MCC Theater News

MCC Theater has announced the line-up for their Spring 2013 PlayLab readings of new plays by three members of the company's Playwrights' Coalition: Adam Szymkowicz, Ed Napier, and Ashlin Halfnight to be held respectively at 7PM tonight, June 3, June 10 and June 23, 2013 at the Lucille Lortel Theatre (121 Christopher Street). The series offers a rare look into the development process of new plays by some of New York's most exciting playwrights. Audience members will also be invited to meet and greet the artists at receptions directly following the readings.

Culture Project will rename their mainstage theatre, currently known as 45 Bleecker Street, the Lynn Redgrave Theatre this June. The announcement was made onstage by Mr. Buchman during the opening night curtain call for Culture Project's current production of Shaheed: The Dream and Death of Benazir Bhutto. A naming ceremony and commemorative gala in honor of the late Ms. Redgrave will take place today, June 3, 2013 at Stage 48 (605 West 48th Street, New York City). Honorary Chairs for the evening are Vanessa Redgrave, Liam Neeson, and Ms. Redgrave's three children Annabel Clark, Ben Clark, and Pema Clark.

Performances begin in just five weeks for the third annual Next Up, continuing Steppenwolf Theatre Company's commitment to Chicago's next generation of theater artists. Next Up features three productions presented in rotating repertory, in collaboration with Northwestern University's MFA programs in Direction and Design. Next Up 2013 showcases the work of graduates of those programs with casts of professional Chicago actors-including nine alumni of the School at Steppenwolf: Fat Pig by Neil LaBute, directed by David Prete; The Drunken City by Adam Bock, directed by Johnny Michael DiResta; and The Internationalist by Anne Washburn, directed by Erin Murray. BroadwayWorld has a first look at all three prodcuctions below!

MCC THEATER (Robert LuPone, Bernard Telsey, William Cantler, Artistic Directors; Blake West, Executive Director) is pleased to announce that the world premiere of MCC Playwright-in-Residence Neil LaBute's new play, Reasons to Be Happy, also directed by LaBute, will now extend throughSaturday, June 29th. It was previously scheduled through June 23rd.

MCC Theater's Reasons to be Happy, starring Leslie Bibb (Iron Man, ABC's 'GCB') and Jenna Fischer (NBC's 'The Office') making their New York City stage debuts opposite Josh Hamilton (The Coast of Utopia) andFred Weller (MCC's Still Life and In a Dark Dark House), is Playwright-in-Residence Neil LaBute's new play, which LaBute will also direct. BroadwayWorld brings you a first look at the cast in action below!

Performances begin in just five weeks for the third annual Next Up, continuing Steppenwolf Theatre Company's commitment to Chicago's next generation of theater artists. Next Up features three productions presented in rotating repertory, in collaboration with Northwestern University's MFA programs in Direction and Design. Next Up 2013 showcases the work of graduates of those programs with casts of professional Chicago actors-including nine alumni of the School at Steppenwolf: Fat Pig by Neil LaBute, directed by David Prete; The Drunken City by Adam Bock, directed by Johnny Michael DiResta; and The Internationalist by Anne Washburn, directed by Erin Murray.

The Alzheimer's Association, New York City Chapter announced today that the 2013 Creative Leadership Award will be presented to Tony nominee, Laurie Metcalf and Manhattan Theatre Club's Broadway production of 'The Other Place' at its annual 'Forget-Me-Not' Gala, An Evening to End Alzheimer's taking place on Monday, June 3, 2013 at The Pierre. The Chapter will recognize Metcalf's brilliant performance in a drama that movingly - and realistically - portrays the devastating emotional impact of early onset dementia. Metcalf is extraordinary as a physician struggling with the challenges and frustrations of declining cognition and family conflict. More than five hundred members of New York City's philanthropic, business, health care, theater, and Alzheimer's communities will gather for this annual benefit that will raise $1.2 million to support programs, services and research to benefit the New York City Alzheimer's community.

MCC THEATER has announced the line-up for their Spring 2013 PlayLab readings of new plays by three members of the company's Playwrights' Coalition: Adam Szymkowicz, Ed Napier, and Ashlin Halfnight to be held respectively at 7PM on June 3, June 10 and June 23, 2013 at the Lucille Lortel Theatre (121 Christopher Street). The series offers a rare look into the development process of new plays by some of New York's most exciting playwrights. Audience members will also be invited to meet and greet the artists at receptions directly following the readings.

Performances begin in just five weeks for the third annual Next Up, continuing Steppenwolf Theatre Company's commitment to Chicago's next generation of theater artists. Next Up features three productions presented in rotating repertory, in collaboration with Northwestern University's MFA programs in Direction and Design. Next Up 2013 showcases the work of graduates of those programs with casts of professional Chicago actors-including nine alumni of the School at Steppenwolf: Fat Pig by Neil LaBute, directed by David Prete; The Drunken City by Adam Bock, directed by Johnny Michael DiResta; and The Internationalist by Anne Washburn, directed by Erin Murray.

MCC THEATER (Robert LuPone, Bernard Telsey, William Cantler, Artistic Directors; Blake West, Executive Director) have announced plans for its annual UnCensored, an evening of original monologues, scenes, music, and ensemble pieces written and performed by the MCC Theater Youth Company, a free, after-school program of New York City high school students interested in exploring self-expression and developing their acting and dramatic writing skills.

MCC Theater's Reasons to be Happy, starring Leslie Bibb (Iron Man, ABC's 'GCB') and Jenna Fischer (NBC's 'The Office') making their New York City stage debuts opposite Josh Hamilton (The Coast of Utopia) and Fred Weller (MCC's Still Life and In a Dark Dark House), is Playwright-in-Residence Neil LaBute's new play, which LaBute will also direct.

Long Wharf Theatre concludes its 2012-13 season with Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning play Clybourne Park, by Bruce Norris, and directed by Associate Artistic Director Eric Ting. The play will take place on The Claire Tow Stage in the C. Newton Schenck III Mainstage from tonight, May 8, 2013 through June 2, 2013.

MCC Theater's REASONS TO BE HAPPY, starring Leslie Bibb (Iron Man, ABC's 'GCB') and Jenna Fischer (NBC's 'The Office') making their New York City stage debuts opposite Josh Hamilton (The Coast of Utopia) and Fred Weller (MCC's Still Life and In a Dark Dark House), is Playwright-in-Residence Neil LaBute's new play, which LaBute will also direct.

In Episode 10, Part 2 of THE GRAHAM SHOW, 'Summer Camp, A Theater Company & Juggling,' casting director Bernie Telsey talks growing up at his local Long Island community theater, studying acting and producing at NYU and balancing work as a casting director and co-founder of MCC Theater in NYC. Click below to watch the interview!

TimeLine Theatre Company, dedicated to presenting plays inspired by history that connect to today's social and political issues, announces that The How and the Why by Sarah Treem (Netflix's House of Cards, HBO's In Treatment), directed by Keira Fromm and starring Janet Ulrich Brooks and Elizabeth Ledo, will be the third production of its 2013-14 season.

MCC Theater today announced a one-night only reading of Playwright-in-Residence Neil LaBute's acclaimed play, The Mercy Seat, on June 17, 2013 at 7:30 p.m. at the Lucille Lortel Theatre (121 Christopher Street, NYC).

Performances begin in just five weeks for the third annual Next Up, continuing Steppenwolf Theatre Company's commitment to Chicago's next generation of theater artists. Next Up features three productions presented in rotating repertory, in collaboration with Northwestern University's MFA programs in Direction and Design. Next Up 2013 showcases the work of graduates of those programs with casts of professional Chicago actors-including nine alumni of the School at Steppenwolf: Fat Pig by Neil LaBute, directed by David Prete; The Drunken City by Adam Bock, directed by Johnny Michael DiResta; and The Internationalist by Anne Washburn, directed by Erin Murray.