Neil LaBute News

Avila Productions, LLC, by special arrangement with Cherry Lane Theatre in association with Jack Sharkey, presents the world premiere of TERESA'S ECSTASY, written by Begonya Plaza and directed by Will Pomerantz.

Reasons to be Pretty by Neil LaBute concludes Philadelphia theatre Company's 2011-2012 season on May 25-June 24 at PTC's home at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre (Broad and Lombard Streets). Directed byMaria Mileaf, the ensemble cast features Paul Felder, James McMenamin, Genevieve Perrier, and Elizabeth Stanley.

Profiles Theatre continues its 2011-2012 Season with the Midwest premiere of The Break of Noon by Neil LaBute, directed by Artistic Director Joe Jahraus. Previews are March 30 - April 4, 2012 with the press opening on April 5, 2012. The production runs through May 20, 2012 at Profiles Theatre, 4147 N. Broadway in Chicago.

Award-winning actor JEREMY PIVEN (Entourage) will lead the cast as American entrepreneur, Harry Gordon Selfridge, in new drama MR SELFRIDGE (working title), about the life of the flamboyant and visionary American entrepreneur, produced by ITV Studios for ITV1.

New Edgecliff Theatre closes its 2011-2012 season with a return to the work of Neil LaBute. "reasons to be pretty" is one of the "Beauty Trilogy" of plays he wrote over a ten year period concerning our culture's fixation with vanity and physical attractiveness - the other two being "The Shape of Things" and "Fat Pig" (NET produced "Fat Pig" in 2007).

Berkeley's Aurora Theatre Company has announced the lineup for its 21st season.

MCC Theater presented the company's highly anticipated annual gala, Miscast last night, March 26, at the Hammerstein Ballroom. The starry line up of participants included Jonathan Groff ("Glee," Spring Awakening), Megan Hilty ("Smash," 9 to 5), Tony® Award-winner Nikki M. James (The Book of Mormon), Josh Gad ("Modern Family," The Book of Mormon), Norm Lewis (The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess), Jan Maxwell (Follies, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang), Rory O'Malley (The Book of Mormon), Constantine Maroulis ("American Idol," Rock of Ages), Nicole Parker ("Mad TV," a Miscast favorite returning for her 4th time). Check out photo coverage of the arrivals below!

MCC THEATER presented the company's highly anticipated annual gala, Miscast, last night, March 26 at the Hammerstein Ballroom. The starry line up of participants included Jonathan Groff ("Glee," Spring Awakening), Megan Hilty ("Smash," 9 to 5), Tony® Award-winner Nikki M. James (The Book of Mormon), Josh Gad ("Modern Family," The Book of Mormon), Norm Lewis (The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess), Jan Maxwell (Follies, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang), Rory O'Malley (The Book of Mormon), Constantine Maroulis ("American Idol," Rock of Ages), Nicole Parker ("Mad TV," a Miscast favorite returning for her 4th time).

MCC THEATER (Robert LuPone, Bernard Telsey and William Cantler, Artistic Directors; Blake West, Executive Director) will tonight present the company's highly anticipated annual gala. Complimenting the glittering, previously announced Miscast will be Josh Gad ("Modern Family," The Book of Mormon), Norm Lewis (The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess), Jan Maxwell (Follies, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang), Rory O'Malley (The Book of Mormon), Constantine Maroulis ("American Idol," Rock of Ages), and Nicole Parker ("Mad TV," a Miscast favorite returning for her 4th time). The event will be held Monday, March 26, 2012 at The Hammerstein Ballroom (311 West 34th Street).

Actor Eric McCormack appeared on CBS This Morning to discuss his role as a villainous senator in the current Broadway revival of Gore Vidal's THE BEST MAN.

TheaterWorks will present The Sty of the Blind Pig by Philip Hayes Dean.

TheaterWorks will present a summer-time World Premiere based on the unforgettable and deliciously entertaining memoir, I loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti by Guilia Melucci, adapted for the stage by Jacques Lamarre. TheaterWorks' Interim Artistic Director, Rob Ruggiero directs yet another new work for Hartford audiences in this heartwarming and comedic cook-in, which answers the question, "Is the cure for a broken heart … pasta?" I loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti runs June I through July 8, 2012 and is the 4th play of TheaterWorks' 2011-2012 Season (replacing Time Stands Still by David Margulies).

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 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.

Artists Rep will add a short run of Standing On Ceremony to their 11/12 Season with eight performances of plays. This run is a follow up to a one-night event last November where over 30 theatre companies internationally presented the plays in solidarity to increase public awareness about marriage equality. Enthusiastic audiences from that event encouraged Artists Rep to bring the show back. Performances will be offered April 6 through April 21.

Academy Award® nominee and Emmy® Award winner David Strathairn (Dr. Austin Sloper) will join Academy Award® nominee Jessica Chastain (Catherine Sloper) in the Tony Award®-winning play The Heiress. Written by Ruth Goetz & Augustus Goetz, The Heiress will be directed by Tony Award® nominated playwright and director Moisés Kaufman and will open in the Fall of 2012 at a theatre to be announced.

Michael Attenborough will direct Eduardo de Filippo's Filumena in a new English version by Tanya Ronder running at the Almeida from 15 March - 12 May 2012, with press night on 22 March at 7pm. Designs are by Robert Jones, with lighting by Tim Mitchell and sound by John Leonard. Filumena is sponsored by Pinsent Masons.

The 2012 Tribeca Film Festival (TFF), presented by founding sponsor American Express, today announced its lineup of 60 short films, 26 of which are world premieres.

MCC THEATER has announced fabulous additions to their all-star line-up for the company's highly anticipated annual gala. Complimenting the glittering, previously announced Miscast will be Josh Gad ("Modern Family," The Book of Mormon), Norm Lewis (The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess), Jan Maxwell (Follies, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang), Rory O'Malley (The Book of Mormon) and Nicole Parker ("Mad TV," a Miscast favorite returning for her 4th time). The event will be held Monday, March 26, 2012 at The Hammerstein Ballroom (311 West 34th Street).

80 West Productions has announced, the first Los Angeles production granted full rights by the author for their production of, BRILIANT TRACES, written by Cindy Lou Johnson and directed by John Hindman.

The Open Fist Theatre Company has announced the next production in their 2012 season, MOON OVER BUFFALO, written by Ken Ludwig and directed by Bjørn Johnson, featuring fight choreography by B.H. Barry.