Neil LaBute News

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director) has announced the complete cast for its upcoming production of the new musical THE BLUE FLOWER: Sebastian Arcelus (Buddy in Elf, Wicked, Jersey Boys), Marc Kudisch (Three-time Tony Award nominee for 9 to 5, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Thoroughly Modern Millie), Meghan McGeary (The Blue Flower at A.R.T.), Joseph Medeiros (Irving Berlin's White Christmas), Julia Osborne (National Tour of South Pacific), Graham Rowat (Guys and Dolls), Aaron Serotsky (August: Osage County), and Teal Wicks (Elphaba in Wicked).

Philadelphia Theatre Company opens its 2011-2012 season with the Philadelphia premiere of John Logan's Tony Award-winning drama Red October 14-November 13 at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre (Broad and Lombard Streets). Directed by Anders Cato, the two-person cast features Broadway veteran Stephen Rowe and Oscar nominee Haley Joel Osment.

MCC Theater presents the first production of their 2011-2012 season: Jeff Talbott's The Submission, directed by Walter Bobbie. Performances of this funny and furiously intelligent new play begin at the Lucille Lortel Theatre (121 Christopher Street, NYC) on September 8, 2011 and continue through October 22, 2011. An official opening is set for September 27, 2011. In the video below, Jonathan Groff chats about staying in shape in preparation for the show. Click below to hear what he has to say!

Michael Attenborough will direct the UK premiere of Neil LaBute's Reasons To Be Pretty. Reasons To Be Pretty will run at the Almeida Theatre from 10 November 2011 - 14 January 2012 with press night on 17 November.

Profiles Theatre announces new dates for the run of A Behanding in Spokane by Martin McDonagh, directed by Steppenwolf ensemble member Rick Snyder.

What drives our loyalties? How do we say what we mean? What is it worth to be a pretty girl? Greg, Steph, Kent and Carly are plagued by these questions and their own struggles to find the answers - whether or not they are aware of these dilemmas remains to be seen... The Second Season of Duke City Repertory Theatre opens with this biting, visceral exploration of relationships, scathingly crafted by acclaimed playwright Neil LaBute.

The Katselas Theatre Company and Rogue Machine present Rogue Machine's production of SMALL ENGINE REPAIR by John Pollono. Due to overwhelming demand, the critical and commercial smash hit (CRITIC'S CHOICE-LA Times; GO - LA Weekly, CRITIC'S PICK-Backstage, Ovation RECOMMENDED, Roar of the Crowd-- Goldstar) will extend the performance schedule through August 27th at Beverly Hills Playhouse.

Primary Stages will host the Fifth Annual New York One-Minute Play Festival, the proceeds from which will benefit the Primary Stages Einhorn School of Performing Arts (ESPA).

Central Avenue Breakdown will get its World Premiere at the 2011 New York Musical Theatre Festival.

Size matters, but that doesn't mean that longer plays are better plays. In the abbreviated form, playwrights are free to explore through character, genre, dialogue, and structure in ways that are frowned upon in longer works from a commercial standpoint.

Profiles Theatre opens its 2011-2012 Season with the Midwest premiere of A Behanding in Spokane by Martin McDonagh, directed by Steppenwolf ensemble member Rick Snyder. Please note changes with the previously announced dates: Previews are September 9-13, 2011 with the press opening on September 14, 2011. The production runs September 14, 2011 - October 30, 2011 at Profiles Theatre, 4147 N. Broadway in Chicago.

Off-Broadway's The New Group proudly announces that Lily Rabe will star in the company's world premiere of David Rabe's An Early History of Fire. Directed by Jo Bonney, this production opens in April 2012 at The New Group @ Theatre Row as part of the company's 2011-2012 Season.

Walking Shadow kicks off their 2011-2012 season with Neil LaBute's scathing comedy reasons to be pretty, being presented from September 16 - October 2 at the Guthrie Theater's Dowling Studio.

What drives our loyalties? How do we say what we mean? What is it worth to be a pretty girl? Greg, Steph, Kent and Carly are plagued by these questions and their own struggles to find the answers - whether or not they are aware of these dilemmas remains to be seen... The Second Season of Duke City Repertory Theatre opens with this biting, visceral exploration of relationships, scathingly crafted by acclaimed playwright Neil LaBute.

Profiles Theatre opens its 2011-2012 Season with the Midwest premiere of A Behanding in Spokane by Martin McDonagh, directed by Steppenwolf ensemble member Rick Snyder. Please note changes with the previously announced dates: Previews are September 9-13, 2011 with the press opening on September 14, 2011. The production runs September 14, 2011 - October 30, 2011 at Profiles Theatre, 4147 N. Broadway in Chicago.

Throughline Artists (J.J. Kandel and John McCormack, Producing Directors) presents SUMMER SHORTS 5, their fifth annual festival of new American short plays from established and emerging writers, at 59E59 Theaters (59 East 59th Street). Performances began Thursday August 4th, and continue through Saturday September 3rd. This season's cast includes Mando Alvarado, Jeff Binder, Christian Campbell, James Chen, Nick Choksi, Erin Darke, Crystal Finn, Arthur French, Meg Gibson, Kathryn Grody, Beth Hoyt, Neal Huff, J.J. Kandel, Megan Ketch, TEd Koch, Jodie Markell, Shirley A. Rumierk, Socorro Santiago, Rebecca Schull, Ryan Cyrus Shams, Victor Slezak, AiDan Sullivan, Louise Sullivan, Maryann Towne, Ryan Tramont, and Lydia Weintraub. Check out photos fro the opening night reception below!

Agatha Christie, the author whose novels and short stories have found their place on hit television shows and movies worldwide, penned Crooked House in 1949. To date, it remains one of Christie's works that has yet to appear on screen.

Throughline Artists (J.J. Kandel and John McCormack, Producing Directors) will present SUMMER SHORTS 5, their fifth annual festival of new American short plays from established and emerging writers, at 59E59 Theaters (59 East 59th Street).

The cast of MCC Theater's Submission, starring Jonathan Groff (Spring Awakening, 'Glee'), Will Rogers (When the Rain Stops Falling), Eddie Kaye Thomas (American Pie, HBO's 'How to Make It in America'), and Rutina Wesley ('True Blood,' The Vertical Hour) met the press today, August 8. The production will be directed by Tony Award-Winner Walter Bobbie (School for Lies, Chicago). Performances begin at the Lucille Lortel Theatre (121 Christopher Street, NYC) on September 8, 2011 and continue through October 22, 2011. An official opening is set for September 26, 2011. Check out photos from the event below!

MCC THEATER (Robert LuPone, Bernard Telsey, William Cantler, Artistic Directors; Blake West, Executive Director) has announced that tickets will go on-sale today, August 9, 2011 at 3:00 p.m.