Mike Donahue News

Playhouse Live has released Page to Stage: Little Shop of Horrors, taking fans behind the scenes of the production that ran at Pasadena Playhouse last year.

Weston Playhouse Theatre Company is launching its Reimagined 2020 Season with the online premiere of ONE ROOM, the first project in its new works initiative, Weston Writers.

Building on over 40 years of producing powerful contemporary theatre, Studio Theatre is pleased to announce its largest class ever of commissioned artists to Studio R&D, its incubator to support the creation of new work.

Building on over 40 years of producing powerful contemporary theatre, Studio Theatre is pleased to announce its largest class ever of commissioned artists to Studio R&D, its incubator to support the creation of new work. Studio will award grants to 10 artists-playwrights, directors, and multidisciplinary creators-investing in its future while supporting theatre-makers and expanding the idea of what it means to be a generative artist. For the first time, Studio R&D commissions are being awarded to support the creation of audio plays, as Studio explores alternate modes of theatrical storytelling in response to the present moment.

Written and performed in a time when hashtags such as #MeToo and #BelieveWomen exemplify the changing social dynamic, Kate Cortesi's new play, 'Love,' examines the uncertainties beyond the slogans by drawing and redrawing the unsteady lines of power dynamics related to gender and consent. 

While a??Marin Theatre Companya?? a??(MTC) a??regrets that public health measures around Covid-19 forceda?? Lovea?? to close two days after it opened, they are thrilled to offer audiences this nuanced and electrifying show on video. a??Tickets are on salea?? (https://www.marintheatre.org/productions/love)

As part of an ongoing commitment to serve the community, Baltimore Center Stage has announced that it has made the difficult but necessary decision to postpone Bakkhai, by Euripides, adapted by Anne Carson and directed by Mike Donahue. The production, which features original music by Diana Oh, and choreography by Willia Noel Montague was set to close the 2019/20 Season in May. It will now open the 2021/22 Season in September 2021.

Straight out of recent headlines of #metoo, Bill Cosby, Jeffrey Epstein and Harvey Weinstein comes the World Premiere of Kate Cortesi's Love, a clever, well-acted examination of sexual abuse from the perspective of abuser and victim that challenges the black and white image of right and wrong by adding in heavy shades of grey. The results are a thoughtful, yet perplexing look at the dynamics of sexual power politics.

Geffen Playhouse today announced six productions that will make up the 2020/2021 season in its Gil Cates and Audrey Skirball Kenis Theaters, with two additional productions to be announced. This marks the 25TH anniversary season for Geffen Playhouse, which will launch September 8, 2020, and run through July 25, 2021.

The Drama League (Artistic Director Gabriel Stelian-Shanks, Executive Director Bevin Ross) will present the 36th annual *DirectorFest, the only festival in the United States dedicated to the art of contemporary stage directing.

Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director/CEO) has announced the ninth annual Roundabout Underground Reading Series, a five-night event that includes nightly readings of new works written and directed by emerging artists, as well as post-show receptions. The Reading Series will feature new works by Benjamin Benne, Majkin Holmquist, Shayan Lotfi, Nick Mecikalski and Harrison David Rivers.

The Drama League (Artistic Director Gabriel Stelian-Shanks, Executive Director Bevin Ross) announced today the acting company for the 36th annual DirectorFest, the only festival in the United States dedicated to the art of contemporary stage directing. Directorfest will take place January 10 - February 4, 2020 at various locations around NYC: The New Ohio Theatre (154 Christopher Street), The Drama League Theater Center (32 Avenue of the Americas), LaGuardia Performing Arts Center (31-10 Thomson Avenue), and Joe's Pub (425 Lafayette Street). For festival details and tickets, visit directorfest.org or call (212) 244-9494 x102.

The Drama League announced today the 2020 line-up of DirectorFest: The 36th Annual Directors Festival, the only festival in the United States dedicated to the art of contemporary stage directing. For its 36th year, the festival will include six fully-staged productions, a showcase concert of a new musical, a town hall, and conversations with directors including 2017 Tony Award Winner Rebecca Taichman (Indecent), 2014 Tony Award Winner and 2010 Drama League Founders Award for Excellence in Directing Kenny Leon (A Soldier's Play), and Intimacy Director Claire Warden (HBO's Mrs. Fletcher).

MCC Theater announced today the line-up for their Fall 2019 PlayLabs readings of new plays to be held at The Newman Mills Theater at The Robert W. Wilson MCC Theater Space (511 West 52nd Street): Gina Femia's Allond(r)a, directed by Elena Araoz; Ana Nogueira's Mask Only, directed by Mike Donahue; C.A. Johnson's I Know I Know I Know, directed by Taylor Reynolds; and Brian Otaño's The Dust, directed by David Mendizábal.

BroadwayWorld has a first look at Pasadena Playhouse's Little Shop of Horrors which is now on stage through through October 20!

Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC), the theatrical Union that represents over 4,000 professional stage directors and choreographers kicks off their 4th season of Screen-to-Screen, an exclusive program for SDC Associate Members working in academia on October 7th.

At its core, the original production of LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS (and the movie adaptation it spawned) unabashedly celebrated its campy outlandishness. But unlike the original source material which was filled to the brim with sassy sight gags, cartoonish mannerisms, and pulp thrills, this new, gloriously reimagined production---now on stage at the Pasadena Playhouse through October 20, 2019 helmed by director Mike Donahue---feels much more grounded in reality and feels much more guided by the emotions of its characters, rather than have them just play second banana to the monstrous plant of excess vying for all the attention. With this pivoted focus, this incredible new production also now requires a cast of performers that can truly showcase that change---and, wow, did they ever find them in this brilliant ensemble!

Pasadena Playhouse's Little Shop of Horrors is now on stage through through October 20! Last night, George Salazar (Seymour) and Mj Rodriguez (Audrey) appeared on The Late Late Show where they performed Suddenly Seymour.

Pasadena Playhouse presents the cult classic musical Little Shop of Horrors starring George Salazar, Mj Rodriguez, and Amber Riley! Read the reviews!

Opening night of Little Shop of Horrors was celebrated last night at the Pasadena Playhouse. The production stars George Salazar as “Seymour Krelborn;” Mj Rodriguez as “Audrey;” Kevin Chamberlin, as “Mr. Mushnik;” Matthew Wilkas as “Orin Scrivello;” and Amber Riley as “Audrey ll.”