Manhattan Theatre Club News

Amas Musical Theatre will present three free staged readings of 'Bleeding Love, a post-apocalyptic new musical comedy', book by Jason Schafer, music by Arthur Lafrentz Bacon, lyrics by Harris Doran, directed by Michael Bush. The readings will take place on Tuesday, October 15th at 3:00pm and 7:00pm, and Wednesday, October 16th at 1pm at The Theatre at the 14th Street Y, 314 East 14th Street.

Abingdon Theatre Company - which has produced more than 80 new American plays in its 21-year history - is set to celebrate its 2013-14 Season with ABINGDON: SWINGING ON A STAR, its Annual Benefit Gala and dinner, on Monday, October 7 at Espace (635 West 42nd Street in Manhattan), beginning at 6pm. Dick Cavett, celebrated author, actor and host of the Emmy Award-winning 'The Dick Cavett Show,' is set to host.

The Alliance Theatre has announced that Playwright Tarell Alvin McCraney, author of Choir Boy, has been named one of the 2013 MacArthur Fellows, chosen for his exploration into the use of drama in the portrayal of urban communities. The MacArthur Fellowship recognizes 24 exceptionally creative individuals with a track record of achievement and the potential for even more significant contributions in the future. Fellows will each receive a no-strings-attached stipend of $625,000 paid out over five years. Without stipulations or reporting requirements, the Fellowship provides maximum freedom for recipients to follow their own creative vision.

George Street Playhouse and Artistic Director David Saint have announced the casting of MARLO THOMAS, award-winning actress of stage and screen, in the world premiere production of Clever Little Lies, by Tony Award-winner JOE DiPIETRO (rescheduled from the 2012-13 season). Mr. Saint will helm the production, slated to take the stage in New Brunswick, November 19 - December 22. The remainder of the cast will be announced at a later date.

From the author of Ella: Off the Record comes Mrs. Mannerly by Jeffrey Hatcher. The irreverent and clever comedy will run at TheaterWorks in Downtown Hartford, October 11 through November 17, 2013.

Single tickets to Manhattan Theatre Club's world premiere of Harvey Fierstein's CASA VALENTINA, are on sale today, Monday, September 23 at 12PM. Directed by Joe Mantello, CASA VALENTINA will be produced by special arrangement with Colin Callender, Robert Cole, Frederick Zollo and the Shubert Organization. The limited engagement will begin previews on Tuesday, April 1, 2014 and open Wednesday, April 23, 2014 on Broadway at MTC's Samuel J. Friedman Theatre (261 West 47th Street).

'Humor Abuse,' the hilarious and heartfelt story of growing up in the circus, opened last night, September 21 at 8 p.m. at the Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum. Performances of the Obie, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and Lucille Lortel Award-winning play continue through November 3, 2013. (Previews are September 17 through 20.) Check out a look back at the starry opening night celebration below!

The Development Wing which has dedicated itself to nurturing new musicals via partnerships with regional, not for profit theaters will hold its exclusive, intimate one-night-only benefit concert featuring Broadway stars singing songs from several new musicals at the historic Tewksbury, New Jersey home of Cherie King, President, The Development Wing and her husband composer, lyricist and book writer, Jonathan Brielle, Artistic Director of The Development Wing and Vice Chairman, The Johnny Mercer Foundation.

The Alliance Theatre has announced the American premiere of CHOIR BOY, a modern coming of age story by Tarell Alvin McCraney, winner of the 2008 Alliance/Kendeda National Graduate Playwriting Competition for his play In The Red and Brown Water. The American premiere of CHOIR BOY is co-produced by the Manhattan Theatre Club in New York, where CHOIR BOY opened earlier this month to outstanding reviews. The New York production has been extended twice due to popular demand and will close August 11. CHOIR BOY will run on the Hertz Stage at the Alliance Theatre September 20 - October 13, 2013. Opening night is Wednesday, September 25, 2013.

Roundabout Theatre Company presents The Winslow Boy, starring Tony nominee Michael Cumpsty as 'Desmond Curry', Academy & Tony Award nominee Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio as 'Grace Winslow', Alessandro Nivola as 'Sir Robert Morton' and Tony Award winner Roger Rees as 'Arthur Winslow'.

The Old Globe will open its 2013-14 Season with The Last Goodbye, a new musical that marries Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet and the incendiary songs of the legendary singer-songwriter Jeff Buckley. Conceived and adapted by Michael Kimmel, the rock musical is directed by two-time Tony Award nominee Alex Timbers (Peter and the Starcatcher, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson). Choreography is by Sonya Tayeh ('So You Think You Can Dance'), and orchestrations, music direction and arrangements are by Kris Kukul. The complete creative team and casting, as well as the remainder of the Globe's new season, will be announced at a later date. The Last Goodbye will run on the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage in the Old Globe Theatre, part of the Globe's Conrad Prebys Theatre Center, Sunday, Sept. 22 - Nov. 3, 2013. Preview performances run Sept. 22- Oct. 5. Opening night is Sunday, Oct. 6. Tickets are currently available by subscription only. Tickets can be purchased online at www.TheOldGlobe.org, by phone at (619) 23-GLOBE or by visiting the Box Office at 1363 Old Globe Way in Balboa Park.

According to Deadline, GOSSIP GIRL's Leighton Meester is set to lead the indie drama from RAY DONOVAN's Frank Whaley, with Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong and Debra Messing attached to co-star.

MCC THEATER (Robert LuPone, Bernard Telsey, William Cantler, Artistic Directors; Blake West, Executive Director) today announced that single tickets have gone on sale for the New York Premiere of John Pollono's celebrated Small Engine Repair, the comic thriller that premiered to rave reviews and sold-out audiences at L.A.'s Rogue Machine Theatre, where it won the Los Angeles Drama Critics Award for Playwriting, among many other honors. 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, Some Girl(s), Fat Pig). Small Engine Repair begins at the Lucille Lortel Theatre (121 Christopher Street, NYC) on October 30, 2013. An official opening night is set for November 20, 2013.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director, Oskar Eustis; Executive Director, Patrick Willingham) will kick off the fourth season ofPUBLIC FORUM with the new series Drama Club, a book club for plays that will feature one-night-only readings and discussions of works by Kia Corthron, Tony Kushner, and Thornton Wilder at Joe's Pub. Curated by Jeremy McCarter, the popular PUBLIC FORUM series presents the theater of ideas: conversations and performances with leading voices in politics, media, and the arts.

"Humor Abuse," the hilarious and heartfelt story of growing up in the circus, opens September 21 at 8 p.m. at the Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum. Performances of the Obie, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and Lucille Lortel Award-winning play continue through November 3, 2013. (Previews are September 17 through 20.)

'Humor Abuse,' the hilarious and heartfelt story of growing up in a circus, created by Lorenzo Pisoni and Erica Schmidt, directed by Schmidt and featuring a tour de force performance by Pisoni, will be presented at the Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum, today, September 17 through November 3, 2013. The opening is set for September 21. Get a first look at Pisoni onstage below!

Manhattan Theatre Club's world premiere of THE COMMONS OF PENSACOLA, the new play by Amanda Peet, directed by MTC's award-winning artistic director Lynne Meadow, begins rehearsals today. The limited engagement will start previews Tuesday, October 22 and open Thursday, November 21 at MTC at New York City Center - Stage I (131 West 55th Street).

The Vagrancy is honored to bring you the West Coast Premiere of BOTTOM OF THE WORLD by Lucy Thurber. This poignant, quirky, emotional drama unfolds around a young woman dealing with her sister's sudden death. This life-affirming piece, helmed by Director Sabina Ptasznik, flashes back to 1910 Appalachia accompanied by live bluegrass band, Blue Bird Bandits. BOTTOM OF THE WORLD elicits a heartfelt look at the various characters' struggle through loss and longing, while striving for human connection. Ptasznik says, 'This is the kind of show that asks you to abandon your perception of what love is. It is my hope that someone who sees the show is inspired to question what people in their lives mean in simple, yet unconventional, ways. This show is a return to simplicity in complicated, heavy times.'After the play patrons are welcome to a VAGRANT HOOTENANNY hosted by Blue Bird Bandits. Fun, dancing and moonshine guaranteed. Playwright Lucy Thurber's THE HILL TOWN PLAYS, a 5-play cycle, currently plays in 4 venues all across New York City. BOTTOM OF THE WORLD opens at The Lounge Theatres and runs October 12th - November 3rd.

Mary-Louise Parker, star of Manhattan Theatre Club and MCC Theater's world premiere of Sharr White's The Snow Geese, will appear on Fox 5's 'Good Day New York,' as a live guest today, Monday, September 16 at approximately 9:30AM. Locally, the program can be found from 7-10AM on Fox 5. This strictly limited 11 week engagement will begin performances Tuesday, October 1, in preparation for aThursday, October 24 opening at MTC's Samuel J. Friedman Theatre (261 West 47th Street).