big hits (GYPSY), her upcoming series of master classes titled "Life In The Business", her return to Birdland with her concert show, AFTER ALL, her role in an upcoming Ed Burns film and maybe even a role in a new Alexander Payne film - all of that, all about attending the Diamond Jubilee celebration in the United Kingdom and much, much more!

Vassar & New York Stage and Film's Powerhouse Theater announces casting updates for the season, including Griffin Dunne (After Hours, An American Werewolf in London) and Samantha Mathis (33 Variations, Pump Up the Volume) who join the cast of Fires Are Confusing by Eva Anderson, Will Berson, and Zach Helm, created by Teatro de Facto. Ilana Levine (Jake's Women, You're A Good Man Charlie Brown, The Last Night of Ballyhoo) joins Dominic Fumusa, Greg Kinnear, and Jennifer Westfeldt in the cast of the second Mainstage production of The Power of Duff by Stephen Belber, directed by Peter DuBois (7/18-29).

Tony-award winning Intiman Theatre turns 40 this year and will celebrate by launching a new summer theatre festival with four plays: Romeo and Juliet, Hedda Gabler, Miracle! and Dirty Story. The artists leading the charge - Dan Savage, Valerie Curtis-Newton, Andrew Russell and Allison Narver - are bringing passion projects with a twist to awaken the theatre, and the company of 17 local actors features established heavyweights and new forces, twisting and turning to play more than 40 roles in more than 80 performances. Similarly, the design team is stretching and shifting to build a versatile playground on the mainstage that will support several shows while simultaneously creating a separate universe in Intiman's studio space.

The award-winning Dreamhouse Theater Company returns after a four-year hiatus with a new season of shows and a new home. The first production as the new resident company at Jet Studios in North Hollywood, will be an emotionally-charged new look at Arthur Miller's extraordinary play, ALL MY SONS, directed by Dreamhouse Theater Company's Artistic Director Alex Sol. ALL MY SONS will open on Friday, July 20 and continue through Sunday, September 2 at the Jet Theatre, 5126 Lankershim Blvd. in North Hollywood.

Manhattan Theatre Club has created a special short film in celebration of Lynne Meadow's 40th anniversary as the visionary and artistic leader of the organization. The film premiered on Monday, June 18 during a special tribute event honoring Meadow at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre - now view the video below!

Kentwood Players was founded in 1949 by Jan and Arky Marcom. At the end of each Kentwood Players season, all Kentwood Players members in good standing who have seen all six shows vote by secret ballot and then the group presents our annual Marcom Masque Awards to the winners in each category at an entertainment-filled dinner ceremony.

The Platform Group announces The Ladder Series, a staged reading series aimed at getting new plays to the next rung. Out of more than 100 submissions, ten new plays will receive a staged reading at The Creek and Cave in Long Island City, N.Y. The Ladder series is scheduled to begin on July 15th and continue into early October.

Falcon Theatre has just announced its 2012-13 season. What would a Falcon season be without a wacky musical to start things off? We open with the regional premiere of CHiPS: The Musical. That's right, the California Highway Patrol's Ponch and Jon are back with the same tight pants and blinding teeth you remember from the 70s TV classic.

Tony-award winning Intiman Theatre turns 40 this year and will celebrate by launching a new summer theatre festival with four plays: Romeo and Juliet, Hedda Gabler, Miracle! and Dirty Story. The artists leading the charge - Dan Savage, Valerie Curtis-Newton, Andrew Russell and Allison Narver - are bringing passion projects with a twist to awaken the theatre, and the company of 17 local actors features established heavyweights and new forces, twisting and turning to play more than 40 roles in more than 80 performances. Similarly, the design team is stretching and shifting to build a versatile playground on the mainstage that will support several shows while simultaneously creating a separate universe in Intiman's studio space.

Manhattan Theatre Club celebrated Artistic Director Lynne Meadow's 40th anniversary as the visionary and artistic leader of the organization with a special tribute last night, June 18. The event will began at 6:30 PM with a VIP cocktail reception, followed by a 7:30 tribute event at the Samuel J. Friedman and a party at Copacabana. BroadwayWorld was on hand for the celebration and brings you photo coverage of the stars who came out to honor Meadow below!

Manhattan Theatre Club celebrates Artistic Director Lynne Meadow's 40th anniversary as the visionary and artistic leader of the organization with a special tribute tonight, June 18. The event will begin at 6:30 PM with a VIP cocktail reception, followed by a 7:30 tribute event at the Samuel J. Friedman (261 West 47th Street). Immediately after the Friedman tribute event, a party will follow at Copacabana (268 West 47th Street).

Kentwood Players presents "DOUBT, A Parable" by John Patrick Shanley from July 13 to August 18, 2012 on Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00pm and Sundays at 2:00pm at the Westchester Playhouse, located at 8301 Hindry Avenue in Westchester (LA 90045). The production is directed by Gail Bernardi and produced by Calia Mintzer-Wolf and Linda Reinhardt by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Inc., New York. Get a first look at the production in the photos below!

Atlantic Theater Company opened the world premiere production of STOREFRONT CHURCH, written and directed by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award® winner John Patrick Shanley, on Monday night, June 11 at the Linda Gross Theater. The production will run through July 1, 2012.

Olney Theatre Center today announced Martin Platt as their new Artistic Director. Mr. Platt began his tenure on May 28, 2012. He comes to Olney Theatre Center from his current position as Co-Director of Perry Street Theatricals (PST), a New York based producing company.

Atlantic Theater Company today announced that the world premiere production of STOREFRONT CHURCH, written and directed by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award® winner John Patrick Shanley, has been extended an additional week in advance of officially opening tonight.

Theater For The New City has announced the American premiere production of Alberto Bassetti's TWO SISTERS, TWO BROTHERS, directed by Mark Schneider and Valentina Fratti. TWO SISTERS, TWO BROTHERS will play a limited engagement at Theater for the New City (155 First Avenue, btw. 9th/10th). Opening Night is tonight, June 9 (8 p.m.).