Joseph Papp News

From the very beginning, one of the most important tenants of Joseph Papp's vision of free Shakespeare in Central Park has been the insistence the company of actors audiences see on stage will always reflect the extraordinary and powerful cultural diversity of New York City.

Mercury brings the 2017-18 season to a close with 'Four Seasons', a dramatic staged production from the creative minds of Artistic Director Antoine Plante and musician/composer Denis Plante merging words, music and imagination. Well-known Houston actor David Rainey, resident member of The Alley Theatre and Artistic Director of The Landing Theatre Company, joins the orchestra in the lead role for the three-performance theatrical premiere at the Hobby Center's Zilkha Hall on Saturday, June 16th and Sunday, June 17th.  

BroadwayWorld has just learned that following on the heels of NBC's critically acclaimed rock musical 'Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert' comes the true original rock musical, 'Hair Live!,' which will be broadcast in the spring of 2019 in front of a live audience. 

West Coast premiere of Bearing Witness - Vietnam veteran and founder/artistic director of the Drama Desk Award-winning Vietnam Veteran's Ensemble Theatre Company (VETCo) Thomas Bird's autobiographical solo show is the moving father-son story of Bird's relationship with his World War II veteran dad and their mutual healing from the traumas of battle and the Holocaust.

Aurora Theatre Company today announced that long-time artistic director Tom Ross will step down at the end of the company's 27th season in July 2019. When Ross departs, he will have been on staff at Aurora for 27 years, 15 of which he will have served as artistic director.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director, Oskar Eustis; Executive Director, Patrick Willingham) officially opened the MOBILE UNIT's production of HENRY V on Friday, April 27. Check out the photos below!

'Raise your hand if you've ever been underestimated,' instructs Program Director Stephanie Ybarra before every performance of Shakespeare's HENRY V, as performed by The Public Theater's Mobile Unit.

On this day in 2011, the star-studded Broadway premiere of Larry Kramer's landmark play The Normal Heart opened on Broadway at the Golden Theater.

The Drilling Company, led by director/producer Hamilton Clancy, returns for their fifth summer season at Bryant Park. Best known for their Shakespeare in the Parking Lot performance series (now entering its 24th season), The Drilling Company brings three of The Bard's best-known plays to the park this summer: A Midsummer Night's Dream, Twelfth Night, and Macbeth.

Hartford Stage Artistic Director Darko Tresnjakand Managing Director Michael Stotts present the world premiere of The Age of Innocence.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director, Oskar Eustis; Executive Director, Patrick Willingham) will begin previews for the MOBILE UNIT's production of HENRY V on Monday, April 23.  Directed by Robert O'Hara, the free sit-down run of HENRY V follows a three-week tour to five boroughs bringing Shakespeare to audiences who have limited or no access to the arts.

Darko Tresnjak will step down as Hartford Stage's Artistic Director at the conclusion of the 2018-19 season. Tresnjak has served as the Tony Award-winning theatre's artistic leader since 2011. A national search will be conducted to find his replacement.

Hartford Stage Artistic Director Darko Tresnjak and Managing Director Michael Stotts announced today the cast and creative team for the world premiere of The Age of Innocence, which will feature four-time Tony Award winner Boyd Gaines and more.

Young Jean Lee is the winner of the 2018 Edwin Booth Award. The Award Ceremony will take place Wednesday, March 21, 2018 beginning at 6:30 pm in The Martin E. Segal Theatre Center at the CUNY Graduate Center, 365 Fifth Avenue, at 34th Street. Admission is FREE but seating is limited. Reservations: boothawardrsvp@gmail.com

Continuing its commitment to bringing free Shakespeare to the community and strengthening audience engagement with the arts, The Public Theater will mount its MOBILE UNIT again this spring with a free three-week tour to the five boroughs of Shakespeare's HENRY V, directed by Robert O'Hara.Now in its eighth year, the Mobile Unit's free tour (March 29 - April 21) brings 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 venues.

The press has called Tony Award-nominated director, Broadway actress and singer Eleanor Reissa the "Yiddish Beyonce." Yiddish movies have been showcased at Sundance and film festivals world-wide. Mario "Moishele" Alfonso teases audience with his lecture entitled, "Making Yiddish Sexy Again." Some 5,000 Yiddish words are now officially part of the English language.

 The wackiest beach party in town continues! Pasadena Playhouse, the State Theatre of California, announces a one-week extension of Gilbert and Sullivan's Pirates of Penzance, as reimagined by the Chicago theatre hooligans The Hypocrites, now through February 25, due to high demand.  Tickets are now on sale at pasadenaplayhouse.org or by calling 626-356-7529.

Irvington Town Hall Theater (ITHT) is thrilled to celebrate Black History Month with a one night only fully staged reading of Ntozake Shange's ground-breaking play for colored girls who have considered suicide when the rainbow is enuf presented by 4th Wall Theatre on Saturday, February 24th at 7:30pm.

 The wackiest beach party in town continues! Pasadena Playhouse, the State Theatre of California, announces a one-week extension of Gilbert and Sullivan's Pirates of Penzance, as reimagined by the Chicago theatre hooligans The Hypocrites, now through February 25, due to high demand.  Tickets are now on sale at pasadenaplayhouse.org or by calling 626-356-7529.

MIRIAM HOFFMAN, author, scholar, playwright & survivor will be reading selections from her new book A Breed Apart: Reflections of a Young Refugee, today, January 23, 2018, at 8pm at the Books & Books, 265 Aragon Ave Coral Gables, Florida. She will be joined by her son, Avi Hoffman, the award-winning actor & performer, with special musical guest, Randi Fishenfeld. The evening will include a multi-media presentation, discussion, Q&A & book signing. The event, which is co-sponsored by the University of Miami/Miller Center for Contemporary Judaic Studies, will be FREE & open to the public.