Murray Mednick News

When is it time to give up the keys? Get ready for the laughter-through-tears magic that is Last Call by Anne Kenney.

When is it time to give up the keys? Get ready for the laughter-through-tears magic that is Last Call by Anne Kenney.

The Urban Stages' Retrospective (October 11- November 10) will feature ten plays from the past three decades. In addition, there will be a special musical evening celebrating selections from past Urban Stages' musicals on November 5 and two family-friendly shows that have toured schools and libraries via Urban Stages' Outreach.

There are plays that tell a story and there are plays that ponder ideas. Murray Mednick's latest world premiere MAYAKOVSKY AND STALIN is the latter, an intellectual dissection of two Russian revolutionaries who were as integral to Eastern European history as beets are to borscht. But in Mednick's drama it is their thoughts that are under the microscope, or what he imagines their thoughts to be, rather than their actions. For, as his Chorus (Max Faugno) reminds us, "We know next to nothing of the past."

Two love stories. Two suicides. Padua Playwrights presents the world premiere of Mayakovsky and Stalin, written and directed by legendary poet/playwright Murray Mednick (The Gary Plays), opening at the Lounge Theatre on July 21.

Actress Laura Liguori takes on the role of a Russian poet's enigmatic muse in a true life story of 1930s Russia in the play MAYAKOVSKY AND STALIN will premiere at 8 p.m. on July 21 at the Lounge Theatre, 6201 Santa Monica Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90038. It will run through Aug. 19.

Two love stories. Two suicides. Padua Playwrights presents the world premiere of Mayakovsky and Stalin, written and directed by legendary poet/playwright Murray Mednick (The Gary Plays), opening at the Lounge Theatre on July 21.

Urban Stages' Board of Directors and founding artistic director Frances Hill will celebrate 'The Magic of Theater by presenting the 2017 Lifetime Achievement Award to legendary actor Jim Date at their Gala Benefit.   The event will be held at the Boathouse in Central Park at 6:30PM on May 14, 2018. The award will be presented by stage and screen star Simon Jones (Farinelli and the King, The Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy).

Urban Stages (Frances Hill, Founding Artistic Director), will close its 34th season with the New York Premiere of Sean Christopher Lewis's DOGS OF RWANDA, directed by Frances Hill and Peter Napolitano. This limited engagement at Urban Stages (259 West 30th Street), begins performances on Friday, March 9, opens on Monday, March 12 and will run through Saturday, March 31, 2018.

Urban Stages (Frances Hill, Founding Artistic Director), will close its 34th season with the New York Premiere of Sean Christopher Lewis's DOGS OF RWANDA, directed by Frances Hill and Peter Napolitano. This limited engagement at Urban Stages (259 West 30th Street), begins performances on Friday, March 9, opens on Monday, March 12 and will run through Saturday, March 31, 2018. Tickets for are $35 ($25 during previews; $50 on opening and $15 student rush) and may be purchased via OvationTix at www.urbanstages.org or by phone at 1.866.811.4111.

Theatre of NOTE is proud to announce the 23rd Annual Hollywood Performance Marathon, on Saturday, January 20 beginning at 3pm and continuing until dawn, at Theatre of NOTE, 1517 N. Cahuenga Blvd. (just North of Sunset) in Hollywood. NOTE's Hollywood Performance Marathon celebrates its twenty-third year with over 50 performers who will donate their time and talent to benefit Theatre of NOTE. This highly anticipated local tradition is an all-day-all-night extravaganza of eclectic performances, including comedy, juggling, poetry, puppets, performance art, dance, music, monologues and much more!

Urban Stages presents this year's award-winning series, WINTER RHYTHMS 2017, which begins tonight, December 12, featuring some of New York's best musical performances through Saturday, December 23, 2017 at Urban Stages Theatre (259 West 30th Street, just East of 8th Avenue).

Urban Stages, Frances Hill, Founding Artistic Director, will kick-off its 34th season with the World Premiere of Zhu Yi's A DEAL, directed by John Giampietro. This limited engagement at Urban Stages (259 West 30th Street), begins performances on November 15, opens on Monday, November 20 and will run through December 10, 2017. Tickets for are $35 ($25 during previews; $50 on opening and $15 student rush) and may be purchased via OvationTix at www.urbanstages.org or by phone at 1.866.811.4111.

Urban Stages announces the line-up for this year's award-winning series, WINTER RHYTHMS 2017, which will begin Tuesday, December 12 and will feature some of New York's best musical performances through Saturday, December 23, 2017 at Urban Stages Theatre (259 West 30th Street, just East of 8th Avenue).

Actress Laura Liguori returns to the stage in THE RED DRESS, Tania Wisbar's tale of young actress's struggles in pre-World War II Germany.

Actress Laura Liguori returns to the stage in THE RED DRESS, Tania Wisbar's tale of young actress's struggles in pre-World War II Germany.

Two couples learn what it means to be American in a world that no longer admires the U.S. Open Fist Theatre Company presents the world premiere of Walking To Buchenwald, a protean comedy with shocking consequences by Tom Jacobson.Roderick Menzies directs for a Sept. 9 opening atAtwater Village Theatre.

The Gary Plays - Extended through June 10: Fans of seminal playwright and Padua Hills Playwrights Festival founder Murray Mednick are in for a treat: Open Fist Theatre Company presents Mednick's entire "The Gary Plays" series in one epic production. Originated by Padua Playwrights and developed in workshops over a two-year period by Open Fist, "The Gary Plays" chronicles the odyssey of unemployed actor Gary Bean in the years following the random murder of his son. An everyman/anti-hero, Gary has been hailed by KCRW as "a sort of L.A. Leopold Bloom." Audiences can choose to follow his journey over the course of three evenings - or view all six plays on a single Sunday.

Fans of seminal playwright and Padua Hills Playwrights Festival founder Murray Mednick are in for a treat: Open Fist Theatre Company presents Mednick's entire 'The Gary Plays' series in one epic production beginning May 4 at Atwater Village Theatre. Longtime Mednick collaborator Guy Zimmerman directs. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Urban Stages' Board of Directors and founding artistic director Frances Hill will celebrate 'The Magic of Set and Costume Design' by presenting the 2017 Urban Stages' Lifetime Achievement Award to Oscar, Emmy and Tony Award-winning legendary set and costume designer Tony Walton presented by Broadway, television and film star Melissa Errico ('Billions', My Fair Lady, High Society, Encores' Do I Hear a Waltz?) at their gala benefit at the Boathouse in Central Park at 6:30PM on May 15, 2017.