Ryan Shams News

Emily Mann's documentary-style drama recalls the 2009 Fort Hood shootings as a springboard for explorations of Islamist extremism in various political contexts today.

JEWISH PLAYS PROJECT and Artistic Director David Winitsky, are pleased to announce the exciting line-up of OPEN: The Festival of New Jewish Theatre. The festival officially opened Tuesday night with a special presentation of True Bible Studies by Robert Askins, directed by Benjamin Kamine as part of Into the Night: Downtown's Tikkun Leil Shavuot at The 14th Street Y. The line-up includes readings of new plays by Ben Gassman, Tom Block, M.J. Kaufman, Lenelle Moise, Lila Feinberg and the featured workshop production of G-d's Honest Truth by Renee Calarco, directed by David Winitsky. OPEN: The Festival of New Jewish Theatre plays a limited engagement June 13th through June 29th, 2014 at The Theater at the 14th Street Y (344 East 14th Street, New York, NY 10003). Tickets are free (suggested donation of $18) and are available by calling 347-878-5771 or online at www.jewishplaysproject.org/tickets.

Noor Theatre's Highlight Reading Series concludes Monday, November 18 at 7:30pm with House of Strength by Rahaleh Nassri and directed by Sarna Lapine.

The latest play at Bucks County Playhouse is THE TALE OF THE ALLERGIST'S WIFE. Charles Busch wrote this play, and it opened on Broadway in 2000. Boyd Gaines directs the current production at Bucks County Playhouse. This show is full of comedy and emotion, and is definitely a night full of boisterous laughter.

THE TALE OF THE ALLERGIST'S WIFE is the latest production at Bucks County Playhouse. The play tells the story of Marjorie Taub who lives on the upper west side of New York with her husband, Ira. Marjorie spends her time pursuing culture at lectures, museums and theatres. She is facing an epic mid-life crisis when a friend from her past visits her. Charles Busch wrote this play and it is directed by Boyd Gaines. THE TALE OF THE ALLERGIST'S WIFE stars Marsha Mason, David Garrison, Marilu Henner, Ryan Shams and Emily Jon Mitchell.

Marilu Henner, Marsha Mason, David Garrison, and Lynn Cohen lead Charles Busch's The Allergists' Wife at Bucks County Playhouse, the final production of the 2013 Playhouse Productions Summer Season, beginning August 15. Four-time Tony Award winner Boyd Gaines will direct the production, which runs through September 1. Check out a first look at the cast in action below!

NYU Office of Global Services and the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts present DREAM ACTS, a staged reading and panel discussion this today, March 10 at 4 p.m. at the NYU Skirball Center for the Performing Arts (566 LaGuardia Place, NYC).

NYU Office of Global Services and the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts present DREAM ACTS, a staged reading and panel discussion this Sunday, March 10 at 4 p.m. at the NYU Skirball Center for the Performing Arts (566 LaGuardia Place, NYC).

The Second Stage Theatre's production of the 2012 Pulitzer Prize-Winning drama Water by the Spoonful, written by Quiara Alegría Hudes and directed by Davis McCallum, will extend two weeks through February 10th at Second Stage Theatre (305 W 43rd Street). Second Stage's next production, Jason Robert Brown's THE LAST FIVE YEARS, will begin previews on March 7. BroadwayWorld brings you highlights from the show below!

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director) will present a one-time-only marathon of all three plays in Quiara Alegria Hudes' acclaimed "Elliot Trilogy," including the 2012 Pulitzer Prize winner WATER BY THE SPOONFUL, on Sunday, January 27 at Second Stage Theatre (305 W 43rd St).

Due to critical acclaim and strong ticket sales, the Second Stage Theatre's production of the 2012 Pulitzer Prize-Winning drama Water by the Spoonful, written by Quiara Alegría Hudes and directed by Davis McCallum, will extend two weeks through February 10th at Second Stage Theatre (305 W 43rd Street). Second Stage's next production, Jason Robert Brown's THE LAST FIVE YEARS, will begin previews on March 7.

WATER BY THE SPOONFUL began previews on Tuesday, December 11th, 2012 and officially opened last night, January 8th, 2013 at Second Stage's Tony Kiser Theatre (305 West 43rd street). For more information, please visit www.2ST.com. Check out photos from the opening below!

Second Stage Theatre presents the 2012 Pulitzer Prize-winning play, WATER BY THE SPOONFUL, written by Quiara Alegría Hudes, directed by Davis McCallum. The company features LIZA COLÓN-ZAYAS (Second Stage's Living Out, Our Lady of 121st Street), Frankie R. Faison (The Wire, Tony nominee for Fences), Zabryna Guevara (Chimichangas and Zoloft, Taper's Burn This), Bill Heck (Angels in America), Sue Jean Kim (Assistance, The Hallway Trilogy), and Armando Riesco (Elliot in Elliot, A Soldier's Fugue). Check out a first look of the cast in action below!

Throughline Artists (J.J. Kandel and John McCormack, Producing Directors) presents SUMMER SHORTS 5, their fifth annual festival of new American short plays from established and emerging writers, at 59E59 Theaters (59 East 59th Street). Performances began Thursday August 4th, and continue through Saturday September 3rd. This season's cast includes Mando Alvarado, Jeff Binder, Christian Campbell, James Chen, Nick Choksi, Erin Darke, Crystal Finn, Arthur French, Meg Gibson, Kathryn Grody, Beth Hoyt, Neal Huff, J.J. Kandel, Megan Ketch, TEd Koch, Jodie Markell, Shirley A. Rumierk, Socorro Santiago, Rebecca Schull, Ryan Cyrus Shams, Victor Slezak, AiDan Sullivan, Louise Sullivan, Maryann Towne, Ryan Tramont, and Lydia Weintraub. Check out photos fro the opening night reception below!

In Melissa James Gibson's play "This", currently having its west coast premiere at the Seattle Rep, the central conceit is that this is an inside look at four witty average urban thirty-somethings, a group that seems to be the go-to for new playwrights. But the problem is that these people are average only in that they end up as stereotypes to the way we see this "type" and possibly how we would like to see ourselves. And those stereotypes, while funny and engaging, sometimes come across as forced.

In Melissa James Gibson's play "This", currently having its west coast premiere at the Seattle Rep, the central conceit is that this is an inside look at four witty average urban thirty-somethings, a group that seems to be the go-to for new playwrights. But the problem is that these people are average only in that they end up as stereotypes to the way we see this "type" and possibly how we would like to see ourselves. And those stereotypes, while funny and engaging, sometimes come across as forced.

Playwrights Theatre is pleased to present the New Jersey Premiere of Mahida's Extra Key To Heaven by Russell Davis. It will preview on April 22 and run for three weeks through May 9, 2010 (Press Opening: Friday, April 23 at 8:00pm). The production will be directed by John Pietrowski and features Mariam Habib*, Jack Moran*, Jane Blass* and Ryan Shams*. Single tickets are on sale now for $15. A student (appropriate for ages 13 and up) and senior matinee is scheduled for Wednesday, April 28 and May 5 at 10:30am and Ladies Night at the Playwrights Theatre will be held on Thursday, April 29 beginning at 5pm with curtain at 6:30pm. For tickets, visit www.ptnj.org or call the box office at 973-514-1787 X10. Performances take place at Playwrights Theatre, 33 Green Village Road in Madison, NJ.

Second Stage Theatre has announced initial casting for its 'New Works Festival' on Friday, June 13