Neil LaBute News

Playwright Steve Julian dives into the world of transgender acceptance with his new work Ribbon of Life, directed by Alexis Jacknow, SDC. The play depicts Savannah's efforts to get her parents to accept Ezmae, a transgender woman, as her life partner. It might be easy if it were not for confusion, ignorance and abhorrence of non-conservative values.

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: ANTHEM opens off-Broadway tonight, the NYPL hosts a discussion in honor of the O'Neill Center's 50th anniversary, and the creator of SMOKEY JOE'S CAFE Otis Sallid boogies down at 54 Below!

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director) has announced two productions for its upcoming 36th season: the first New York production in 23 years of Terrence McNally's acclaimed play, LIPS TOGETHER, TEETH APART, directed by Peter DuBois, and the world premiere of Neil LaBute's dark comedy, THE WAY WE GET BY.

Andrew Carlberg, in association with Ride on Theatre, presents an immersive, all new theatrical experience, The Blind Date Project, created by Bojana Novakovic and Mark Winter and directed by Scott Rodgers (in rotation with Tanya Goldberg and Mark Winter). Coming straight from sell out seasons around Australia, The Blind Date Project will open tonight, May 28 at 8pm and be an ongoing Wednesday night event at the Three Clubs 1123 N. Vine St. (at Santa Monica Blvd.) in Hollywood.

MCC THEATER welcomes Greta Gerwig, joined by Max Baker, Jason Butler Harner, Lucy Owen, Cara Seymour, and Scott Shepherd, in the American premiere of Penelope Skinner's celebrated play The Village Bike, the final production of MCC's 2013-14 Main Stage season. The Village Bike is directed by Sam Gold, who recently directed the much-raved new musical Fun Home and this season's The Realistic Jones on Broadway. The Village Bike premieres at The Lucille Lortel Theatre(121 Christopher Street, NYC) beginning tonight, May 22, 2014 with an official opening on June 10, 2014.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Adam Scott has signed on to join Warner Bros.' upcoming Whitey Bulger drama BLACK MASS. Johnny Depp, Dakota Johnson, Juno Temple, and Jesse Plemons also star, with Scott Cooper directing.

New York Stage and Film and Vassar College, this summer celebrating the 30th year of their Powerhouse Theater collaboration, are thrilled to reveal the first round of casting for the upcoming Powerhouse Theater Season, running from June 20 to July 27 at Vassar College (Poughkeepsie, New York).

Actor/playwright Joseph Assadourian, like Charles Dutton and Lead Belly before him, discovered his theatrical voice while serving time behind bars. His new one-man play, The Bullpen, which he wrote and stars in, will begin an open-ended Off-Broadway engagement at The Playroom Theater (151 West 46th Street between Broadway and 6th Avenue) on Thursday, June 12th. Richard Hoehler directs this black comedy, which features Assadourian in 18 different roles. Opening night is set Sunday June 22nd.

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: the 2014 Drama League Awards and the New York Drama Critics' Circle Awards are today, plus FLY BY NIGHT begins previews off-Broadway!

Casting has been announced for the 2014 Planet Connections Theatre Festivity Gala 'One Acts for a Cause' set to take place on Sunday, June 22 at 7:30pm at the East 13th Street Theater (136 East 13th Street).The evening, which will benefit the non-profit NYC food services agency City Harvest, will feature Academy Award-winner Melissa Leo (The Fighter)?, three-time Tony Award nominee Mary Beth Hurt (Crimes of the Heart, films The World According to Garp & The Age of Innocence), Caissie Levy (currently starring as Fantine in LES MISERABLES), Phoebe Strole (Spring Awakening, Glee), Jonathan Walker (Rocky, The Assembled Parties), Eric Lenox Abrams (All The Way), Kellie Overbey (The Coast of Utopia) Tina Benko (Irena's Vow, Top Girls) & Andrew Garman (Salome with Al Pacino), Obie Award-winners Russell G. Jones (Ruined) & ?Eisa Davis (Sustained Excellence, Passing Strange), and Courtney Thomas (Eve Ensler's Emotional Creature), Jon Norman Schneider (The Architecture of Being) and Quincy Tyler Bernstine (Ruined, Chappelle's Show).

Theater Breaking Through Barriers (TBTB), the critically acclaimed theater company dedicated to advancing artists with disabilities and changing the image of people with disabilities from dependence to independence, presents its fourth annual short play festival, POWER PLAYS - a collection of five world-premiere short plays by celebrated playwrights Bekah Brunstetter, Bruce Graham, John Guare, David Henry Hwang and Neil LaBute - with performances to run June 12-29 at Theatre Row's Clurman Theatre (410 West 42nd Street). Roberto Cambeiro, Christina Roussos, Artistic Director Ike Schambelan, Russell Treyz, and Associate Director Nicholas Viselli direct.

Andrew Carlberg, in association with Ride on Theatre, presents an immersive, all new theatrical experience, The Blind Date Project, created by Bojana Novakovic and Mark Winter and directed by Scott Rodgers (in rotation with Tanya Goldberg and Mark Winter). Coming straight from sell out seasons around Australia, The Blind Date Project will open on Wednesday, May 28 at 8pm and be an ongoing Wednesday night event at the Three Clubs 1123 N. Vine St. (at Santa Monica Blvd.) in Hollywood.

The Village Voice, the nation's largest alternative weekly newspaper, announced today that the Lifetime Achievement Award Obie will go to the esteemed ESTELLE PARSONS. The OBIE Awards Ceremony Will Be Co-hosted by Tamara Tunie and Hamish Linklater, and presented by Betsy Aidem, Harvey Fierstein, Lena Hall, LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Andy Karl , David Bar Katz, Cristin Milioti , Kelli O'Hara , Lily Rabe and Stephen Trask.

Profiles Theatre announces the final extension for the Midwest premiere of Cock by Mike Bartlett, directed by Artistic Director Darrell W. Cox. The production opened February 20, 2014 and will extend for the second time through June 29, 2014. Cast members Torrey Hanson, Eleni Pappageorge, Jake Szczepaniak continue their roles with Nik Kourtis joining the cast. Performances are held at The Main Stage, 4139 N. Broadway.

Take a look at comedy stars Mark Heap and Robert Webb as Jeeves and Wooster in the five-star hit Perfect Nonsense!

Vintage Theatre and Rocky Mountain Deaf Theatre (RMDT) presents "Shirley Valentine" at 1468 Dayton St., Aurora 80010 for four performances only on Friday and Saturday, May 9 & 10 and May 16 & 17 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 advance, $20 at the door, dinner and show $25 and are available by calling 303-856-7830 or online at www.vintagetheatre.com.

"God of Carnage," the newest production from Mixed Magic Theatre, is the perfect way to christen the company's new space in Lorraine Mills. The space itself is smaller than their old one in the Hope Artiste Village, but is deceptively large: the seating, which is raked in a near-stadium style fashion, goes back a few more rows than you might expect possible, upon first impression.

Undercover Productions LLC will present the Off-Broadway Premiere of Ethel Sings, by Joan Beber beginning performances at Theatre Row's Beckett Theatre (410 West 42nd Street, between 9th and 10th Avenues) on May 31st, with Opening Night set for Friday June 6th. This limited engagement will continue through July 13th.

This coming week is your last chance to see Death in Bowengabbie. It must end Saturday May 10th.

FAT PIG tells the story of Tom (Jonathan Bray), a young career guy who hits it off with Helen (Deidra Edwards), a bright, sexy woman who happens to be plus-sized. As he reluctantly finds himself falling in love, Tom's colleagues (Kirsten Kollender and Nick Stabile) are brutal in their assessment of his new love. LaBute probes our carb-counting, extreme makeover nation by asking tough questions. How much has our relentless pursuit of beauty turned us into an uglier species?