Leigh Silverman News

Good morning BroadwayWorld! Today's top stories: New York Theatre Workshop will host its 2018 gala tonight, and Broadway stars will unite in Sunrise, FL for a benefit concert for Parkland!

The upcoming world premiere of 'Soft Power' by David Henry Hwang (play and lyrics) and Jeanine Tesori (music and additional lyrics) will be produced by Center Theatre Group at the Ahmanson Theatre from May 3 through June 10, 2018. Directed by Leigh Silverman and choreographed by Sam Pinkleton, the opening of 'Soft Power' is set for May 16. Following its run at the Ahmanson, 'Soft Power' will play San Francisco's Curran from June 20 through July 8, 2018.

New York Theatre Workshop (NYTW) (Artistic Director James C. Nicola and Managing Director Jeremy Blocker) is proud to announce that open captioning will be available at every performance of LIGHT SHINING IN BUCKINGHAMSHIRE, by NYTW Usual Suspect and five-time Obie Award winner Caryl Churchill (Love and Information; A Number), directed by NYTW Usual Suspect, Tony Award nominee, & three-time Obie Award winner Rachel Chavkin (Hadestown; Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812).

Two powerful New York institutions, Long Island University (LIU) Brooklyn and the renowned theater company The New Group, have announced a new partnership to help train the next generation of great actors. A new B.F.A program in Acting for Theatre, Film and Television, starting in Fall 2018, will be founded on the studio model, where students will study stage acting, voice, and movement under the supervision and guidance of faculty in collaboration with the award-winning The New Group. 

Five-time Obie Award-winning theater company Clubbed Thumb (Maria Striar, Producing Artistic Director; Michael Bulger, Associate Artistic Director) is proud to announce initial casting for SUMMERWORKS, its annual series of new plays.

Actress and activist Kathy Najimy is teaming up with America's Most Produced Playwright Lauren Gunderson for a benefit reading at the Minetta Lane Theater on Monday, April 23, 2018 at 7pm. Presented by the WP Theater with Erica Rotstein and Christina Wallace, the reading of Gunderson's new play NATURAL SHOCKS is in support of the Ms. Foundation's programs and grants that address domestic violence and gun violence against women. Tickets range from $100-1000, with discounted tickets available for students ($25) and a limited number of $50 early bird tickets available through April 16. Tickets available at www.naturalshocks.com/nyc.

The New Group has announced full casting and creative team for Lily Thorne's Peace for Mary Frances, with Heather Burns, Johanna Day, Natalie Gold, Mia Katigbak, Paul Lazar, Brian Miskell, Melle Powers and J. Smith-Cameron joining, as previously announced, Lois Smith in this world premiere production directed by Lila Neugebauer.

Today, Carole Shorenstein Hays announced that single tickets are now available for SOFT POWER, the play featuring a musical by David Henry Hwang (play and lyrics) and Jeanine Tesori (music and additional lyrics). SOFT POWER will make its Bay Area premiere at San Francisco's Curran (445 Geary Street) June 20 - July 8, 2018. SOFT POWER is a Center Theatre Group co-commission with The Public Theater and will perform at the Curran following its world premiere at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles

New York Theatre Workshop (NYTW) announces five productions as part of its complete 2018/19 Season, and the first production of their 2019/20 Season. The season begins in Fall 2018 with WHAT THE CONSTITUTION MEANS TO ME by two-time Obie Award winner Heidi Schreck (Grand Concourse, "I Love Dick") and directed by Obie Award winner Oliver Butler (The Amateurs, The Light Years); followed by the New York Premiere ofSLAVE PLAY by Jeremy O. Harris (Daddy).

The Off-Broadway League today announced nominations in 19 categories for the 33rd Annual Lucille Lortel Awards for Outstanding Achievement Off-Broadway. The Lortel Awards will be presented on Sunday, May 6, 2018 at NYU Skirball Center beginning at 7:00 PM EST.  This year's event will be hosted by actors Laura Benanti and Jason Jones and will once again serve as a benefit for The Actors Fund.

After a one-year hiatus to restructure and re-envision, The New York International Fringe Festival will present the 21st festival this October - the first time the festival will be presented in the fall instead of its usual end-of-summer slot. The application deadline for FringeNYC has been extended to April 8, 2018. Applications received by the original deadline of March 28th will still receive notification (accepted, alternated, declined) on or around May 16th. Applicants who meet the extended deadline of April 8th will be notified until on or around June 1st. PLEASE NOTE the extended deadline can only be offered to local and national applicants. International applications MUST be submitted by the original deadline in order to meet the required visa preparation schedule.

After a one-year hiatus to restructure and re-envision, The New York International Fringe Festival will present the 21st festival this October - the first time the festival will be presented in the fall instead of its usual end-of-summer slot.

After a one-year hiatus to restructure and re-envision, The New York International Fringe Festival will present the 21st festival this October - the first time the festival will be presented in the fall instead of its usual end-of-summer slot.

After a one-year hiatus to restructure and re-envision, The New York International Fringe Festival will present the 21st festival this October - the first time the festival will be presented in the fall instead of its usual end-of-summer slot.

Today, The 24 Hour Plays, in partnership with The New School for Drama, announced that the annual application for The 24 Hour Plays: Nationals will open on Monday, March 19, and will remain open until Sunday, April 15. Callbacks will take place in both New York City (May 1-3) and Los Angeles (May 4, including a special industry panel). Once again, the Nationals will take place in August in New York City.

BroadwayEvolved is a revolutionized Broadway summer intensive with a selective, in-depth training program for aspiring actors and educators, both created and taught by elite industry professionals. Created by Broadway star Betsy Wolfe and education professional Cynthia Rose, BroadwayEvolved will take place August 6-9, 2018 in NYC.

Produced by Audible, the critically acclaimed Vineyard Theatre production of Harry Clarke opened last night, March 18, in its extended run at the Minetta Lane Theatre (18 Minetta Lane, between MacDougal & 6th Avenue - one block south of W. 3rd Street).

BroadwayHD, the premiere streaming service that brings live theater productions to viewers all over the world, announced today that it will offer, On the Exhale, for free on March 24th and 25th in solidarity with the March For Our Lives demonstration occurring across the United States. On the Exhale explores the complex issue of gun control in America, the politics that surrounds it, and the government's responsibility to regulate this system. The announcement came at the conclusion of BroadwayHD's South by Southwest panel 'Keeping Performing Arts Alive in a Digital World' out of Austin, TX. 

The New Group has announced a second extension for the New York premiere production of David Rabe's Good for Otto, which will now play its final performance on Sunday, April 15.  Due to demand, the company previously announced a one week extension through April 8.

Tony Award winner Billy Crudup begins performances tomorrow in the Vineyard Theatre production of Harry Clarke, produced by Audible Inc., the world's largest producer and provider of downloadable audiobooks and other spoken-word entertainment. Harry Clarke is written by Obie Award winner David Cale (Lillian) and directed by Tony Award nominee Leigh Silverman (Violet).