Manhattan Theatre Club News

The Lark Play Development Center in collaboration with Mexico's National Fund for Culture and Arts (FONCA) is pleased to announce the 2013 Mexico/ U.S. Playwright Exchange Program. For the eighth year the Lark will host playwrights from Mexico and pair them with bilingual U.S. playwrights, actors, and directors for a ten day cultural exploration that establishes ongoing channels of communication between artists in both countries.

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.

By popular demand, Tony Award-winning playwright/lyricist Greg Kotis (Urinetown) announces the extension of his new comedy, GIVE THE PEOPLE WHAT THEY WANT (seven plays for five actors). Written and directed by Kotis, performances will run January 10 - 31 at The People's Improv Theater (aka The PIT).

Theatre Communications Group (TCG) has announced the publication of Teddy Ferrara by Christopher Shinn, the author of the Pulitzer Prize-finalist, Dying City. This gripping new drama inspired by real events received its world premiere at Chicago's Goodman Theatre in winter 2013.

Manhattan Theatre Club's world premiere of THE COMMONS OF PENSACOLA by Amanda Peet, directed by MTC's award-winning artistic director Lynne Meadow opens tonight at MTC at New York City Center - Stage I (131 West 55th Street).

MCC THEATER announced today that the New York Premiere of John Pollono's celebrated Small Engine Repair will now play 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) has its official opening night on November 20, 2013 and was previously scheduled to run through December 8, 2013.

Lynne Meadow (Artistic Director, Manhattan Theatre Club), Barry Grove (Executive Producer, MTC), Mandy Greenfield (Artistic Producer, MTC), Jason Eagan (Artistic Director, Ars Nova), and Jeremy Blocker (Managing Director, Ars Nova) have announced the 2013-2014 participants for The Writer's Room a new program to commission, develop and support playwrights in the process of creating new work for the stage.

Manhattan Theatre Club presents the American premiere of Taking Care of Baby by Dennis Kelly and directed by Erica Schmidt. Joining previously announced cast members Reed Birney (Blasted, Our Leading Lady), Kristen Bush (Kin, The Common Pursuit), Tony nominee Amelia Campbell (A Streetcar Named Desire, Our Country's Good) and Margaret Colin (The Columnist, 'Gossip Girl'), are Francois Battiste (Magic/ Bird), Michael Crane (Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson off-Broadway), Ethan Phillips (Golden Age) and Zach Shaffer ('Smash').

Holiday cheer will abound at Cleveland Play House (CPH) with an all-new production of the beloved holiday classic, A Christmas Story running from Nov. 29th - Dec. 22nd in the Allen Theatre at PlayhouseSquare. In honor of the 30th anniversary of the unforgettable film, CPH enthusiastically breathes new life into this classic story about Ralphie and his ultimate Christmas wish. Having delighted audiences for 30 years on both the big and small screens, this incredible production is brought to vivid life on stage for Northeast Ohio audiences. Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased by calling (216) 241-6000 or online at www.clevelandplayhouse.com. CPH is pleased to have University Hospitals as the Presenting Sponsor of A Christmas Story, along with Benesch, Nordson and FirstMerit as Supporting Sponsors.

TheaterWorks will present the holiday World Premiere Christmas on the Rocks -- an offbeat collection of twisted holiday tales by multiple nationally known playwrights. These darkly humorous stories run December 3 through 22, 2013.

City Theatre continues its 2013-2014 season with Charles Ives Take Me Home, a music-filled journey by Jessica Dickey. Directed by Matt M. Morrow, Charles Ives Take Me Home runs now through December 15, 2013 in City Theatre's Hamburg Studio, with an Opening Night performance tonight, November 15 at 8pm.

Scott D. Miller has announced a change in casting for the special concert presentation of CHESS, the hit Broadway and London musical, on December 8, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. at Richland Performing Arts Center, on the campus of Richland High School in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.

Page 73 Productions, now in its 16th year premiering the next generation of American playwrights - who have included Pulitzer Prize winner Quiara Alegria Hudes, Drama Desk Award winner Sam Hunter, New York Times Outstanding Playwright Award recipient Dan LeFranc, and more - will present the New York premiere of George Brant's gripping new play GROUNDED, directed by two-time Obie Award-winning director Ken Rus Schmoll (TELEPHONE, A MAP OF VIRTUE) and starring Hannah Cabell (3C, A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS opposite Frank Langella) with preview performances beginning Off-Broadway on January 8 prior to an official press opening of January 16 at Walkerspace (46 Walker Street) in Manhattan. GROUNDED has a runtime of 70 minutes, with no intermission.

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director), currently celebrating its 35th Anniversary season, has announced the complete cast for its upcoming production of THE HAPPIEST SONG PLAYS LAST, written by 2012 Pulitzer Prize winnerQuiara Alegria Hudes and directed by Tony Award winner Ruben Santiago-Hudson. The company will feature ANTHONY CHISHOLM (Radio Golf, Jitney), DARIUSH KASHANI (Homebody/Kabul), TONY PLANA (Ugly Betty), ARMANDO RIESCO (2ST's Water by the Spoonful), ELIZABETH RODRIGUEZ (Motherf***er with the Hat, Orange is the New Black), and ANNAPURNA SRIRAM (Pericles at Berkeley Rep).

Riding the successes of Blithe Spirit and The Pajama Game, the Gallery Players presents Equus as the next production of its 47th Season. Alred Gingold* (Manhattan Theatre Club, Metropolitan Playhouse), leads the cast in the behemoth role of Martin Dysart. Joining him are Dean Thomas and Adelind Horan as Alan Strang and Jill Mason, respectively, in their Gallery premieres. Gallery alumni Rosalind Ashford* (Gallery: History Boys) and Greg Horton* (Gallery: A Man of No Importance; NYIT 2012 Outstanding Actor in a Lead Role) will appear once again as Dora and Frank Strang. After leading The History Boys to success last season, Mark Gallagher will again direct aided by Choreographer Christiana Axlesen. The production will be brought to life under Set Designer Young Jaung, Costume Designer Tony Johnson, Lighting Designer Scott Borowka, Sound Designer Jacob Subotnick, Props Designer Sara Slagle, and Production Stage Manager Kathleen Parker. The cast includes J.B. Alexander, Ryan Arthur, Victoria Bundonis*, Brandon Johnson, Kadeem Melvin, Chris Negron, Ryan Pater, and Lindsay Timmington. *Actors appearing courtesy of Actors Equity Association.

City Theatre continues its 2013-2014 season with Charles Ives Take Me Home, a music-filled journey by Jessica Dickey. Directed by Matt M. Morrow, Charles Ives Take Me Home runs now through December 15, 2013 in City Theatre's Hamburg Studio, with an Opening Night performance on Friday, November 15 at 8pm.

Manhattan Theatre Club presents the American premiere of TAKING CARE OF BABY by Tony Award winner Dennis Kelly.Directed by Erica Schmidt (Humor Abuse), the cast features Francois Battiste (Magic/ Bird), Reed Birney (Blasted, Our Leading Lady), Kristen Bush (Kin, The Common Pursuit), Tony nominee Amelia Campbell (A Streetcar Named Desire, Our Country's Good), Margaret Colin (The Columnist, "Gossip Girl"), Michael Crane (Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson off-Broadway), Ethan Phillips(Golden Age) and Zach Shaffer ("Smash"). BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Asolo Repertory Theatre is proud to add I LOVED, I LOST, I MADE SPAGHETTI to its 2013-2014 season. Jacques Lamarre's saucy stage adaptation of Giulia Melucci's memoir will star Antoinette LaVecchia as Melucci, an Italian-American writer living in Brooklyn with an entertainingly unsuccessful love life. Previews for the show will be held May 18 and May 20, 2014 and the show will run from May 21 through June 15, 2014 in Asolo Rep's Cook Theatre.

MCC THEATER today announced that Steven Boyer, previously announced to reprise his celebrated, Obie Award-winning performance in MCC's upcoming Off-Broadway premiere of Robert Askins' Hand to God, will be joined in that production by Tony Award nominee Marc Kudisch as well asGeneva Carr, Michael Oberholtzer, and Sarah Stiles. Hand to God, which first appeared in New York to great acclaim at the Ensemble Studio Theatre (EST) in 2011, will be directed once again by Moritz von Stuelpnagel and begins at the Lucille Lortel Theatre (121 Christopher Street, NYC) on February 20, 2014. An official opening night is set for March 10, 2014.

After 16 years, George Bernard Shaw returns to the American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) stage in a sumptuous production of one of his most witty and richly invigorating works - Major Barbara. Salvation Army officer Major Barbara gets in an intriguing tangle of morality and religion when her church accepts money from her estranged father-a wealthy armaments manufacturer. If the price of supporting the poor is complicity with the country's most successful gun factory, who has the right to be righteous about saving the poor? Timely and topical, Major Barbara is a devilishly funny satire exploring themes of business, faith, family, and philanthropy. In the wake of highly successful Canadian productions, including No Exit, The Overcoat and Vigil, Major Barbara is co-produced with one of A.C.T.'s favorite Canadian collaborators, Theatre Calgary, which hosted A.C.T.'s visionary Tosca Project during its 2011 tour. Directed by Theatre Calgary Artistic Director Dennis Garnhum, Major Barbara features an international cast of both Canadian and American actors. This is the first staging of Major Barbara during A.C.T.'s tenure at The Geary Theater. Major Barbara runs January 8-February 2, 2014, at A.C.T.'s Geary Theater (415 Geary Street, San Francisco). Press night is Wednesday, January 15, 2014. Tickets ($20 -$140) are on sale now and may be purchased online at act-sf.org or by calling 415.749.2228.