New Group News

Hurricane Sandy has caused the cancellation of much of New York's theatre over the past few days. While most shows on Broadway are returning to their normal performance schedules beginning today, many of the city's off-Broadway and off-off-Broadway theatres are still struggling. Performances at The Public Theater, La MaMa, The Flea and more have been cancelled. Check the list below for the latest - and check back for updates as more information becomes available.

Dance New Amsterdam(DNA) welcomes back 2011 - 2012 RAW Directions artists Elke Luyten and Kira Alker, as well as DNA faculty member Kendra Portier, joining for the first of two SPLICE series this season. The series provides a collaborative performance setting that juxtaposes contemporary artists that share a common thread, however subtle or tangential. Luyten and Alker's Studies of Inertia is a world premiere encompassing Inertia, Part I, which was performed as part of DNA's last season's RAW Directions program. After almost a decade of extensive work with choreographers such as David Dorfman, DNA gives Portier the spotlight for her world premiere of Beautiful Weather for an Air Raid. Six performances will run over two weekends, November 30 - December 1 and December 7 - 8. All shows are at 7:30 p.m., with additional Saturday matinees at 3:00 p.m.

Mark Blum has joined the cast of The New Group's The Good Mother, written by Francine Volpe and directed by Scott Elliott. He joins Darren Goldstein, Gretchen Mol, Alfredo Narciso and Eric Nelsen in the premiere of this new play, replacing the previously announced Bill Sage, who had to withdraw due to a scheduling conflict prior to start of rehearsals. Mark Blum's Broadway credits include Gore Vidal's The Best Man, Twelve Angry Men, A Thousand Clowns, Lost in Yonkers, and more. He has appeared previously at The New Group in Wallace Shawn and Allen Shawn's play/opera The Music Teacher, among others.

Because of the MTA shutdown, tonight's performance (Sunday, October 28 at 7 PM) of David Johnston's CONEY at the New Ohio has been canceled. Performances for Monday, October 29 and Tuesday, October 30 are still scheduled to go on as planned.

Check out the recently released commercial for the show below and meet the cast with videos of them from past productions and roles!

Opening a new theater, like Griot Theatre Company, and mounting a first production - Shakespeare no less - is an undertaking that requires unwavering commitment to one's goals, fierce dedication to quality, and an abundance of positive energy to carry you through the bumps in the road.

Blue Coyote Theater Group has announced the World Premiere of CONEY, written by David Johnston and directed by Gary Shrader.

The New Group presents the first production in its 2012-2013 season, the world premiere of The Good Mother, a new play by Francine Volpe. Directed by Scott Elliott, this production features Mark Blum, Darren Goldstein, Gretchen Mol, Alfredo Narciso and Eric Nelsen. Previews begin October 29 in advance of an Official Opening Night on Thursday, November 15 at 7:00pm. A limited Off-Broadway engagement is slated through December 22 at The New Group @ Theatre Row (The Acorn Theatre / 410 West 42nd Street / Acorn Theatre). Check out a first look at Mol in the show below!

Yale Repertory Theatre, in a co-production with American Repertory Theater, presents the world premiere of Marie Antoinette by David Adjmi, directed by Rebecca Taichman. Marie Antoinette will be performed at Yale Repertory Theatre (1120 Chapel Street) October 26 through November 17. Opening Night is Thursday, November 1. The cast includes Fred Arsenault, Hannah Cabell, David Greenspan, Marin Ireland, Vin Knight, Jo Lampert, Polly Lee, Steven Rattazzi, Jake Silbermann, Teale Sperling, Brian Wiles, and Ashton Woerz.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Broadway production designer Derek McLane, who received the 2009 Tony Award for his scenic design for '33 Variations' has been selected by producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron to design the set for the 85th Academy Awards.

American Idiot's Van Hughes and Hair's Ryan Link will star in Son of a Gun, a contemporary folk rock musical previously developed with the O'Neill Theater Center, Joe's Pub and The Drama League. Performances begin November 1, 2012 at The Beckett Theatre at Theatre Row. Gabriel Barre (Andrew Lippa's The Wild Party, john & jen) directs.

Artists at Play presents the Los Angeles premiere of Edith Can Shoot Things and Hit Them, a heartfelt and witty drama about a makeshift family, written by A. Rey Pamatmat and directed by Jennifer Chang.

Artists at Play has taken on a risky venture by producing A. Rey Pamatmat's award-winning and gay-themed Edith Can Shoot Things and Hit Them. The play tackles profound issues, including parental abandonment, coming out as a teen and the redefining of family.

Today we are talking to one of Broadway's biggest homegrown stars who has appeared in the original New York productions of many memorable modern-day classics, among them THE WHO'S TOMMY, AIDA, THE LAST FIVE YEARS and DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS, in additions to highly-regarded turns in the first replacement cast of RENT, the Tommy Tune/Jeff Calhoun revival of GREASE, the Off-Broadway curiosity DEBBIE DOES DALLAS, the first (and only) LA mounting of Randy Newman's FAUST, as well as her starring role in the recent Lincoln Center Theater's production of WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN, and, of course, her own rapturously-received, award-winning solo showpiece, EVERYDAY RAPTURE - the convivially mesmerizing, one-of-a-kind Sherie Rene Scott. Discussing the major transitions in her life, including her transformation from ingenue to leading lady to solo performer, Scott illustrates a unique and varied career as well as opens up about the themes, songs, stories, experiences and encounters that formed the basis for her new solo piece premiering at 54 Below this week, PIECE OF MEAT. Additionally, Scott touches upon her work as the co-owner of the revolutionary Sh-K-Boom Records with her husband, Kurt Deutsch, as well as her own album work over the years, in addition to stories related to the recording of many of their most celebrated titles and the composers whose work is prominently featured on their releases - Tom Kitt, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Michael John LaChiusa and many more included. All of that, plus Mennonites, music and meat - and much, much more!

On November 8th, renowned singer-songwriter, composer, musician and poet Alicia Jo Rabins will debut her brand new, full-length performative song cycle A KADDISH FOR BERNIE MADOFF at Joe's Pub in New York City. A second performance follows on November 15th.

Z2 Entertainment presents Of Monsters And Men at the Boulder Theater on Wednesday, December 12th. Doors: 8:00 pm | Show: 9:00 pm. Tickets will go on sale to the public on Friday, October 19th, 2012 at 10:00 am for $30 general admission.

On November 8 renowned singer-songwriter, composer, musician and poet Alicia Jo Rabins will debut her brand new, full-length performative song cycle A Kaddish for Bernie Madoff at Joe's Pub in New York City.

Goodman Theatre announces four Chicago-based writers for its third season of the Playwrights Unit-a year-long residency program designed to support and develop new works. The appointed playwrights include Greg Allen, founding director of The Neo-Futurists and the creator of Too Much Light Makes The Baby Go Blind (30 Plays in 60 Minutes); Alice Austen, resident playwright at Chicago Dramatists and a member of Shanghai Low Theatricals; Ike Holter, founding member and resident writer of The Inconvenience and author of Hit the Wall; and Christopher Oscar Peña, whose play however long the night premiered at London's Old Vic. A partnership with Chicago Dramatists, the Playwrights Unit meets twice per month with members of the Goodman's artistic team to discuss their plays-in-progress and provide feedback for one another. The program includes readings of the playwrights' works-in-progress at Chicago Dramatists in early 2013, and culminates in June 2013 staged readings of their completed works at the Goodman. Playwrights Unit alumni include Philip Dawkins, Nambi E. Kelley, Elaine Romero and Martin Zimmerman (2011/2012 Season), and Seth Bockley, Lisa Dillman, Laura Jacqmin and Rohina Malik (2010/2011 Season).

Yale Repertory Theatre, in a co-production with American Repertory Theater, presents the world premiere of Marie Antoinette by David Adjmi, directed by Rebecca Taichman. Marie Antoinette will be performed at Yale Repertory Theatre (1120 Chapel Street) October 26 through November 17. Opening Night is Thursday, November 1. The cast includes Fred Arsenault, Hannah Cabell, David Greenspan, Marin Ireland, Vin Knight, Jo Lampert, Polly Lee, Steven Rattazzi, Jake Silbermann, Teale Sperling, Brian Wiles, and Ashton Woerz.

The first gathering of Milwaukee Repertory Theater's Associate Artists happened on Friday, September 28, 2012 at The Rep's Administrative Offices. 18 of the 19 Artistic Associates either attended in person or attended via teleconference. The gathering was to discuss the future of The Rep as well as the responsibilities of this newly-formed group of theater professionals.