Naked Angels News

Ars Nova (Jason Eagan, Artistic Director; Jon Steingart and Jenny Wiener Steingart, Executive Producers) proudly present Two Girls for Five Bucks and the Ten Dollar Heartbreakers, written and performed by Cathleen Carr and Daiva Deupree and directed by Andy Donald. After a development process that began in Ars Nova's comedy series Tragedy Tomorrow, sketch comedy dynamos Carr and Deupree present their most ambitious show yet.

South Coast Repertory today announced the cast and creative team for the World Premiere of Goldfish, a life-affirming comedy about love lost and found written by John Kolvenbach. Commissioned by SCR and directed by Loretta Greco, Goldfish will run from March 15 through April 5, 2009 on the Julianne Argyros Stage. Low-priced previews are available from March 15 through March 19. Opening night is March 20. Press night is Saturday, March 21 at 7:45 p.m. Tickets to Goldfish may be purchased online at www.scr.org, by phone at (714) 708-5555 or in person at the SCR box office.

Partial Comfort Productions will present the 4th annual BATTLE OF THE BARDS on Friday February 20, 2009 at The Canal Room (285 West Broadway at Canal Street). BATTLE OF THE BARDS is a one-night-only theater competition pitting New York City's hottest emerging theater companies against each other in a stage-fight to the finish. With an audience of nearly 1000 last year, this benefit for Partial Comfort Productions has rapidly become Off-Off Broadway's biggest annual event.

Partial Comfort Productions will present the 4th annual BATTLE OF THE BARDS on Friday February 20, 2009 at The Canal Room (285 West Broadway at Canal Street). BATTLE OF THE BARDS is a one-night-only theater competition pitting New York City's hottest emerging theater companies against each other in a stage-fight to the finish. With an audience of nearly 1000 last year, this benefit for Partial Comfort Productions has rapidly become Off-Off Broadway's biggest annual event. The panel of judges for the event include Pulitzer Prize winning playwrights David Auburn (Proof) and Suzan-Lori Parks (Topdog/Underdog), actors John Slattery (Mad Men) and Daniel Sunjata (Rescue Me), casting director Marcia Debonis (Bride Wars) and theater journalist David Cote (Time Out New York). This year, seven theater companies will compete in BATTLE OF THE BARDS: Naked Angels, Ma-Yi, EST's Youngblood, The Fire Department, Electric Pear, Flux and Partial Comfort. Each company assembles its own artistic team consisting of playwright, director and actors. On Feb 6th, each team will be given the parameters by which to write, cast, and rehearse a world premiere one-act play; all plays must incorporate the use of a prop that will be personally selected by William H. Macy (currently starring on Broadway in Speed the Plow). Two weeks later, on February 20th, these plays will be performed publicly at The Canal Room and the winner will be determined by a panel of celebrities and industry professionals. An audience favorite award will also be presented. Winning companies receive prize packages donated by area businesses that specialize in theater production (rehearsal spaces, lighting packages, sound rentals, etc.) that help offset costs of future productions.

Partial Comfort Productions will present the 4th annual BATTLE OF THE BARDS on Friday February 20, 2009 at The Canal Room (285 West Broadway at Canal Street). BATTLE OF THE BARDS is a one-night-only theater competition pitting New York City's hottest emerging theater companies against each other in a stage-fight to the finish. With an audience of nearly 1000 last year, this benefit for Partial Comfort Productions has rapidly become Off-Off Broadway's biggest annual event.

Broadway's most talked about new musical and the biggest Tony Award?-winner in years is coming to the Fabulous Fox Theatre in St. Louis. Spring Awakening, the 8-time Tony Award? winning Broadway musical, will play a two-week engagement from February 10-22, 2009. Curtain times for the U.S. Bank Broadway Series presentation are Tuesdays through Fridays at 8 p.m.; Saturdays at 2 & 8 p.m.; Sunday, February 15 at 2 & 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, February 22 at 2 p.m. There is also a weekday matinee on Thursday, February 19 at 1 p.m.

Brooklyn?s famed Billie Holiday Theatre will present the world premiere of THE HIGH PRIESTESS OF DARK ALLEY, a new play by playwright/director Jackie Alexander. The production will play a strictly limited engagement February 19 through March 22, 2009. Previews are Thursday, February 19 through Saturday, February 27. Opening night is Saturday, February 28. The performance schedule is Thursdays ? Saturdays at 8:00 p.m., Saturdays at 3:00 p.m. and Sundays at 4:00 p.m. Tickets are $15-$23, with additional discounts available for seniors and students. Tickets can be purchased online at www.zerve.com/BHolidayInc/DrkAlley by phone at 212.209.3370, or at the theatre?s box office at Restoration Plaza, 1368 Fulton Street.

Berkeley Repertory Theatre greets the new year by proudly presenting its 50th world premiere, a new comedy about marriage, intimacy, and electricity from the creators of Eurydice. Celebrated playwright Sarah Ruhl and Obie Award-winning director Les Waters come together again for the debut of In the Next Room (or the vibrator play). Commissioned by Berkeley Rep and staged in the state-of-the-art Roda Theatre, this hotly anticipated play begins previews on January 30, opens February 4, and closes March 15. BART and Wells Fargo serve as season sponsors for Berkeley Rep's 41st year of fearless theatre, and the executive producer for this show is the Strauch Kulhanjian Family.

Berkeley Repertory Theatre greets the new year by proudly presenting its 50th world premiere, a new comedy about marriage, intimacy, and electricity from the creators of Eurydice. Celebrated playwright Sarah Ruhl and Obie Award-winning director Les Waters come together again for the debut of In the Next Room (or the vibrator play). Commissioned by Berkeley Rep and staged in the state-of-the-art Roda Theatre, this hotly anticipated play begins previews on January 30, opens February 4, and closes March 15. BART and Wells Fargo serve as season sponsors for Berkeley Rep's 41st year of fearless theatre, and the executive producer for this show is the Strauch Kulhanjian Family.

INTAR (Eduardo Machado, Artistic Director/John McCormack, Executive Director/Alina Troyano, Associate Artistic Director), which was scheduled for two engagements, winter and spring, at the now suddenly shuttered Zipper Factory Theater, has found its new home for this season at the Cherry Lane Theatre (38 Commerce Street). Performances will begin February 15th and run through March 7th. Opening Night is set for February 18th.

Broadway's most talked about new musical and the biggest Tony Award-winner in years is coming to Cleveland. Spring Awakening, the 8-time Tony Award? winning Broadway musical, will open at PlayhouseSquare's PalaceTheatre and play for 16 performances, March 3-15. Spring Awakening is part of the KeyBank Broadway Series at PlayhouseSquare. Spring Awakening swept the 2007 Tony Awards? winning eight out of its eleven nominations, including Best Musical, Best Director (Michael Mayer), Best Book (Steven Sater), Best Choreography (Bill T. Jones), Best Orchestrations (Duncan Sheik), Best Lighting Design (Kevin Adams), Best Featured Actor (John Gallagher Jr.).

Playwrights Horizons announces completion of a major renovation to 440 Studios, which is Lower Manhattan's largest rehearsal space complex (located at 440 Lafayette Street). The $1.2 million project took 8 months for demolition and renovation.

The Flea Theater invites you to the World Premiere of LOVE/STORIES (OR BUT YOU WILL GET USED TO IT), the latest from Itamar Moses, author of The Four of Us, Bach at Leipzig, and Back Back Back. Performances run January 29 - March 9 at The Flea (41 White Street between Church and Broadway in Tribeca).

Playwrights Horizons announces completion of a major renovation to 440 Studios, which is Lower Manhattan's largest rehearsal space complex (located at 440 Lafayette Street). The $1.2 million project took 8 months for demolition and renovation. 440 Studios is the third and fourth floors of the Playwrights Horizons Theater School. When not in use by the School for classes, workshops and productions, the rehearsal studios and theaters are rented out to hundreds of New York City cultural groups each year. The School and the studios are an integral part of Playwrights Horizons and perform a vital service for students, the theater community and the surrounding neighborhood. The renovation of the third floor was made possible, in large part, through generous capital funding from New York City and New York State.

Partial Comfort Productions will present the 4th annual BATTLE OF THE BARDS on Friday February 20, 2009 at The Canal Room (285 West Broadway at Canal Street). BATTLE OF THE BARDS is a one-night-only theater competition pitting New York City's hottest emerging theater companies against each other in a stage-fight to the finish. With an audience of nearly 1000 last year, this benefit for Partial Comfort Productions has rapidly become Off-Off Broadway's biggest annual event. The panel of judges for the event include Pulitzer Prize winning playwrights David Auburn (Proof) and Suzan-Lori Parks (Topdog/Underdog), actors John Slattery (Mad Men) and Daniel Sunjata (Rescue Me), casting director Marcia Debonis (Bride Wars) and theater journalist David Cote (Time Out New York). This year, seven theater companies will compete in BATTLE OF THE BARDS: Naked Angels, Ma-Yi, EST's Youngblood, The Fire Department, Electric Pear, Flux and Partial Comfort. Each company assembles its own artistic team consisting of playwright, director and actors. On Feb 6th, each team will be given the parameters by which to write, cast, and rehearse a world premiere one-act play; all plays must incorporate the use of a prop that will be personally selected by William H. Macy (currently starring on Broadway in Speed the Plow). Two weeks later, on February 20th, these plays will be performed publicly at The Canal Room and the winner will be determined by a panel of celebrities and industry professionals. An audience favorite award will also be presented. Winning companies receive prize packages donated by area businesses that specialize in theater production (rehearsal spaces, lighting packages, sound rentals, etc.) that help offset costs of future productions.

Ars Nova (Jason Eagan, Artistic Director; Jon Steingart & Jenny Wiener Steingart, Executive Producers) will present Playlist for five performances only January 22nd - 25th. All tickets are only $15 and can be purchased at www.arsnovanyc.com.

INTAR (Eduardo Machado, Artistic Director/John McCormack, Executive Director/Alina Troyano, Associate Artistic Director) is scrambling today to salvage its season, which was scheduled for two engagements, winter and spring, at the now suddenly shuttered Zipper Factory Theater. The first engagement was to begin February 11th and run through March 7th. Rehearsals for the two one-acts have already begun. In a statement today, Artistic Director Eduardo Machado said, ' we are deeply saddened by these sudden developments. We had no idea this was even a possibility. Tickets were about to go on sale, the cast is in rehearsal, and we are suddenly out on the street. For a non-profit company like us, this is a devastating blow!' He went on to say 'INTAR continues to look for a permanent home since the demolition of it's City owned theatre of 35 years to make way for the long aborning Clinton Green Project. INTAR anticipated a new home in the complex, but after it became clear the small company was expected to raise $12 million for the new space, they had to withdraw. The search for a permanent new home continues.'

It was announced today that Marin Ireland, Steven Pasquale, Piper Perabo and Thomas Sadoski will comprise the four-person cast of this season's production of Neil LaBute's new play, reasons to be pretty, under the direction of Terry Kinney. Perabo and Sadoski appeared in this summer's smash Off Broadway world premiere for MCC Theater, with Ireland and Pasquale slated to join the cast for the Broadway production. Preview performances begin Friday, March 13, 2009 at the Lyceum Theatre (149 West 45th Street) with an official opening night scheduled for Thursday, April 2, 2009. Tickets are on sale now through www.telecharge.com. reasons to be pretty confronts America's obsession with physical beauty headlong. In Neil LaBute's new play, Greg's (Sadoski) tight-knit social circle is thrown into turmoil when his off-handed remarks about a female co-worker's pretty face (and his girlfriend's lack thereof) get back to said girlfriend (Ireland). But that's just the beginning.

The Flea Theater invites you to the World Premiere of LOVE/STORIES (OR BUT YOU WILL GET USED TO IT), the latest from Itamar Moses, author of The Four of Us, Bach at Leipzig, and Back Back Back. Performances run January 29 - March 9 at The Flea (41 White Street between Church and Broadway in Tribeca).

MCC THEATER (Robert LuPone, Bernard Telsey, Artistic Directors; William Cantler, Associate Artistic Director; Blake West, Executive Director) today announced that Jennifer Van Dyck, Scott Parkinson, Sarah Rafferty and Jonathan Walker will complete the cast for their production of Charles Busch's The Third Story, directed by Carl Andress. As previously announced Kathleen Turner and Mr. Busch will appear as dueling divas.