Living Theatre News

On Thursday February 21st, Comedian ANYA VOLZ is joining forces with CAVEAT, an artist friendly speak-easy, to bring some serious laughs to thinkers and drinkers on Manhattan's Lower East Side. 

Award-winning playwright and director Emily Mann, who has served as the Artistic Director and Resident Playwright of the McCarter Theatre Center in Princeton, New Jersey since 1990, will retire from the position following the upcoming 2019-2020 season, McCarter announced. A fierce champion of works by women and people of color, Mann's final season, which will be announced in March, will be "Signature Emily" - a capstone series of plays celebrating diverse and emerging artists that will pay homage to her monumental 30-year tenure at McCarter.

Chance Theater, Anaheim's official resident theater company, is delighted to produce the Regional Premiere of Lizzie, The Musical. With music by Steven Cheslik-deMeyer and Alan Stevens Hewitt, lyrics by Steven Cheslik-deMeyer and Tim Maner, a book by Tim Maner, with additional music by Tim Maner, additional lyrics by Alan Stevens Hewitt, based on an original concept by Steven Cheslik-deMeyer and Tim Maner, this musical's orchestrations are done by Alan Stevens Hewitt.

Carol de Giere's revised and updated second edition to her earlier biography, 'DEFYING GRAVITY: The Creative Career of Stephen Schwartz,' was a necessary Act II, since, as we all know, Schwartz's star has only continued to rise since 2008. It's a wonderful addition with brand new behind-the-scene insights on his latest projects. As her webpage states, 'This new edition features a Foreword by Alan Menken and four new chapters covering Schwartz's more recent projects like The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Prince of Egypt, and Wicked after Broadway. DEFYING GRAVITY Second Edition includes additional 'Creativity Notes' with comments from Schwartz about overcoming creative blocks, collaboration, and the artistic life.' A stunning 512 pages (with photographs and handwritten notes), de Giere's book is a thoroughly fascinating read as well as something of a musical theatre master class in written form -- one that has been lovingly lensed through the life and creativity of Stephen Schwartz.

Tomorrow, October 23, Carl Broemel's national tour in support of his new album Wished Out (out now via Stocks in Asia/Thirty Tigers) continues at the Bootleg Theater in Los Angeles. The tour will make stops in Portland, Denver, St. Paul, Chicago and many more. The Nashville-based instrumental duo Steelism will open all shows and serve as Broemel's backing band. Find a full list of tour dates below.

It's been a long minute - over two decades, in fact - since acclaimed director Peter Brook, who is now 93 years old and has been called "our greatest living theatre director", helmed a play at the National Theatre. So this new production of The Prisoner which he has co-directed with his long-time collaborator Marie-Helene Estienne, has been long and hugely anticipated given that it may well be the last chance ever to see a Brook production at the National Theatre.

The Playwrights Realm (Katherine Kovner, Founding Artistic Director; Roberta Pereira, Producing Director) today announces the complete cast and creative team for the world premiere of Jonathan Payne's The Revolving Cycles Truly and Steadily Roll'd, directed by Awoye Timpo (Sept. 7-Oct. 6, at The Duke on 42nd Street, a New 42nd Street project).  This world premiere marks the first full production from the mordantly funny and unsparing voice of Jonathan Payne.

The Dramatists Guild of America and Cherry Lane Theatre are launching the Power Grid Festival on July 10, 2018. Power Grid: A Festival of Puerto Rican Theater Voices is a fundraising festival of six play readings by six Puerto Rican playwrights: Sylvia Bofill, Kisha Tikina Burgos, Joaquin Octavio Gonzalez Rios, Gil Rene Rodriguez, Tere Martinez, and Myrna Casas.

Morgan Lariah and Barbara Mueller-Wittmann team up to present the West Coast Premiere of a fresh adaptation of Kassandra, a solo piece performed and produced by Lariah and directed by Mueller-Wittmann. As part of the 2018 Hollywood Fringe Festival, Kassandra will be presented at the Broadwater Studio (1078 Lillian Way, Los Angeles 90038) on June 2nd, 8th, 16th, and 22nd.

Morgan Lariah and Barbara Mueller-Wittmann team up to present the West Coast Premiere of a fresh adaptation of Kassandra, a solo piece performed and produced by Lariah and directed by Mueller-Wittmann. As part of the 2018 Hollywood Fringe Festival, Kassandra will be presented at the Broadwater Studio (1078 Lillian Way, Los Angeles 90038) on June 2nd, 8th, 16th, and 22nd.

Morgan Lariah and Barbara Mueller-Wittmann team up to present the West Coast Premiere of a fresh adaptation of Kassandra, a solo piece performed and produced by Lariah and directed by Mueller-Wittmann. As part of the 2018 Hollywood Fringe Festival, Kassandra will be presented at the Broadwater Studio (1078 Lillian Way, Los Angeles 90038) on June 2nd, 8th, 16th, and 22nd.

Morgan Lariah and Barbara Mueller-Wittmann team up to present the West Coast Premiere of a fresh adaptation of Kassandra, a solo piece performed and produced by Lariah and directed by Mueller-Wittmann. As part of the 2018 Hollywood Fringe Festival, Kassandra will be presented at the Broadwater Studio (1078 Lillian Way, Los Angeles 90038) on June 2nd, 8th, 16th, and 22nd.

The Delegation of the European Union to the United States, in partnership with Origin Theatre Company -- the city's only theatre company devoted to introducing New York audiences to an illuminating spectrum of new theatre voices from across Europe - is announcing a new cultural event in New York taking place every May.

Hudson Theatre Works presents two benefit performances of 'United States of Anxiety.'

Goodman Theatre celebrates the lives of "two strong, vibrant women dispensing joy and wisdom" (Chicago Tribune) in a major revival of Emily Mann's Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years. Directed by the Goodman's longtime Resident Director Chuck Smith, the production features Ella Joyce and Marie Thomas as the Delany centenarians, Bessie (1891 - 1995) and Sadie (1889 -1999), respectively. The sisters were discovered in 1991 when Amy Hill Hearth interviewed them for The New York Times. Following the article, the trio co-authored the book, Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years-a New York Times bestseller and heartfelt reflection of their family history and triumphs over prejudices in times of social unrest. Mann adapted it for the stage, first at McCarter Theatre Center in Princeton, New Jersey and then to Broadway, where it ran for 317 performances. Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years appears May 5 - June 10, 2018 in the Albert Theatre (opening night is Monday, May 14). Tickets ($20 - $75; subject to change) are now on sale at GoodmanTheatre.org/HavingOurSay, by phone at 312.443. 3800 or at the box office (170 North Dearborn). ComEd is the Major Corporate Sponsor, Conagra Brands Foundation is the Major Production Sponsor and ITW and PwC are the Corporate Sponsor Partners. 

La MaMa, in association with The Assembly, presents the world premiere of SEAGULLMACHINE, created by The Assembly, conceived by Nick Benacerraf, co-directed by Jess Chayes (Lucille Lortel Award winner) and Nick Benacerraf, and text by Anton Chekhov, Heiner Muller and The Assembly. SEAGULLMACHINE runs from April 14 - May 5, 2018 in a limited engagement at La MaMa's Ellen Stewart Theatre, located at 66 East 4th Street between 2nd Avenue and the Bowery in New York City. Previews begin April 14 for an April 16 opening.

Yale Repertory Theatre (James Bundy, Artistic Director; Victoria Nolan, Managing Director) presents KISS by Guillermo Calderon, directed by Evan Yionoulis, April 27-May 19, at Yale Repertory Theatre (1120 Chapel Street). Opening Night is Thursday, May 3.

Bay Street Theater & Sag Harbor Center for the Arts is pleased to announce Title Wave at Bay Street: The 5th Annual New Works Festival, May 4 - 6, 2018. All readings are free, but tickets are required, as these events typically sell out. Tickets are available now at baystreet.org or by calling the Bay Street Theater Box Office at 631-725-9500, open Tuesday through Saturday 11 am to 5 pm.

CU Presents is proud to present another specially curated lineup of music, opera, dance and theatre for 2018-2019 (see a list of events below). Season ticket sales begin Monday, April 2 at 10 a.m., and single tickets are available beginning Monday, Aug. 20. Tickets are available at cupresents.org or over the phone at 303-492-8008.

La MaMa, in association with The Assembly, presents the world premiere of SEAGULLMACHINE, created by The Assembly, conceived by Nick Benacerraf, co-directed by Jess Chayes (Lucille Lortel Award winner) and Nick Benacerraf, and text by Anton Chekhov, Heiner Muller and The Assembly. SEAGULLMACHINE runs from April 14 - 29, 2018 in a limited engagement at La MaMa's Ellen Stewart Theatre, located at 66 East 4th Street between 2nd Avenue and the Bowery in New York City. Previews begin April 14 for an April 16 opening.