Kathleen Chalfant News

Over 300 current and past New York City high school students and the 22 mentors and 5 guest mentors who have participated in TDF's Open Doors, the theatre arts mentoring program that TDF founded in 1998 with playwright Wendy Wasserstein, will attend this year's graduation ceremony on Wednesday, May 27 at 6:00pm at Professional Performing Arts School (328 West 48 Street). This year has been Open Doors biggest year ever with a total of 27 mentors and guest mentors working with 20 groups of students from New York City high schools, representing all five boroughs.

The Literature to Life® program of The American Place Theatre (APT) will kick off its newest campaign, Project 451, with a celebrity gala May 17 and 18 in Theater at St. Clement's, 423 West 46th Street, Manhattan.

The title of Tony Kushner's new play is inspired by two 19th-century thinkers and their works -- George Bernard Shaw's The Intelligent Woman's Guide to Socialism and Capitalism and Mary Baker Eddy's Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures.

The Shakespeare Society (Michael Sexton, Artistic Director) has announced that the Shakespeare Birthday Marathon, a FREE five-hour celebration of the Bard's 445th birthday, will take place Sunday, April 26, 3:30 - 8:30pm at Peter Norton Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway at 95th Street. There will be free general admission and no reservations are taken.

Such Good Friends is a documentary chronicling the Invisible Theatre of Tucson?s Pastime Players. For over 25 years, Susan Claassen, artistic director of the Invisible Theatre, has spearheaded this arts project. She, Gail Fitzhugh and a dedicated group of artists teach theatre, music and dance twice a week to exceptional education students. Verl, Danny, Beth, Janna, Meg and Jennifer have been members of this performance troupe. Their connections and ultimate friendship tells the story of two very different worlds coming together through the power of the arts.

The Literature to Life® program of The American Place Theatre (APT) will kick off its newest campaign, Project 451, with a celebrity gala May 17 and 18 in Theater at St. Clement's, 423 West 46th Street, Manhattan.

Guthrie Director Joe Dowling today announced the complete cast and creative team for the theater's world premiere commission of The Intelligent Homosexual's Guide to Capitalism and Socialism with a Key to the Scriptures by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Tony Kushner, under the direction of Tony- and Drama Desk-nominated Michael Greif (Broadway: Next to Normal, Rent, Grey Gardens). Performances begin May 15, with an official press opening on May 22, and continue through June 28 on the McGuire Proscenium Stage.

On April 18th, 2009, nearly 1,000 attendees took part on the Guthrie Theater's Kick Off to Kushner, a community wide event, which featured 70 singers from the Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus premiering 'I Want More Life,' a new choral commission with text from Kushner's Angels in America and music by Michael Shaieb. In addition, Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak presented a proclamation declaring April 18 'Tony Kushner Day' in Minneapolis.

It was announced that soap star Kathleen Widdoes joins the previously announced cast of the Epic Theatre Ensemble (Zak Berkman, Melissa Friedman, Ron Russell, Executive Directors) two-night benefit event: As The Epic Turns, to support its esteemed after-school 'Shakespeare Bridge Project' programs.

New York's OBIE Award-winning Epic Theatre Ensemble (Zak Berkman, Melissa Friedman, Ron Russell, Executive Directors) will present a two-evening event: As The Epic Turns, a benefit to support its esteemed after-school 'Shakespeare Bridge Project' programs. Under the direction of Zak Berkman, the 90-minute evening will feature two-time Emmy Award Winner, Martha Byrne, along with Paolo Seganti, and Tamara Tunie in a series of staged readings plus an exclusive screening of Paul Leyden's film Bye Bye Sally, followed by a reception with the cast and Epic Theater Ensemble artists.

New York's OBIE Award-winning Epic Theatre Ensemble (Zak Berkman, Melissa Friedman, Ron Russell, Executive Directors) will present a two-evening event: As The Epic Turns, a benefit to support its esteemed after-school 'Shakespeare Bridge Project' programs. Under the direction of Zak Berkman, the 90-minute evening will feature two-time Emmy Award Winner, Martha Byrne, along with Paolo Seganti, and Tamara Tunie in a series of staged readings plus an exclusive screening of Paul Leyden's film Bye Bye Sally, followed by a reception with the cast and Epic Theater Ensemble artists. Two performances are scheduled for 8:00 p.m. on Friday, April 17th and Saturday, April 18th at The Peter Sharpe Theater (416 West 42nd Street).

The Guthrie Theater's unprecedented three-month celebration of Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Tony Kushner kicks off this weekend in Minneapolis, with daylong festivities including a world premiere performance of 'I Want More Life,' commissioned by the Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus with text from Kushner's Angels in America, the presentation of a 'Tony Kushner Day' proclamation by Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak to Tony Kushner, and a screening of the HBO film version of Angels in America. The three-month celebration includes productions on all three of the Guthrie's stages, classes, seminars, discussions, speakers and more.

Acclaimed Off-Broadway theater company Playwrights Horizons (Tim Sanford, Artistic Director; Leslie Marcus, Managing Director) has announced details for a second round of major items for their special online Auction in connection with its annual Spring Gala Benefit. Bidding for the auction, which already features an exceptionally eclectic array of items and unique opportunities, is currently underway at www.playwrightshorizons.cmarket.com.

The Shakespeare Society (Michael Sexton, Artistic Director) has announced that the Shakespeare Birthday Marathon, a FREE five-hour celebration of the Bard's 445th birthday, will take place Sunday, April 26, 3:30 - 8:30pm at Peter Norton Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway at 95th Street. There will be free general admission and no reservations are taken.

It was announced that soap star Kathleen Widdoes joins the previously announced cast of the Epic Theatre Ensemble (Zak Berkman, Melissa Friedman, Ron Russell, Executive Directors) two-night benefit event: As The Epic Turns, to support its esteemed after-school 'Shakespeare Bridge Project' programs.

Acclaimed Off-Broadway theater company Playwrights Horizons (Tim Sanford, Artistic Director; Leslie Marcus, Managing Director) has announced details for a special online Auction in connection with its annual Spring Gala Benefit.

The Guthrie Theater Announces Line-up for Spring 2009 EXTREME KUSHNER WEEKENDS Minneapolis is the place to be during the weekends of May 22-24 and June 5-8, as the Guthrie celebrates the work of Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Tony Kushner.

Such Good Friends is a documentary chronicling the Invisible Theatre of Tucson?s Pastime Players. For over 25 years, Susan Claassen, artistic director of the Invisible Theatre, has spearheaded this arts project. She, Gail Fitzhugh and a dedicated group of artists teach theatre, music and dance twice a week to exceptional education students. Verl, Danny, Beth, Janna, Meg and Jennifer have been members of this performance troupe. Their connections and ultimate friendship tells the story of two very different worlds coming together through the power of the arts.

The Fire Dept Artistic Directors Erica Gould and Audrey Rosenberg presented The Minotaur, the first installment of the company's 2009 Salon Series, the cast for the performance included Mario Cantone, Jill Clayburgh, Phoebe Neidhardt, Ethan Peck, Campbell Scott, and Jeremy Webb. The Minotaur, written by Anna Ziegler; directed by Erica Gould; and produced by Audrey Rosenberg, took place Friday, March 27 at 7:30pm at the historic Players Club, 16 Gramercy Park South at 20th Street.

OSO at The Southampton Inn, 91 Hill Street in Southampton continues its popular 'Dinner and...' Series featuring a 3 course gourmet dinner and conversations with luminaries in The Hamptons with a very special evening featuring three Hamptonites who have delighted audiences on stages across the East End: Josh Perl founder of The Naked Stages, Josh Gladstone Artistic Director, John Drew Theatre at Guild Hall and Watermill Center Artist in Residence writer/actor/director/choreographer Kate Mueth. The trio will give audiences a brief preview of the upcoming Naked Stages Marathon at Guild Hall; what special events are planned for the 2009 Season and do a short performance in an intimate salon like atmosphere.