Lucille Lortel News

On Friday, December 6th at 3:00pm, the Irish Repertory Theatre's 2013-2014 reading series will present a staged reading of Irish playwright Ed Malone's THE BALLAD of CHARLIE and CATE, directed by the playwright.

Casting is announced for the heart-felt, romantic comedy 'Crossing Delancey,' a Script in Hand playreading at Westport Country Playhouse, on Monday, December 9, 7 p.m. Tickets are $15. The play is written by Susan Sandler and directed by Anne Keefe.

As previously announced, Red Bull Theater will present two RUSSIAN READINGS by Vladimir Nabokov and Alexander Ostrovsky on December 9 and December 16 as part of its OBIE Award-winning Revelation Readings Series. Today, the all-star casts for the two readings have been announced, boasting a roster which includes Jonathan Groff, Tovah Feldshuh, Stephen Spinella, and more.

Following the sold out performances and overflow crowds for its Cino Nights presentations (including new plays by Gary Sunshine, Mando Alvarado, Courtney Baron, Florencia Lozano, Kristen Palmer, Emily DeVoti, Lucy Thurber, Jessica Dickey, Adam Szymkowicz, Laura Eason, Daniel Reitz, Megan Mostyn-Brown, Dael Orlandersmith, Keith Reddin, Crystal Skillman, Charlotte Miller, Brooke Berman, Cusi Cram, Daniel Talbott, Diana Stahl, Micheline Auger, Halley Feiffer, Steve DiUbaldo, Catya McMullen, Alec Silberblatt, and Emily Zemba), Rising Phoenix Rep continues the series tonight, November 26th at 8 p.m. with a new play by Sarah Shaefer titled I Can't Explain It Better Than That.

ONCE, winner of eight Tony Awards including Best Musical and winner of the 2013 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album, begins a strictly limited engagement from tonight, November 26 - January 5 at the Royal Alexandra Theatre.

It's Official! Sutton Foster is coming BACK to Broadway, as Roundabout Theatre Company has just announced that it will present two-time Tony Award winner Sutton Foster in a Broadway production of VIOLET (first seen as part of Encores! Off-Center concert series in 2013), directed by Leigh Silverman. Based on the short story 'The Ugliest Pilgrim' by Doris Betts, VIOLET features music by Jeanine Tesori and book & lyrics by Brian Crawley. VIOLET will be produced in association with Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino, David Mirvish, Barry and Fran Weissler, Elizabeth Armstrong, and Mary Jo and Ted Shen.

Following the sold out performances and overflow crowds for its Cino Nights presentations (including new plays by Gary Sunshine, Mando Alvarado, Courtney Baron, Florencia Lozano, Kristen Palmer, Emily DeVoti, Lucy Thurber, Jessica Dickey, Adam Szymkowicz, Laura Eason, Daniel Reitz, Megan Mostyn-Brown, Dael Orlandersmith, Keith Reddin, Crystal Skillman, Charlotte Miller, Brooke Berman, Cusi Cram, Daniel Talbott, Diana Stahl, Micheline Auger, Halley Feiffer, Steve DiUbaldo, Catya McMullen, Alec Silberblatt, and Emily Zemba), Rising Phoenix Rep continues the series on Tuesday, November 26th at 8 p.m. with a new play by Sarah Shaefer titled I Can't Explain It Better Than That.

Fiddlehead Theatre Company announces two talkbacks during the run of A Little Princess, Fiddlehead's first production as Resident Company at Boston's historic Strand Theatre (543 Columbia Road, Dorchester, MA). A Little Princess will run from November 21 -December 8, 2013, and will feature two appearances by the creative team behind A Little Princess: Composer Andrew Lippa will provide a talkback on Friday, November 29 hosted by WGBH's Jared Bowen, and playwright Brian Crawley will take the stage on Friday, December 6. Both sessions are free for ticket-holders, who are invited to stay after the performance to participate in an audience Q&A. These events are perfect for theater students, educators, drama departments, and fans of musical theater. Tickets for A Little Princess are $25-$45 and may be purchased by calling the box office at 617-229-6494 or online at www.fiddleheadtheatre.com. Student, senior and group discounts are available.

BroadwayWorld.com's SHOW BIZ: Rush, Lottery & Standing Room Only Ticketing Policies - updated on 11/22/2013.

Laughing Dog Media has announced Broadway star and vocal powerhouse JAMES BARBOUR'S Special Guest Artists at his Sixth Annual Holiday Concert. STEPHEN WALLEM will join Mr. Barbour on stage Saturday, December 7. MARY TESTA will join Mr. Barbour on stage Thursday, December 12.

MCC THEATER announced today that the New York Premiere of John Pollono's Small Engine Repair will now play through December 21, 2013. Keegan Allen, James Badge Dale, playwright/actor John Pollono, and James Ransone star in the production directed by longtime MCC collaborator Jo Bonney (MCC's The Break of Noon, Fat Pig). Small Engine Repair at the Lucille Lortel Theatre (121 Christopher Street, NYC) had its official opening night on November 20, 2013 and was previously extended through December 15, 2013. The show must close December 21st to make way for the next Lortel tenant.

On Thursday, Alabama voted to grant posthumous pardons from a 1931 rape case that involved a group of men called the Scottsboro Boys. This was the last group of the nine boys to have convictions on their records, and were granted pardons after a short hearing.

Labyrinth Theater Company, the award-winning, downtown ensemble, announced today the New York Premiere of The Muscles in Our Toes by Labyrinth Company Member Stephen Belber, and directed by Anne Kauffman. The play will be produced in late Spring 2014 at Labyrinth's home in New York City's West Village, the Bank Street Theater (155 Bank Street).

The Huntington Theatre Company announces the following special events in conjunction with its production of A.R. Gurney's The Cocktail Hour (now - December 15, 2013 at the Avenue of the Arts / BU Theatre):

Red Bull Theater presents the first-ever Off Broadway revival of Loot by Joe Orton. Red Bull Artistic Director Jesse Berger directs a company that includes Rebecca Brooksher (Fay), Eric Martin Brown (Meadows), Jarlath Conroy (McLeavy), Ryan Garbayo (Dennis), Rocco Sisto (Truscott), and Nick Westrate (Hal). Loot will have scenic design by Narelle Sissons, costume design by Sara Jean Tosetti, lighting design by Scott Zielinski, and sound design by Brad Berridge.

ONCE, winner of eight Tony Awards including Best Musical and winner of the 2013 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album, will play the Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre for a limited one-week engagement, January 28 through February 2. Tickets will go on sale on Friday, November 22 at 10 a.m.

MCC Theater presents the New York Premiere of John Pollono's celebrated Small Engine Repair, which plays through December 15, 2013 due to popular demand. Keegan Allen, James Badge Dale, playwright/actor John Pollono, and James Ransone star in the production directed by longtime MCC collaborator Jo Bonney (MCC's The Break of Noon, Fat Pig). Small Engine Repair at the Lucille Lortel Theatre (121 Christopher Street, NYC) had its official opening last night November 20, and you can check out photos from the special event below!

Award-winning comedian, author, and filmmaker Mike Birbiglia has announced the 'Thank God For Jokes' tour, his latest major multi-city standup tour that will take him across the United States in 2014. After the unprecedented success of both the 'Sleepwalk with Me' and 'My Girlfriend's Boyfriend' tours, Birbiglia returns to the stage with an all-new show that is at once hilarious and painfully honest.

New York Live Arts will present The Barnard Project, now in its ninth year, today, November 21 - 23 at 7:30pm and November 23 at 2:00pm. This year's performance will showcase works by 2013-14 Barnard Project artists Boyzie Cekwana, Lance Gries, Annie-B Parson and Donna Uchizono.