Ron Russell News

HartBeat Ensemble (Godfrey L. Simmons, Jr., Artistic Director and Rhoda Cerritelli, Managing Director) in partnership with My People Community Services announced today a four-performance engagement of Fatherhood Manologues, a storytelling event featuring four fathers celebrating and navigating the challenges of modern fatherhood.

The EP includes “Pakmoväst” from their debut, “Tour De France” (this track pre-dates Kraftwerk’s by 3 years), the single “Haven’t We Met Somewhere Before” (a songwriting collaboration with Ron & Russell Mael aka Sparks), “Temporary Chicken” (from the aptly titled album Looney Tunes) and their take on Canned Heat’s ’68 classic “On The Road Again”.

HartBeat Ensemble announced today their upcoming production of My Children! My Africa!, a gripping drama about the collision of education, idealism and politics by preeminent South African dramatist Athol Fugard. The play will run September 29 through October 9 at HartBeat Ensemble's Carriage House Theater (360 Farmington Avenue) in Hartford, CT. 

It's back! -- three extraordinary nights of “live” songs, entertainers, and musicians – all in celebration of the 33rd annual New York Cabaret Convention, produced by The Mabel Mercer Foundation. 

Since its founding on September 11, 2001; Epic Theatre Ensemble continues to inspire young people to utilize their voice through performance to create social change and motivate civic dialogue.

Epic Theatre Ensemble presents a virtual reading of Bill Martin's The Investor running Thursday March 25 through Wednesday March 31.

HartBeat Ensemble, Hartford, CT's only community-based and ensemble theatre, announced today a diverse and provocative lineup of virtual and audio theatrical experiences for Fall 2020.

Communities are beautiful things due in part to the vast diversity that can exist in them. Even if made up of people of common means, there are so many layers to each neighborhood, each block, and each building. Some of these people are friends, some one hardly ever sees, but many are, or can feel like, family. These community bonds often are tested the most during a crisis, and sometimes it is that crucible which strengthens relationships and changes lives. Bonds such as I have described here are portrayed vividly by Nijala Sun in her one woman show, PIKE ST. which is now playing at Hartford Stage. 

The Public Theater took to Twitter to announced that their production of The Truth Has Changed, which was part of their Under The Radar Festival, has been cancelled due to playwright/performer/director Josh Fox's 'violations of [the Public's] code of conduct.'

Obie Award-winning playwright and actor Nilaja Sun will perform her acclaimed solo show, Pike St., at Hartford Stage Thursday, January 9, to Sunday, February 2, 2020. Pike St. will be directed by Ron Russell, who also serves as Sound Designer.

Plenty of those who weren't nodding their heads in agreement reacted with incredulousness or perhaps a big guffaw three years ago when Presidential Counselor Kellyanne Conway appeared on 'Meet The Press' to defend White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer's statements about the size of the crowd at Donald Trump's inaugural with the phrase 'alternative facts.'

The Public Theater (Artistic Director, Oskar Eustis; Executive Director, Patrick Willingham) begins performances for the 16th annual UNDER THE RADAR FESTIVAL on Wednesday, January 8. This popular and highly-anticipated festival of The Public's winter season will include artists from across the U.S. and around the world, including Australia, Chile, China, Japan, Mexico, Palestine, Taiwan, and the U.K. Curated by UTR Festival Director Mark Russell, this year's UNDER THE RADAR FESTIVAL continues to expand to venues throughout New York City, in addition to The Public Theater's home at Astor Place.

Obie Award-winning playwright and actor Nilaja Sun will perform her acclaimed solo show, Pike St., at Hartford Stage Thursday, January 9, to Sunday, February 2, 2020. Pike St. will be directed by Ron Russell, who also serves as Sound Designer.

Single and group tickets for Hartford Stage's 2019/2020 season are now on sale. The Tony Award-winning regional theatre's upcoming season will captivate audiences with classic and contemporary stories of redemption, reconnection, rediscovery, resilience, reinvention and resplendence.

Civic Ensemble's Godfrey L. Simmons, Jr. will perform Mike Daisey's edgy, funny, and provocative monologue The Trump Card at the Kitchen Theatre Company this Summer! Opening night is Thursday, July 18th at 8:00pm at the Kitchen Theatre Company, 417 West MLK Jr. Street, Ithaca NY. Performances are Thursday to Saturday at 8:00 pm and Sunday at 4:00 pm through July 28th. The Trump Card is an examination of our current political moment and a call for self reflection among Ithacans of every political persuasion. The production is directed by Ron Russell, Co-Founder and Executive Director,  of Epic Theatre Ensemble of New York City. 

Hartford Stage announced today one additional play for the Tony Award-winning regional theatre's 56th season. Obie-Award winning playwright, actor and teaching artist Nilaja Sun will perform Pike St., her compelling new solo show.

Rod Serling's REQUIEM FOR A HEAVYWEIGHT, a drama of a punch-drunk fighter long past his prime, was originally written as a play, but first became a landmark live television drama of the "golden age" starring Jack Palance. The Artistic Home production will open on February 17, 2019 following previews from February 13.

In Pike St., now at Berkeley Repertory Theatre, playwright and actor Nilaja Sun single-handedly presents a stage full of dynamic, three-dimensional characters engaging with each other in rapid-fire conversation and scenes of vigorous interaction.

Epic Theatre Ensemble is currently presenting the world premiere of The Winning Side, the acclaimed new play by James Wallert, by popular demand. The Winning Side initially began previews on Wednesday, October 3, 2018 and officially opened on Monday, October 8, 2018 at The Acorn Theatre of Theatre Row (410 West 42nd St.), a program Building for the Arts NY, Inc. It will now play through Sunday, November 4, 2018.