Mark Cohen News

James LaRosa returns to the Off Broadway stage when he steps into the leading role of Anthony Pinnunziato in Off-Broadway's My Big Gay Italian Funeral at the St. Luke's Theatre on June 8th at 7pm. He will take on the role, created and thus far performed by Emmy Award-winner, Anthony J. Wilkinson.

Horse Trade Theater Group and StrangeDog Theatre will present the New York Premiere of ENCHANTED ARMS written by Ben Clawson, Stacie Lents, Joseph Palestina, and John Wooten, today, May 15-31 at UNDER St. Marks (94 St. Marks Place between 1st Avenue and Avenue A).

Chip Danver will be hitting a personal milestone when Imagine Productions' presentation of RENT opens tonight, 7:30 p.m. May 7 at the Wall Street Night Club. Opening night will mark the first time Danver, who plays Mark Cohen in the Jonathan Larson musical, has seen the show in person.

Chip Danver will be hitting a personal milestone when Imagine Productions' presentation of RENT opens 7:30 p.m. May 7 at the Wall Street Night Club. Opening night will mark the first time Danver, who plays Mark Cohen in the Jonathan Larson musical, has seen the show in person.

Music, Lyrics, and Book duo Michael Roberts and Charlie Schulman reunite once again after their recent production of The Fartiste, which had a successful run Off-Broadway in 2011-12 and West End Concert following its 2006 FringeNYC Outstanding Musical Award. Their newest venture, The Goldstein Variations, after concert presentations at the JCC in Manhattan, American University, and Abingdon Theater, will be seen by supporters at The Playroom Theater in a limited, developmental presentation from May 12th through 15th, open to the general public. The Goldstein Variations will be directed by Daniel Kutner.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts today announced the national awardees of the 46th annual Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF), April 14-19, 2014. Dozens of students received scholarships, fellowships, and cash awards in recognition of their outstanding work. From January 7 through March 1, 2014, these student artists from eight regions presented their work and were selected to travel to Washington, D.C. for an expenses-paid trip to participate in National Festival events taking place at the Kennedy Center.

Milwaukee Chamber Theatre (MCT) presents Ken Ludwig's classic farce LEND ME A TENOR, today, April 10-27, 2014.

Horse Trade Theater Group and StrangeDog Theatre will present the New York Premiere of ENCHANTED ARMS written by Ben Clawson, Stacie Lents, Joseph Palestina, and John Wooten, May 15-31 at UNDER St. Marks (94 St. Marks Place between 1st Avenue and Avenue A). This evening of new plays is conceived by Ben Clawson (The High Water Mark, Luna Stage) and directed by Artem Yatsuov (Basic Help, Sell Out Award Winner, FRIGID NYC 2014) with choreography by Annalisa Ledson (NACHMO 4 NYC). Featuring: Tony K Knotts (Master Harold…and the Boys!, Luna Stage), Michelle Lupo, Tracy Shar, Annalisa Ledson, Gary Martins, Shannon Sullivan, Seth Michael, Lee Ann Hoover, and David Hoffman. The creative team will include Lighting and Sound Design by Harrison J. Adams, Original Art Work by Sara Sciarrabbarasi, and Press Photography by Anthony Gusevich. The production will be Stage Managed by Rachael Tucker.

When the ghosts of their past are unleashed, the residents of an exclusive retirement community must come to terms with lost love, triumphs, fears, and the choices that haunt and connect us all. This moving new play by award-winning local playwright Cyndi Williams, reminds us that the most important moments of our lives are often the ones that defy explanation.

Producing Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside and American Blues Theater, Chicago's second oldest Equity ensemble, are proud to announce the Chicago premiere of Grounded, by George Brant and directed by Lisa Portes, June 6 - July 13 at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave. The running time is approximately 80 minutes. Pink Previews, where tickets sales benefit the Lynn Sage Foundation for breast cancer research, are Friday, June 6 and Saturday, June 7 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, June 8 at 2:30 p.m. Opening Night is Thursday, June 12 at 7 p.m. The performance schedule is Thursdays - Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $19 - $49 and are available at 773.404.7336 or americanbluestheater.com.

Milwaukee Chamber Theatre (MCT) presents Ken Ludwig's classic farce LEND ME A TENOR, April 10-27, 2014. This production is a collaboration with the Marquette University Theatre Department with several students, alumni and faculty filling roles both onstage and on the creative team. Ken Ludwig's LEND ME A TENOR performs in the Broadway Theatre Center's Cabot Theatre in Milwaukee's Historic Third Ward.

The smash hit musical 'RENT' has sold out every show and is sold out this weekend, so they have added two new shows on Friday, March 28th and Saturday, March 29th, both shows starting at 8:00 p.m.

On Wednesday, March 12, violinist Philippe Quint was awarded the Ambassador of Arts Award at the 16th Anniversary Gala Banquet of the Gateways Organization celebrating The Brownstone Experience. The banquet, held in the Delegates Dining Room at the United Nations, was attended by distinguished elected officials, world business leaders, dignitaries and over 400 prominent guests, also honoring fashion designer Valentin Yudashkin and Virginie and Mark Cohen, CEOs of Stonehouse Capital Management. Unfortunately, Quint was not able to be present at the Award ceremony. On the way to the United Nations, Quint's taxi was hit by another vehicle running a red light and Quint had to be hospitalized. Fortunately there were no serious injuries and he is scheduled to appear next week with the Rhode Island Philharmonic.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts today announced national awardees of the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival. Individuals from across the United States are recognized for outstanding work from the eight regional festivals that were held January 7 through March 1, 2014. Selected awardees and representatives will be brought to Washington, D.C. for an expense-paid trip to participate in the 46th annual Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF), April 14-19, 2014.

If you think you've seen RENT before, you really haven't. The touring companies with adults in the lead roles never really worked for me. They all seemed too old and mature to be portraying what is basically a 'coming of age' story. That's where New Line Theatre's current production really gets it right, and why you have to check it out immediately. A very talented, enthusiastic, and youthful cast brings Jonathan Larson's (book, music and lyrics) work to life in vibrant, intimate fashion that makes you actually care about these characters and their situation. This is a must-see show, and I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Kicking off Horizon's 30th Anniversary season, blue collar collides with blue blood in the haves and have-nots comedy Elemeno Pea (pronounced L-M-N-O-P) by Molly Smith Metzler. A siblings' weekend on Martha's Vineyard goes awry when the younger sister's boss crashes the party. This three-ring circus send-up of the rich and their wannabe "help" finds both flying without a net.

When the ghosts of their past are unleashed, the residents of an exclusive retirement community must come to terms with lost love, triumphs, fears, and the choices that haunt and connect us all. This moving new play by award-winning local playwright Cyndi Williams, reminds us that the most important moments of our lives are often the ones that defy explanation.

Following a wildly successful Off Broadway run last Spring, The National Yiddish Theatre - Folksbiene's critically-acclaimed musical production 'The Megile of Itzik Manger' will return to Baruch Performing Arts Center for a two week limited engagement, March 2 - 16.

FRIGID New York presents a STRANGEDOG THEATRE production BASIC HELP written by Ben Clawson on Fri 21-Feb@8:40, Thur 27-Feb@5:30/Sat 1-Mar @6:50/Wed 5-Mar@10:15 - Night Owl Special!; and Sun 9-Mar @12:30 at UNDER St. Marks (94 St. Marks Place). The production is directed by Artem Yatsunov (Bootstraps, The Virilogy, Claire Went To France) with Assistant Director Michael Joel and will feature Megan Greener (The Pearl, Secret Theatre) and Gavin Earl Johnson. Press Photography by Rebecca Bickley, Original Art Work by Michelle Lupo, Graphic Design by Lindsey Yadon. Assistant Director Michael Joel. The production is Stage Managed by Rachael Tucker.