Lauren Helpern News

It won't be the novelty of these plays that will continue to draw us to Wilson's compelling portraits of the Hill District in Pittsburgh; it will be his indelibly drawn characters given new life by artists putting their own personal stamp on his work. August Wilson is meant to be savored live; he can't be contained in a damned DVD box. And with local heroes like Craig Wallace and Erika Rose as the headliners, it's not to be missed.

I had the following to say about playwright Joshua Harmon' s play Bad Jews: 'Excessively harsh reality is at the core of most contemporary dramedies. A character cannot be rude or abrasive enough to arouse a viewer's attention or glean laughs. It's particularly characteristic of the irritating females who talk too fast, too loud and scream their shrewish lungs out. It makes me happy that I live alone; and yes, I do care and respect others and their feelings; but, being pleasant nowadays is considered boring and in drama, it will never win awards, so on with the show. ' Harmon's current play Skintight is receiving its West Coast premiere at the Geffen Playhouse and star Idina Menzel's character Jodi is another shrewish female, selfish and most definitely in need of a lesson or two about how to treat others. The play has already been extended through October 12. It boasts a dynamic six person cast and is worth your time.

Harry Townsend's Last Stand a new play written by George Eastman (The Snow Job; Bitter Exchange) and directed by Karen Carpenter will premiere at New York City Center Stage II.

Today, South Coast Repertory Artistic Director David Ivers and Managing Director Paula Tomei announced the 13 creative dream teams for the 2019-20 season, the first programmed by Ivers. The roughly 100 individuals are among the theatre industry's finest, most creative and versatile talents.

It's the last week to vote for the 2018 BroadwayWorld Raleigh Awards, brought to you by BroadwayHD! Readers are already setting records as they vote for their favorites. Regional productions, touring shows, and more are all included in the awards, honoring productions which opened between October 1, 2017 through September 30, 2018. Our local editors set the categories, our readers submitted their nominees, and now you get to vote for your favorites! Voting will continue through December 31st, 2018.

There's just two weeks left to vote for the 2018 BroadwayWorld Raleigh Awards, brought to you by BroadwayHD! Readers are already setting records as they vote for their favorites. Regional productions, touring shows, and more are all included in the awards, honoring productions which opened between October 1, 2017 through September 30, 2018. Our local editors set the categories, our readers submitted their nominees, and now you get to vote for your favorites! Voting will continue through December 31st, 2018.

There's just two weeks left to vote for the 2018 BroadwayWorld Raleigh Awards, brought to you by BroadwayHD! Readers are already setting records as they vote for their favorites. Regional productions, touring shows, and more are all included in the awards, honoring productions which opened between October 1, 2017 through September 30, 2018. Our local editors set the categories, our readers submitted their nominees, and now you get to vote for your favorites! Voting will continue through December 31st, 2018.

There's just one month left to vote for the 2018 BroadwayWorld Raleigh Awards, brought to you by BroadwayHD! Readers are already setting records as they vote for their favorites. Regional productions, touring shows, and more are all included in the awards, honoring productions which opened between October 1, 2017 through September 30, 2018. Our local editors set the categories, our readers submitted their nominees, and now you get to vote for your favorites! Voting will continue through December 31st, 2018.

MISS BENNET: CHRISTMAS AT PEMBERLEY is a joyous delight of a holiday offering, deepening the story of the characters we know and love while offering a new romance to root for.

There's just one month left to vote for the 2018 BroadwayWorld Raleigh Awards, brought to you by BroadwayHD! Nominations were reader-submitted and now our readers are already setting records as they vote for their favorites. Regional productions, touring shows, and more are all included in the awards, honoring productions which opened between October 1, 2017 through September 30, 2018. Our local editors set the categories, our readers submitted their nominees, and now you get to vote for your favorites! Voting will continue through December 31st, 2018.

Pioneer Theatre Company presents Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley, a charming sequel to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. The production runs from November 30 through December 15, 2018.

La Jolla Playhouse presents Seize the King, by Will Power (The Seven, Honey Bo and the Goldmine POP Tour), directed by Playhouse Associate Artistic Director Jaime Castañeda (At the Old Place, Tiger Style!, Guards at the Taj), running through September 16 in the Playhouse's Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre.

BroadwayWorld has a first look as La Jolla Playhouse's Seize the King, by Will Power (The Seven, Honey Bo and the Goldmine POP Tour), directed by Playhouse Associate Artistic Director Jaime Castañeda (At the Old Place, Tiger Style!, Guards at the Taj), running through September 16 in the Playhouse's Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre.

Roundabout Theatre Company will conclude the world premiere of SKINTIGHT, by Joshua Harmon, with direction by Daniel Aukin on Sunday, August 26.

There is literally a lot of heavy baggage when a fashion industry icon gets a surprise visit from his neurotic daughter and her son.

La Jolla Playhouse announces the cast and creative team for its world premiere of Seize the King, by Will Power (The Seven, Honey Bo and the Goldmine POP Tour), directed by Playhouse Associate Artistic Director Jaime Castañeda (At the Old Place, Tiger Style!, Guards at the Taj), running August 21 - September 16 in the Playhouse's Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre.

On June 16, 2018, Joshua Harmon spoke about Skintight with education dramaturg Ted Sod as part of Roundabout Theatre Company's lecture series.

Roundabout Theatre Company presents the world premiere production of SKINTIGHT, by Roundabout Underground alumnus Joshua Harmon (Bad Jews, Significant Other), with direction by three-time Obie Award winner Daniel Aukin (Bad Jews). The cast includes Will Brittain as 'Trey,' Stephen Carrasco as 'Jeff,' Eli Gelb as 'Benjamin Cullen,' Cynthia Mace as 'Orsolya,' Idina Menzel as 'Jodi Isaac' and Jack Wetherall as 'Elliot Isaac.' 

Roundabout Theatre Company present the world premiere production of SKINTIGHT, by Roundabout Underground alumnus Joshua Harmon (Bad Jews, Significant Other), with direction by three-time Obie Award winner Daniel Aukin (Bad Jews). The cast includes Will Brittain as 'Trey,' Stephen Carrasco as 'Jeff,' Eli Gelb as 'Benjamin Cullen,' Cynthia Mace as 'Orsolya,' Idina Menzel as 'Jodi Isaac' and Jack Wetherall as 'Elliot Isaac.'