Lear deBessonet News

A cast of 200 includes members of New York community organizations and performing arts groups.

BroadwayWorld has confirmed that Chase Brock has boarded the artistic team of Kansas City Repertory Theatre's Sunday in the Park with George as the production's Musical Stager.

The Drama League, embarking on a landmark year of celebration commemorating its 100 years of service to the American theater, will honor Golden Globe and three-time Tony Award winner and musical theater icon Bernadette Peters as their Centennial Honoree.  The Drama League Centennial Gala is set for Monday evening, November 2, 2015 at The Plaza (768 Fifth Avenue) in New York City.

This weekend, director Lear deBessonet and composer Todd Almond's adaptaion of Homer's The Odyssey marks the third year the Public Theater's Public Works hits Central Park's Delacorte Theater with a brand new musical spectacular based on a classic piece of literature, mixing the talents of a handful of Equity actors with performing arts groups and community organizations from throughout New York's five boroughs. BroadwayWorld brings you a first look at the production below!

Last of a three part series providing video introductions for the performing arts groups who will be featured in Public Works' THE ODYSSEY.

The Public Theater will kick off the 2015-16 season in September with a free Public Works musical adaptation of Homer's THE ODYSSEY, conceived and directed by Public Works Director Lear deBessonet, with music, lyrics and book by Todd Almond. THE ODYSSEY will once again feature over 200 actors and community members alongside five equity actors, including this year Brandon Victor Dixon as Odysseus and Karen Olivo as Penelope.

Part two of a three part series providing video introductions for the performing arts groups who will be featured in Public Works' THE ODYSSEY.

Part one of a three part series providing video introductions for the performing arts groups who will be featured in Public Works' THE ODYSSEY.

This weekend marks the third year the Public Theater's Public Works hits Central Park's Delacorte Theater with a brand new musical spectacular based on a classic piece of literature.

Under the leadership of Artistic Director Sarah Benson and Executive Director Cynthia Flowers, Soho Rep. has continually produced work by bold artists who harness the intimate power of the organization's own 73-seat black box theater, as well as other spaces, to create transformative experiences. Soho Rep.'s 2015-16 season, announced today, comprises two more ambitious new works-both characterized by irreverent humor, wild theatricality, and extraordinarily inventive language-and Write with Us, a series of open-to-the-public writing workshops led by acclaimed, Soho Rep.-produced playwrights.

The Public Theater will kick off the 2015-16 season in September with a free Public Works musical adaptation of Homer's THE ODYSSEY, conceived and directed by Public Works Director Lear deBessonet, with music, lyrics and book by Todd Almond. THE ODYSSEY will once again feature over 200 actors and community members alongside five equity actors, including this year Brandon Victor Dixon as Odysseus, Karen Olivo as Penelope and Taran Killam as Cyclops.

The Old Globe presents William Shakespeare's delightful and romantic Twelfth Night, directed by Rebecca Taichman, whose production of the time-traveling Time and the Conways fascinated audiences last April, as part of the 2015 Summer Shakespeare Festival. The Old Globe engagement runs through July 26, 2015, with opening night tonight, June 27 at 8:00 p.m., in the Lowell Davies Festival Theatre.

The American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) at Harvard University, under the leadership of Artistic Director Diane Paulus, began rehearsals today (pictured, left) for the world premiere musical Waitress. Based on the motion picture written by Adrienne Shelly the new musical has a book by Jessie Nelson, music and lyrics by Sara Bareilles, direction by Diane Paulus, and choreography by Chase Brock.

The Brooklyn College Department of Theater will hold its second annual New Works Brooklyn Festival on June 22-26. This year's festival features staged readings of one-act plays written by award-winning playwrights.

Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for theatre, announces that at the 25th TCG National Conference: Game Change in Cleveland this weekend, June 18-20, the following awards will be presented:

The American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) at Harvard University, under the leadership of Artistic Director Diane Paulus, announces the principal casting for the world premiere of Waitress. Based on the motion picture written by Adrienne Shelly the new musical has a book by Jessie Nelson, music and lyrics by Sara Bareiles, direction by Diane Paulus, and choreography by Chase Brock.

The Public Theater's Free Shakespeare in the Park production of The Tempest officially opened last night, June 16, and runs through Sunday, July 5, 2015. In The Tempest, Shakespeare's classic about young love, old enemies, and the eternal magic of storytelling, Prospero, exiled to a fantastical island, unleashes a churning storm to shipwreck the traitor brother who stole his throne and settle the score once and for all. But bitter revenge is upended by newfound love in this sublime masterpiece that proves we are all 'such stuff as dreams are made on.'

Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for theatre, announces that at the 25th TCG National Conference: Game Change in Cleveland from June 18-20, the following awards will be presented.

59E59 Theaters will host the return of SUMMER SHORTS 2015, the annual festival of six short plays tailor-made for summer viewing, now in its 9th year.

Casting is set for "Girlfriend," which will begin previews at the Center Theatre Group/Kirk Douglas Theatre on July 12 with the opening slated for July 19. Featuring a book by Todd Almond and music and lyrics by Matthew Sweet, the rock musical about first love will continue through August 9.