Neil LaBute News

Profiles Theatre opens its 26th Season with the Midwest Premiere of Reasons to Be Happy by Resident Artist Neil LaBute, directed by Artistic Director Darrell W. Cox. The production runs tonight, August 22 - October 12, 2014 at Profiles Theatre's The Main Stage, 4139 N. Broadway. The press opening is August 28, 2014 at 8pm.

The Pulitzer Prize winning play Disgraced by Ayad Akhtar will have a Broadway production this fall, beginning previews on September 27 and opening on October 23 at the Lyceum Theatre, 149 West 45th Street. In addition to the Pulitzer Prize, Disgraced received Obie and Joseph Jefferson Awards. Check out the marquee at the Lyceum Theatre below!

Theater Breaking Through Barriers (TBTB) received a 2014 ADA Sapolin Award in recognition of its artistic excellence and commitment to advancing people with disabilities. The award is to be presented by Victor Calise, Commissioner of the NYC Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities, at a reception in honor of the 24th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, on Tuesday, August 19, at the New York Public Library in Manhattan.

Northlight Theatre, under the direction of Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans, presents the second-ever production of The Commons of Pensacola by Amanda Peet, directed by Robin Witt. The production will run at Northlight Theatre, 9501 Skokie Blvd in Skokie, from September 12 - October 19, 2014. The press performance is Saturday, September 20, 2014 at 2:30 pm.

MCC THEATER will next feature Elizabeth Reaser, Gia Crovatin, Golden Globe nominee Callie Thorne, and Frederick Weller for the world premiere of MCC Playwright-in-Residence Neil LaBute's new play, The Money Shot, directed by Terry Kinney. Performances for The Money Shot begin at the Lucille LortelTheatre (121 Christopher Street, NYC) on September 4, 2014. An official opening is set for September 22, 2014 and it is currently scheduled through October 12, 2014. The cast just met the press and BroadwayWorld was on hand for the special event!

Screen and stage star Elizabeth Reaser, best known for her performances in the blockbuster Twilight film franchise and her season-long arc on 'Grey's Anatomy,' will step into its upcoming production of The Money Shot for the departing Heather Graham, who exits the production due to a late-breaking opportunity to begin production on a passion project.

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Today's big news: Broadway's THIS IS OUR YOUTH begins performances, and the HENRY & ME movie premieres in New York City tonight!

Hottest Articles on BroadwayWorld.com from this weekend Sunday, August 17, 2014 - Sunday, August 17, 2014.

According to Deadline.com, actress Heather Graham has left Neil LaBute's play The Money Shot so that she can have more time for her upcoming film, Produced by MCC Theatre, The Money Shot begins previews on September 4 at the Lucille Lortel Theater in Greenwich Village, set to close October 12.

Whether you've been living under a rock for the past week or you're just in the mood for a recap, BroadwayWorld's 'this week in pictures' is here to satisfy your end-of-the-week fix! Take a look below to catch up on the latest happenings from the Great White Way to The West End (and everywhere in between) with coverage of press events, rehearsals, opening nights and more. Highlights this week include a special celebration of 1,000 performances of ONCE, commemorations of both Robin Williams and Lauren Bacall, Tony Yazbeck at 54 Below, and more!

MCC THEATER welcomes Heather Graham, Gia Crovatin, Golden Globe nominee Callie Thorne, and Frederick Weller for the world premiere of MCC Playwright-in-Residence Neil LaBute's new play, The Money Shot, directed by Terry Kinney. Performances for The Money Shot begin at the Lucille Lortel Theatre (121 Christopher Street, NYC) on September 4, 2014. An official opening is set for September 22, 2014 and it is currently scheduled through October 12, 2014. Tickets are now on sale. The cast just met the press yesterday and BroadwayWorld brings you complete photo coverage from the festivities below!

Neil Labute's Autobahn, which opens at the King's Head this month, will star Sharon Maughan, probably most famous for her work in the iconic Nescafe Coffee ads with Anthony Head, as well as for her three year stint on Holby City.

MCC THEATER welcomes Heather Graham, Gia Crovatin, Golden Globe nominee Callie Thorne, and Frederick Weller for the world premiere of MCC Playwright-in-Residence Neil LaBute's new play, The Money Shot, directed by Terry Kinney. Performances for The Money Shot begin at the Lucille Lortel Theatre (121 Christopher Street, NYC) on September 4, 2014. An official opening is set for September 22, 2014 and it is currently scheduled through October 12, 2014. Tickets are now on sale. The cast just met the press this morning - check out a first look!

Profiles Theatre opens its 26th Season with the Midwest Premiere of Reasons to Be Happy by Resident Artist Neil LaBute, directed by Artistic Director Darrell W. Cox. The production runs August 22 - October 12, 2014 at Profiles Theatre's The Main Stage, 4139 N. Broadway. The press opening is August 28, 2014 at 8pm.

Receiving rave reviews during its summer run, Writer/Actor Joe Assadourian's hit Off-Broadway Comedy THE BULLPEN has opened ticket sales through November 22nd, 2014 at The Playroom Theater. The show, which is directed by Richard Hoehler, is largely influenced by Joe Assadourian's experiences having served 12 years in prison for attempted murder. This extension will include a celebratory performance on October 8th, which will mark the first anniversary of Joe Assadourian's release from Otisville Correctional Facility. The New York Times praised the one man show exclaiming that Joe Assadourian "is one terrific actor," "marvelous," and "extremely funny."

According to Deadline, Ed Harris is the latest to join the all-star cast of HBO's new drama pilot WESTWORLD, from J.J. Abrams. Also in the cast are Anthony Hopkins, Evan Rachel Wood, Demetrius Grosse, Kyle Bornheimer, Currie Graham, Lena Georgas, Steven Ogg, James Marsden, Timothy Lee DePriest, and Eddie Rouse.

Neil LaBute is known for writing abrasive plays, in which aggression often leads to violence. And the characters are not criminals but ordinary people who find themselves reacting differently when placed in extreme circumstances. It could happen to anyone. Take Bash for example. In his latest work reasons to be pretty currently onstage at the Geffen Playhouse through August 31, LaBute examines ordinary people once again, but in ordinary, day to day life, in ordinary relationships. Directed meticulously by Randall Arney and with an outstanding cast, reasons to be pretty, in spite of its slow, realistic pacing and drawn out but believable dialogue exchanges, offers some pretty sage advice on how to treat others. And that is pretty welcome advice, indeed.

Nick Gehlfuss (Shameless, The Newsroom), Shawn Hatosy (Southland, Reckless), Amber Tamblyn (Joan of Arcadia, Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants) and Alicia Witt (Justified, 88 Minutes) are cast in the Geffen Playhouse production of Reasons to Be Pretty, nominated for the Tony Award for Best Play (2009). Helmed by Geffen Playhouse Artistic Director Randall Arney, Reasons to Be Pretty will be performed in the Gil Cates Theater through August 31 with an opening night of tonight, August 6.

Throughline Artists (J.J. Kandel, Executive Producer; John McCormack, Producing Artistic Director) present SUMMER SHORTS 2014, their eighth annual festival of new American short plays from established and emerging writers, at 59E59 Theaters (59 East 59th Street). Performances continue through Saturday August 30th only. BroadwayWorld brings you photos from the opening night celebration below!x

Nick Gehlfuss (Shameless, The Newsroom), Shawn Hatosy (Southland, Reckless), Amber Tamblyn (Joan of Arcadia, Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants) and Alicia Witt (Justified, 88 Minutes) are cast in the Geffen Playhouse production of Reasons to Be Pretty, nominated for the Tony Award for Best Play (2009). Helmed by Geffen Playhouse Artistic Director Randall Arney, Reasons to Be Pretty will be performed in the Gil Cates Theater today, July 29 to August 31 with an opening night of August 6.