Rehana Lew Mirza News

Kathy Evans, Founding Executive Director of Rhinebeck Writers Retreat, announced the 17 writers and 8 new musicals selected for the fifth summer of weeklong retreats. For eight consecutive weeks beginning July 5th, each writing team will have a residency in Rhinebeck, New York. Writers are provided a private home, transportation, food, and a $400 stipend. This year's writers include Obie winner Kirsten Childs, Tony nominee Elizabeth Davis, and 2015 Jonathan Larson award-winners Charlie Sohne, Tim Rosser, and Sam Willmott, who also just won the Kleban Prize. 

The American Theatre Wing recognizes the recipients of the 2015 Jonathan Larson Grants: writing team Tim Rosser (composer) & Charlie Sohne (composer) receiving $10,000, Sam Willmott (composer/lyricist) receiving $10,000 and a week-long residency at the Running Deer Musical Theatre Lab, and Max Vernon (composer/lyricist) receiving $10,000.

The American Theatre Wing announced today that the recipients of the 2015 Jonathan Larson Grants are writing team Tim Rosser (composer) & Charlie Sohne (composer) receiving $10,000, Sam Willmott (composer/lyricist) receiving $10,000 and a week-long residency at the Running Deer Musical Theatre Lab, and Max Vernon (composer/lyricist) receiving $10,000.

Ma-Yi Theater - one of the nation's leading companies dedicated to the development and performance of new works by Asian-American playwrights - will present a reading of the new play with songs, PAPER DOLLS by Philip Himberg on Monday, March 9 at 3:30 pm at The Acorn Theatre on Theatre Row (410 W. 42 St.)

The award-winning, nationally-renowned Ma-Yi Theater Company - one of the country's leading producers of new works for the stage by Asian-American writers - will continue its 2014-15 season this spring with the world premiere of SOLDIER X by Rehana Lew Mirza, with preview performances set to begin March 24 prior to an official opening night on March 31 at the HERE (145 Sixth Avenue, enter on Dominick Street, one block south of Spring) in NYC. SOLDIER X is directed by Lucie Tiberghien.

Adam Gwon, Julianne Wick Davis, Bobby Cronin, Sam Willmott, Ewalt & Walker, and Andre Catrini star in INSPIRED 5: A Benefit Concert for Animal Haven & The Second Chance Rescue, tonight, October 18 at 7pm at The Laurie Beechman Theatre.

Adam Gwon, Julianne Wick Davis, Bobby Cronin, Sam Willmott, Ewalt & Walker, and Andre Catrini star in INSPIRED 5: A Benefit Concert for Animal Haven & The Second Chance Rescue, on SATURDAY 10/18 at 7pm at The Laurie Beechman Theatre.

In celebration of Asian Heritage month, the Equal Employment Opportunity Committee of Actors' Equity Association will present 'Orphans of the Nightingale of the Desert Abridged: A Bollywood Spectacular,' an evening of short plays written by members of the Ma-Yi Theater Company Writers Lab. This one-night only, free community event will take place on Tuesday, May 27 at 7:30 p.m. (doors open at 7:00 p.m.; first come, first served) at the Engelman Recital Hall at Baruch Performing Arts Center (55 Lexington Avenue at East 25th Street).

InterAct Theatre Company recently announced its annual recipients of their new play commissions and development awards. Since 2008, InterAct has both monetarily and artistically supported the development of new plays with their 20/20 Commissions. The recipients of this year's 20/20 New Play Commissions are Rehana Lew Mirza (far left) for her play Neighborhood Watch, and Idris Goodwin (middle) for Sanctity. Along with the New Play Commission, InterAct awarded George Brant (far right) a Development Award for his play, Miracle: A Tragedy. Brant's play Grounded is currently being produced in New York. A full list of this year's finalists can be found by visiting www.interacttheatre.org/new-plays/2013-winners.

The NATIONAL NEW PLAY NETWORK (NNPN), the country's alliance of non-profit theaters that champions the development, production, and continued life of new plays, will award grants of over $100,000 for Commissions and Residencies in 2013-14. The Awards were announced at the organization's Annual Conference on June 4 in Dallas, TX, hosted by Core Member Theater Kitchen Dog Theater.

The Alliance National Graduate Playwriting Competition continues to spotlight the best emerging playwrights with a full production for the competition winner and staged readings for four competition finalists. BIKE AMERICA, the ninth competition winner, will premiere on the Hertz Stage today, February 1 - 24, 2013. Opening night is February 6, 2013. BIKE AMERICA is written by Mike Lew from the Juilliard Drama Division and will be directed by Mortiz von Stuelpnagel.

The Alliance National Graduate Playwriting Competition continues to spotlight the best emerging playwrights with a full production for the competition winner and staged readings for four competition finalists. BIKE AMERICA, the ninth competition winner, will premiere on the Hertz Stage February 1 - 24, 2013. Opening night is February 6, 2013. BIKE AMERICA is written by Mike Lew from the Juilliard Drama Division and will be directed by Mortiz von Stuelpnagel.

The Araca Group has announced a biannual series of new play readings will return for the fifth time for an abbreviated edition today, December 10th and the 13th.

The Araca Group has announced a biannual series of new play readings will return for the fifth time for an abbreviated edition on December 10th & 13th.

The Playwrights' Foundation announces the 2012 Fall Rough Readings Series October 1- November 13, 2012 at Stanford University and in San Francisco. The fall readings series features: Mike Lew's Bike America October 1 & 2; Dominic Orlando's Reparations October 22 & 23; and Dominique Morisseau Sunset Baby November 12 & 13. The 2012 Rough Readings Series (10/1-12/13, 2012) are presented on Mondays in CERAS Hall and Roble Hall at Stanford University and Tuesdays at The Thick House and A.C.T.'s Costume Shop in San Francisco.

At the conclusion of this final season, which begins with the world premiere of A Map of Virtue by Erin Courtney in February, the collective of American playwrights will have realized full productions by each of its 13 members.