Rinne Groff News

Theater J Artistic Director Adam Immerwahr and Managing Director Jojo Ruf have announced Theater J's 30th anniversary season of five plays and two musicals. The nation's largest and most prominent Jewish theater company, Theater J celebrates its anniversary with a season that features all the elements that have become signature to its work: stories that illuminate the Jewish condition, joyfully celebrate humanity, and challenge us to empathize and think more deeply about the world.

Playwrights Horizons (Artistic Director Tim Sanford, Managing Director Leslie Marcus) today announced the cast and creative team of Unknown Soldier, a sweeping, elegiac chamber musical that melts time, spanning three generations as it follows a woman's journey to unearth the secrets buried in her family's past. With a book and lyrics by Daniel Goldstein, making his New York writing debut, Unknown Soldier is also the last work from the late, beloved Michael Friedman (music and lyrics) to be premiered in the city. Together, they created a work that profoundly illustrates the search into the existences of those who've passed, connecting the love and loss, hope and regret of two womena?'and a country forever scarred by wara?'across a century. Unknown Soldier follows Ellen Rabinowitz, a woman who's inherited her grandmother's homea?'and with it, a clue that her understanding of her family and of herself are incomplete. Directed by Trip Cullman and choreographed by Patrick McCollum, this New York premiere production will take place in the Mainstage Theater at Playwrights Horizons (416 West 42nd Street), February 14-March 29, 2020.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director, Oskar Eustis; Executive Director, Patrick Willingham) announced complete casting today for the New York premiere of THE VAGRANT TRILOGY, a Public Theater commission, written by Emerging Writers Group Alumna Mona Mansour. Directed by Mark Wing-Davey, THE VAGRANT TRILOGY begins performances in the LuEsther Hall on Tuesday, March 17 with a Joseph Papp Free Preview performance, and will run through Sunday, April 26 with an official press opening on Wednesday, April 1.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director, Oskar Eustis; Executive Director, Patrick Willingham) announced a second and final extension today for the New York revival of A BRIGHT ROOM CALLED DAY, written by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Tony Kushner. Directed by Oskar Eustis, this scorching new version of Kushner's first play began performances in the Anspacher Theater on Tuesday, October 29 with an official press opening on Monday, November 25. A BRIGHT ROOM CALLED DAY was originally scheduled to close on December 8, but has now been extended twice through Sunday, December 22.

Merrimack Repertory Theatre (MRT) announced today that critically acclaimed Boston actress Karen MacDonald will star next April in Erma Bombeck: At Wit's End by Allison Engel and Margaret Engel, and Terry Berliner, MRT's Interim Artistic Director, will direct.

a??a??a??a??a??a??a??Theater J, a program of the Edlavitch DCJCC and the nation's largest and most prominent Jewish theater, announces readings of five plays during the third year of its signature Yiddish Theater Lab: Golem Stories by Edward Einhorn on October 28, 2019; The Red Beads by Rinne Groff (adapted from a play by Osip Dymov) on December 2, 2019; A Hidden Corner by Peretz Hirschbein, translated by David S. Lifson, on February 3, 2020; One of Those by Paula Prilutski, adapted and translated by Allen Lewis Rickman, on April 6, 2020; and Miriam by Alix Sobler, freely adapted from Peretz Hirschbein's Miriam, date to be determined. Tickets are Pay-What-You-Choose and are available at www.theaterj.org or 202-777-3210. All readings are at 1529 16th Street NW, Washington, DC in

Kansas City Repertory Theatre (KCRep), announced the full schedule for this season's popular Monday Night Playwright Series, which opened with BURIED ROOTS, its first play of the series, on Monday. The series features a line-up of new and returning playwrights including Michelle Tyrene Johnson, Darren Canady, James Still, Migdalia Cruz, Mashuq Mushtaq Deen and Ellen McLaughlin. These free public events take place on the UMKC campus at the Spencer Theatre Donor Lounge.  

Just last night, The Public Theater celebrated its Annual Gala, WOMEN OF THE PUBLIC, at the Delacorte Theater. Directed by Leigh Silverman, with music direction by Mary-Mitchell Campbell, it celebrated those who shaped our past and guide our future. 

Clubbed Thumb announces initial casting for SUMMERWORKS, its annual series of new plays.

Theater J, the nation's largest and most prominent Jewish theater, continues its signature Yiddish Theater Lab with readings of two plays in May. The plays are The Rented Bridegroom by Rinne Groff (adapted from a play by Osip Dymov) on May 6 at Foundry Church and Yankl the Blacksmith by David Pinski on May 20 at the Goethe-Institut. These readings follow the first full production of the Yiddish Theater Lab,

Lynne Meadow (Artistic Director) and Barry Grove (Executive Producer) are pleased to announce the complete casting for the world premiere of Continuity, the new play by Lortel and Drama Desk Award nominee Bess Wohl (Small Mouth Sounds, American Hero) and directed by Tony Award nominee Rachel Chavkin (Hadestown; Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812). The production will feature Max Baker (1984, The Explorers Club), Jasmine Batchelor (The River), Rosal Colon ('Orange is the New Black,' Between Riverside and Crazy), Curran Connor (Pidgeon, A Picture of Autumn), Garcia ('Tales of the City'), Darren Goldstein (Lillian Hellman's The Little Foxes, The Madrid), Alex Hurt (Cardinal, The Whirligig) and Megan Ketch (The Big Wedding, 'American Gothic').

Theater J Artistic Director Adam Immerwahr and Managing Director Jojo Ruf announce the 2019-2020 season, welcoming home audiences to a beautiful and refreshed theater located in the newly renovated Edlavitch DC Jewish Community Center on 16th Street. The season includes four plays and one musical, all being produced for the first time in DC, as well as the triumphant return of a recent Theater J hit. From an intoxicating new musical set in Tel Aviv based on the Song of Songs to the late-career masterpiece by multiple Pulitzer Prize-winner Edward Albee, Theater J's season celebrates journeys of every kind with a provocative and ambitious slate of plays. Of the six shows, three have future runs: two in New York City and one at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park.

Tony winner Christopher Gattelli (Newsies, The Cher Show, My Fair Lady, SpongeBob) will direct an invite-only, developmental reading of the new musical, The Song of Bernadette, March 14th & 15th, starring Dear Evan Hansen's Mallory Bechtel as Bernadette, alongside Tony Winner Alice Ripley (Next to Normal, Side Show, American Psycho), Derek Klena (Carrie, Dogfight, Anastasia) and Drew Gehling (Waitress, Dave).

Five-time Obie Award-winning theater company Clubbed Thumb (Maria Striar, Producing Artistic Director; Michael Bulger, Associate Artistic Director; Quinn Metal Corbin, Advancement Director) is proud to announce the line-up for SUMMERWORKS, its annual series of new plays. Now in its 24th season, SUMMERWORKS will run May 17 through June 29 at The Wild Project (195 E 3rd Street) in Manhattan, and will feature productions of three new plays: LUNCH BUNCH by Sarah Einspanier and directed by Tara Ahmadinejad; YOU NEVER TOUCHED THE DIRT by Zhu Yi and directed by Ken Rus Schmoll; and KING PHILIP'S HEAD IS STILL ON THAT PIKE JUST DOWN THE ROAD by Daniel Glenn and directed by Caitlin Ryan O'Connell.

Magic Theatre (Loretta Greco, Artistic Director and Cierra Cass, Interim Managing Director) announced today the complete cast of Mfoniso Udofia's World Premiere In Old Age, the Company's first production of 2019. In Old Age will be directed by Victor Malana Maog. Previews begin on Wednesday, March 27, 2019 at Magic Theatre's Fort Mason location (Fort Mason, 2 Marina Blvd., Building D, 3rd Floor, San Francisco, CA 94123), with a press opening on Wednesday, April 3, 2019 at 8:00 p.m. Tickets range from $15 - $75 and are on-sale now at MagicTheatre.org.

Currently celebrating its 40th Anniversary Season, Second Stage Theater (Carole Rothman, President and Artistic Director; Casey Reitz, Executive Director) will welcome two new Associate Artistic Directors to the staff. Beginning next month, Christie Evangelisto and Bennett Leak will join the artistic staff of the acclaimed company, working under 2ST President and Artistic Director Carole Rothman. A third Associate Artistic Director will be named in the coming weeks.

Five-time Obie Award-winning theater company Clubbed Thumb (Maria Striar, Producing Artistic Director; Michael Bulger, Associate Artistic Director; Quinn Metal Corbin, Advancement Director) is proud to announce the return of Will Arbery's PLANO, directed by Taylor Reynolds. First seen last year in the 23rd SUMMERWORKS season, PLANO returns beginning April 8 for a limited engagement through May 11. Opening night is set for April 13 at the Connelly Theatre (220 East 4th Street). Tickets are now on sale at: https://www.artful.ly/clubbedthumb/store/events.

Legendary choreographer, National Medal of Arts (2013) and MacArthur "Genius" Award (1994) recipient, and artistic director of New York Live Arts, Bill T. Jones welcomes a discussion with Oskar Eustis-Artistic Director of New York's Public Theater, who has nurtured one game-changing hit after another for the Public, including the award-winning musicals Fun Home and Hamilton. As both leaders in the arts world and change-makers, Jones and Eustis delve into the responsibilities of both arts organizations and artists.

Legendary choreographer, National Medal of Arts (2013) and MacArthur "Genius" Award (1994) recipient, and artistic director of New York Live Arts, Bill T. Jones welcomes a discussion with Oskar Eustis-Artistic Director of New York's Public Theater, who has nurtured one game-changing hit after another for the Public, including the award-winning musicals Fun Home and Hamilton. As both leaders in the arts world and change-makers, Jones and Eustis delve into the responsibilities of both arts organizations and artists.