Lanford Wilson News

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.

Signature Theatre Company (Founding Artistic Director James Houghton; Executive Director Erika Mallin), announced today seven productions for its inaugural 2012 season at Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street near 10th Avenue), the company's new Frank Gehry-designed permanent home opening in February 2012. Signature Center will allow the Company to expand its programming, introduce new initiatives, and build audiences. Featuring three intimate theatres, a studio theatre, rehearsal studio and a shared lobby with café and bookstore, Signature Center will be both a theatre community hub and a neighborhood destination.

The Drama Desk and Obie Award-winning Keen Company's Lemon Sky opens tonight starring Keith Nobbs, Kellie Overbey and Kevin Kilner. .

The Helen Merrill Playwriting Award Ceremony will be held Monday, September 26, 2011, 5:30pm - 7:30pm (Awards given at 6:15pm) at the Algonquin Hotel, 59 West 44th Street.

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 October 8 to 22 at Cherry Lane Studio Theatre (38 Commerce St.) in Greenwich Village.

Following the sold out performances and overflow crowds at its first ten Cino Nights presentations (of new plays by Gary Sunshine, Mando Alvarado, Courtney Baron, Florencia Lozano, Kristen Palmer, Emily DeVoti, Lucy Thurber, Jessica Dickey, Adam Szymkowicz, and Laura Eason) Rising Phoenix Rep continues the series on September 25th at 7 p.m. with BLOOD STROKES by Daniel Reitz.

Fountain House, an internationally recognized organization dedicated to improving the lives of people living with mental illness, today announced that celebrated actresses Joan Allen and Lauren Ambrose will star in a 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 October 6 to 22 at Cherry Lane Studio Theatre (38 Commerce St.) in Greenwich Village.

Signature Theatre Company has just announced the playwrights participating in the Theatre's new Residency Five initiative, part of the expanded programming that will be presented at Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street, near 10th Avenue), the Company's new Frank Gehry-designed home. Annie Baker, Will Eno, Katori Hall, Kenneth Lonergan and Regina Taylor will be the program's inaugural playwrights.

Having commissioned the world's first Mariachi opera and premiered the work to great acclaim last season, Houston Grand Opera crosses the Atlantic with its pioneering creation for season-opening performances September 23-27 at the illustrious Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris.

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.'

The Helen Merrill Playwriting Award Ceremony will be held Monday, September 26, 2011, 5:30pm - 7:30pm (Awards given at 6:15pm) at the Algonquin Hotel, 59 West 44th Street.

The Drama Desk and Obie Award-winning Keen Company (Carl Forsman, Artistic Director/Damon Chua, Executive Director) today announced that their Keith Nobbs, Kellie Overbey and Kevin Kilner would lead the cast of Lanford Wilson's Lemon Sky, the 1970 drama by the Pulitzer-winning writer of Talley's Folly, Burn This, and Fifth Of July.

Israel Horovitz's new play GLOUCESTER BLUE, the premiere of revised RAFT OF THE MEDUSA by Joe Pintauro and NY premiere of Randall Colburn's VERSE CHORUS VERSE are all set for Cherry Lane Theatre this fall.

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).

According to Deadline.com, stage veteran John Malkovich is set to star in 'Warm Bodies.' The film will be directed by Jonathan Levine.

Theater Wit's annual holiday classic The Santaland Diaries, based on David Sedaris's true, hilarious holiday tale, returns for its eighth consecutive outing in 2011 featuring a newly-enhanced set and once again starring Mitchell Fain who always plays to rave reviews and sold out houses.

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