Ron Russell News

Epic Theatre Ensemble's production of A More Perfect Union, Vern Thiessen's serious comedy about two Supreme Court law clerks, will host post-show panels featuring real-life former Supreme Court clerks.

New York's OBIE Award-winning Epic Theatre Ensemble (Zak Berkman, Melissa Friedman, Ron Russell, Founding Executive Directors) has announced that it will present the world premiere of A More Perfect Union, a serious comedy by Vern Thiessen. Under the direction of Ron Russell, the two-character play features Melissa Friedman and Godfrey L. Simmons, Jr. as Supreme Court law clerks.

New York's OBIE Award-winning Epic Theatre Ensemble (Zak Berkman, Melissa Friedman, Ron Russell, Founding Executive Directors) presents the world premiere of A More Perfect Union, a serious comedy by Vern Thiessen. Under the direction of Ron Russell, the two-character play features Melissa Friedman and Godfrey L. Simmons, Jr. as Supreme Court law clerks. Performances begin Tuesday, May 5, 2009 for a limited engagement through June 7, 2009 at the East 13th Street Theater (136 East 13th Street, between 3rd & 4th Aves). Opening night is Tuesday, May 12, 2009 AT 6:30 p.m.

It was announced that soap star Kathleen Widdoes joins the previously announced cast of the Epic Theatre Ensemble (Zak Berkman, Melissa Friedman, Ron Russell, Executive Directors) two-night benefit event: As The Epic Turns, to support its esteemed after-school 'Shakespeare Bridge Project' programs.

New York's OBIE Award-winning Epic Theatre Ensemble (Zak Berkman, Melissa Friedman, Ron Russell, Executive Directors) will present a two-evening event: As The Epic Turns, a benefit to support its esteemed after-school 'Shakespeare Bridge Project' programs. Under the direction of Zak Berkman, the 90-minute evening will feature two-time Emmy Award Winner, Martha Byrne, along with Paolo Seganti, and Tamara Tunie in a series of staged readings plus an exclusive screening of Paul Leyden's film Bye Bye Sally, followed by a reception with the cast and Epic Theater Ensemble artists.

New York's OBIE Award-winning Epic Theatre Ensemble (Zak Berkman, Melissa Friedman, Ron Russell, Executive Directors) will present a two-evening event: As The Epic Turns, a benefit to support its esteemed after-school 'Shakespeare Bridge Project' programs. Under the direction of Zak Berkman, the 90-minute evening will feature two-time Emmy Award Winner, Martha Byrne, along with Paolo Seganti, and Tamara Tunie in a series of staged readings plus an exclusive screening of Paul Leyden's film Bye Bye Sally, followed by a reception with the cast and Epic Theater Ensemble artists. Two performances are scheduled for 8:00 p.m. on Friday, April 17th and Saturday, April 18th at The Peter Sharpe Theater (416 West 42nd Street).

It was announced that soap star Kathleen Widdoes joins the previously announced cast of the Epic Theatre Ensemble (Zak Berkman, Melissa Friedman, Ron Russell, Executive Directors) two-night benefit event: As The Epic Turns, to support its esteemed after-school 'Shakespeare Bridge Project' programs.

New York's OBIE Award-winning Epic Theatre Ensemble (Zak Berkman, Melissa Friedman, Ron Russell, Founding Executive Directors) has announced that it will present the world premiere of A More Perfect Union, a serious comedy by Vern Thiessen. Under the direction of Ron Russell, the two-character play features Melissa Friedman and Godfrey L. Simmons, Jr. as Supreme Court law clerks.

New York's OBIE Award-winning Epic Theatre Ensemble (Zak Berkman, Melissa Friedman, Ron Russell, Executive Directors) will present a two-evening event: As The Epic Turns, a benefit to support its esteemed after-school 'Shakespeare Bridge Project' programs. Under the direction of Zak Berkman, the 90-minute evening will feature two-time Emmy Award Winner, Martha Byrne, along with Paolo Seganti, and Tamara Tunie in a series of staged readings plus an exclusive screening of Paul Leyden's film Bye Bye Sally, followed by a reception with the cast and Epic Theater Ensemble artists.

New York's OBIE Award-winning Epic Theatre Ensemble (Zak Berkman, Melissa Friedman, Ron Russell, Executive Directors) will present a two-evening event: As The Epic Turns, a benefit to support its esteemed after-school 'Shakespeare Bridge Project' programs. Under the direction of Zak Berkman, the 90-minute evening will feature two-time Emmy Award Winner, Martha Byrne, along with Paolo Seganti, and Tamara Tunie in a series of staged readings plus an exclusive screening of Paul Leyden's film Bye Bye Sally, followed by a reception with the cast and Epic Theater Ensemble artists. Two performances are scheduled for 8:00 p.m. on Friday, April 17th and Saturday, April 18th at The Peter Sharpe Theater (416 West 42nd Street).

The Guthrie is proud to present Penumbra Theatre's production of Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun, directed by Lou Bellamy. A co-production with Arizona Theatre Company and The Cleveland Play House, this presentation marks the 50th anniversary of the show's groundbreaking Broadway opening, and arrives at the Guthrie on the heels of two highly-lauded regional runs in Ohio and Arizona. A Raisin in the Sun previews March 12, opens March 13 and plays through April 11, 2009 on the McGuire Proscenium Stage. Single tickets are priced from $24 to $60, with opening night prices ranging from $49 to $70. Tickets are now on sale through the Guthrie Box Office at 612.377.2224, toll-free 877.44.STAGE, 612.225.6244 (Group Sales) and online at www.guthrietheater.org. A recent widow, Lena Younger (Franchelle Stewart Dorn) wants to use her husband's insurance money to buy a home for her family, freeing them from the cramped tenement in which she, her two children, daughter-in-law and grandson live. Her son, Walter Lee (David Alan Anderson), is determined to invest the money in a business - an opportunity for him to be his own man and not just the driver for his white boss. Lena refuses; in her eyes a house is a sturdy thing to build a dream on, one that can relieve the strains that poverty has put on the family. But when a white representative of the neighborhood 'welcoming committee' presents the Youngers with an offer to buy them out of their home to prevent integration in their community, the dream of the house quickly becomes a nightmare. The title comes from the opening lines of 'Harlem,' a poem by Langston Hughes ('What happens to a dream deferred? / Does it dry up / like a raisin in the sun?'). Throughout the play, the idea of deferred dreams is a prominent theme, as each member of the Younger family attempts to find his or her place amidst a number of difficult situations. While their future neighbors resist the Youngers' move, Walter Lee for the first time begins to value what money can't buy, and in the process achieves a new level of self respect and pride.

New York's OBIE Award-winning Epic Theatre Ensemble (Zak Berkman, Melissa Friedman, Ron Russell, Executive Directors) will honor Award-winning playwright John Guare and Golden Globe winner Stanley Tucci at their 8th Annual Winter Gala to be held at Twenty Four Fifth (24 Fifth Avenue) on Monday, March 9, 2009.

New York's OBIE Award-winning Epic Theatre Ensemble (Zak Berkman, Melissa Friedman, Ron Russell, Executive Directors) will honor Award-winning playwright John Guare and Golden Globe winner Stanley Tucci at their 8th Annual Winter Gala to be held at Twenty Four Fifth (24 Fifth Avenue) on Monday, March 9, 2009.

The Guthrie is proud to present Penumbra Theatre's production of Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun, directed by Lou Bellamy. A co-production with Arizona Theatre Company and The Cleveland Play House, this presentation marks the 50th anniversary of the show's groundbreaking Broadway opening, and arrives at the Guthrie on the heels of two highly-lauded regional runs in Ohio and Arizona. A Raisin in the Sun previews March 12, opens March 13 and plays through April 11, 2009 on the McGuire Proscenium Stage. Single tickets are priced from $24 to $60, with opening night prices ranging from $49 to $70. Tickets are now on sale through the Guthrie Box Office at 612.377.2224, toll-free 877.44.STAGE, 612.225.6244 (Group Sales) and online at www.guthrietheater.org. A recent widow, Lena Younger (Franchelle Stewart Dorn) wants to use her husband's insurance money to buy a home for her family, freeing them from the cramped tenement in which she, her two children, daughter-in-law and grandson live. Her son, Walter Lee (David Alan Anderson), is determined to invest the money in a business - an opportunity for him to be his own man and not just the driver for his white boss. Lena refuses; in her eyes a house is a sturdy thing to build a dream on, one that can relieve the strains that poverty has put on the family. But when a white representative of the neighborhood 'welcoming committee' presents the Youngers with an offer to buy them out of their home to prevent integration in their community, the dream of the house quickly becomes a nightmare. The title comes from the opening lines of 'Harlem,' a poem by Langston Hughes ('What happens to a dream deferred? / Does it dry up / like a raisin in the sun?'). Throughout the play, the idea of deferred dreams is a prominent theme, as each member of the Younger family attempts to find his or her place amidst a number of difficult situations. While their future neighbors resist the Youngers' move, Walter Lee for the first time begins to value what money can't buy, and in the process achieves a new level of self respect and pride.

New York's OBIE Award-winning Epic Theatre Ensemble (Zak Berkman, Founding producer/Artistic Director), and Epic's After School Shakespeare Program (Melissa Friedman, Founding Executive Director of Education), in conjunction with Chelsea High School and Automotive High School, will present productions of two classic Shakespeare plays featuring the students from each school: the Automotive High School production of Romeo and Juliet sponsored by Lanc?me for three performances, beginning December 11th; and the Chelsea High School production of The Winter's Tale, made possible by support from the Meringoff Family Foundation, for four performances beginning December 18th. All performances will take place at the East 13th Street Theater (136 East 13th Street).

New York's OBIE Award-winning Epic Theatre Ensemble (Zak Berkman, Founding producer/Artistic Director), and Epic's After School Shakespeare Program (Melissa Friedman, Founding Executive Director of Education), in conjunction with Chelsea High School and Automotive High School, will present productions of two classic Shakespeare plays featuring the students from each school: the Automotive High School production of Romeo and Juliet sponsored by Lanc?me for three performances, beginning December 11th; and the Chelsea High School production of The Winter's Tale, made possible by support from the Meringoff Family Foundation, for four performances beginning December 18th. All performances will take place at the East 13th Street Theater (136 East 13th Street).

On Monday, November 3rd, 2008 Epic Theater Ensemble, in partnership with John Jay College of Criminal Justice, hosted a one-night only special event to benefit Epic's innovative, civic-minded in-school and after-school education programs.

Epic Theater Ensemble, in partnership with John Jay College of Criminal Justice, will host a one-night only special event to benefit Epic's innovative, civic-minded in-school and after-school education programs. Some of today's top writers and performers will honor a large group of First Time Voters with an evening of satirical, scandalous, and inspiring short plays, songs, sketches, and toasts

Epic Theater Ensemble, in partnership with John Jay College of Criminal Justice, will host a one-night only special event to benefit Epic's innovative, civic-minded in-school and after-school education programs. Some of today's top writers and performers will honor a large group of First Time Voters with an evening of satirical, scandalous, and inspiring short plays, songs, sketches, and toasts

The acclaimed Epic Theatre Ensemble production of Palace of the End, by award-winning playwright Judith Thompson, concludes its limited engagement this Sunday, July 13, 2008 at Peter Jay Sharp Theatre at Playwrights Horizons.