Melissa Hall News

Playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins has won the 2025 Harold and Mimi Steinberg/American Theatre Critics Association New Play Award for his play Purpose. Learn more here!

The American Theatre Critics and Journalists Association has revealed six finalists for the 2025 Harold and Mimi Steinberg/ATCA New Play Award, recognizing the playwrights who produced the best scripts that premiered professionally outside of New York City in 2024.

HAIR is not your typical linear, point A to point B musical. It roughly ambles through vignettes of the members of a “tribe” of hippies in New York City. And yet, HAIR is as important as it is subversive. Without it, shows such as RENT, ANGELS IN AMERICA, and HAMILTON probably wouldn’t stand a chance to make it to Broadway.

Playwright Lloyd Suh has won the 2024 Harold and Mimi Steinberg/American Theatre Critics Association New Play Award for his play The Heart Sellers.

Learn about the finalists for the 2024 Steinberg-ATCA New Play Award, announced by the American Theatre Critics Association.

​​​​​​​TheatreSquared's A Christmas Carol—a beloved Northwest Arkansas tradition that debuted with the company's new building in 2019—will return to the stage December 1 and continue performances through Christmas Eve. Adapted by T2 co-founders Amy Herzberg and Robert Ford, the inventive, magic-filled T2 original production is directed by Herzberg and associate director Bryce Kemph.

Makasha Copeland has won the American Theatre Critics Association’s (ATCA) 2022 M. Elizabeth Osborn Award for their play “Extreme Home Makeover.” 

Playwright Chiara Atik has won the 2022 Harold and Mimi Steinberg / American Theatre Critics Association New Play Award for their play “Poor Clare.”

The American Theatre Critics Association (ATCA) has selected five finalists for the Harold and Mimi Steinberg/ATCA New Play Award, recognizing playwrights of the best scripts that premiered professionally outside of New York City in 2021.

The third year of the record-breaking North American Tour of Dear Evan Hansen relaunched on December 7, 2021 in Greensboro, North Carolina. The tour will stop by more than 30 cities across the US and Canada in the 2021/2022 season.

Playwright J. Nicole Brooks has won the 2021 Harold and Mimi Steinberg / American Theatre Critics Association New Play Award for their play “Her Honor, Jane Byrne.”

Douglas Williams has won the American Theatre Critics Association's 2021 M. Elizabeth Osborn Award for his play “SHIP.” Given by ATCA in memory of critic, director, educator and new play advocate M. Elizabeth “Betty” Osborn (1941-1993), the prize recognizes the work of a playwright who has not yet received a major production, such as a Broadway or Off-Broadway engagement, or received any other major national awards.

Mary Poppins: The Broadway Musical is presented by The Freeland Center in the most delightful way! This nostalgic walk in the park features iconic musical numbers in the most classic of Disney productions. Patrons go fly a kite and make up silly words with Mary the Magical Nanny in this lovely production in Bristow, Oklahoma.

The American Theatre Critics Association has selected five finalists for the Harold and Mimi Steinberg/American Theatre Critics Association New Play Award, recognizing playwrights for the best scripts that premiered professionally outside New York City during 2020.

Playwright E.M. Lewis is the 2020 recipient of the Harold and Mimi Steinberg / American Theatre Critics Association New Play Award.

We asked our staff and critics around the country what their favorite films are - if you're in need of something to watch, check out some of their suggestions below!

Though theatre seasons around the country were cut short, we wanted to celebrate the theatre that our critics did get to see before things shut down. We asked them for their favorite show they saw this season. Check out their replies below!

The American Theatre Critics Association (ATCA) has selected six finalists for the Harold and Mimi Steinberg / American Theatre Critics Association 2020 New Play Award, recognizing playwrights for the best scripts that premiered professionally outside New York City during 2019.

After a sold out run of The Sleepy Hollow Experience last fall, Brian Clowdus is back to produce the first Broadway musical at Sugarloaf Mountain Amphitheatre in over 25 years. Things will be heating up as Chillicothe transforms into the islands of Greece with the most immersive ABBA musical experience audiences have ever witnessed. Betsy Padamonksy from the Broadway National Tour of MAMMA MIA! headlines as Donna. Follow her and her friends as they take a trip down memory lane to discover the winner takes it all in the end and sometimes life forces you to stand up and embrace your inner dancing queen!

"Cambodian Rock Band" by Lauren Yee has been named the winner of the Harold and Mimi Steinberg/American Theatre Critics Association New Play Award, recognizing playwrights for the best scripts that premiered professionally outside New York City during 2018.