Lynn Nottage News

WP Theater welcomes Obie Award Winning actress Zainab Jah (Eclipsed) and rising actress Jessica Luck, joining two-time Grammy-nominated comedian Lisa Lampanelli (HBO, Comedy Central, The Howard Stern Show) and Outer Critics Circle Award winner Ann Harada (Avenue Q, Cinderella) in completing the cast for the world premiere of STUFFED, a new play written by Lampanelli, with additional material by Ashley Austin Morris.

Trinity Rep invites the public to revisit the one-minute plays written on the ground in Ferguson, MO and performed at the theater in fall of 2015 to a second community-led performance of The Every 28 Hours Plays on Monday, October 17th at 7:30PM.

American Theatre magazine, published by Theatre Communications Group (TCG), has released its annual October Season Preview issue, which includes lists of the Top 10 Most-Produced Plays and Top 20 Most-Produced Playwrights for the coming season. Robert Askins' Hand to God will be the most-produced play, with 13 total productions, and August Wilson will be the most-produced playwright, with 18 total productions.

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director, Casey Reitz, Executive Director) has announced that Tony Award winner Reed Birney (The Humans) will star in the leading role of Ken Carpenter in the upcoming New York premiere production of Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winner Tracy Lett's 2003 play, MAN FROM NEBRASKA, directed by David Cromer. Mr. Birney has previously appeared in three Second Stage productions - The Family of Mann, Loose Knit, and Winterplay.

Tickets are now on sale for Temple Theaters 2016-2017 season of performances at Temple University - dramas by acclaimed American playwrights, two Broadway hit musicals and a new play by Pulitzer Prize nominee Kristoffer Diaz and more.

Performances begin tonight, September 20, for the Broadway engagement of Manhattan Theatre Club's acclaimed world premiere of Heisenberg, the new play by Tony Award and two-time Olivier Award winner Simon Stephens, directed by Drama Desk Award winner Mark Brokaw, starring original cast members Denis Arndtand Tony and Emmy Award winner Mary-Louise Parker.

A friendly reminder! Performances begin tomorrow, Tuesday, September 20, for the Broadway engagement of Manhattan Theatre Club's acclaimed world premiere of Heisenberg, the new play by Tony Award and two-time Olivier Award winner Simon Stephens, directed by Drama Desk Award winner Mark Brokaw, starring original cast members Denis Arndt and Tony and Emmy Award winner Mary-Louise Parker.

Dr. Barbara Ann Teer's National Black Theatre (NBT) kicks off its 48th season with "The Alchemy of Black Joy," an exhibition of original works by renowned photographer Peter Cooper on Wednesday, September 7, and the world premiere of Harrison David Rivers' play "Sweet" on Wednesday, October 19. The events and productions reflect the theater company's theme this season: "In Pursuit of Black Joy."

Temple Theaters opens its 49th anniversary season with Crumbs from the Table of Joy by Pulitzer Prize winner Lynne Nottage. Directed by Lee Kenneth Richardson, this memory play is a thought-provoking coming-of-age story set in 1950s New York City. Featuring a small cast of undergraduate and graduate student actors the production runs September 21 - October 2 in Temple University's Randall Theater.

Last night two-time Tony Award-winner Viola Davis made history as the first African-American to win an Emmy in the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series category. She was recognized for her role as the brilliant attorney and professor Annalise Keating on the Shonda Rhimes drama HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER. In addition to her Emmy and Tonys, Davis has won three Drama Desks and three SAG Awards. During her acceptance speech, Davis quoted Harriet Tubman and talked about breaking boundaries and redefining what Hollywood thinks of as beautiful.

Geffen Playhouse has just announced the cast for its West Coast premiere production of Barbecue, written by Obie and Helen Hayes Award winner Robert O'Hara. Tony nominee Colman Domingo directs the production starring Yvette Cason, Dale Dickey, Omar J. Dorsey, Frances Fisher, Kimberly Hebert Gregory, Travis Johns, Elyse Mirto, Maya Lynne Robinson, Heather Alicia Simms and Rebecca Wisocky.

Mari Marchbanks (Founder and Executive Director) announced today the 2016 recipients of the biennial Horton Foote Prize, named in honor of the late playwright, which recognizes excellence in American theater.

EXPO CHICAGO, The International Exposition of Contemporary & Modern Art, and Project& present "An Open Conversation: Social Aesthetics Broadway, Culture and Social Impact" with creative team members of the Broadway musical Hamilton.

Manhattan Theatre Club's 2016 Fall Benefit, honoring two-time Tony Award winner Nathan Lane, will now take place on Monday evening, November 21 at 583 Park Avenue (63rd Street and Park Avenue).

The Public Theater announced complete casting today for the New York premiere of SWEAT by Lynn Nottage.

Rehearsals begin tomorrow, Tuesday, September 13, for the world-premiere production of Kingdom Come by Jenny Rachel Weiner, directed by Kip Fagan, as part of Roundabout's 50th Anniversary Season.

The 2016 Kesselring Prize for Playwriting - given annually by the National Arts Club to an outstanding new playwright on the verge of national recognition - will be presented this year to Lindsey Ferrentino for her play UGLY LIES THE BONE, it has been announced by the Kesselring Prize committee.

The Lark named five New York City-based playwrights as Rita Goldberg Playwrights' Workshop Fellows for the 2016-17 season. The group spans a wide range of backgrounds and professional experiences and will meet regularly throughout the year to develop new plays.

Lynne Meadow (Artistic Director) and Barry Grove (Executive Producer) have just announced full casting for Manhattan Theatre Club's New York premiere of Vietgone, the new play by Qui Nguyen (She Kills Monsters), directed by May Adrales (Luce).

The 2016 Kesselring Prize for Playwriting - given annually by the National Arts Club to an outstanding new playwright on the verge of national recognition - will be presented this year to Lindsey Ferrentino for her play UGLY LIES THE BONE, it has been announced by the Kesselring Prize committee.