Lear deBessonet News

The Public Theater will begin performances for The Foundry Theatre's GOOD PERSON OF SZECHWAN by Bertolt Brecht on Friday, October 18. With a translation by John Willett and directed by Lear deBessonet, GOOD PERSON OF SZECHWAN will run through Sunday, November 24, with an official press opening on Tuesday, October 29.

The Civilians, the award-winning New York-based theatre company, announces the members of its 2013-14 R & D Group. The group's emerging and established artists were selected from over one hundred applicants. The R & D Group is comprised of artists from multiple theatrical disciplines. Each artist or creative team will develop an original work over the season. The artists and projects were selected to represent a range of different strategies for making new work from creative inquiry and research. This diversity of approach helps feed a culture of innovation in the group, making the R & D Group an effective lab of experimentation for the field of investigative theater.

Women's Project Theater, the 36-year-old non-profit company dedicated to producing plays written and directed by women, is seeking a few good women for its 2014-2016 Lab of playwrights, directors and producers, underwritten with a generous grant from the Time Warner Foundation. The application deadline is November 4.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director, Oskar Eustis; Executive Director, Patrick Willingham) will begin performances for the world premiere of FUN HOME on tonight, September 30, directed by Sam Gold. Featuring music by Jeanine Tesori, book and lyrics byLisa Kron, and based on Alison Bechdel book, FUN HOME will run through Sunday, November 3, with an official press opening on Tuesday, October 22.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director, Oskar Eustis; Executive Director, Patrick Willingham) will begin performances for the world premiere of FUN HOME on Monday, September 30, directed by Sam Gold. Featuring music by Jeanine Tesori, book and lyrics byLisa Kron, and based on Alison Bechdel book, FUN HOME will run through Sunday, November 3, with an official press opening on Tuesday, October 22.

With a cast of over 200 combining professionals and clients from the city's social service organizations, The Tempest rejoices in New York's cultural diversity.

Solo performance artist, Julian Goldhagen, is remounting his performance piece, Talk to me about Shame, wherein he deconstructs the experience of shame through movement, story-telling, and audience participation techniques for FringeNYC from tonight, August 9-25.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director, Oskar Eustis; Executive Director, Patrick Willingham) announced today that single tickets are now on sale for the Fall 2013 Season, which will begin in September with ALL THE FACES OF THE MOON, created and performed by Mike Daisey. Single tickets are available by calling (212) 967-7555, www.publictheater.org, or in person at the Taub Box Office at The Public Theater at Astor Place at 425 Lafayette Street.

The Public Theater announced today that Todd Almond (Ariel), Laura Benanti (Goddess), Carson Elrod (Caliban), Jeff Hiller (Trinculo), Norm Lewis (Prospero), and Jacob Ming-Trent (Stephano) have been cast in the free, original musical adaptation of THE TEMPEST, part of The Public's groundbreaking new initiative for community-based theater, PUBLIC WORKS. Directed by Public Works Director Lear deBessonet, with music, lyrics and book by Almond, and choreography by Chase Brock, THE TEMPEST will run September 6 through September 8 at 8:00 p.m. at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park.

Solo performance artist, Julian Goldhagen, is remounting his performance piece, Talk to me about Shame, wherein he deconstructs the experience of shame through movement, story-telling, and audience participation techniques for FringeNYC from August 9-25. Tickets are $15-$18 and available at www.FringeNYC.org.

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, the performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond. 54 Below also launched its series of late night events. Joining Tuesday nights' popular "Backstage" with Susie Mosheris the "54 Piano Bar," a new vocal competition - 'The Callback," and more:

In addition, Scott will be recording "Piece Of Meat," her current show at 54 Below. Scott will perform the highly-anticipated return engagement of her acclaimed evening through June 29. Details of the recording will be announced at a later date. For updates on the album, please visit: www.sh-k-boom.com/sherierenescott-pieceofmeat.

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, the performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond. 54 Below also launched its series of late night events. Joining Tuesday nights' popular "Backstage" with Susie Mosheris the "54 Piano Bar," a new vocal competition - 'The Callback," and more:

Sherie Rene Scott returns to 54 Below for the highly-anticipated reprise of her acclaimed show 'Piece Of Meat' for a limited two-week engagement. 'Piece Of Meat' is an exhilarating evening about human desires - carnal, culinary and otherwise. Ms. Scott explores her singular storytelling and musical abilities with songs by Joni Mitchell, Paul McCartney, Talking Heads, Pete Townshend, Annie Lennox, Dire Straits, Buddy Holly, Kate Bush and Noah & The Whale, along with original compositions by music directorTodd Almond. The show features musical staging by Michele Lynch and direction by Lear Debessonett.

Monday night, Julia Jordan, Theresa Rebeck, Marsha Norman, Tim Sanford and The Committee for Recognizing Women in Theatre presented the 4thAnnual Lilly Awards at Playwrights Horizons. Named for playwright Lillian Hellman, The Lilly Awards were created to recognize the extraordinary contributions made by women to the American Theater. Producers, playwrights, actors, designers, and directors were honored last night for their continued excellence in the theater community. Check out a look back at the ceremony below!

On June 3, 2013 Julia Jordan, Theresa Rebeck, Marsha Norman, Tim Sanford and The Committee for Recognizing Women in Theatre will present the 4th Annual Lilly Awards at Playwrights Horizons. Named for playwright Lillian Hellman, The Lilly Awards were created to recognize the extraordinary contributions made by women to the American Theater. Producers, playwrights, actors, designers, and directors will be honored for their continued excellence in the theater community.

SUMMERWORKS 2013 - the annual season of new plays presented by the four-time Obie Award-winning theater company Clubbed Thumb, will be presented tonight, May 24 to June 29 at The Wild Project (195 E. 3rd St.) in Manhattan.