Joseph Papp News

Due to the ongoing health crisis, the traditional in-person event is replaced by an enduring online tribute.

American Blues Theater presents the 2020 Blue Ink Playwriting Festival digitally, May 1-4, 2020. For the first time ever, audiences around the world can access the scripts of the Blue Ink Playwrighting Festival online, free of charge.

Looking for something new to read while stuck inside, but still need your Broadway fix? We've rounded up 10 of our favorite theatre-themed history books to fill the void!

BroadwayWorld is saddened to report that theatre producer Bernard Gersten passed away this morning in his sleep. He was 97 years old.

The 65th Annual Drama Desk Awards has partnered with 'Stars in the House' to live stream this year's Nominations. Seth Rudetsky and James Wesley, the hosts of the virtual daily series benefiting the Actors Fund, will announce the nominees.

Ideastream has reported that Great Lakes Theater Legend Gerald Freedman has passed away at age 92.

Unfortunately, due to the spread of coronavirus, Roberto Fonseca's shows at Joe's Pub tomorrow night have been cancelled.

The Public Theater will begin performances for the New York premiere of THE VAGRANT TRILOGY, a Public Theater commission, written by Emerging Writers Group alumna Mona Mansour on Tuesday, March 17 with a Joseph Papp Free Preview in the Public's LuEsther Hall.

The Wick Theatre will present A Chorus Line, the iconic celebration of the Broadway's unsung heroes. The groundbreaking, Pulitzer Prize-winning show made its debut 45 years ago setting a new standard on Broadway. Filled with universal stories, hit songs and dazzling dancing, it remains as relevant, poignant and explosively entertaining as ever.

Mizner Park Cultural Center will once again host a wide variety of entertainment and events over the coming weeks.  Comedy, music, magic, and live theatre are all on the popular venue's schedule during March and April.  Below is a list of just a few of the performances that will take place at the Center this spring:   

The Public Theater (Artistic Director, Oskar Eustis; Executive Director, Patrick Willingham) will bring Shakespeare's CYMBELINE, directed by Carl Cofield, on tour for the first time ever to venues across the city in a free four-week tour (April 16-May 15), as part of The Public's commitment to bringing free theater to all and deepening its engagement with communities across the five boroughs. The Mobile Unit's free tours bring Shakespeare and other works to audiences who have limited or no access to the arts by visiting correctional facilities, homeless shelters, social service organizations, and other community organizations. Following the tour to the five boroughs, there will also be a free three-week engagement of CYMBELINE in The Public's Shiva Theater running Monday, May 18 through Sunday, June 7, with an official press opening on Thursday, May 21.

On Her Shoulders presentS staged readings of four short plays by Eulalie Spence: Episode, The Hunch, The Starter and Undertow on Wednesday, March 25, 2020. The evening is directed by Arminda Thomas who also provides The Play in Context, situating the scripts in their historical time and place. Doors open at 6:45pm for a 7:00pm start with the PIC lecture, followed by the readings and a post-performance Q&A with refreshments.

'Fighting Words' by Sunil Kuruvilla will run for three weeks beginning April 10th at 7 Stages Theatre Back Stage, 1105 Euclid Avenue NE Atlanta Georgia 30307. (Preview on April 9th)

Aurora Theatre Company continues its dynamic 28th season with  Joe Orton's LOOT. Former Aurora Artistic Director Tom Ross (Everything is Illuminated, This Is How It Goes, A Delicate Balance) directs this comedic tour de force.

Constance Wu was a guest on Wednesday night's episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to talk about the final season of her ABC series Fresh Off The Boat. Wu has had a surge of success with the films Crazy Rich Asians and Hustlers, in addition to her comedy series reaching its six season.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director, Oskar Eustis; Executive Director, Patrick Willingham) announced complete casting today for the world premiere musical THE VISITOR, with music by Pulitzer Prize winner Tom Kitt, lyrics by Pulitzer Prize winner Brian Yorkey, book by Kwame Kwei-Armah and Brian Yorkey, and choreography by Lorin Latarro.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director, Oskar Eustis; Executive Director, Patrick Willingham) will begin performances for the world premiere of the new play COAL COUNTRY, written by Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen with original music by Steve Earle, on Tuesday, February 18 with a Joseph Papp Free Preview performance in the Anspacher Theater. Directed by Jessica Blank, this riveting new work will run through Sunday, March 29, with an official press opening on Tuesday, March 3.

American Blues Theater, under the continued leadership of Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside, announces the winner of the 2020 Blue Ink Playwriting Award is Recent Unsettling Events by Andrea Stolowitz. A staged reading of the play will be presented as part of the 2020 Blue Ink Playwriting Festival, along with new work by finalists Football Football Football Football (or I Love Lave Dash) by Kristoffer Diaz, The Mermaids' Parade by Gina Femia, and Crying on Television by R. Eric Thomas. The Blue Ink Playwriting Festival runs May 2-4, 2020 at 4809 N Ravenswood, Suite #126, in Chicago.

Broadway's master songman, Mandy Patinkin, accompanied by Adam Ben-David on piano, will bring his newest theatre concert Mandy Patinkin in Concert: DIARIES, to the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall for one performance only on Sunday, February 16 at 7 p.m. Tickets are on sale now.

The Dramatist Presents: TALKBACK, the first professional podcast from the Dramatists Guild, will record a live episode at BroadwayCon, with the Broadway Podcast Network, on Friday, January 24 at 11:15am.