Neil LaBute News

Closing Aurora Theatre Company's 21st season is the Bay Area Premiere of Neil LaBute's dark, edgy comic drama THIS IS HOW IT GOES, directed by Aurora Theatre Company Artistic Director Tom Ross (A Delicate Balance). Ross helmed LaBute's The Shape of Things, the first LaBute play produced in the Bay Area, in 2003. Featuring Aldo Billingslea (Collapse), Gabriel Marin (Collapse, Jack Goes Boating), and Carrie Paff (A Delicate Balance, Collapse, Betrayal), THIS IS HOW IT GOES presents a one-two punch after LaBute's Fat Pig (staged at Aurora in 2009). Tweaking perspectives of truth and interpretation to broach sharp questions about race, love, and manipulation,THIS IS HOW IT GOES, about which the Chicago Tribune raved "Highly recommended! LaBute's play has a lot of sting and nothing is as it seems!" plays June 14 through July 21 at the Aurora Theatre in Berkeley. For tickets ($35-60) and information the public can call (510) 843-4822 or visit auroratheatre.org.

If you haven't had the chance to catch up on your theater news, look no further than today's recap of all things theater - exclusive features, interviews, reviews and more! - around the Broadway World for the week of May 6!

Profiles Theatre Artistic Directors Darrell W. Cox and Joe Jahraus present the World premiere of Resident Artist Neil LaBute's revised stage version of In the Company of Men, opening at The Main Stage, 4139 N. Broadway. In the Company of Men, directed by Profiles Resident Artist and Steppenwolf ensemble member Rick Snyder, runs tonight, May 10-June 30, 2013. The press opening is on Thursday, May 16 at 8:00pm.

MCC THEATER (Robert LuPone, Bernard Telsey, William Cantler, Artistic Directors; Blake West, Executive Director) have announced plans for its annual UnCensored, an evening of original monologues, scenes, music, and ensemble pieces written and performed by the MCC Theater Youth Company, a free, after-school program of New York City high school students interested in exploring self-expression and developing their acting and dramatic writing skills.

Closing Aurora Theatre Company's 21st season is the Bay Area Premiere of Neil LaBute's dark, edgy comic drama THIS IS HOW IT GOES, directed by Aurora Theatre Company Artistic Director Tom Ross (A Delicate Balance). Ross helmed LaBute's The Shape of Things, the first LaBute play produced in the Bay Area, in 2003. Featuring Aldo Billingslea (Collapse), Gabriel Marin (Collapse, Jack Goes Boating), and Carrie Paff (A Delicate Balance, Collapse, Betrayal), THIS IS HOW IT GOES presents a one-two punch after LaBute's Fat Pig (staged at Aurora in 2009).

Artistic Director Jeffrey Cass and Executive Director Julie Ann Kornak have announced BrightSide Theatre's 3rdSeason - 2013-2014 - 'Life, Love & Laughter' ' Moonlight and Magnolias, Bleacher Bums, and Cabaret. 'These three pieces of theatre entertain the audience as we look at life through the lens of love and laughter,' explains Executive Director Julie Ann Kornak. 'From the love of the movies, to the love of the game, to those who love inside the cabaret, we hope you will join us for our 3rd season and share in the love and laughter that surround these characters' lives.'

MCC Theater's Reasons to be Happy, starring Leslie Bibb (Iron Man, ABC's 'GCB') and Jenna Fischer (NBC's 'The Office') making their New York City stage debuts opposite Josh Hamilton (The Coast of Utopia) and Fred Weller (MCC's Still Life and In a Dark Dark House), is Playwright-in-Residence Neil LaBute's new play, which LaBute will also direct.

Degage, Coupe, Glissade, Croise... These are not only Steps in Ballet, but also Techniques of the Blade. Pointwork can be done with a Rapier as well as a Point Shoe. Translating the choreography of the duel to the language of ballet, this Benefit Performance for Salon/Sanctuary Concerts will feature the world premiere of a fiery and intimate pas de deux created for Jared Angle and Megan LeCrone, as well as a live presentation of the historically-based, fiercely beautiful sword fight (performed by a male and female fighter), upon which the ballet is based.

MCC Theater's REASONS TO BE HAPPY, starring Leslie Bibb (Iron Man, ABC's 'GCB') and Jenna Fischer (NBC's 'The Office') making their New York City stage debuts opposite Josh Hamilton (The Coast of Utopia) and Fred Weller (MCC's Still Life and In a Dark Dark House), is Playwright-in-Residence Neil LaBute's new play, which LaBute will also direct.

The 2013 Lucille Lortel Awards for Outstanding Achievement Off-Broadway were handed last night to recipients in 14 categories and 4 special honors were bestowed. The Lortel Awards were distributed in a ceremony at NYU Skirball Center hosted by acclaimed stage and screen actors Aasif Mandvi and Maura Tierney. This year's event once again benefited The Actors Fund. CLICK HERE for a full list of winners. BroadwayWorld brings you photos of the presenters and winners from inside the ceremony below!

The 2013 Lucille Lortel Awards for Outstanding Achievement Off-Broadway were handed last night to recipients in 14 categories and 4 special honors were bestowed. The Lortel Awards were distributed in a ceremony at NYU Skirball Center hosted by acclaimed stage and screen actors Aasif Mandvi and Maura Tierney. This year's event once again benefited The Actors Fund. CLICK HERE for a full list of winners. BroadwayWorld brings you photos from the star-studded arrivals below!

Starting June 6th WorkShop Theater Company presents the World Premiere of Daniel Damiano's The Golden Year. Kathy Gail MacGowan directs. The cast features Ellen Barry*(McCarter Theatre, Syracuse Stage, BoarsHead Theatre: "Best Leading Actress", Wit), Gerry Goodstein* (Interchange, "Law and Order") and Joseph Franchini* (2012 Drama Desk nominee: Best Actor, The Navigator). (*Member of Actors Equity)

The Off-Broadway League today gave out awards in 14 categories and two additional special awards for the 2013 Lucille Lortel Awards for Outstanding Achievement Off-Broadway. The Lortel Awards were handed out on Sunday, May 5, 2013 at NYU Skirball Center, hosted by acclaimed stage and screen actors Aasif Mandvi and Maura Tierney. This year's event once again benefited The Actors Fund.

The Off-Broadway League previously announced award nominations in 14 categories and two additional special awards for the 2013 Lucille Lortel Awards for Outstanding Achievement Off-Broadway. The Lortel Awards will be handed out today, May 5, 2013 at NYU Skirball Center beginning at 7:00pm EST, and hosted by acclaimed stage and screen actors Aasif Mandvi and Maura Tierney. This year's event will once again benefit The Actors Fund.

The world premiere adaptation by LaBute of Miss Julie is moment.to.moment chillingly riveting theatre with a brilliant cast of three under the expert direction of Jo Bonney currently at the Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater of the Geffen through June 2.

Deadline reports that Neil LaBute's film adaptation of SOME GIRLS will be the first project to be released on Vimeo's new On Demand program. The indie film is set to have its New York, Los Angeles and digital debut on June 28th.

WIGS (www.watchwigs.com and www.youtube.com/wigs), the No. 1 channel for scripted drama on YouTube, announced that Season Two of fan-favorite series LAUREN, which explores the consequences of dealing with sexual assault in the military, will premiere tonight, May 3 (9:00 AM ET/6:00 AM PT) with four new episodes.

Seattle's theater simple, in collaboration with No Passport, stages Gun Control Theatre Action an evening of selected readings from 24 Gun Control Plays, performed at West of Lenin tonight, May 2nd at 7:30pm. This free event features new work by playwrights Neil LaBute (reasons to be pretty), Jennifer Maisel (The Last Seder), Oliver Mayer (Blade to the Heat), Winter Miller (In Darfur), Gary Winter (13p), Caridad Svich (The House of the Spirits) and more.

Owen Teale, Samantha Bond, Oliver Cotton, Sian Thomas and Annabel Scholey join star Zoe Wanamaker in a new production of Peter Nichols' Passion Play, Peter Nichols' celebrated black comedy about love and infidelity. Directed by David Leveaux, Passion Play opens on 7 May at the Duke of York's Theatre with previews from tonight, 1 May.

Tony nominee Neil LaBute's world premiere adaptation of August Strindberg's Miss Julie, starring Tony nominee Lily Rabe (American Horror Story, Merchant of Venice), Broadway actress Laura Heisler (Lucille Lortel and Drama League nominee) and Logan Marshall-Green (Julie Taymor's Across the Universe) opens in the Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater at the Geffen Playhouse tonight, May 1 and runs through June 2, 2013. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!