Michael Weller News

Dael Orlandersmith takes Chicago audiences on an electrifying journey through the spirit and soul of Harlem in her explosive solo piece Stoop Stories at Goodman Theatre. Hailed a 'triumph' (Washington City Paper) in its world premiere at Washington, D.C.'s Studio Theatre this past spring, Stoop Stories comes to Chicago directed by Obie Award-winner Jo Bonney.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) and Nothing to Lose Productions are proud to present present LIGHTER with Book, Music & Lyrics by Monica Bauer, Music Arrangements by Brent-Alan Huffman, choreography by DJ Salisbury, and directed by Craig J. George.

The Primary Stages School of Theater (PSST) has announced a newly created Master Class Series that was created to provide students the chance to gain rare insight and experience from some of the finest working professionals in the theater.

John Montgomery Theatre Company announces the World Premiere of Benny, a bold new play about adoption and identity by Suzanne Bachner presented as part of the Midtown International Theater Festival to run from July 16th through August 1st at The June Havoc Theatre, 312 West 36th Street, 1st Floor, New York City.

The Nederlander Theatre box office opens today, August 31 at 10:00 AM for THE NEIL SIMON PLAYS, the first Broadway revivals of BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS and BROADWAY BOUND. The box office will be open Monday through Saturday, from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM. The Nederlander Theatre is located at 208 West 41st Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues.

The Nederlander Theatre box office opens Monday, August 31 at 10:00 AM for THE NEIL SIMON PLAYS, the first Broadway revivals of BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS and BROADWAY BOUND. The box office will be open Monday through Saturday, from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM. The Nederlander Theatre is located at 208 West 41st Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues.

The website for THE NEIL SIMON PLAYS, the Broadway revivals of BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS and BROADWAY BOUND, is now live at www.TheNeilSimonPlays.com.

Dael Orlandersmith takes Chicago audiences on an electrifying journey through the spirit and soul of Harlem in her explosive solo piece Stoop Stories at Goodman Theatre. Hailed a 'triumph' (Washington City Paper) in its world premiere at Washington, D.C.'s Studio Theatre this past spring, Stoop Stories comes to Chicago directed by Obie Award-winner Jo Bonney.

Meet gossip columnists MR. & MRS. FITCH. When the social circuit no longer provides any scandalous news, they find that great celebrity can appear out of thin air. Tony Award nominee Douglas Carter Beane's wicked new comedy is a scathing look at who is in, who is out and who may not even exist at all.

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director) will launch its 31st season this fall with the New York premiere of Anna Deavere Smith's LET ME DOWN EASY. Conceived, written, and performed by Ms. Smith and directed by Leonard Foglia, LET ME DOWN EASY will begin preview performances on Tuesday, September 15 and will officially open on Wednesday, October 7 at 6:45pm.

The New School for Drama has announced that the award-winning playwright Jon Robin Baitz will be the distinguished artist-in-residence for the 2009-2010 academic year. Baitz is a Pulitzer finalist, a Guggenheim and NEA fellow, and winner of an American Academy of Arts and Letters Award. A founding member and former artistic director of New York's Naked Angels theater company, Baitz has written a number of acclaimed plays, including The Film Society, The Substance of Fire, Three Hotels, A Fair Country, Ten Unknowns, Mizlansky/Zilinsky, a new version of Ibsen's Hedda Gabler (produced on Broadway in 2001), and The Paris Letter. Playwrights Horizons, the Roundabout Theatre Company, Lincoln Center Theater, and the Second Stage Theatre have produced Baitz's work in New York. His new play, Love and Mercy, will be produced next season on Broadway.

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director; Ellen Richard, Executive Director) will conclude its 30th Anniversary mainstage season with the New York premiere of VANITIES, a new musical written by Jack Heifner, featuring music and lyrics by David Kirshenbaum, directed by Judith Ivey. With musical staging by Dan Knechtges, VANITIES will feature Lauren Kennedy, Sarah Stiles, and Anneliese van der Pol and will begin preview performances on Thursday, July 2. Opening night is Thursday, July 16 at 6:30pm

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director; Ellen Richard, Executive Director) concludes its 30th Anniversary mainstage season with the New York premiere of VANITIES, a new musical written by Jack Heifner, featuring music and lyrics by David Kirshenbaum, directed by Judith Ivey. With musical staging by Dan Knechtges, VANITIES features Lauren Kennedy, Sarah Stiles, and Anneliese van der Pol.

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director; Ellen Richard, Executive Director) will conclude its 30th Anniversary mainstage season with the New York premiere of VANITIES, a new musical written by Jack Heifner, featuring music and lyrics by David Kirshenbaum, directed by Judith Ivey. With musical staging by Dan Knechtges, VANITIES will feature Lauren Kennedy, Sarah Stiles, and Anneliese van der Pol and will begin preview performances on Thursday, July 2. Opening night is Thursday, July 16 at 6:30pm

John Montgomery Theatre Company announces the World Premiere of Benny, a bold new play about adoption and identity by Suzanne Bachner presented as part of the Midtown International Theater Festival to run from July 16th through August 1st at The June Havoc Theatre, 312 West 36th Street, 1st Floor, New York City.

John Montgomery Theatre Company announces the World Premiere of Benny, a bold new play about adoption and identity by Suzanne Bachner presented as part of the Midtown International Theater Festival to run from July 16th through August 1st at The June Havoc Theatre, 312 West 36th Street, 1st Floor, New York City.

The goal of the Contemporary American Theater Festival (CATF) at Shepherd University is to create dialogue. In addition to five fresh, new American plays, the 2009 Festival will include visual arts exhibitions from Jodi Patterson and Alison Helm.

John Montgomery Theatre Company announces the World Premiere of Benny, a bold new play about adoption and identity by Suzanne Bachner presented as part of the Midtown International Theater Festival to run from July 16th through August 1st at The June Havoc Theatre, 312 West 36th Street, 1st Floor, New York City.

The Contemporary American Theater Festival (CATF) is pleased to announce their 2009 lineup of new plays. 'The addition of a fifth play during our last season was very well received,' stated Ed Herendeen, CATF Founder and Producing Director.

The Contemporary American Theater Festival (CATF) at Shepherd University will run from July 8 through August 2, with five powerful plays and humanities events that create dialogue within the community. This year, their popular lecture series will feature special guests discussing issues raised by the plays.