Molly Smith News

The American Repertory Theater/Moscow Art Theater School Institute for Advanced Theater Training announced today the productions for the 2013/14 Season.

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater announces the full company for Charles Randolph-Wright's world premiere drama Love in Afghanistan. Randolph-Wright, a Resident Playwright through Arena Stage's American Voices New Play Institute and director of Motown the Musical currently on Broadway, joins forces with director Lucie Tiberghien (MCC Theater's Don't Go Gentle) to bring to life the tale of two fantastically different people discovering love in the most unlikely of places: war-torn Afghanistan. One, an emerging hip-hop artist, the other, a high-level Afghan interpreter, both fight to navigate the pitfalls of romance, religious differences and political unrest. Love in Afghanistan runs tonight, October 11-November 17, 2013 in the Arlene and Robert Kogod Cradle.

Redtwist Theatre announces its complete line-up for 2013-2014 Season, which includes 15 productions, all at its black box, storefront location, in the Bryn Mawr Historic District of Chicago's Edgewater neighborhood. The complete season includes 7 Chicago premieres and 4 world premieres.

Star of stage and screen Maurice Hines returns to D.C. to teach a free master class at Howard University and hold open dance auditions at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater to connect with the D.C.-area dance community and search for the next young tap star to appear in Arena Stage's Maurice Hines is Tappin' Thru Life, running November 15-December 29, 2013 in the Kreeger Theater.

Slate's Emily Yoffe, author of the advice column, "Dear Prudence," joins Laura Helmuth, Slate's science and health editor, as they take audience questions and discuss many of the personal and social implications presented in The Velocity of Autumn during Family Matters: A Conversation with Emily Yoffe and Laura Helmuth, Saturday, October 12 following the 2:00 p.m. matinee, at approximately 3:45 p.m. in the Kreeger Theater at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater (1101 Sixth St, SW). The event is free and open to the public, but subject to availability.

Artistic Director Molly Smith announced today, playwright Lydia R. Diamond, whose impressive body of work includes Stick Fly, Voyeurs de Venus, The Bluest Eye and The Gift Horse, among others, will become a resident playwright as part of the American Voices New Play Institute at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater. Diamond's yearlong residency will begin Tuesday, October 1, 2013.

The American Repertory Theater/Moscow Art Theater School Institute for Advanced Theater Training announced today the productions for the 2013/14 Season.

The Velocity of Autumn, a new two-character play from Cleveland-based playwright Eric Coble, opened last night at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater under the direction of Artistic Director Molly Smith and by special arrangement with HOP Theatricals, LLC. Check out a look back at the opening night festivities and arrivals below!

The Velocity of Autumn, a new two-character play from Cleveland-based playwright Eric Coble, is now running atArena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater under the direction of Artistic Director Molly Smith and by special arrangement with HOP Theatricals, LLC. Check out a first look at highlights of the show below!

If you disregard the Molotov cocktails which litter the set, then The Velocity of Autumn is a poignant comedy about a situation countless theatergoers can relate to. And yet the explosives that surround the set in Arena Stage's production of Eric Coble's terrific new play are symbolic reminders about just how hard the human spirit will fight to retain freedom, even as the human body confines us to a different fate.

With the official opening of Eric Coble's dangerous new play The Velocity of Autumn tonight, September 18 at 8:00 p.m. at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater, the occasion marks Artistic Director Molly Smith's 25th project to direct for Arena Stage and is the first of three projects she will direct in the 2013/14 season, including Kathleen Turner in Mother Courage and Her Children and the world premiere of Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Lawrence Wright's Camp David.Building on 15 years with the company, Smith is steadfast in her focus on American plays and artists.

Joining the cast of Mother Courage and Her Children are Arena Stage veterans Rick Foucheux (Ah, Wilderness!), Meg Gillentine (Cabaret, Damn Yankees) and Nehal Joshi (The Music Man, Oklahoma!). They join the previously announced Kathleen Turner, Nicholas Rodriguez and Erin Weaver. Under the direction of Arena Stage Artistic Director Molly Smith, Mother Courage and Her Children runs January 31-March 9, 2014 in the Fichandler Stage.

Before rehearsals began, Education Dramaturg Ted Sod asked playwright Joshua Harmon to discuss his work on Bad Jews.

The world premiere of LOVE IN AFGHANISTAN began rehearsals at Arena Stage on Tuesday, September 10. Get a sneak peek at the cast in action below, along with Resident Playwright Charles Randolph-Wright and director Lucie Tiberghien!

The Velocity of Autumn, a new two-character play from Cleveland-based playwright Eric Coble, is now running at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater under the direction of Artistic Director Molly Smith and by special arrangement with HOP Theatricals, LLC. Check out a first look at the production shots below!

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater announces the full company for Charles Randolph-Wright's world premiere drama Love in Afghanistan. Randolph-Wright, a Resident Playwright through Arena Stage's American Voices New Play Institute and director of Motown the Musical currently on Broadway, joins forces with director Lucie Tiberghien (MCC Theater's Don't Go Gentle) to bring to life the tale of two fantastically different people discovering love in the most unlikely of places: war-torn Afghanistan. One, an emerging hip-hop artist, the other, a high-level Afghan interpreter, both fight to navigate the pitfalls of romance, religious differences and political unrest. Love in Afghanistan runs October 11-November 17, 2013 in the Arlene and Robert Kogod Cradle.

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater announces the full company for Charles Randolph-Wright's world premiere drama Love in Afghanistan. Randolph-Wright, a Resident Playwright through Arena Stage's American Voices New Play Institute and director of Motown the Musical currently on Broadway, joins forces with director Lucie Tiberghien (MCC Theater's Don't Go Gentle) to bring to life the tale of two fantastically different people discovering love in the most unlikely of places: war-torn Afghanistan. One, an emerging hip-hop artist, the other, a high-level Afghan interpreter, both fight to navigate the pitfalls of romance, religious differences and political unrest. Love in Afghanistan runs October 11-November 17, 2013 in the Arlene and Robert Kogod Cradle.

The Velocity of Autumn, a new two-character play from Cleveland-based playwright Eric Coble, opens at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater under the direction of Artistic Director Molly Smith and by special arrangement with HOP Theatricals, LLC.

Redtwist Theatre announces its complete line-up for 2013-2014 Season, which includes 15 productions, all at its black box, storefront location, in the Bryn Mawr Historic District of Chicago's Edgewater neighborhood. The complete season includes 7 Chicago premieres and 4 world premieres.

The NATIONAL NEW PLAY NETWORK (NNPN), the country's alliance of non-profit theaters that champions the development, production, and continued life of new plays, announces three new At Large Board Members: Mark Bly, Gary Heisserer, and Manny Strauss will join the thirty-two member Board of Directors effective immediately.