Kathleen Chalfant News

This spring, Berkeley Repertory Theatre and Center Theatre Group present In the Wake, a powerful world premiere from the creators of Broadway's Well. Obie Award-winners Lisa Kron and Leigh Silverman reunite for a searing show which questions whether we as Americans appreciate our freedom.

On May 25 at 10am, Obie and Drama Desk award-winning Broadway actress Kathleen Chalfant will deliver the keynote address at The Cooper Union's 151st Commencement. Chalfant has performed in major productions in New York, Los Angeles and London. Well known to audiences for her portrayal of Vivian Bearing in the Pulitzer Prize-winning play, Wit, Ms. Chalfant received the Obie Award, Drama Desk Award, Lucille Lortel Award, Drama League Award and Los Angeles Ovation Award, among others, for her performance. Among her numerous honors, she was acclaimed for her Tony-nominated performance as Hannah Pitt in Tony Kushner's Angels in America: Millennium Approaches on Broadway and received her second Obie Award for her performance in Talking Heads. In 1996, Chalfant made her Shakespearean debut in the Public Theater's Henry V, for which she received that year's Calloway Award for Best Classical Performance.

Over 350 guests including current and past New York City high school students, and the 23 mentors and 6 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 on Monday, May 24 at Professional Performing Arts School (328 West 48 Street).

Rubicon Theatre Company continues its 2009-2010 Season with a revival of BETH HENLEY's Pulitzer Prize-winning play CRIMES OF THE HEART. Set in Mississippi in 1974 (five years after Hurricane Camille), this sweet, sexy comedy follows the travails of the three Magrath sisters, who come together at the family home in Hazelhurst when the youngest Babe is charged with shooting her husband 'cause she didn't like his looks.'

The award-winning actor PETER FRANCIS JAMES ('Stuff Happens') has joined the cast of PROPHECY, Karen Malpede's play which will begin previews Off-Broadway on May 29 prior to an official press opening on June 8 at the East Fourth Street Theatre (83 E. 4 St.) in Manhattan.

Comedy Legend of Stage and Screen, Rip Taylor, is scheduled to introduce 'It Ain't All Confetti' at the El Portal Theatre. Rip is one of television's most recognizable personalities and 'It Ain't All Confetti' puts a humorous and revealing spotlight on a career that has spanned five remarkable decades.

The Castillo Theatre is holding its twelfth annual Otto René Castillo Awards for Political Theatre on Sunday, May 23 at the Castillo Theatre at 543 West 42nd Street (between 10th and 11th Avenues) in New York City at 2:00 p.m.

The Flea Theater presents the World Premiere of PARENTS' EVENING, a two-hander by Bathsheba Doran. Directed by Flea Artistic Director Jim Simpson, the production stars Julianne Nicholson (Law & Order: Criminal Intent) and James Waterston (A.R. Gurney's Buffalo Gal).

New York's OBIE Award-winning Epic Theatre Ensemble (Zak Berkman, Melissa Friedman, Ron Russell, Founding Executive Directors) today announced plans for an ambitious series of events surrounding the highly anticipated New York premiere of Sarah Ruhl's Passion Play, directed by Mark Wing-Davey.

ENRON began previews on Broadway on April 8, 2010 at The Broadhurst Theatre and opened last night, April 27, 2010. BroadwayWorld.com was there to capture the starry opening night arrivals.

MCC Theater (Robert LuPone, Bernard Telsey, Artistic Directors; William Cantler, Associate Artistic Director; Blake West, Executive Director) presents Beth Henley's Family Week, directed by Jonathan Demme. Performances of the four person play began at the Lucille Lortel Theatre (121 Christopher Street, NYC) on April 9 and continue through May 23, 2010.

Rubicon Theatre Company continues its 2009-2010 Season with a revival of BETH HENLEY's Pulitzer Prize-winning play CRIMES OF THE HEART. Set in Mississippi in 1974 (five years after Hurricane Camille), this sweet, sexy comedy follows the travails of the three Magrath sisters, who come together at the family home in Hazelhurst when the youngest Babe is charged with shooting her husband 'cause she didn't like his looks.'

Rubicon Theatre Company continues its 2009-2010 Season with a revival of BETH HENLEY's Pulitzer Prize-winning play CRIMES OF THE HEART. Set in Mississippi in 1974 (five years after Hurricane Camille), this sweet, sexy comedy follows the travails of the three Magrath sisters, who come together at the family home in Hazelhurst when the youngest Babe is charged with shooting her husband 'cause she didn't like his looks.'

The Drama League (Jano Herbosch, President; Gabriel Shanks, Executive Director), announced the nominations for the 2009-10 Drama League Awards today at Sardi's with the help of Broadway stars Kelsey Grammer (La Cage Aux Folles) and Bebe Neuwirth (The Addams Family). The 76th Annual Drama League Awards Ceremony and Luncheon will take place on Friday, May 21, 2010 at 12:00pm at the Grand Ballroom of the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Times Square. The event will be co-hosted by Vanessa Williams (Sondheim on Sondheim) and Michael Urie (The Temperamentals).

MCC Theater (Robert LuPone, Bernard Telsey, Artistic Directors; William Cantler, Associate Artistic Director; Blake West, Executive Director) today announced that they are delaying the official press opening of Beth Henley's Family Week, directed by Jonathan Demme by one week. The production will now officially open on Tuesday, May 4, 2010 at 7:00 p.m.

The Drama League (Jano Herbosch, President; Gabriel Shanks, Executive Director) proudly announces nominations for the 2009-10 Drama League Awards, to be presented at The 76th Annual Drama League Awards Ceremony and Luncheon on Friday, May 21, 2010 (noon) in the Grand Ballroom of the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Times Square (1535 Broadway at 46th Street). The event will be co-hosted by Vanessa Williams (Sondheim on Sondheim) and Michael Urie (The Temperamentals).

MultiStages will close its run of the 2009 New Works Winner HELL AND HIGH WATER, WHAT TO DO WHEN THE SKY FALLS on April 18 at the Hudson Guild Theatre (441 West 26th St.).

The Flea Theater presents the World Premiere of PARENTS' EVENING, a two-hander by Bathsheba Doran. Directed by Flea Artistic Director Jim Simpson, the production stars Julianne Nicholson (Law & Order: Criminal Intent) and James Waterston (A.R. Gurney's Buffalo Gal).

The Drama League (Jano Herbosch, President; Gabriel Shanks, Executive Director) has announced this year's honorary co-chairs for The 76th Annual Drama League Awards Ceremony and Luncheon.

The celebrated, award-winning actors Kathleen Chalfant, André De Shields, and George Bartenieff will be joined by Brendan Donaldson and Najla Said ('Palestine') in the U.S. premiere of Karen Malpede's new play PROPHECY, beginning previews May 27 prior to an official press opening on June 4, 2010 at East Fourth Street Theatre (83 E. 4 St.) in Manhattan.