Joseph Chaikin News

International Master Teachers Paul Binnerts and Nancy Gabor, a disciple-cum-guru of Brechtian theater and a collaborator and confidant of the great Joseph Chaikin respectively, are thrilled to offer their wisdom and insights to American actors, theater professionals, or anyone looking to get onstage and tell a story. Their ESSENCE & PRESENCE workshops will be held from May 6-8 at Westbeth Artists Community in New York City, May 13-15 at Paloma Street Studios in Los Angeles, and May 20-22 at the Headwaters Theater in Portland, OR. Tickets to the workshops are available now at www.essenceandpresence.com.

New York, NY, (March 12, 2016) – The Wendy Osserman Dance Company will celebrate its 40th Anniversary season with four performances, running April 20 – 23, 2016 at 8 pm. Presented by the Theater for the New City (155 1st Avenue), the season will feature two world premieres with live music by Skip La Plante and Harry Mann, and Osserman's Udjat (1985).

Theater for the New City Executive Director Crystal Field is presenting a night of two plays based on short stories by Ghassan Kanafani, an award-winning Palestinian journalist, playwright and novelist whose work has been presented around the world.

The Wendy Osserman Dance Company will celebrate its 40th Anniversary season with four performances, running April 20 – 23, 2016 at 8 pm. Presented by the Theater for the New City (155 1st Avenue), the season will feature two world premieres with live music by Skip La Plante and Harry Mann, and Osserman's Udjat (1985).

Theater for the New City Executive Director Crystal Field is presenting a night of two plays based on short stories by Ghassan Kanafani, an award-winning Palestinian journalist, playwright and novelist whose work has been presented around the world.

?Belgian playwright Serge Goriely turns conventional notions of voodoo on their heads with his Strindbergian play of magic, lies and intolerance, 'The Sorcerers.'  Theater for the New City will present the work's world premiere March 3 to 20, translated and directed by David Willinger.

Since its founding in 1974 by Paul Zimet and Ellen Maddow -- former members of Joseph Chaikin's seminal Open Theater -- the Talking Band has remained a cornerstone of New York City's avant-garde theater community. La MaMa in association with Talking Band presents the world premiere of its latest work, BURNISHED BY GRIEF, a sinister, music infused romantic comedy, at La MaMa's first floor theater, opening tonight, January 27, and running through February 7, 2016.

In 2013, the year Theater for the New City burned its mortgage, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer declared January 26 to be Theater for the New City Appreciation Day. This year, the theater is celebrating with festivities on that day beginning at 7:00 PM. There will be a benefit bake sale, performances by Kitty Lunn and the dance/percussion troupe COBU and a special presentation by playwright Jean-Claude van Itallie.

Broadwayworld.com interviewed Kevin Kittle who is directing 'College Colors' at Crossroads Theatre. Written by Stacie Lents, the show will be on the New Brunswick Stage from Februrary 4th through February 14th.

Since its founding in 1974 by Paul Zimet and Ellen Maddow -- former members of Joseph Chaikin's seminal Open Theater -- the Talking Band has remained a cornerstone of New York City's avant-garde theater community. La MaMa in association with Talking Band will present the world premiere of its latest work, BURNISHED BY GRIEF, a sinister, music infused romantic comedy, at La MaMa's first floor theater from tonight, January 22, through February 7.

New York, NY, January 19, 2016 – The Wendy Osserman Dance Company will celebrate its 40th Anniversary season with four performances, running April 20 – 23, 2016 at 8 pm.  Presented by the Theater for the New City (155 1st Avenue), the season will feature two world premieres and Osserman's Udjat (1985).  

In 2013, the year Theater for the New City burned its mortgage, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer declared January 26 to be Theater for the New City Appreciation Day. This year, the theater is celebrating with festivities on that day beginning at 7:00 PM. There will be a benefit bake sale, performances by Kitty Lunn and the dance/percussion troupe COBU and a special presentation by playwright Jean-Claude van Itallie.

Since its founding in 1974 by Paul Zimet, Ellen Maddow and Tina Shepard-former members of Joseph Chaikin's seminal Open Theater-the 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 will present in association with La MaMa the world premiere of its latest work, Burnished by Grief, a sinister, music infused romantic comedy, at La MaMa'sfirst floor theater from January 22-February 7.

Since its founding in 1974 by Paul Zimet and Ellen Maddow -- former members of Joseph Chaikin's seminal Open Theater -- the Talking Band has remained a cornerstone of New York City's avant-garde theater community. La MaMa in association with Talking Band will present the world premiere of its latest work, BURNISHED BY GRIEF, a sinister, music infused romantic comedy, at La MaMa's first floor theater from January 22-February 7.

With profound sadness Medicine Show Theatre Ensemble, one of New York's longest-running experimental theatres, announces the death of co-founder and artistic director, Obie Award-winner Barbara Vann.

'Casterbridge,' based on Thomas Hardy's classic Victorian novel, 'The Mayor of Casterbridge,' is a new musical theater work with book and lyrics by David Willinger and music by Christopher Beste. The 20-character, two-act musical is fairly faithful to Hardy's parable of the spiritual ups and downs of man and features a score inspired by English country music of the period. Theater for the New City will present the piece's world premiere run today, June 4 to 19, directed by Willinger.

The National Theater Institute includes a vibrant community of over 3,500 alumni. The many talents of these actors, writers, directors, and designers can be seen on Broadway, Off-Broadway, in films, television, London's West End, and at every major regional theater in the U.S. Today, in an excerpt from EVERYTHING WAS POSSIBLE: THE BIRTH OF THE MUSICAL FOLLIES, we hear from Ted Chapin (NTI Fall '70) who called his semester-away at NTI an 'extraordinary' 'experimental off-campus theater program.'

'Casterbridge,' based on Thomas Hardy's classic Victorian novel, 'The Mayor of Casterbridge,' is a new musical theater work with book and lyrics by David Willinger and music by Christopher Beste. The 20-character, two-act musical is fairly faithful to Hardy's parable of the spiritual ups and downs of man and features a score inspired by English country music of the period. Theater for the New City will present the piece's world premiere run June 4 to 19, directed by Willinger.

On Broad Street in the heart of Philadelphia, nationally known as a center for experimental, boundary-pushing performance, a new partnership between Pig Iron Theatre Company and the University of the Arts' Ira Brind School of Theater Arts is poised to change the landscape of theater education. This new partnership will create the University of the Arts MFA in Pig Iron School's Devised Performance program and the University of the Arts Certificate in Pig Iron School's Devised Performance program. The program will be under the direction of Gabriel Quinn Bauriedel, co-founder of Pig Iron Theatre Company, within the UArts Ira Brind School of Theater Arts, led by Joanna Settle.