Lee Blessing News

Signature Theatre Company has announced the final production for their 20th Anniversary 2010-2011 Season, celebrating the work of Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winner Tony Kushner. Joining the previously announced first New York Revival of Parts 1 and 2 of ANGELS IN AMERICA: A GAY FANTASIA ON NATIONAL THEMES and the New York premiere of THE INTELLIGENT HOMOSEXUAL'S GUIDE TO CAPITALISM AND SOCIALISM WITH A KEY TO THE SCRIPTURES will be THE ILLUSION, Kushner's freely adapted version of Pierre Corneille's L'Illusion Comique, directed by Tony Award-winner Michael Mayer. The production will be presented in Spring, 2011 at the Peter Norton Space, (555 West 42nd Street, between 10th and 11th Avenues). Dates and casting will be announced at a later date.

Those who have been unable to reserve seats to The Fountain Theatre's sold out production of The Ballad of Emmett Till will get another chance. The Fountain Theatre has announced a third extension through May 30.

Full casting has been announced for the upcoming production of Pittsburgh's City Theatre's WHEN JANUARY FEELS LIKE SUMMER by Cori Thomas. The cast will include John Marshall Jones (Joe), Gita Reddy (Nirmala), Carter Redwood (Jeron), Joshua Elijah Reese (Devaun), and Debargo Sanyal (Ishan).

The Public Theater's Artistic Director Oskar Eustis and Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson announced the line-up today for The Public's 55th Anniversary Season beginning in September with the long-awaited New York premiere of Elevator Repair Service's acclaimed GATZ, a literary tour de force where 13 actors and an audience experience every word of The Great Gatsby in a two-part, 6 1/2-hour theatrical event, running September 26-October 31, 2010.

The Great Game: Afghanistan - a festival exploring Afghan culture and history through twelve plays, a five day film programme, a ceramic exhibition and discussion sessions returns to the Tricycle Theatre for a limited run from 23 July until 29 August 2010 with a press day on 31 July.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) and Signature Theatre Company (Founding Artistic Director James Houghton; Executive Director Erika Mallin) announced today that the New York premiere of Tony Kushner's THE INTELLIGENT HOMOSEXUAL'S GUIDE TO CAPITALISM AND SOCIALISM WITH A KEY TO THE SCRIPTURES will be presented in the 2010-2011 season in a co-production between The Public Theater and Signature Theatre Company, in association with the Guthrie Theater. Michael Greif, who directed the world premiere at the Guthrie in April, 2009, will direct the New York premiere, which will play March 22-June 12, 2011 at The Public Theater. Casting will be announced at a later date.

The Primary Stages School of Theater (PSST) has announcedthe addition of its popular Master Class Series that was created to provide students the chance togain rare insight and experience from some of the finest working professionals in thetheater. Special guests for the spring series include, Judith Ivey, Judith Light and Craig Lucas.Master Classes are open to the public with a suggested $5 donation.

Rattlestick Playwrights Theater will end its world premiere run of Blind, by Craig Wright (The Pavilion, Lady) on March 21st. The production is directed by Lucie Tiberghein (The Pavilion, Geometry of Fire).

The Fountain Theatre opens its 20th Anniversary Season with the West Coast premiere of Ifa Bayeza's daring, folk and gospel-infused The Ballad of Emmett Till in celebration of Black History Month. Shirley Jo Finney (Yellowman) directs Bernard K. Addison, Rico E. Anderson, Lorenz Arnell, Adenrele Ojo and Karen Malina White in the five-week run, February 20 through March 20, with low-priced previews beginning February 11.

The Primary Stages School of Theater (PSST) has announcedthe addition of its popular Master Class Series that was created to provide students the chance togain rare insight and experience from some of the finest working professionals in thetheater. Special guests for the spring series include, Judith Ivey, Judith Light and Craig Lucas.Master Classes are open to the public with a suggested $5 donation.

Several Broadway stars are set for the upcoming Primary Stages Concert series, including Charles Busch, Mario Cantone, Penny Fuller, Julie Halston, Jamie deRoy, Gregg Edelman, and Karen Mason. The performances will take place in April and May over a one week span that will take place at the 59E59 Theatre.

Nicolas Kent, the award-winning artistic director of London's acclaimed Tricycle Theatre, directs a new version of A Walk in the Woods, Lee Blessing's Pulitzer-nominated play about nuclear negotiations, at Northern Stage in White River Junction, VT. For the first time, with the playwright's input, the play will feature a woman portraying the American negotiator.

Vermont's Northern Stage continues its season with the New England premiere of David Greig's DAMASCUS which will open on February 17 - March 7. The production will be directed by Brooke Ciardelli.

The critically acclaimed THE ORPHANS' HOME CYCLE plays its 200th performance tonight since the run began in September, 2009 at Hartford Stage. THE ORPHANS' HOME CYCLE has been extended by popular demand through Saturday, May 8th at Signature Theatre Company.

Fells Point Corner Theatre announces a schedule change; replacing the no longer available Three Tall Women with Eleemosynary. Written by Lee Blessing and directed by Sherrionne Brown.

Nicolas Kent, the award-winning artistic director of London's acclaimed Tricycle Theatre, directs a new version of A Walk in the Woods, Lee Blessing's Pulitzer-nominated play about nuclear negotiations, at Northern Stage in White River Junction, VT. For the first time, with the playwright's input, the play will feature a woman portraying the American negotiator.

Vermont's Northern Stage continues its season with the New England premiere of David Greig's DAMASCUS which will open on February 17 - March 7. The production will be directed by Brooke Ciardelli.

The Fountain Theatre opens its 20th Anniversary Season with the West Coast premiere of Ifa Bayeza's daring, folk and gospel-infused The Ballad of Emmett Till in celebration of Black History Month. Shirley Jo Finney (Yellowman) directs Bernard K. Addison, Rico E. Anderson, Lorenz Arnell, Adenrele Ojo and Karen Malina White in the five-week run, February 20 through March 20, with low-priced previews beginning February 11.

Even as it debuts another world premiere tonight and eagerly awaits previews for its latest Broadway outing, Berkeley Repertory Theatre proudly announces a slate of eight new shows. The Tony Award-winning nonprofit - known for developing exhilarating new plays - introduces a series of stunning scripts and stellar performers for the coming year.

Tony Award winner Michele Pawk is set to star in the upcoming production of THE BLONDE, THE BRUNETTE, AND THE VENGEFUL REDHEAD, opening at Pittsburgh's City Theatre on May 8th. The production will see Pawk take on seven different roles in the one-woman show by Robert Hewett.