John Wells News

The three-week performance series will feature music, theater, comedy and cabaret work from Matt Bovee, Scout Davis, Amy Jo Jackson, Dan Mills and Ben Thornewill, Kristin McCarthy Parker, Adam J. Rineer, and others, as well as the world premiere of Witches!? In Salem?! by Matt Cox (Puffs).

MGM+ announced that Forest Whitaker (Godfather of Harlem) will star in Emperor of Ocean Park, a thrilling, suspenseful take on author and law professor Stephen L. Carter's best-selling novel, from executive producer/writer Sherman Payne (Charm City Kings, Shameless), John Wells Productions (JWP), and Warner Bros. Television.

The new year is almost upon us and so it seems this is the best time to reflect on some of the theatrical experiences over 2023 that made a lasting impact.

City Theatre will present their first show of 2024 and the third in the season, South Side Stories Revisited, written and performed by Tami Dixon and directed by Matt M. Morrow.  

Latiné Musical Theatre Lab and Prospect Theater Company have partnered to present New Musicals Mixtape, a first look at new musicals written by members of the Latiné Musical Theatre Lab’s Julia de Burgos Cohort.

The Tank will present As I Eat the World, written and performed by Luis Roberto Herrera and directed by Scout Davis. Learn how to purchase tickets!

The Public Theater will launch a two-year residency with The Apothetae, the New York-based theater company dedicated to the production of works that explore and illuminate the “Disabled Experience.”

This Week's New Classified Listings on BroadwayWorld for 11/2/2023 include new jobs for those looking to work in the theatre industry.

Theater Latté Da (TLD) announced today that it has chosen Justin Lucero as its next Artistic Director. Lucero will join TLD in mid-October, co-leading the organization with Managing Director Elisa Spencer-Kaplan.

Center Repertory Company has appointed Matt M. Morrow as its new Artistic Director following a nationwide search.

THE ROAD THEATRE COMPANY (Taylor Gilbert, Founder/Artistic Director together with Sam Anderson, Artistic Director) in partnership with the Jewish Plays Project (David Winitsky, Artistic Director), have announced a one-night only reading presentation of 2021 National Jewish Playwriting Contest Winner, WHO BY FIRE, written by Talisa Friedman and directed by legendary casting director John Levey.  

Diversionary Theatre has announced the cast and creative team for its San Diego-premiere of Head Over Heels, a musical based upon “The Arcadia” by Sir Philip Sidney, with songs by the iconic 80's all-girl rock band, The Go-Go's. 

MGM+ has announced a 10-episode series order for Emperor of Ocean Park, a thrilling, suspenseful take on author and law professor Stephen L. Carter’s best-selling novel, from executive producer/writer Sherman Payne (Charm City Kings, Shameless), John Wells Productions (JWP), and Warner Bros. Television.

The Drama League has launched its digital archive of the 2022-2023 International Directors Summit, which united eight world-class directors from around the globe for a series of conversations about the changing nature of their work.

Lisa Clair Group, in association with Immediate Medium and in collaboration with New Georges, will present Willa’s Authentic Self, a musical, monstrous, and maximalist re-imagining of the ancient Jewish Golem myth.

After an inclusive nationwide search led by ALJP Consulting and a dedicated group of board, staff, and affiliated artists, Off-Broadway's Rattlestick Theater has named Will Davis, a director, choreographer, and producer of new work as Artistic Director. Davis will succeed Daniella Topol, who served as Artistic Director since 2016.

Ivo Van Hove is working with John Wells on a new television series taking place in a ruthless music conservatory. The series will be written by Matthew-Lee Erlbach, inspired by his experience training in the cutthroat environment at one of the top music conservatories in the country. 

Loud Fridge Theatre Group started off its 2023 theatrical year with an excellent and thoughtfully nuanced look at a sexual assault on a college campus.  RIPPED from Loud Fridge Theatre Group is playing through February 5th at OnStage Playhouse.

Interview with RIPPED directors Kate Rose Reynolds and John Wells III, about working together as joint directors, and why this play is more topical than ever as it explores from multiple angles an incident of a female college freshman who believes she was sexually assaulted. 

Co-authored by Conor Duffy and Jake Broder, Max & Willy’s Last Laugh is based on the true story of entertainers Max Ehrlich and Willy Rosen, who for 18 months performed the funniest cabaret in Europe to ensure their safety at the Westerbork Transit Camp during World War II.