Roger L. Stevens News

Los Angeles, CA - 11/12/15 - A father unable to let go, a mother with nine months to move on - these characters are at the heart of a provocative new play by award-winning playwright Jennifer Maisel. A meditation on love, connection and disconnection in this increasingly distant time, @thespeedofJake uses the backdrop of our rapidly evolving technological world to contemplate the universal desire to cheat death and the human need to find hope in life.

Tickets are now on sale for Carnegie Hall's presentation of WEST SIDE STORY for three performances only March 4, 5, and 6, 2016 at the Knockdown Center, a restored 50,000 square foot former glass and door factory in Queens now serving as an art and event space.

Actor's Express presents THRESHOLD, a new festival of new play readings December 5-6, 2016. This year's festival focuses on works by local playwrights.

Fiddlehead Theatre Company, the resident theatre company of Boston's historic Strand Theatre, opens the company's 21st season with the classic WEST SIDE STORY, now through October 25, 2015. The finest talents direct from the Broadway revival and national and international tours of WEST SIDE STORY bring this masterwork to life on the Strand Stage. The production is costumed and directed by Stacey Stephens, with the original choreography recreated by Wendy Hall, and music director Charles Peltz directs a 22-piece orchestra bringing Bernstein's music to life. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Retro Productions celebrates its eleventh season with Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa (Glee/Big Love) drama, Good Boys and True which had its World Premiere at The Steppenwolf Theatre in 2007. The production is directed by DeLisa White who won a New York Innovative Theatre Award for Outstanding Director for Vincent Marano's Lights Narrow.

Nashville Repertory Theatre is proud to announce its Ingram New Works Playwriting Fellow for the 2015-16 season: Pulitzer Prize nominee Rebecca Gilman.

Fiddlehead Theatre Company, the resident theatre company of Boston's historic Strand Theatre, will open the company's 21st season with the classic West Side Story from October 16-25, 2015. The finest talents direct from the Broadway revival and national and international tours of West Side Story will bring this masterwork to life on the Strand Stage.?? The production will be costumed and Directed by Stacey Stephens, original choreography recreated by Wendy Hall, and Music Director Charles Peltz will direct a 22-piece orchestra bringing Bernstein's music to life. Fiddlehead's largest season ever will continue with Disney's The Little Mermaid from November 17-Dec 6; 2015; the hit Broadway sensation RENT from February 5-21, 2016, and the timeless classic Show Boat April 22-May 1, 2016. All productions will take place at The Strand Theatre (543 Columbia Road, Dorchester, MA). To purchase tickets for Fiddlehead's 2015-2016 season, or for more information about group and student discounts visit www.fiddleheadtheatre.com, or call 617-514-6497.

As part of the National New Play Network's Rolling World Premiere, Capital Stage will bring its 10th anniversary season to a close with UNCANNY VALLEY by Thomas Gibbons. Called 'Deeply absorbing,' and 'Cerebrally challenging' by The Washington Post, the production features Capital Stage veteran Michael Wiles (THE REAL THING, HEDDA GABLER, SOMEONE WHO'LL WATCH OVER ME, MASTER CLASS, FAT PIG) and CapStage newcomer Jessica Powell.  UNCANNY VALLEY will be directed by Producing Artistic Director Jonathan Williams (TRIBES, THE ELABORATE ENTRANCE OF CHAD DEITY, DYING CITY). UNCANNY VALLEY will run from June 17 through July 19, with a Press Opening on Saturday June 20, 2015.

Cleveland Play House (CPH) will bring some of America's top playwrights to Cleveland in their 2015 New Ground Theatre Festival (NGTF.) CPH's annual showcase of new theatrical works, once again made possible by Honorary Producer Roe Green, gives playwrights from around the nation the opportunity to test-drive new work, collaborate with CPH artists, and launch never-before-seen productions on CPH's stages. CPH Artistic Director Laura Kepley interjects: 'Roe's generosity makes new work at Cleveland Play House possible. Because of her, we are able to create new plays that speak to the current moment which will have a lasting impact on local audiences and the national field.'

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts today announced the national awardees of the 47th annual Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF), which was held April 13-18, 2015.

InterAct Theatre Company continues its 2014/2015 season of world premieres with Uncanny Valley by Thomas Gibbons. The second of four National New Play Network rolling world premieres, Uncanny Valley is directed by InterAct's Producing Artistic Director Seth Rozin and features local actors Sally Mercer and Frank X (last seen in Permanent Collection). The show runs tonight, April 3-April 26 at The Adrienne, 2030 Sansom Street. Opening Night is Wednesday, April 8 at 7:00 pm.

Florida Studio Theatre announces its annual Richard and Betty Burdick New Play Reading Series, which will present three new staged readings by contemporary American playwrights. The series will take place in the Keating Theatre on Saturday, April 25 at 2:00pm, Saturday, May 2 at 2:00pm, and Saturday, May 9 at 2:00pm, and is part of FST's Sarasota Festival of New Plays. Tickets for the series are 3 staged readings for $25, or individual readings for $10. Additionally, FRIENDS of FST can purchase a subscription for all 3 staged readings for $15. They may be purchased by calling the FST Box Office at (941) 366-9000 or by visiting floridastudiotheatre.org.

Jan Buttram, a founding member of Abingdon Theatre Company will step down from her current position as Artistic Director next year, at the end of the organization's 2015-2016 Season in June 2016. Abingdon has begun a nationwide search for a new Artistic Director.

INTAR continues its acclaimed 2014 - '15 season with the Off-Broadway premiere of Se Llama Cristina by Octavio Solis, beginning today, April 3rd, and continuing through May 3rd only. Opening Night is set for Monday, April 13th.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts hosts more than 150 outstanding theater students from colleges and universities across the nation as part of the 47th annual Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF), which runs April 13-18, 2015 in multiple locations throughout the Center.

Cleveland Play House (CPH) will bring some of America's top playwrights to Cleveland in their 2015 New Ground Theatre Festival (NGTF.) CPH's annual showcase of new theatrical works, once again made possible by Honorary Producer Roe Green, gives playwrights from around the nation the opportunity to test-drive new work, collaborate with CPH artists, and launch never-before-seen productions on CPH's stages. CPH Artistic Director Laura Kepley interjects: 'Roe's generosity makes new work at Cleveland Play House possible. Because of her, we are able to create new plays that speak to the current moment which will have a lasting impact on local audiences and the national field.'

INTAR continues its acclaimed 2014 - '15 season with the Off-Broadway premiere of Se Llama Cristina by Octavio Solis, beginning April 3rd and continuing through May 3rd only. Opening Night is set for Monday, April 13th.

InterAct Theatre Company continues its 2014/2015 season of world premieres with Uncanny Valley by Thomas Gibbons. The second of four National New Play Network rolling world premieres, Uncanny Valley is directed by InterAct's Producing Artistic Director Seth Rozin and features local actors Sally Mercer and Frank X (last seen in Permanent Collection). The show runs April 3-April 26 at The Adrienne, 2030 Sansom Street. Opening Night is Wednesday, April 8 at 7:00 pm. Tickets cost between $22-38 and are available online at www.interacttheatre.org/season/uncanny-valley/, at the box office, or by phone at 215-568-8079.

Writers Theatre presents The Diary of Anne Frank by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett, adapted by Wendy Kesselman and directed by Kimberly Senior. The show runs February 24 - June 28, 2015 at Books on Vernon, 664 Vernon Avenue, Glencoe. The Press Openings are Wednesday, March 4, and Thursday, March 5, 2015.