Manhattan Ensemble Theater News

Heather Raffo's critically acclaimed, 9 Parts of Desire, will open this month at Portland Center Stage at The Armory, starring Nora el Samahy.

Heather Raffo's critically acclaimed, 9 Parts of Desire, will open this March at Portland Center Stage at The Armory, starring Nora el Samahy. An intimate and complex examination of the extraordinary (and ordinary) lives of nine Iraqi women, this remarkable solo work offers a meditation on what it means to be a woman in a country overshadowed by war. Based on Raffo's interviews with real women during the reign and fall of Saddam Hussein, Raffo weaves nine utterly distinct voices into a tapestry of humanity, love, and endurance in the face of oppression.

Playwrights Horizons (Artistic Director Tim Sanford, Managing Director Leslie Marcus) will, from today, November 12, through Thursday, November 15, accept entries for the Live for Five online lottery, giving out $5 tickets to the New York premiere production of Noura, from 9 Parts of Desire playwright and actor Heather Raffo and director Joanna Settle. The Washington Post deemed this "epic-feeling, nearly searing portrait of a woman torn between cultures and family" the "best premiere of the Women's Voices Theater Festival" when it made its world premiere in Washington, D.C. earlier this year. Produced in association with Shakespeare Theatre Company, it will be performed at Playwrights Horizons from November 27 to December 30. Playwrights Horizons created Live for Five in 2007 as part of their Arts Access program to reach out to those who may not be able to afford the cost of a full-price theater ticket. Since its inception, over 3,000 theatergoers have been able to attend the theater thanks to the initiative.

Directed by Joe Mantello and produced by Ryan Murphy and David Stone, The Boys in the Band will play a strictly limited 15-week Broadway engagement at the Booth Theatre, beginning previews today, April 30. Get to know the cast below as they begin Broadway performances!

According to Entertainment Weekly,  Jim Parsons has been announced as the latest honoree at this years GLAAD Media Awards. Parsons joins previously announced Britney Spears who is also being honored. 

According to Variety, Jim Parsons has signed on to star and co-produce a film adaptation of Matthew Lopez's 2015 play, The Legend of Georgia McBride. Parsons will play veteran drag queen Tracey Mills- played off Broadway by Matt McGrath.

Producers Ryan Murphy and David Stone have announced that Charlie Carver ('The Leftovers,' 'Teen Wolf') will complete the cast of the 50th Anniversary production of Mart Crowley's groundbreaking play, The Boys in the Band. Carver will play the role of Cowboy.

As part of the second Women's Voices Theater Festival, Shakespeare Theatre Company presents the world-premiere production of Noura, a new play written by award-winning playwright and performer Heather Raffo (Nine Parts of Desire). Directed by Joanna Settle and featuring Raffo in the titular role, the play will run at the Lansburgh Theatre (450 7th Street NW) February 6 March 11, 2018.

After being together for over 14 years, AN ACT OF GOD's Jim Parsons and Todd Spiewak finally tied the knot last weekend in New York City. The actor shared photos from the joyous event on Instagram!

Award-winning Iraqi-American playwright and performer Heather Raffo (9 Parts of Desire) teams up with director Joanna Settle to examine the issue of fractured American identity in this timely re-imagining of Ibsen's iconic A Doll's House.

The Public Theater announced today that Stew and Heidi Rodewald will perform live with the on-stage band for THE TOTAL BENT, playing the guitar and bass, respectively. With text by Stew and music by Stew and Heidi Rodewald, the team behind the Tony Award-wining musical Passing Strange, which premiered at The Public in 2003, this world premiere musical is directed by Joanna Settle. Performances begin Tuesday, May 10 and continue through Sunday, June 12, with an official press opening on Wednesday, May 25.

What if all of the white actors in your play quit? AN OCTOROON begins tonight, March 16, 2016; and opens today, March 23, 2016.

What if all of the white actors in your play quit? AN OCTOROON begins on Wednesday, March 16, 2016; and opens on Wednesday, March 23, 2016.

The Drama League (Gabriel Shanks, Executive Director) today announced the resignation of its longtime artistic director, Roger T. Danforth. The Drama League (Gabriel Shanks, Executive Director) today announced the resignation of its longtime artistic director, Roger T. Danforth.

The University of the Arts' Ira Brind School of Theater Arts announces the 2016 lineup for Polyphone, a "festival of the emerging musical" on the UArts campus in Philadelphia.  Running March 20-27, the 2016 the Polyphone festival produces staged concerts of new musicals and re-imagined canonical works offering professional composers, librettists and directors an opportunity to develop their work among the rich creative community of the Brind School at UArts.  The festival will program five musicals, including both classical and new works, with three performances each.  

Jim Parsons, star of CBS's THE BIG BANG THEORY has an emotional visit to LONG ISLAND MEDIUM's Theresa Caputo on an upcoming episode of the hit TLC series.

As part of the artist commissioning program New York Voices, Joe's Pub at The Public presents Estuary: an artist/mother story, a new show conceived and written by Jamie Leonhart and directed by Joanna Settle. Estuary's original music is co-written and arranged by Grammy-winner Michael Leonhart. This presentation of Estuary features a live band that includes Saskia Lane, Pauline Kim, Sara Phillips Budde and Katie Scheele. Performances will run Monday through Wednesday, November 1-3 at 7:00PM at Joe's Pub at The Public (425 Lafayette, NYC). Tickets are ($20) available now online, via phone (212.967.7555) or in-person at The Public's Box Office.

Jim Parsons and Isla Fisher star in the upcoming horror film VISIONS, heading to theaters this fall. Watch the trailer below!

The new Broadway comedy An Act of God, starring Emmy and Golden Globe Award winner Jim Parsons, began performances on May 7 and officially opens tonight, May 28, 2015 at Studio 54 (254 West 54th Street). Scroll down to learn more about the company, plus watch interviews with Parsons and the team!

On Wednesday, March 11th, Jim Parsons, best known for his role as Sheldon Cooper on CBS's 'The Big Bang Theory', received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.