Molly Smith News

On Saturday evening, October 8th, at The Peabody Hotel, The Orpheum Theatre will pull out all the stops for the can't miss event of the season, the 'Hockadoo Hullabaloo', celebrating the international tour launch of the Tony Award winning MEMPHIS and arrival of the show's producers, cast, and creative team.

E.Faye Butler shines in pivotal role in this tale of racism and stereotypes in the theater

My Fair Lady and Oklahoma!, directed by Molly Smith, Artistic Director of Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theatre, are both enjoying record-breaking shows in North America at the same time. Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma! at her home theatre in D.C. and My Fair Lady in the 50th season of the Shaw Festival at Niagara-on-the-Lake.

The Eugene O?Neill Theater Center is now accepting scripts for development during the 2012 National Playwrights Conference.

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater kicks off the second year of programming in the company's new home with the 2011/12 Season Opening Celebration September 15, 2011. The evening, which benefits Arena Stage's Community Engagement and educational programs, will include cocktails and dinner featuring the presentation of the American Artist Award to Tony and Emmy award-winning actress Leslie Uggams, followed by the highly anticipated season opening performance of Trouble in Mind by Alice Childress in the Kreeger Theater.

Artistic Director of Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater Molly Smith finds herself with two record-breaking shows in North America at the same time: Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma! at her home theater in D.C. and My Fair Lady in the 50th season of the Shaw Festival at Niagara-on-the-Lake.

In her smart comedy The Book Club Play, D.C.-area playwright Karen Zacarías examines the intricacies of book clubs, with their unspoken rules, high-spirited debates and strong bonds formed when least expected. With an ensemble cast featuring Fred Arsenault, Ashlie Atkinson, Rachael Holmes, Eric Messner, Kate Eastwood Norris and Tom Story, this is Zacarías' second collaboration with Director Molly Smith at Arena Stage and is the first work of a Resident Playwright to be produced as part of their three-year residencies through the American Voices New Play Institute. The Book Club Play runs October 7-November 6, 2011 in the Arlene and Robert Kogod Cradle.

The Manhattan Theatre Club has announced full casting for the upcoming world premiere of CLOSE UP SPACE by Molly Smith Metzler, directed by Leigh Silverman. Joining the cast is Academy Award & Emmy Award nominee Rosie Perez (Fearless, The Ritz) as famous author 'Vanessa Finn Adams.' Completing the cast are Jessica DiGiovanni (Off-Broadway Debut) and Colby Minifie (The Pillowman, Landscape of the Body) as well as already announced Tony Award and four-time Emmy Award winner David Hyde Pierce ('Frasier', Curtains) and Obie Award winner Michael Chernus (The Aliens, In The Wake).

New York City Center will reopen following a historic renovation and modernization with a star-studded gala on October 25. The event will kick off a celebratory season of new and expanded programming, festivals, exhibits, a special commission, and performances by world-class dance and theater companies. The renovation, designed by Ennead Architects, LLP (formerly Polshek Partnership), has transformed the landmark building into a contemporary cultural center complete with modern amenities and enhanced historic details, from the mezzanine lobby's painted ceiling and murals to the auditorium's arabesque dome. City Center is located on 55th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues.

Lynne Meadow (Artistic Director), Barry Grove (Executive Producer) and Mandy Greenfield (Artistic Producer) announce the complete 2011-2012 theatrical season of six productions including the news that REGRETS, a new play by rising young British playwright Matt Charman will have its world premiere in spring 2012 at MTC at New York City Center - Stage I (131 West 55th Street).

Tony and Emmy Award-winning actor David Hyde Pierce has been cast in the Vineyard Theatre's Developmental Lab Production of THE LANDING (previously titled 'Andra') -- a collection of three related one-act musicals written by the celebrated composer John Kander and his new collaborator, Greg Pierce - to be directed by Scott Ellis, with David Loud as musical director, it has been announced by artistic director Douglas Aibel and co-artistic director Sarah Stern. THE LANDING will be presented in the spring of 2012 at The Vineyard (108 E. 15 St.).

Shattering even more records, Arena Stage's production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma! has been seen by 100,000 people and counting, including seats filled and tickets sold for both engagements of the critically acclaimed production.

Shattering even more records, Arena Stage's production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma! has been seen by 100,000 people and counting, including seats filled and tickets sold for both engagements of the critically acclaimed production. Now in its final weeks, this is the last chance to catch the 2010 Helen Hayes Outstanding Resident Musical, which must close October 2, 2011.

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater kicks off the second year of programming in the company's new home with the 2011/12 Season Opening Celebration September 15, 2011. The evening, which benefits Arena Stage's Community Engagement and educational programs, will include cocktails and dinner featuring the presentation of the American Artist Award to Tony and Emmy award-winning actress Leslie Uggams, followed by the highly anticipated season opening performance of Trouble in Mind by Alice Childress in the Kreeger Theater.

Moving into the second season in its expanded campus, Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater has updated the culinary options available to patrons in the venue. The upper lobby-level dining area has become Catwalk Café. This casual self-service café, along with its adjoining bar and the main lobby-level concessions, will continue to be operated by Ridgewells Catering, who ran the café launched during the inaugural season in the Mead Center: Next Stage Café by José Andrés.

Ars Nova (Jason Eagan, Artistic Director; Jeremy Blocker, Managing Director) is now accepting applications for Play Group, a vibrant and eclectic group of emerging writers who gather twice a month at Ars Nova to share new work and get peer feedback. The group offers members the chance to develop their plays with peer support; to be inspired by each otherʼs work; to form collaborative relationships; and to build a strong sense of community within Ars Nova. All emerging playwrights are eligible for membership.

Lynne Meadow (Artistic Director), Barry Grove (Executive Producer), and Mandy Greenfield (Artistic Producer) announced additional casting and creative team members for the upcoming Manhattan Theatre Club world premiere productions of WE LIVE HERE by Zoe Kazan and CLOSE UP SPACE by Molly Smith Metzler, at New York City Center - Stage I (131 West 55th Street).

Brilliant move by Artistic Director Molly Smith to revivie classical musical through October 2, 2011

Artistic Directors Vivienne Benesch and Ethan McSweeny are pleased to announce the four writers at the center of CTC's new play development work in Summer 2011: Kate Fodor will be in residence as the very first recipient of the Chautauqua Play Commission. Her residency will correspond with the New Play Workshop Festival that will feature fully staged readings of plays by Michael Golamco, Michael Mitnick and Molly Smith Metzler.

E. Faye Butler, who portrays Aunt Eller in the summer revival of Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater's acclaimed and record-setting production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma!, will transition out of her Helen Hayes-nominated role to begin rehearsals for Arena Stage's 2011/12 season opening play Trouble in Mind. Butler will be replaced by Terry Burrell, who was last at Arena Stage in the 2007/08 world-premiere musical The Women of Brewster Place. Burrell joins the Oklahoma! company August 2, and her first performance will be August 9. Burrell was 'lovely and heartbreaking...spellbinding' in Signature Theatre's Show Boat (TalkinBroadway.com), and will be a strong addition to the cast.