Playwrights Horizons News

New theater company comes to Maplewood, NJ from the prolific vision of Gregory Omar Osborne. The launch of Progressive Theater is made possible through the support of South Orange/Maplewood Coalition on Race & Maplewood Township bringing you THE BUBBLY BLACK GIRL SHEDS HER CHAMELEON SKIN in lieu of Black History Month, February 16th & 17th. Progressive Theater aims to tell culturally enriched stories that empower people of color, and captivate all audiences with the focus being on the change we want to see in the theater community.

Playwrights Horizons presents playwright and performer Halley Feiffer's blistering dark comedy The Pain of My Belligerence, directed by Trip Cullman, March 29-May 12. Across eight years and three Presidential elections, this play Feiffer and Cullman's sixth collaboration holds the fraught power dynamics of a relationship up against the country's current tug-of-war of regression and profound awakening regarding gender. Feiffer's winsomely vicious writing (The New York Times) reaches new heights in this world premiere production, a Playwrights Horizons' Harold and Mimi Steinberg Commission. Cullman's direction of Feiffer's work has been praised for evoking open-wound performances steered as close to festering as audiences' stomachs allow (The New York Times). In The Pain of My Belligerence, Feiffer and Cullman wield the cutting social humor they've honed through six years of work together to shed light on how we perpetuate our roles within a patriarchal culture, looking towards the promise of a new paradigm.

Playwrights Horizons (Artistic Director Tim Sanford, Managing Director Leslie Marcus) has announced that Carla R. Stewart (Broadway, National Tour, and Regional: The Color Purple) will play The Voice of the River in the world premiere production of Tori Sampson's If Pretty Hurts Ugly Must Be a Muhf**ka, directed by Obie winner Leah C. Gardiner (Born Bad) and choreographed by Raja Feather Kelly. Performances begin Today, February 15, and continue through March 31 in the Mainstage Theater at Playwrights Horizons (416 W 42nd St, New York, NY 10036). The production opens officially on the evening of Sunday, March 10.

In a New York premiere that marks a new chapter for the 27-year-old company rooted in the New York City's vibrant Asian-American community, Yangtze Repertory Theatre tackles JUNE IS THE FIRST FALL, an award-winning contemporary play by Yilong Liu exploring the themes of identity, sexuality, and immigration.

Vilna, a new play by Ira Fuchs directed by Joseph Discher, will begin its limited Off-Broadway World Premiere engagement at the Theatre at St. Clement's (423 West 46th Street, between Ninth & Tenth Avenues) on Monday March 11th. Opening Night is set for Wednesday March 20th (7pm). This limited Off-Broadway engagement continues through Sunday April 14th only.

Commonwealth Shakespeare Company (CSC) has added three performances to its highly anticipated upcoming production of Birdy, adapted by Naomi Wallace from the novel by William Wharton, and directed by Steven Maler. The production now runs February 27 through March 17 at the Carling-Sorenson Theater at Babson College in Wellesley.

Nora's back, and this time, she's kicking down the door! Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati presents the regional premiere of the scintillating comedy that's sweeping the nation, A Doll's House, Part 2. Nominated for eight Tony Awards, Lucas Hnath's completely unauthorized sequel to Ibsen's theatrical classic is a thoughtful and contemporary commentary on marriage and how the roles of women have-and haven't-changed over time. Playing March 2-30, 2019. Directed by Regina Pugh. Production Sponsor is John Goering.

Magic Window Productions will present the Off-Broadway Premiere of RANDOM ACTS, a drama written and performed by Obie Award winner Renata Hinrichs (A Simple Heart, Debbie Does Dallas, Einstein's Dreams). Directed by Jessi D. Hill, previews begin February 14 at TBG Mainstage Theatre. Opening is set for Wednesday, February 20.

Magic Window Productions will present the Off-Broadway Premiere of RANDOM ACTS, a drama written and performed by Obie Award winner Renata Hinrichs (A Simple Heart, Debbie Does Dallas, Einstein's Dreams). Directed by Jessi D. Hill, previews begin February 14 at TBG Mainstage Theatre. Opening is set for Wednesday, February 20.

Never underestimate the power and talent of a woman. 11 Fearless Women Playwrights will have their plays grace the stage in the Strawberry One-Act Festival with BOLD new ideas that are unapologetic and thought provoking! Beginning with JESSICA MARIE FISHER'S Welcome To Narnia, to JO RODRIGUEZ'S Why We're Here, NATASHA COBB'S Doin' Good and CAROLYN MOSES' Adam's Eve; these women playwrights tackle everything from sexual abuse, identity, empowerment, careers, family and chasing Jibouti forces.

National Endowment for the Arts Acting Chairman Mary Anne Carter has approved more than $27 million in grants as part of the NEA's first major funding announcement for fiscal year 2019. Included in this announcement is Rhinebeck Writers Retreat's award of $10,000 for their musical theatre writer residencies and Triple R program - 2 readings and a residency.

Geva Theatre Center unveils the play chosen for Plays in Progress 2019 to be held in the Fielding Stage at 7pm on February 25. Plays in Progress are vibrant and innovative plays by some of the most exciting playwrights working today. Through Geva's Plays in Progress program, writers can hear their work performed, discuss the play with the audience and then continue to work on the play to its next level.

San Francisco Playhouse announced casting for their first Sandbox Series production of 2019 - the world premiere of A White Girl's Guide to International Terrorism, written by Chelsea Marcantel. Morgan Green will direct. The play was commissioned by San Francisco Playhouse.

Atlantic Theater Company is proud to announce that Little Known Facts at Atlantic, a live podcast hosted by Ilana Levine, will be returning as a full series this spring. Little Known Facts at Atlantic was originally presented as a one night only event featuring Atlantic Ensemble member Mary Steenburgen and Ted Danson. Following the first event's success, three additional live podcasts have been announced.

Theatre enthusiasts packed the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts last night to hear Founding Artistic Director Robert Kelley and Executive Director Phil Santora of TheatreWorks Silicon Valley reveal the lineup for the company's 50th season, which launches this summer. Kelley's 50th and final season as Artistic Director of TheatreWorks Silicon Valley includes triumphant returns of TheatreWorks favorites, bold premieres developed at the company's annual New Works Festival, and celebrated works from the nation's leading playwrights.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director, Oskar Eustis; Executive Director, Patrick Willingham) announced complete casting today for the world premiere of SOCRATES, written by acclaimed actor, director, and writer Tim Blake Nelson. Directed by Tony Award winner Doug Hughes and anchoring the Onassis Festival 2019: Democracy is Coming, SOCRATES will begin previews on Tuesday, April 2, with a Joseph Papp Free Preview performance on Wednesday, April 3 in The Public's Martinson Hall. This powerful new play runs through Sunday, May 19, with an official press opening on Tuesday, April 16.

Magic Window Productions will present the Off-Broadway Premiere of RANDOM ACTS, a drama written and performed by Obie Award winner Renata Hinrichs (A Simple Heart, Debbie Does Dallas, Einstein's Dreams). Directed by Jessi D. Hill, previews begin February 14 at TBG Mainstage Theatre. Opening is set for Wednesday, February 20.

Ars Nova, "one of the most adventurous Off-Broadway companies" (New York Times), under the leadership of Founding Artistic Director Jason Eagan and Managing Director Renee Blinkwolt, is proud to kick-off Ars Nova at Greenwich House with the world premiere commission of Mrs. Murray's Menagerie, created by The Mad Ones and Phillip James Brannon, Brad Heberlee, Carmen M. Herlihy and January LaVoy. Directed by Lila Neugebauer, Mrs. Murray's Menagerie marks The Mad Ones' first production since their critically acclaimed play Miles For Mary and celebrates 10 years of "triumphantly original" and "skillfully acted" (New York Times) theater that is saturated with "precision, invention, and richness" (Time Out New York). The Mad Ones has been Ars Nova's Company-in-Residence since 2015, developing Mrs. Murray's Menagerie and Miles For Mary.

Playwrights Horizons (Artistic Director Tim Sanford, Managing Director Leslie Marcus) has announced that Carla R. Stewart (Broadway, National Tour, and Regional: The Color Purple) will play The Voice of the River in the world premiere production of Tori Sampson's If Pretty Hurts Ugly Must Be a Muhf**ka, directed by Obie winner Leah C. Gardiner (Born Bad) and choreographed by Raja Feather Kelly. Performances begin Friday, February 15, and continue through March 31 in the Mainstage Theater at Playwrights Horizons (416 W 42nd St, New York, NY 10036). The production opens officially on the evening of Sunday, March 10.

Collected Effort is thrilled to announce the world premiere of Lloyd Khaner's LIFE BOAT which will be performed in March 2019 at Theater 54 at Shetler Studios and Theaters as part of The Riant Theater's Strawberry Theatre Festival. The play is directed by Benjamin Viertel (Bedaggered, Loserville).