Martin E. Segal News

Iraq Veterans Playwright Workshop presents Returns, Written by Joshua Casteel (USA) and Directed by David Gothard (UK) Post-reading discussion with Emily Mann (USA) + others Join us for a reading of Returns: A Meditation in Post-Trauma, written by former Abu Ghraib interrogator turned conscientious objector Joshua Casteel (USA) and directed by David Gothard (UK).

Iraq Veterans Playwright Workshop presents Returns, Written by Joshua Casteel (USA) and Directed by David Gothard (UK) Post-reading discussion with Emily Mann (USA) + others Join us for a reading of Returns: A Meditation in Post-Trauma, written by former Abu Ghraib interrogator turned conscientious objector Joshua Casteel (USA) and directed by David Gothard (UK).

Join the members of the Martin E. Segal Theatre for a two-day celebration of The Living Theatre, including screenings of work, documentaries, panel discussions, staged readings, and more. Invited participants include: Thomas Walker, Alisa Solomon, Carlo Altomare, Kenneth Brown, Joan MacIntosh, Cyndy Rosenthal, Marvin Carlson, and David Savran. The event will cuminate in the presentation of the Edwin Booth Award by the Doctoral Theatre Students Association to Judith Malina.

U.S. PREMIERE FOR 'BAGHDADI BATH' BY JAWAD AL-ASSADI, LEADING EXPATRIATE PLAYWRIGHT OF IRAQ In a Turkish bath in Baghdad, two brothers reveal the everyday horror of surviving in a war zone. Zishan Ugurlu directs. From March 12 to 15, La MaMa E.T.C., in association with Actors without Borders-ITONY, will present the U.S. premiere of 'Baghdadi Bath' by Jawad al-Assadi, Iraq's best-known playwright and recipient of the Prince Claus Award for his dedication to freedom of cultural expression.

On March 12, 2009 at 7:00 p.m., The Collegiate Chorale appears with The New York City Opera Orchestra at the newly renovated Alice Tully Hall in a performance of Kurt Weill and Ira Gershwin's 1945 Broadway operetta The Firebrand of Florence. The performance, led by guest conductor Ted Sperling, stars baritone Nathan Gunn, soprano Anna Christy, baritone Terrence Mann, and soprano Victoria Clark. Krysty Swann, David Pittu and Patrick Goss complete the cast, and narration will be provided by Stage Director Roger Rees. Boasting a score by Kurt Weill, lyrics by Ira Gershwin, and a book by playwright and screenwriter Edwin Justus Mayer, The Firebrand of Florence had a short run on Broadway in 1945. The work was subsequently not heard for over a half-century until three presentations - Ohio Light Opera (1999), the BBC Symphony Orchestra in London (2000) and the Radio Symphony Orchestra in Vienna (2000) - shed new light on the relatively obscure work. The performances were not only accepted, but widely acclaimed, thus giving hope for a new life in a new century. Variety's theater critic Steven Suskin says 'I have long believed that Firebrand in concert should be a dazzling delight.' Benvenuto Cellini, the great Florentine artist, is sentenced to hang, but he is pardoned when the duke realizes that he has not completed a previously commissioned sculpture. Freed, he is able to turn his attention to his favorite model (and object of his affections), Angela. The Duke also is interested in Angela. In a typical operetta plot, Cellini swashbuckles around the stage, keeping the Duke away from Angela, keeping himself away from the Duchess, and escaping yet another death sentence by fleeing to Paris, as the end of the show recapitulates the beginning.

An Evening with Iraqi playwright JAWAD AL ASSADI excerpts from his play Baghdadi Bath Directed by Zishan Ugurlu Translated by Robert Myers Discussion with Marvin Carlson Attend an evening with Jawad Al Assadi, Iraq's best-known playwright. The evening will feature excerpted readings from his play Baghdadi Bath, followed by a discussion with Jawad Al Assadi, Ph.D., Professor Marvin Carlson (The Graduate Center, CUNY), Baghdadi Bath translator Robert Myers, Ph.D., and director Zishan Ugurlu, (Ph.D., The New School). Al Assadi is the recipient of the Prince Claus Award for his dedication to freedom of cultural expression. Baghdadi Bath will have its US premiere at La MaMa E.T.C. March 12-15, 2009.

An Evening with Iraqi playwright JAWAD AL ASSADI excerpts from his play Baghdadi Bath Directed by Zishan Ugurlu Translated by Robert Myers Discussion with Marvin Carlson Attend an evening with Jawad Al Assadi, Iraq's best-known playwright. The evening will feature excerpted readings from his play Baghdadi Bath, followed by a discussion with Jawad Al Assadi, Ph.D., Professor Marvin Carlson (The Graduate Center, CUNY), Baghdadi Bath translator Robert Myers, Ph.D., and director Zishan Ugurlu, (Ph.D., The New School). Al Assadi is the recipient of the Prince Claus Award for his dedication to freedom of cultural expression. Baghdadi Bath will have its US premiere at La MaMa E.T.C. March 12-15, 2009.

John Treacy Egan ('Little Mermaid'), Alison Fraser ('Gypsy'), Kate Shindle ('Legally Blonde'), Amy Justman ('Company'), John Bolton ('Curtains') and Jim Weitzer ('Phantom of the Opera') -- will perform the new musical EINSTEIN'S DREAMS, based on Lightman's best-selling novel, for one performance only on Monday, February 23 at 7:30 p.m. at Symphony Space (2537 Broadway at 95th St.) in New York City.

Best-selling author Alan Lightman will be on hand to introduce the cast of Broadway stars -- including John Treacy Egan ('Little Mermaid'), Alison Fraser ('Gypsy'), Kate Shindle ('Legally Blonde'), Amy Justman ('Company'), John Bolton ('Curtains') and Jim Weitzer ('Phantom of the Opera') -- who will perform the new musical EINSTEIN'S DREAMS, based on Lightman's best-selling novel, for one performance only on Monday, February 23 at 7:30 p.m. at Symphony Space (2537 Broadway at 95th St.) in New York City.

Best-selling author Alan Lightman will be on hand to introduce the cast of Broadway stars -- including John Treacy Egan ('Little Mermaid'), Alison Fraser ('Gypsy'), Kate Shindle ('Legally Blonde'), Amy Justman ('Company'), John Bolton ('Curtains') and Jim Weitzer ('Phantom of the Opera') -- who will perform the new musical EINSTEIN'S DREAMS, based on Lightman's best-selling novel, for one performance only on Monday, February 23 at 7:30 p.m. at Symphony Space (2537 Broadway at 95th St.) in New York City.

U.S. PREMIERE FOR 'BAGHDADI BATH' BY JAWAD AL-ASSADI, LEADING EXPATRIATE PLAYWRIGHT OF IRAQ In a Turkish bath in Baghdad, two brothers reveal the everyday horror of surviving in a war zone. Zishan Ugurlu directs. From March 12 to 15, La MaMa E.T.C., in association with Actors without Borders-ITONY, will present the U.S. premiere of 'Baghdadi Bath' by Jawad al-Assadi, Iraq's best-known playwright and recipient of the Prince Claus Award for his dedication to freedom of cultural expression.

The conference will focus on a wide range of contemporary works for theatre and performance, viewing historical memory, legacy and r/evolutionary art from a variety of formal perspective.

Join us as we celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Broadway premiere of FOUR SAINTS IN THREE ACTS, written by the creative genius Gertrude Stein and the inimitable Virgil Thomson, presented in collaboration with Nancy Rhodes (Artistic Director, Encompass New Opera Theatre), poet and librettist Karren Alenier, and the CUNY Ph.D. Program in Music. Four Saints in Three Acts holds a unique place in the American avant-garde opera of the 20th century. It will be honored in a daylong event by leading scholars and practitioners in the field of avant-garde literature and performance, with a screening and discussions. The highlight of the celebration is a staged oratorio version of Four Saints in Three Acts prepared by Virgil Thomson himself, directed by Nancy Rhodes, and presented by Encompass New Opera Theatre, with 8 principles, a 24-member chorus, 3 dancers, and a 16 piece orchestra conducted by Mara Waldman.

The conference will focus on a wide range of contemporary works for theatre and performance, viewing historical memory, legacy and r/evolutionary art from a variety of formal perspective.

Japan Society continues its electrifying 2008-09 Performing Arts Season with the North American debut tour of chelfitsch Theater Company: Five Days in March, as part of the current season theme Beyond Boundaries: Genre-Bending Mavericks. This season's theme examinesartists and performances that expand the borders of conventional performing arts whether melding newtechnologies with age-old techniques, marrying the classical with the ultra-modern, weaving texts intodance and the fabric of space itself, or lacing stunning visual effects of light, video and design into liveperformance.

Take a look inside Urwintore theatre company's world-renowned production of Peter Weiss's The Investigation, directed by Dorcy Rugamba, Monday Feb 2 at 6:30 pm. The Investigation is a compelling reconstruction of the Frankfurt war crimes trials concerning the role of German citizens in the atrocities of Auschwitz. Performed in Kinyarwanda (with English subtitles), Weiss's 1965 play about the German Holocaust takes on universal power as it becomes a conceit for the horrifying genocide that destroyed Rwanda in 1994. Presented with the support of Peak Performances@Montclair State University (www.peakperfs.org). Full production at MSU's Alexander Kasser Theater February 5-8, 2009.

Take a look inside Urwintore theatre company's world-renowned production of Peter Weiss's The Investigation, directed by Dorcy Rugamba, Monday Feb 2 at 6:30 pm. The Investigation is a compelling reconstruction of the Frankfurt war crimes trials concerning the role of German citizens in the atrocities of Auschwitz. Performed in Kinyarwanda (with English subtitles), Weiss's 1965 play about the German Holocaust takes on universal power as it becomes a conceit for the horrifying genocide that destroyed Rwanda in 1994. Presented with the support of Peak Performances@Montclair State University (www.peakperfs.org). Full production at MSU's Alexander Kasser Theater February 5-8, 2009.

On March 12, 2009 at 7:00 p.m., The Collegiate Chorale appears with The New York City Opera Orchestra at the newly renovated Alice Tully Hall in a performance of Kurt Weill and Ira Gershwin's 1945 Broadway operetta The Firebrand of Florence. The performance, led by guest conductor Ted Sperling, stars baritone Nathan Gunn, soprano Anna Christy, baritone Terrence Mann, and soprano Victoria Clark. Krysty Swann, David Pittu and Patrick Goss complete the cast, and narration will be provided by Stage Director Roger Rees. Boasting a score by Kurt Weill, lyrics by Ira Gershwin, and a book by playwright and screenwriter Edwin Justus Mayer, The Firebrand of Florence had a short run on Broadway in 1945. The work was subsequently not heard for over a half-century until three presentations - Ohio Light Opera (1999), the BBC Symphony Orchestra in London (2000) and the Radio Symphony Orchestra in Vienna (2000) - shed new light on the relatively obscure work. The performances were not only accepted, but widely acclaimed, thus giving hope for a new life in a new century. Variety's theater critic Steven Suskin says 'I have long believed that Firebrand in concert should be a dazzling delight.' Benvenuto Cellini, the great Florentine artist, is sentenced to hang, but he is pardoned when the duke realizes that he has not completed a previously commissioned sculpture. Freed, he is able to turn his attention to his favorite model (and object of his affections), Angela. The Duke also is interested in Angela. In a typical operetta plot, Cellini swashbuckles around the stage, keeping the Duke away from Angela, keeping himself away from the Duchess, and escaping yet another death sentence by fleeing to Paris, as the end of the show recapitulates the beginning.

Broadway stars John Treacy Egan ('Little Mermaid'), Gregg Edelman ('Into the Woods,' 'Passion'), Alison Fraser ('Gypsy') and Kate Shindle ('Legally Blonde') will be featured in the cast at a benefit concert performance of the new musical EINSTEIN'S DREAMS-- based on Alan Lightman's best-selling novel -- for one performance only on Monday, February 23 at 7:30 p.m. at Symphony Space (2537 Broadway at 95th St.) in New York City.

The American Theatre Wing's 'Working in the Theatre' will feature '99 and Under' on CUNY TV on Sunday, December 7 at 5 p.m. The segment will repeat on Friday, December 12 at 9 a.m., 2 and 7:30 p.m., and Saturday, December 13 at 11 a.m. The program becomes available as streaming audio and podcast from www.americantheatrewing.org beginning Wednesday, December 10.