Neil LaBute News

MCC Theater today announced they will present Playwright-in-Residence Neil LaBute's 'shorts' series, The Heart of the Matter, for four special benefit performances that will take place June 13, 14, 15 and 16, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. at the Lucille Lortel Theatre (121 Christopher Street, NYC). The staged reading will feature actor Krysten Ritter (ABC's "Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23," AMC's "Breaking Bad"), with additional cast members to be announced shortly. Carolyn Cantor, who recently directed Regrets at Manhattan Theatre Club and MCC's production of LaBute's In a Dark Dark House, will direct. Proceeds will support MCC Theater's Playwrights' Coalition program, free PlayLab reading series and literary development activities.

Berkeley's acclaimed Aurora Theatre Company has announced a call for submissions for its eighth season of the Global Age Project (GAP) festival of new works. The company will choose four new plays to be presented as staged readings with professional directors and actors during the GAP festival in February of 2013; the festival will coincide with the company's fully-staged World Premiere of Anthony Clarvoe's OUR PRACTICAL HEAVEN, directed by Allen McKelvey, the third Aurora main stage production to develop from the GAP. Each of the four finalists will receive a $1,000 award and their work will be considered for further development and production during Aurora Theatre Company's regular season; out of town artists will receive travel and accommodation expenses. The submission period opens today, May 22; deadline for play submission is July 31, 2012. Finalists will be announced in early December 2012.

The Summer Season at the Finborough Theatre continues with rediscoveries of EVENTS WHILE GUARDING THE BOFORS GUN and MERRIE ENGLAND. Commemorating the tenth anniversary of the death of playwright John McGrath, and unseen in a professional production in London since 1966, John McGrath's Events While Guarding The Bofors Gun opens at the multi-award-winning Finborough Theatre for a limited four-week season from tonight, 22 May 2012 directed by Robert Hastie. Merrie England plays at the Finborough Theatre for a limited run of nine Sunday and Monday evening performances and Tuesday matinees, opening on Sunday, 27 May 2012.

Lisa D'Amour's play Detroit premiered at Steppenwolf Theatre in 2010, directed by Austin Pendleton, and was scheduled to open on Broadway in the 2011/12 season.

The 2012 CMT MUSIC AWARDS just got a little rowdier and funnier as country music superstar Toby Keith and actress Kristen Bell have been tapped to host this year's show. Now in its 11th year, the 2012 CMT MUSIC AWARDS will air live from Nashville's Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, June 6 at 8:00 p.m., ET/PT on CMT and CMT.com.

The Ocean Professional Theatre Company will present MAN OF LAMANCHA on 6/19-7/8 at the Bengal Theatre, 180 Bengal Blvd, Barnegat, NJ 08005 to open their Premiere Summer Season. The production will star John Davidson as Don Quixote with Broadway Producer and actress Heather Provost as Aldonza.

IAMA THEATRE COMPANY presents IAMAFest 2012 today, May 18, 2012 - Sunday, June 10, 2012 (Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm; Sundays at 3pm) at The Working Stage Theater.

Berkeley's acclaimed Aurora Theatre Company has announced a call for submissions for its eighth season of the Global Age Project (GAP) festival of new works. The company will choose four new plays to be presented as staged readings with professional directors and actors during the GAP festival in February of 2013; the festival will coincide with the company's fully-staged World Premiere of Anthony Clarvoe's OUR PRACTICAL HEAVEN, directed by Allen McKelvey, the third Aurora main stage production to develop from the GAP. Each of the four finalists will receive a $1,000 award and their work will be considered for further development and production during Aurora Theatre Company's regular season; out of town artists will receive travel and accommodation expenses. The submission period opens May 22; deadline for play submission is July 31, 2012. Finalists will be announced in early December 2012.

Berkeley Repertory Theatre announced the cast and creative team for its world premiere of Eve Ensler's EMOTIONAL CREATURE. This positive and propulsive new show - from the Tony Award-winning playwright, performer, and activist who created The Vagina Monologues - features a choreographer, a composer, four top designers, and an ensemble of talented young women. Directed by Obie Award-winner Jo Bonney, Emotional Creature plays only 36 performances in the Roda Theatre. The limited engagement at Berkeley Rep begins previews on June 14, opens June 22, and runs through July 15. The lead producers of this premiere are Wayne Jordan and Quinn Delaney, Marjorie Randolph, and Jack and Betty Schafer; the executive producer is the Strauch Kulhanjian Family. The development of this production has been supported in part by The Mosse Artistic Development Fund.

NBC has released a clip from its new medical drama, DO NOT HARM which will star stage veterans Steven Pasquale, Phylicia Rashad and Michael Esper. View a sneak peek of the new series as well as an interview with Pasquale below!

Theater Breaking Through Barriers (TBTB), the Off-Broadway company known for its productions that integrate able-bodied actors with artists with disabilities, presents William Shakespeare's THE MERCHANT OF VENICE, at Theatre Row's Clurman Theatre (410 West 42nd Street) through tonight, May 13. Ike Schambelan, TBTB artistic director and founder, directs.

IAMA THEATRE COMPANY presents IAMAFest 2012 on Friday, May 18, 2012 - Sunday, June 10, 2012 (Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm; Sundays at 3pm) at The Working Stage Theater. IAMAFest is an festival of new one-acts and premieres, featuring both known, established talent and new, emerging voices. The five featured pieces in this years festival are CALL BACK by Neil LaBute (World Premiere); DRUNK by Bekah Brunstetter (West Coast Premiere); A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR THE LIVING by Charlotte Miller (World Premiere); THE FOUNDATION by Graham Sibley (World Premiere); and STORYTELLING by Stefanie Black (World Premiere). Stars Mike Vogel (THE HELP, CLOVERFIELD, PAN AM) and Emma Greenwell (SHAMELESS) join an ensemble cast of IAMA Theatre Company members and friends.

According to published reports, NBC has picked up medical drama, 'Do Not Harm,' which will star stage veterans Steven Pasquale and Michael Esper. Michael Mayer directs the pilot episode, which is written by executive producer David Schulner. Peter Traugott and Rachel Kaplan also produce.

Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG) today announced changes within its Casting Department, based at the company's Charing Cross Road offices.

The New Group presents the world premiere of An Early History of Fire, a new play by Tony Award-winning playwright David Rabe. Directed by Jo Bonney, this production features Gordon Clapp, Erin Darke, Jonny Orsini, Devin Ratray, Dennis Staroselsky, Theo Stockman and Claire van der Boom. Limited Off-Broadway engagement is slated April 5 - May 26 at The New Group @ Theatre Row (410 West 42nd Street). The official Opening Night was Monday, April 30 at 7:00 PM. Check out the after-party photos below featuing Meryle Streep and all the cast.

Closing Aurora's 20th season is the World Premiere of SALOMANIA, Aurora Theatre Company Artistic Director Tom Ross's first new play commission for the company, written and directed by award-winning Bay Area auteur Mark Jackson (Metamorphosis, Salome, Miss Julie). Workshopped and developed at Aurora in 2010, SALOMANIA features Madeline H.D. Brown (Metamorphosis), Mark Anderson Phillips (Small Tragedy), Alex Moggridge (Betrayed), Liam Vincent (California Shakespeare Theater), Anthony Nemirovsky (Awake and Sing!), Marilee Talkington (Crowded Fire), and Kevin Clarke (Shotgun Players). SALOMANIA plays June 15 through July 22 at the Aurora Theatre in Berkeley.

Paul Taylor-Mills will present BASH, a new production of Neil LaBute's collection of three darkly brilliant one-act plays, at Barons Court Theatre from Tuesday 5 - Sunday 17 June. James Le Feuvre and Faye Winter, who both appeared in Michael Grandage's production of Hamlet with Jude Law both in the West End End and on Broadway, will star under director Olivia Rowe. Opening night is Wednesday 6 June at 7.45pm.

The Contemporary American Theater Festival (CATF) at Shepherd University has announced the 2012 five-play repertory for its 22nd season of producing and developing new American theater. The season will feature new plays from Johnna Adams, Bob Clyman, Neil LaBute, Evan M. Wiener, and Bess Wohl. The four-week festival, consisting of 94 performances and other programming, will be held July 6 - 29 in Shepherdstown, WV.

The New Group presents the world premiere of An Early History of Fire, a new play by Tony Award-winning playwright David Rabe. Directed by Jo Bonney, this production features Deema Aitken, Gordon Clapp, Erin Darke, Jonny Orsini, Devin Ratray, The New Group presents the world premiere of An Early History of Fire, a new play by Tony Award-winning playwright David Rabe. Directed by Jo Bonney, this production features Deema Aitken, Gordon Clapp, Erin Darke, Jonny Orsini, Devin Ratray, Dennis Staroselsky, Theo Stockman and Claire van der Boom. Limited Off-Broadway engagement is slated tonight, April 30, through May 26 at The New Group at Theatre Row (410 West 42nd Street). Official Opening Night is tonight, April 30 at 7:00 PM. Staroselsky, Theo Stockman and Claire van der Boom. Limited Off-Broadway engagement is slated April 5 - May 26 at The New Group at Theatre Row (410 West 42nd Street). Official Opening Night is set for Monday, April 30 at 7:00 PM.

The New Group presents the world premiere of An Early History of Fire, a new play by Tony Award-winning playwright David Rabe. Directed by Jo Bonney, this production features Gordon Clapp, Erin Darke, Jonny Orsini, Devin Ratray, Dennis Staroselsky, Theo Stockman and Claire van der Boom. Limited Off-Broadway engagement is slated tonight, April 30 through May 26 at The New Group @ Theatre Row (410 West 42nd Street). Official Opening Night is tonight, April 30 at 7:00 PM. See the photos below for a first look at the production!