Joseph Chaikin News

Primary Stages has launched the Primary Stages Off-Broadway Oral History Project, a new endeavor to capture the oral history of the New York Off-Broadway and Off-Off Broadway theatre movement through the first-hand accounts of the pioneers who created it.

Since its founding in 1974 by Paul Zimet, Ellen Maddow, and Tina Shepard-all former members of Joseph Chaikin's seminal Open Theater- Talking Band has remained a cornerstone of New York City's avant-garde theater community. Ben Brantley of The New York Times recently called them 'one of the boldest and most venerable politically minded companies in New York experimental theater.' American Theater magazine has deemed them 'one of the most exceptional theater companies in the country.' The Talking Band celebrates their 40th anniversary with The Golden Toad, a four-part epic whose world premiere La MaMa presents January 23 - February 8, 2015.

Firehouse Theatre has announced the appointment of Joel Bassin as Producing Artistic Director. He will take over leadership of the theatre at the end of Artistic Director Jase Smith's term in January 2015. Joel is the current Chair of Theatre at Hunter College in New York City.

Cherry Lane Theatre's TONGUES: a reading series presents 'Me, My Mouth & I', written and performed by Joy Behar today, September 23 at 2pm at Cherry Lane Theatre, 38 Commerce Street, NYC.

Cherry Lane Theatre's TONGUES: a reading series presents 'Me, My Mouth & I', written and performed by Joy Behar on Tuesday, September 23 at 2pm at Cherry Lane Theatre, 38 Commerce Street, NYC

Bad Hindu in association with East 4th Street and Off-Chance Productions has announced Rise and Shine [I Thought I Was White], written and performed by Anil Kumar for a limited engagement at the Let Live Theatre @ The Actors Company. Directed by Reena Dutt, Rise and Shine opens tonight, September 13 at 8pm. The show will run through October 12 only.

360repco presents Lancelot, a world premiere drama by award-winning playwright Steven Fechter (The Woodsman), and music by New York-based rock band The Head Set. Thom Fogarty directs a cast of four, including Stephen James Anthony* (Bway: War Horse), Lulu Fogarty*, Romy Nordlinger* and Grant Riordon. Performances will be staged at The Gym at Judson, 243 Thompson Street at Washington Square South, New York, NY 10012 from today, August 13-29, 2014.

Bad Hindu in association with East 4th Street and Off-Chance Productions has announced Rise and Shine [I Thought I Was White], written and performed by Anil Kumar for a limited engagement at the Let Live Theatre @ The Actors Company. Directed by Reena Dutt, Rise and Shine will play one preview performance on Friday, September 12 at 8pm and opening is set for Saturday, September 13 at 8pm. The show will run through October 12 only.

New Perspectives Theatre Company (NPTC) has announced on the margin, the 7th Annual Women's Work Short Play Festival with six original scripts developed to that theme. The festival runs from Monday, August 4th to Saturday, August 9th with performances of two Programs alternating 4:00pm and 8:00pm curtain times.. on the margin performs at NPTC Studio, 458 West 37th Street (at 10th Avenue.)

360repco presents Lancelot, a world premiere drama by award-winning playwright Steven Fechter (The Woodsman), and music by New York-based rock band The Head Set. Thom Fogarty directs a cast of four, including Stephen James Anthony* (Bway: War Horse), Lulu Fogarty*, Romy Nordlinger* and Grant Riordon. Performances will be staged at The Gym at Judson, 243 Thompson Street @ Washington Square South, New York, NY 10012 from August 13-29, 2014.

In 'The Sonic Life of a Giant Tortoise: Youth Is Not the Only Thing That's Sonic,' Rothenberg and Okada Reunite with PlayCo, Following Acclaimed Production of 'Okada's Enjoy' (2010), to explore the discontentment bubbling just underneath a generation of urban 30-somethings

The Play Company (PlayCo), led by Founding Producer Kate Loewald and Executive Producer Lauren Weigel, is unique in its commitment to producing plays from around the world, including the U.S., to advance a dynamic, international experience of contemporary theater as part of the American repertoire. They conclude their 2013-14 season with the U.S. premiere of The Sonic Life of a Giant Tortoise: youth is not the only thing that's sonic, which reunites them with award-winning Japanese writer Toshiki Okada, director Dan Rothenberg (Pig Iron), and translator Aya Ogawa, following their collaboration on Okada's critically lauded Enjoy in 2010. The new production will run today, May 24 - June 29 at Jack in Brooklyn.

Wednesday, April 16 - The sixteenth annual Otto Rene Castillo Awards for Political Theatre (executive producer, Diane Stiles) will be held on Sunday, May 18, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. at the Castillo Theatre (artistic director, Dan Friedman).

The sixteenth annual Otto Rene Castillo Awards for Political Theatre (executive producer, Diane Stiles) will be held on Sunday, May 18, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. at the Castillo Theatre (artistic director, Dan Friedman).

Voyage Theater Company and B2Y Entertainment present the World Premiere of the play-within-a-play comedy INTERMISSION by Daniel Libman. Directed by Wayne Maugans, previews begin tonight, May 2 at The Clurman Theatre at Theatre Row. Opening is slated for Thursday, May 8. INTERMISSION is performed without an intermission.

The Play Company (PlayCo), led by Founding Producer Kate Loewald and Executive Producer Lauren Weigel, is unique in its commitment to producing plays from around the world, including the U.S., to advance a dynamic, international experience of contemporary theater as part of the American repertoire. They conclude their 2013-14 season with the U.S. premiere of The Sonic Life of a Giant Tortoise: youth is not the only thing that's sonic, which reunites them with award-winning Japanese writer Toshiki Okada, director Dan Rothenberg (Pig Iron), and translator Aya Ogawa, following their collaboration on Okada's critically lauded Enjoy in 2010. The new production will run May 24 - June 29 at Jack in Brooklyn.

Voyage Theater Company and B2Y Entertainment present the World Premiere of the play-within-a-play comedy INTERMISSION by Daniel Libman. Directed by Wayne Maugans, previews begin May 2 at The Clurman Theatre at Theatre Row. Opening is slated for Thursday, May 8. INTERMISSION is performed without an intermission.

The Living Theatre celebrates its 67th season with the world premier of NO PLACE TO HIDE, a new work-in-progress written and directed by Judith Malina.

The Living Theatre celebrates its 67th season with the world premier of NO PLACE TO HIDE, a new work-in-progress written and directed by Judith Malina.

The Chocolate Factory is pleased to present the world premiere of Catlett's This Was The End, a performance in which four actors in their sixties and seventies attempt each night to get to the end of Uncle Vanya-in a last ditch effort to alter the outcome. In Chekhov's play, Vanya asks, 'What if I live to be 60?' This Was The End performs an answer. It uses the play to pose questions about how memory functions in the formation of the future. The cast features veteran downtown luminaries Black-Eyed Susan (Ridiculous Theater & John Jesurun) as Sonya, Paul Zimet (Living Theater & Talking Band) as Vanya, Jim Himelsbach (OBIE for The Foundry's Talk) as Astrov and Rae C Wright (OBIE for Sustained Excellence with The New York Street Theatre Caravan) as Yelena.