Neil LaBute News

As 2012 comes to a close, many Austin theater companies are putting together their 2013-2014 season. Given the incredible talent in this town and the large number of daring, courageous theater groups in the Austin area, here are my picks for 13 plays that I'd love to see produced in the 2013-2014 season.

Aurora Theatre Company continues its 21st season with the World Premiere of OUR PRACTICAL HEAVEN from acclaimed playwright Anthony Clarvoe (Pick Up Ax, Show and Tell, Ambition Facing West). This family drama, which originated as one of Aurora Theatre Company's Global Age Project (GAP) finalists in 2011, is the third main stage production to develop from the GAP. OUR PRACTICAL HEAVEN plays January 25 through March 3 at the Aurora Theatre in Berkeley.

The Carol Tambor Theatrical Foundation has announced the NY premiere of the critically-acclaimed THEATRE UNCUT, which features an evening of short plays from Neil LaBute , Lena Kitsopoulou, Anders Lustgarten, Marco Canale, and Clara Brennan. THEATRE UNCUT comes to NY as part of the Best of Edinburgh celebration at Theatre Row. Performances of THEATRE UNCUT begin on Tuesday, January 29 for a limited engagement through Sunday, February 3 at The Clurman Theatre on Theatre Row (410 West 42nd Street, between 9th and 10th Avenues).

Justin Reinsilber presents the World Premiere of Michael Puzzo's Spirits of Exit Eleven from January 10 - February 2, 2013 at The Lion Theatre at Theatre Row (410 W. 42nd Street, NYC). The play is directed by Frank Licato and opens on January 17th at 8pm. Tickets are $19.25 (which includes a $1.25 restoration charge) and can be purchased online at www.telecharge.com, by phone at 212-239-6200 / 800-432-7250 or in person at Theatre Row Box Office.

Playwrights Foundation and the New York based company, The One-Minute Play Festival (OMPF) today announce their joint presentation of the Third Annual San Francisco One-Minute Play Festival, to be performed today, December 15 and the 16th, 2012.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director, Oskar Eustis; Executive Director, Patrick Willingham) announced today that the cast of the acclaimed epic musical GIANT will enter the recording studio in January to create an original cast album, which will be released by Ghostlight Records in spring 2013. GIANT officially opened at The Public on November 15 and features a book by Sybille Pearson, music and lyrics by Michael John LaChiusa, and direction by Michael Greif. The show will end its limited run at The Public Theater at Astor Place on Sunday, December 16 following a final two-week extension.

Noted actor Adam Brody (The O.C.) will guest star in two episodes of the upcoming second season of the hit SHOWTIME comedy series, HOUSE OF LIES. Brody will play the owner of an adult toy company who forms a relationship with Jeannie (Kristen Bell). The series, which stars and is executive produced by Don Cheadle in his Emmy Award-nominated role, returns on Sunday, January 13th at 10:00 PM ET/PT on SHOWTIME. HOUSE OF LIES also stars Ben Schwartz, Josh Lawson, Dawn Olivieri, Donis Leonard Jr. and Glynn Turman. Brody joins previously announced guest stars Larenz Tate, Nia Long and Lisa Edelstein.

Profiles Theatre Artistic Directors Darrell W. Cox and Joe Jahraus announce 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 May 10-June 30, 2013. The press opening is on Thursday, May 16 at 8:00pm.

Berkeley's acclaimed Aurora Theatre Company presents a "house" concert for the holidays with Nell Robinson and Jim Nunally in A DOWN HOME CHRISTMAS WITH NELL & JIM. This intimate show inaugurates Aurora Theatre Company's Second Stage cabaret performance space, Harry's UpStage, located in the Nell and Jules Dashow Wing. A DOWN HOME CHRISTMAS WITH NELL & JIM plays for eight performances only, tonight, December 13-21 at the Aurora Theatre in Berkeley.

Berkeley's acclaimed Aurora Theatre Company, along with GAP Producer M. Graham Smith and GAP Associate Producer Deborah Taylor, announces the four plays chosen as finalists by a committee of local directors for the eighth annual Global Age Project (GAP), the company's new works initiative that promotes the creation of forward-looking theater. The selected GAP plays will be presented as staged readings in a four-week festival at the Aurora Theatre, Mondays, February 4-25 at 7:30PM.

MCC THEATER (Robert LuPone, Bernard Telsey, William Cantler, Artistic Directors; Blake West, Executive Director) announced today that Matt Lauria (NBC's "Friday Night Lights" & "Parenthood"), Zosia Mamet (HBO's "Girls", AMC's "Mad Men"), Lauren Culpepper (Signature's Really Really), David Hull (Broadway's Wicked & How to Succeed…), Evan Jonigkeit (Broadway's High with Kathleen Turner), Kobi Libii (Off-Broadway's CQ/CX), and Aleque Reid (Hair 1st National Tour) will star in the New York premiere production of Really Really by Paul Downs Colaizzo. The production, which marks Colaizzo's New York playwriting debut, is directed by David Cromer, the Obie Award and Lucille Lortel Award-winning director of hits Our Town, Adding Machine and Tribes. Performances of Really Really begin at the Lucille Lortel Theatre (121 Christopher Street, NYC) on January 31, 2013 and continue through March 10, 2013. An official opening is set for Tuesday, February 19th at 7:00 p.m.

There is an air of an impending explosion about to happen in Amy Herzog's 4000 MILES, now on stage at Dobama Theatre. Interesting, though the artillery never goes off, the 90-minute play captivates and absolutely holds attention.

Prospect Theater Company will present a staged reading of Rob Urbinati's original play Death By Design, a witty and wonderfully mysterious whodunit inspired by Noel Coward and Agatha Christie, today, December 8, 2012 at 2:15pm.

Prospect Theater Company will present a staged reading of Rob Urbinati's original play Death By Design, a witty and wonderfully mysterious whodunit inspired by Noel Coward and Agatha Christie, on Saturday, December 8, 2012 at 2:15pm.

If you had the chance to apologize for something you did that ruined another person's life would you? What if that thing was part of what you were expected to do for your job? These questions and other dilemmas lie at the heart of InterAct Theatre Company's second show of its 25th Anniversary Season. Assassin by local playwright David Robson, a co-production with Act II Playhouse, takes an intimate look at hero worship, regret and forgiveness while examining America's fascination with sports violence. With recent media attention being paid to football related injuries, past and present, Assassin is particularly relevant.

Profiles Theatre announces the extension of its hit 20th Anniversary production of Hellcab by Will Kern, directed by Profiles Co-Artistic Director Darrell W. Cox. All cast members are continuing in their roles including Konstantin Khrustov as the driver and the original cast of 33 as the passengers. The production has been selling out since its opening on November 15, 2012 and has now been extended an additional five weeks, through January 27, 2013, at Profiles Theatre's Main Stage, 4139 N. Broadway in Chicago.

Playwrights Foundation and the New York based company, The One-Minute Play Festival (OMPF) today announce their joint presentation of the Third Annual San Francisco One-Minute Play Festival, to be performed on December 15 and 16, 2012.

NBC will premiere the new drama DO NOT HARM on Thursday, January 31 (10-11 p.m. ET) following the hour-long series finale of the Emmy Award-winning "30 Rock" (8-9 p.m. ET) earlier that same night.

MCC Theater has announced that MCC Playwright-in-Residence Neil LaBute will direct the world premiere of his new play, Reasons to Be Happy, as part of its 2012-13 Season. Performances of Reasons to Be Happy begin at the Lucille Lortel Theatre (121 Christopher Street, NYC) on May 16, 2013 and continue through June 23, 2013. An official opening is set for June 2, 2012 at 6:30 p.m. Additional information, including complete casting, will be announced shortly.

Last season, the 2011 Best Production (Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle, LA Weekly, Ovation, and Garland Awards) Small Engine Repair started out in the "Off The Clock" series. Now, in the tradition of offering 'edgier' entertainment in this slot, Rogue Machine launches the World Premiere of Rob Mersola's Dirty Filthy Love Story tonight, November 24th at 8pm (no 10pm show that night).