Marcia Rodd News

The annual dysfunctional family Christmas gathering? Oy! This family lives in Minnesota. Double oy!! Issue at hand: not one of the family members is anywhere near to being happy. Mom (Belinda Howell) is in denial, keeping her breast cancer a secret, her doctor son Michael (Patrick Burke) has been mysteriously separated from wife Jill (Rebekah Dunn) for three months, other son Carl (Greg D. Barnett), a struggling writer, is estranged from his girlfriend Rita, and daughter Stacey (Truett Jean Butler) is gay and separated from her partner, who hasn't yet told her parents about their relationship. Then there's obnoxious intruder Uncle Bob (Fox Carney) who does his best to upset everyone with his disgustingly uber jovial disposition, and Grandma (Marcia Rodd), with a tongue that could cut glass, who sashays around them all with digs, jibes and a whole barrel of insulting fun. Doug Engalla has skillfully directed a superb cast of players who only have to speak Phil Olson's hysterically funny lines to get laughs. It's a howler a la Neil Simon with a laugh about every two seconds, and each character has that dry infectious Minnesota accent that makes you double over every time you hear it.

Abingdon Theatre Company presents a staged reading of A BAD NIGHT, a new play co-written by Nicole Pandolfo and Amy E. Witting, on Today, November 5 at 8:00 PM in the June Havoc Theatre (312 West 36th Street, New York City). Jackson Gay (These Paper Bullets!) is set to direct. The special one-night only engagement is free and open to the public.

Following sold-out performances at The PIT and Dixon Place, THE MOTHER LINE STORY PROJECT is coming to the Abingdon Theatre Company's Dorothy Strelsin Theatre (312 West 36th Street) for a one-night-only engagement on Friday, December 2 at 7pm.

The Group Rep presents the world premiere comedy A Nice Family Christmas written by Phil Olson, directed by Doug Engalla, produced by Alyson York.

The Group Rep presents the world premiere comedy A Nice Family Christmas written by Phil Olson, directed by Doug Engalla, produced by Alyson York.

Abingdon Theatre Company presents a staged reading of A BAD NIGHT, a new play co-written by Nicole Pandolfo and Amy E. Witting, on Saturday, November 5 at 8:00 PM in the June Havoc Theatre (312 West 36th Street, New York City). Jackson Gay (These Paper Bullets!) is set to direct. The special one-night only engagement is free and open to the public.

Abingdon Theatre Company launches its new Musical Theatre Lab with two readings of PARIS THROUGH THE WINDOW, a new musical with music by Leo Hurley and book & lyrics by Charles Osborne, on November 10 and 11 in Abingdon Theatre Company's June Havoc Theatre.

In an ongoing mission to nurture and develop new work by emerging artists, Abingdon Theatre Company proudly announces Dominique Fishback & Amy E. Witting as recipients of its inaugural Residency Program.

The third annual CABARET IS ALIVE AND WELL AND LIVING IN LOS ANGELES, Benefit Concert series for The Actors Fund conceived by David Galligan and presented by Fraser Entertainment Group, takes place Oct. 14th-16th with two nights at Tom Rolla's Gardenia, plus Sunday evening at the Catalina Jazz Club.

Abingdon Theatre Company has added Erin Davie, Dominique Fishback, and Krysta Rodriguez to its benefit reading of Orson Welles' WAR OF THE WORLDS.

Abingdon Theatre Company will present two world-premiere plays and a new musical in the June Havoc Theatre as part of its 2016-2017 Season of new works by established and emerging writers, marking the first full season programmed by Artistic Director Tony Speciale.

Abingdon Theatre Company has added Lindsay Mendez and Sally Ann Triplett to its benefit reading of Orson Welles' WAR OF THE WORLDS. The one-night only event, directed by Abingdon's Artistic Director Tony Speciale, will be held on Monday, October 24 at 7:00pm at NYU Skirball Center for the Performing Arts (566 LaGuardia Place, NYC). Tickets, starting at $25, are now available at http://nyuskirball.org/calendar/waroftheworlds.

The third annual CABARET IS ALIVE AND WELL AND LIVING IN LOS ANGELES, Benefit Concert series for The Actors Fund conceived by David Galligan and presented by Fraser Entertainment Group, takes place Oct. 14th-16th with two nights at Tom Rolla's Gardenia, plus Sunday evening at the Catalina Jazz Club.

Abingdon Theatre Company will present a star-studded benefit reading of Orson Welles' WAR OF THE WORLDS, featuring Mario Cantone, David Greenspan, Martin Moran, Stark Sands, Michael Urie, and other artists to be announced.

Abingdon Theatre Company, in association The Muse Project, announces a week-long extension of STET, with Off-Broadway performances now running through July 10.

?Abingdon Theatre Company, in association with The Muse Project, announces talkbacks following the performances of STET on Sunday, June 26 at 2pm; Tuesday, June 28 at 7pm; and Thursday, June 30 at 7pm. Written by Kim Davies and developed by Kim Davies, Jocelyn Kuritsky and Tony Speciale, STET is a new play inspired by the Rolling Stone article 'A Rape on Campus.' Artistic Director Tony Speciale directs the world premiere, marking his first programming as Artistic Director.

Gary DiMauro, Therese Steiner, and Showstoppers NY present a special engagement of I LOVED LUCY, Lee Tannen's loving and candid play about his friendship with Lucille Ball, on Thursday, July 21 at 8pm at the Lucille Lortel Theatre (121 Christopher Street). Direct from the play's critically acclaimed London premiere at the Jermyn Street Theatre, Sandra Dickinson reprises her celebrated performance as Lucy. Jermyn Street Theatre's Artistic Director Anthony Biggs is set to direct.

Abingdon Theatre Company, in association with The Muse Project, will present STET, a new play inspired by true events, written by Kim Davies and developed by Kim Davies, Jocelyn Kuritsky and Artistic Director Tony Speciale. A limited Off-Broadway engagement will begin previews on June 11, as part of Abingdon's 2015-2016 Season, with an official press opening scheduled for June 23. Tickets are now on sale through July 3. Tony Speciale is set to direct the world-premiere production, which marks his inaugural programming as Artistic Director.

Abingdon Theatre Company, located in Manhattan's Garment District, announces that Associate Artistic Director Kim T. Sharp is departing after a 16-year association with the company. Sharp will pursue theatre projects he has nurtured and explore further literary and management opportunities.

The legendary CHITA RIVERA has joined the list of honorees being celebrated at TADA!'s 30th Anniversary Gala on May 23, 2016. The Gala is hosted by TADA! Alum, JORDAN PEELE, of Comedy Central's "Key & Peele."