Lanford Wilson News

Rising Phoenix Repertory announces the 12th play in the CINO NIGHTS SERIES EDIE & ALEXANDER a new play BY MEGAN MOSTYN-BROWN directed by MIA ROVEGNO

The final performance of Ping Chong's ANGELS OF SWEDENBORG -- his 1985 dance theatre piece being performed by La MaMa's Great Jones Repertory Company-- will be live-streamed on Sunday, November 13 starting at 2:30 p.m., it has been announced by La MaMa's Artistic Director Mia Yoo.

The final performance of Ping Chong's ANGELS OF SWEDENBORG -- his 1985 dance theatre piece being performed by La MaMa's Great Jones Repertory Company-- will be live-streamed on Sunday, November 13 starting at 2:30 p.m., it has been announced by La MaMa's Artistic Director Mia Yoo.

Rising Phoenix Repertory announces the 12th play in the CINO NIGHTS SERIES EDIE & ALEXANDER a new play BY MEGAN MOSTYN-BROWN directed by MIA ROVEGNO

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director) has announced the complete cast for its upcoming production of the new musical THE BLUE FLOWER: Sebastian Arcelus (Buddy in Elf, Wicked, Jersey Boys), Marc Kudisch (Three-time Tony Award nominee for 9 to 5, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Thoroughly Modern Millie), Meghan McGeary (The Blue Flower at A.R.T.), Joseph Medeiros (Irving Berlin's White Christmas), Julia Osborne (National Tour of South Pacific), Graham Rowat (Guys and Dolls), Aaron Serotsky (August: Osage County), and Teal Wicks (Elphaba in Wicked).

Today, at an event overflowing with fans of her work, Tony Award-winning playwright, performer, and activist Eve Ensler announced that Berkeley Repertory Theatre will present the world premiere of her new show. On the stage of the Roda Theatre, she revealed that Emotional Creature - which was developed during workshops in Johannesburg and Paris - will debut in Berkeley next June. Known for launching high-profile projects such as American Idiot and Passing Strange, Berkeley Rep is the perfect place to begin this journey.

Fountain House, an internationally recognized organization dedicated to improving the lives of people living with mental illness, last night hosted a staged reading of Daughter of the Queen of Sheba, headlining celebrated actresses Joan Allen and Lauren Ambrose, with appearances by noted actor and screenwriter Dan Futterman and theatre, film and television actor David AaRon Baker. The one-night-only performance, based upon the acclaimed memoir by NPR'sJacki Lyden that recounts her experience growing up with a colorful and dramatic mother living with manic depression, drew a full house to the Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College, located at 68th Street between Park and Lexington Avenues in New York City. Lyden served as Narrator of the performance, which employed slides to illustrate the action. The evening benefitted Fountain House, with support from NPR. Check out a photo from the event below!

Fountain House, an internationally recognized organization dedicated to improving the lives of people living with mental illness, will present a staged reading of Daughter of the Queen of Sheba, with theatre, film and television actor David AaRon Baker.

La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club has announced that the New York premiere of Now the Cats With Jewelled Claws by Tennessee Williams and directed by Jonathan Warman, will begin performances Thursday, October 27, at 10pm, at The Club at La MaMa, (74A E 4th Street between 2nd Avenue and Bowery).

Earlier today, prior to his appearance at Comic Con, I had the pleasure of speaking to WALKING DEAD lead actor Jon Bernthal all about his theatre background and his Ovation Award-nominated performance in SMALL ENGINE REPAIR, and, also, his critically praised work on the monster AMC hit series THE WALKING DEAD, which makes its grand return tomorrow night for the launch of its hotly-anticipated second season. I am also happy to share that I was just lucky enough to view the episode myself and I can tell you that it has certainly been worth the wait since THE WALKING DEAD was last seen on TV last year - although the pay-off certainly won't pay off completely until next week given the grisly occurrences in the premiere (and the mind-blowing cliffhanger)! Discussing all aspects of his WALKING DEAD character and what we can expect from tomorrow night's zombie apocalypse shocker - as well as the rest of Season Two - Bernthal and I shed some light on the production of the second season of the hit show so far and how the series will now fare without former show-runner Frank Darabont at the helm. Most importantly, Bernthal shares his deep understanding and passion for theatre and his devotion to his craft - musing on Brecht, Shakespeare and more - as we trace his career trajectory onstage and onscreen from his founding of the Fovea Floods theatre company and the film version of the hit Off-Broadway interactive play TONY N' TINA'S WEDDING in the early 1990s all the way up to HBO'S THE PACIFIC and Roman Polanski's THE GHOST WRITER more recently. Bernthal is also kind enough to share with us what we can look forward to coming up in the near future: RAMPARTS, co-starring fellow InDepth InterView participant Steve Buscemi! Plus, his comments on previous castmates Jason Ritter, Andrea Anders and more!

Living Image Arts presents CHARLES WINN SPEAKS written by C. S. HANSON and directed by LYNN M. THOMSON

La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club has announced that the New York premiere of Now the Cats With Jewelled Claws by Tennessee Williams and directed by Jonathan Warman, will begin performances Thursday, October 27, at 10pm, at The Club at La MaMa, (74A E 4th Street between 2nd Avenue and Bowery).

La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club has announced that the New York premiere of Now the Cats With Jewelled Claws by Tennessee Williams and directed by Jonathan Warman, will begin performances Thursday, October 27, at 10pm, at The Club at La MaMa, (74A E 4th Street between 2nd Avenue and Bowery).

Fountain House, an internationally recognized organization dedicated to improving the lives of people living with mental illness, released news today that the cast is now complete for a staged reading of Daughter of the Queen of Sheba, with the addition of theatre, film and television actor David Aaron Baker. He will join previously announced headliners Joan Allen, Lauren Ambrose and Dan Futterman for the one-night-only performance based upon the acclaimed memoir by Jacki Lyden that recounts her experience growing up with a colorful and dramatic mother living with manic depression. The event will take place on Monday, October 17, 2011, from 6:30 to 10:00 pm, at the Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College, located at 68th Street between Park and Lexington Avenues in New York City. Proceeds will benefit Fountain House, with support from NPR.

A revised version of Joe Pintauro's 1991 play RAFT OF THE MEDUSA, being produced Off-Broadway this fall by the Barefoot Theatre Company, will kick off the 9-week Stripped Festival with performances beginning tonight through October 22 at Cherry Lane Studio Theatre (38 Commerce St.) in Greenwich Village.

Fountain House, an internationally recognized organization dedicated to improving the lives of people living with mental illness, released news today that noted actor and Academy-Award nominated screenwriter Dan Futterman will join celebrated actresses Joan Allen and Lauren Ambrose in the previously announced staged reading of Daughter of the Queen of Sheba, the acclaimed memoir by Jacki Lyden that recounts her experience growing up with a colorful and dramatic mother living with manic depression. The one-night-only event will take place on Monday, October 17, 2011, from 6:30 to10:00 pm, at the Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College, located at 68th Street between Park and Lexington Avenues in New York City. Proceeds will benefit Fountain House, with support from NPR.

A revised version of Joe Pintauro's 1991 play RAFT OF THE MEDUSA, being produced Off-Broadway this fall by the Barefoot Theatre Company, will kick off the 9-week Stripped Festival this fall with performances tonight to October 22 at Cherry Lane Studio Theatre (38 Commerce St.) in Greenwich Village.

These days, economic survival is top of mind for many non-profit arts organization. But in the midst of announced theater closures, and lay-offs nationwide, Ann Arbor's professional theater has some good news to report.

The 1970s was a period of transition for America. The civil rights and women's liberation movements dramatically altered the country's social landscape. At the same time, the Vietnam War and Watergate deeply scarred perceptions of the 'American Dream.'

Though he did have a brief - very brief - stint on Broadway before Lemon Sky premiered in 1970 at midtown's Off-Broadway Playhouse Theatre, Lanford Wilson was still at that point regarded as a downtown playwright.  One of the leading scribes of the crew consisting predominantly of gay men who created Off-Off Broadway at Caffe Cino, his career would seriously take off shortly after Lemon Sky's run with The Hot l Baltimore, Fifth of July, Talley's Folly (Pulitzer winner) and Burn This.