Neil LaBute News

Continuing a tradition that dates back to 1920, when Burns Mantle founded the annual Best Plays Theater Yearbook, the Best Plays of 2008-2009 were announced today by editor Jeffrey Eric Jenkins.

The Open Fist Theatre Company presents their First Ever, FIRST LOOK FESTIVAL OF NEW PLAYS, with new works written by Frances Ya-Chu Cowhig, Steven Haworth, Karen Hartman, Julie Hebert, Neil LaBute, Rick Pagano and directed by Bjorn Johnson, Neil LaBute, Marya Mazor, Charles Otte and Randee Trabitz. The Festival began on Thursday, July 23 and runs through Sunday, September 13 at The NEW Open Fist Theatre, 6209 Santa Monica Blvd. (former home of The Actor's Gang) in Hollywood.

Stage, film and television star Anna Paquin has announced her engagement to fellow actor Stephen Moyer. Moyer co-stars as Paquin's boyfriend on the hit HBO series, True Blood.

Film Independent, the non-profit arts organization that produces the Spirit Awards and the Los Angeles Film Festival, announced today that the 2010 Spirit Awards will be held on Friday, March 5, 2010, and will air live and uncut at 8:00 p.m. PST/11:00 p.m. EST on IFC (Independent Film Channel). The nominations press conference will take place on Tuesday, December 1.

Cow. Slob. Pig. Size does matter. Aurora Theatre Company continues its 18th season with FAT PIG, bad-boy playwright Neil LaBute's exploration of body consciousness in contemporary America, the second play in a trilogy that began with The Shape of Things (produced by Aurora and directed by Tom Ross in 2003).

Love and Honor take center stage in St. Louis Actor's Studio third season 2009-10 season includes something for everyone.

The Phoenix Theatre of Indianapolis proudly announces the 2009-2010 season, which includes one National New Play Network rolling World Premiere, five Midwest Premieres and two plays that have just ended their Broadway runs, The Most Damaging Wound by Blair Singer and Reasons to be Pretty by Neil LaBute. Another highlight will be contemporary playwright Steven Dietz's Yankee Tavern produced at the Phoenix at the same time IRT will be presenting his play Becky's New Car, so that patrons can see two of Dietz's plays back to back on Indy stages.

Walking Shadow Theatre Company presents the world premiere production of SQUAWK by company member John Heimbuch at the Gremlin Theatre in the Minnesota Fringe Festival from August 1 through 8, 2009. SQUAWK is directed by Amy Rummenie.

Walking Shadow Theatre Company presents the world premiere production of SQUAWK by company member John Heimbuch at the Gremlin Theatre in the Minnesota Fringe Festival from August 1 through 8, 2009. SQUAWK is directed by Amy Rummenie.

Berkeley's acclaimed Aurora Theatre Company is proud to announce a call for submissions for its fifth 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 2010; the festival will coincide with the company's fully-staged World Premiere of 2009 GAP finalist Joel Drake Johnson's new play, The First Grade.

MCC THEATER (Robert LuPone, Bernard Telsey, Artistic Directors; William Cantler, Associate Artistic Director; Blake West, Executive Director) has announced its annual FreshPlay Festival of new plays by members of the youth company.

MCC THEATER (Robert LuPone, Bernard Telsey, Artistic Directors; William Cantler, Associate Artistic Director; Blake West, Executive Director) has announced its annual FreshPlay Festival of new plays by members of the youth company.

J.J. Kandel and John McCormack will present SUMMER SHORTS 3, their third annual festival of new American short plays, at 59E59 Theaters (59 East 59th Street). Performances begin Friday July 24th, and continue through Thursday August 27th.

Walking Shadow Theatre Company presents the world premiere production of SQUAWK by company member John Heimbuch at the Gremlin Theatre in the Minnesota Fringe Festival from August 1 through 8, 2009. SQUAWK is directed by Amy Rummenie.

The Rise and Fall of Little Voice is coming back to the West End in an exciting new production to play a strictly limited season at the Vaudeville theatre from Thursday 8 October. Press night is Tuesday 20 October at 7.00pm

The Open Fist Theatre Company presents their First Ever, FIRST LOOK FESTIVAL OF NEW PLAYS, with new works written by Frances Ya-Chu Cowhig, Steven Haworth, Karen Hartman, Julie Hebert, Neil LaBute, Rick Pagano and directed by Bjorn Johnson, Neil LaBute, Marya Mazor, Charles Otte and Randee Trabitz. The Festival will begin on Thursday, July 23 and run through Sunday, September 13 at The NEW Open Fist Theatre, 6209 Santa Monica Blvd. (former home of The Actor's Gang) in Hollywood.

J.J. Kandel and John McCormack will present SUMMER SHORTS 3, their third annual festival of new American short plays, at 59E59 Theaters (59 East 59th Street). Performances begin Friday July 24th, and continue through Thursday August 27th.

MCC Theater (Robert LuPone, Bernard Telsey, Artistic Directors; William Cantler, Associate Artistic Director; Blake West, Executive Director) has announced casting for two productions of its 2009-10 season.

Dangerous Ground presents 3! as part of the undergroundzero festival at Performance Space 122.

The Open Fist Theatre Company presents their First Ever, FIRST LOOK FESTIVAL OF NEW PLAYS, with new works written by Frances Ya-Chu Cowhig, Steven Haworth, Karen Hartman, Julie Hebert, Neil LaBute, Rick Pagano and directed by Bjorn Johnson, Neil LaBute, Marya Mazor, Charles Otte and Randee Trabitz. The Festival will begin on Thursday, July 23 and run through Sunday, September 13 at The NEW Open Fist Theatre, 6209 Santa Monica Blvd. (former home of The Actor's Gang) in Hollywood.