Robert Schenkkan News

As 2012 comes to a close, many Austin theater companies are putting together their 2013-2014 season. Given the incredible talent in this town and the large number of daring, courageous theater groups in the Austin area, here are my picks for 13 plays that I'd love to see produced in the 2013-2014 season.

The Oregon Shakespeare Festival continues to expand its ongoing commitment to the development and production of new work with five new commissions. American Revolutions: the United States History Cycle adds Ayad Akhtar, Kirsten Greenidge, Stephen Karam, Lisa Loomer and Karen Zacarias to its list of commissioned writers.

Columbia University Libraries, on behalf of the board of the Edward M. Kennedy Prize for Drama Inspired by American History, has announced the five finalist plays for works produced for the first time in 2012. The Prize was established in 2012 and these are the first group of finalists to be named by the Prize Board.

Seattle Repertory Theatre announced the line-up for its first New Play Festival in Winter 2013, including four plays-in-progress from three Seattle playwrights and a native Idahoan. From Jan. 5 to Feb. 3, Seattle Rep will present workshops and readings of new works by Robert Schenkkan (By the Waters of Babylon, The Kentucky Cycle), Samuel D. Hunter (A Bright New Boise, The Whale), and Elizabeth Heffron (New Patagonia, Mitzi's Abortion). Newcomer Justin Huertas rounds out the group with an innovative debut. Established Northwest directors Sheila Daniels (Dancing at Lughnasa, Seattle Rep; Ramayana, ACT) and Artistic Director Jerry Manning (I Am My Own Wife, Of Mice and Men) will direct.

The Oregon Shakespeare Festival will produce the world premiere of All the Way, written by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Robert Schenkkan and directed by Bill Rauch, OSF artistic director. The production is the fourth commission fromAmerican Revolutions: the United States History Cycle to premiere at OSF and the second this season. All the Way is the third Robert Schenkkan play produced at OSF (Handler, 2002; By the Waters of Babylon, 2005).

The Oregon Shakespeare Festival will open the world premiere production of Party People at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, July 7 in the New Theatre. Written by UNIVERSES (Mildred Ruiz-Sapp, Steven Sapp, William Ruiz, a.k.a. Ninja), the play is directed by Liesl Tommy, who last directed Ruined (2010) at OSF. Party People will run through November 3.

Alley Theatre Artistic Director Gregory Boyd announces the cast and creative team for the Alley Theatre's production of the Conor McPherson's THE SEAFARER. The Seafarer, by Conor McPherson and directed by Gregory Boyd, begins previews Friday April 6, opens Wednesday April 11 and runs through Sunday, April 29, 2012 on the Hubbard Stage. Tickets start at $25 and are available for purchase at www.alleytheatre.org, at the Alley Theatre Box Office, 615 Texas Avenue, or by calling 713.220.5700. Groups of 10 or more can receive special concierge services and select discounts by calling 713.220.5700 and asking for the group sales department.

Seattle Repertory Theatre and Artistic Director Jerry Manning announced today its full 50th Anniversary Season. The Seattle Rep artistic team has spent years putting together this landmark season-one that showcases what the Rep does best and celebrates its history. Seattle Rep's 50th Anniversary season will run from September 2012-May 2013.

The regional premiere of Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Robert Schenkkan and composer Neil Berg's new rock musical THE 12 comes to the Inserra Theater in Montvale, N.J., for two performances.

THE 12 is a powerful new rock musical with Book and Lyrics by Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Robert Schenkkan, and Music and Lyrics by award winning composer Neil Berg. THE 12 will have its Regional Premiere Presentation at the Inserra Theater (on the campus of St. Joseph's Regional High School) in Montvale, NJ on March 30th and 31st at 7pm.

The regional premiere of Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Robert Schenkkan and composer Neil Berg's new rock musical THE 12 comes to the Inserra Theater in Montvale, N.J., for two performances.

Alley Theatre Artistic Director Gregory Boyd announces the cast and creative team for the Alley Theatre's production of the Conor McPherson's THE SEAFARER. The Seafarer, by Conor McPherson and directed by Gregory Boyd, begins previews Friday April 6, opens Wednesday April 11 and runs through Sunday, April 29, 2012 on the Hubbard Stage. Tickets start at $25 and are available for purchase at www.alleytheatre.org, at the Alley Theatre Box Office, 615 Texas Avenue, or by calling 713.220.5700. Groups of 10 or more can receive special concierge services and select discounts by calling 713.220.5700 and asking for the group sales department.

OK, so I'll admit I was hesitant to start reviewing at the Children's Theatre. But then at the urging of others and the insistence that they are putting up some of the better shows in town, I relented. And if their current offering, "A Single Shard", is any indication, then I seriously need to rethink my attitude. Yes, it's children's theater in that it's theater that's OK for children to see, but it's so much more and better than you may expect.

THE 12 is a powerful new rock musical with Book and Lyrics by Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Robert Schenkkan, and Music and Lyrics by award winning composer Neil Berg. THE 12 will have its Regional Premiere Presentation at the Inserra Theater (on the campus of St. Joseph's Regional High School) in Montvale, NJ on March 30th and 31st at 7pm.

OK, so I'll admit I was hesitant to start reviewing at the Children's Theatre. But then at the urging of others and the insistence that they are putting up some of the better shows in town, I relented. And if their current offering, "A Single Shard", is any indication, then I seriously need to rethink my attitude. Yes, it's children's theater in that it's theater that's OK for children to see, but it's so much more and better than you may expect.

The Tony Award-winning Oregon Shakespeare Festival's 2012 preview performances began February 17, opening a season dedicated to Executive Director Paul Nicholson, who is retiring at the end of the season after 33 years at OSF.

From Les Miserables, Evita, and Phantom of the Opera, to Wicked and Tommy, Neil Berg's 102 Years of Broadway, the nation's number one Broadway touring revue in America, takes place on SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19th, 3pm, at the Marin Veterans' Memorial Auditorium, 10 Avenue of the Flags at Civic Center Drive in San Rafael. Tickets are $45, $35 and $25; Premium seats, $60; Bargain Seats (Rows 26-34) $20; and can be ordered through the Marin Center Box Office at 415-499-6800 or at www.marincenter.org

The Tony Award-winning Oregon Shakespeare Festival's 2012 preview performances begin February 17, opening a season dedicated to Executive Director Paul Nicholson, who is retiring at the end of the season after 33 years at OSF.

William Michals, who starred as Emile de Becque in Lincoln Center's revival of South Pacific, and as The Beast in Disney's Beauty & the Beast on Broadway will join Rita Harvey (Phantom of the Opera, Fiddler on the Roof), Robert DuSold (The Producers, Les Miserables), Lawrence Clayton (Dreamgirls, The Civil War, Les Miserables), and Andrea Rivette (Jekyll & Hyde, Les Miserables) in a special New Year's Eve concert at the Inserra Theater at St. Joseph's Regional High School in Montvale, NJ.