Lap Chi Chu News

If the gang at Madison Avenue were looking for the perfect spokesmodel to help win support for the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 60s, they couldn't have done better than Rosa Parks, a sweet-looking, modestly dressed woman who spoke with quiet dignity. Or Ezell Blair, Jr., David Richmond, Joseph McNeil and Franklin McCain, the conservatively dressed, well groomed college freshmen who started the Woolworth lunch counter sit-in. White people who feared the consequences of desegregating America could have their views softened with a look at these clean-cut 'credits to their race' (as the old saying went) who were everyday people just like them. And if that sounds like a crass way of referring to the brave souls who put themselves on the front lines in the fight for equality, well that's a major point playwright Tracy Scott Wilson makes with her new drama, The Good Negro.

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director, Ellen Richard, Executive Director) continues this summer's Second Stage Theatre Uptown Series with the world premiere of Lila Rose Kaplan's Wildflower. Directed by Giovanna Sardelli, Wildflower features Nadia Bowers, Ron Cephas Jones, Quincy Dunn-Baker, Jake O'Connor and Renée Felice Smith. Previews begin Monday, July 13 and opening night is Monday, July 27 at 7:00pm.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) will conclude its 2009 Public LAB series on Sunday, June 28 with the world premiere of FATHER COMES HOME FROM THE WARS (PARTS 1, 8 & 9) by Pulitzer Prize winner Suzan-Lori Parks. Directed by Jo Bonney, all tickets for FATHER COMES HOME FROM THE WARS (PARTS 1, 8 & 9) are $10.

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director, Ellen Richard, Executive Director) continues this summer's Second Stage Theatre Uptown Series with the world premiere of Lila Rose Kaplan's Wildflower. Directed by Giovanna Sardelli, Wildflower features Nadia Bowers, Ron Cephas Jones, Quincy Dunn-Baker, Jake O'Connor and Renée Felice Smith. Previews begin Monday, July 13 and opening night is Monday, July 27 at 7:00pm.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) will conclude its 2009 Public LAB series on Sunday, June 28 with the world premiere of FATHER COMES HOME FROM THE WARS (PARTS 1, 8 & 9) by Pulitzer Prize winner Suzan-Lori Parks. Directed by Jo Bonney, all tickets for FATHER COMES HOME FROM THE WARS (PARTS 1, 8 & 9) are $10.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) will present post-show discussions following select performances of FATHER COMES HOME FROM THE WARS (PARTS 1, 8 & 9), the final play of the 2008-2009 Public LAB season. The Public LAB Speaker Series consists of engaging conversations with the artists and notable panelists. FATHER COMES HOME FROM THE WARS (PARTS 1, 8 & 9) begins performances on Friday, June 5 and runs through Sunday, June 28.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) announced complete casting and creative team today for FATHER COMES HOME FROM THE WARS (PARTS 1, 8 & 9), the final play of the 2008-2009 Public LAB season. Written by Suzan-Lori Parks and directed by Jo Bonney, FATHER COMES HOME FROM THE WARS (PARTS 1, 8 & 9) will begin performances on Friday, June 5 and run through Sunday, June 28. Tickets are $10 for all performances and are on-sale now.

The Ebony Repertory Theatre is proud to announce casting for the Los Angeles premiere of CROWNS, adapted by Regina Taylor from the book by Michael Cunningham and Craig Marberry. Debuting as a co-production with Pasadena Playhouse, the show will star Emmy® nominee Paula Kelly, Suzzanne Douglas, Dawnn Lewis, Ann Weldon, Sharon Catherine Blanks, Angela Wildflower Polk and Clinton Derricks-Carroll, with direction by Ebony Repertory Theatre Artistic Director Israel Hicks.

Awards were handed out for 14 categories and 2 special awards are announced by the Off-Broadway League for the Lucille Lortel Awards recognizing Outstanding Achievement Off-Broadway. This year?s ceremony benefits The Actors Fund. A list of nominees follows below.

Due to strong demand, The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) announced today that it would extend Tracey Scott Wilson?s THE GOOD NEGRO an additional two weeks through Sunday, April 19. THE GOOD NEGRO begins previews on Tuesday, March 3 and will now run through Sunday, April 19 with an official press opening on Monday, March 16. Directed by Liesl Tommy and in association with Dallas Theater Center, THE GOOD NEGRO is the first new play to transfer from the Public LAB initiative to a full main stage production at The Public.

South Coast Repertory is proud to present the world Premiere of Richard Greenberg's OUR MOTHER'S BRIEF AFFAIR. The new play is about two adult siblings who reunite to tend to their elderly mother and their astonishment to learn about her long-ago love affair. Commissioned by SCR and directed by Pam Mackinnon, Our Mother's Brief Affair runs April 3 through May 3 on the Segerstrom Stage. Low-priced previews are available from April 3 through April 9. Opening night is April 10. Press night is Saturday, April 11 at 8:00 p.m. Tickets to OUR MOTHER'S BRIEF AFFAIR are $20-$54 for previews and $28-$64 for regular performances. Tickets may be purchased online at www.scr.org, by phone at (714) 708-5555 or in person at the SCR box office.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) announced that Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. will host a post-show discussion immediately following the Saturday, April 11 2 p.m. matinee of THE GOOD NEGRO by Tracey Scott Wilson. Directed by Liesl Tommy and presented in association with Dallas Theater Center, THE GOOD NEGRO opened to critical acclaim last month and will continue its extended run through Sunday, April 19.

Nominations in 14 categories and 2 special awards are nnounced by the Off-Broadway League for the Lucille Lortel Awards recognizing Outstanding Achievement Off-Broadway. This year's ceremony will benefit The Actors Fund.

OUR MOTHER'S BRIEF AFFAIR by Richard Greenberg directed by Pam MacKinnon. Tony Award winner Richard Greenberg's new play about two adult siblings who reunite to tend to their elderly mother and their astonishment upon learning of her long-ago love affair.

The Ebony Repertory Theatre is proud to announce casting for the Los Angeles premiere of CROWNS, adapted by Regina Taylor from the book by Michael Cunningham and Craig Marberry. Debuting as a co-production with Pasadena Playhouse, the show will star Emmy® nominee Paula Kelly, Suzzanne Douglas, Dawnn Lewis, Ann Weldon, Sharon Catherine Blanks, Angela Wildflower Polk and Clinton Derricks-Carroll, with direction by Ebony Repertory Theatre Artistic Director Israel Hicks.

Today's Broadway Blogs on BroadwayWorld.com from Friday, March 20, 2009.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) began previews on Tuesday, March 3 for Tracey Scott Wilson's THE GOOD NEGRO, which will run through Sunday, April 19. The official press opening took place on Monday, March 16th and BroadwayWorld was there!

South Coast Repertory's Artistic Directors, David Emmes and Martin Benson, today announced the cast and creative team for the World Premiere of Richard Greenberg's Our Mother's Brief Affair, about two adult siblings who reunite to tend to their elderly mother and their astonishment to learn about her long-ago love affair. Commissioned by SCR and directed by Pam MacKinnon, Our Mother's Brief Affair will run from April 3 through May 3 on the Segerstrom Stage. Low-priced previews are available from April 3 through April 9. Opening night is April 10. Press night is Saturday, April 11 at 8:00 p.m. Tickets to Our Mother's Brief Affair may be purchased online at www.scr.org, by phone at (714) 708-5555 or in person at the SCR box office.

OUR MOTHER'S BRIEF AFFAIR by Richard Greenberg directed by Pam MacKinnon Tony Award winner Richard Greenberg's new play about two adult siblings who reunite to tend to their elderly mother and their astonishment upon learning of her long-ago love affair. Sybil Wickersheimer (Set Design), Rachel Myers (Costume Design), Lap-Chi Chu (Lighting Design), Michael K. Hooker (Sound Design), John Glore (Dramaturg) and Kathryn Davies (Stage Manager).

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) will begin previews on Tuesday, March 3 for Tracey Scott Wilson's THE GOOD NEGRO, which will run through Sunday, April 19 with an official press opening on Monday, March 16. Directed by Liesl Tommy and presented in association with Dallas Theater Center, THE GOOD NEGRO is the first new play to transfer from the Public LAB initiative to a full main stage production at The Public.