Sam French News

The New York Children's Theater Festival has officially begun accepting submissions this week for its inaugural season.

Red Fern Theatre Company (Melanie Moyer Williams, Executive Artistic Director, Ken Hall, Managing Director) will present the World Premiere of Sharyn Rothstein's (Lunchblocked with Ars Nova; Camp Monster at Williamstown Theatre Festival) MARCH, directed by Kel Haney(Assistant Director, Manhattan Theatre Club's Wit; Good Egg with Red Fern Theatre Company) with Scenic Design by Caite Hevner, Costume Design by Sydney Maresca, Sound Design and Original Music by Anthony Mattana, and Lighting Design by Marie Yokoyama. The production will be cast by Darragh Garvey and Stage Managed by Michal V. Mendelson. March was originally workshopped at the Bay Area Playwright's Festival and was a 2010 finalist for the Yale Drama Series Competition.

Red Fern Theatre Company (Melanie Moyer Williams, Executive Artistic Director, Ken Hall, Managing Director) will present the World Premiere of Sharyn Rothstein's (Lunchblocked with Ars Nova; Camp Monster at Williamstown Theatre Festival) MARCH, directed by Kel Haney(Assistant Director, Manhattan Theatre Club's Wit; Good Egg with Red Fern Theatre Company) with Scenic Design by Caite Hevner, Costume Design by Sydney Maresca, Sound Design and Original Music by Anthony Mattana, and Lighting Design by Marie Yokoyama. The production will be cast by Darragh Garvey and Stage Managed by Michal V. Mendelson. March was originally workshopped at the Bay Area Playwright's Festival and was a 2010 finalist for the Yale Drama Series Competition.

The New York Children's Theater Festival has announced the accepted participants for its inaugural season, chosen by a judging panel of over 30 industry professionals including Kevin ("Elmo") Clash, Cheryl Henson (President, The Henson Foundation), John Tartaglia (Emmy, Tony, and Drama Desk Award nominated actor, producer, puppeteer), Thomas Schumacher (President, Disney Theatrical Productions), and Michael Jung, (Vice President, Theatrical Development, Walt Disney Imagineering).

Rising Phoenix Repertory announces the 15th play in the CINO NIGHTS SERIES: sex and death in london- a new play BY crystal skillman and directed by michael padden.

Rising Phoenix Repertory announces the 15th play in the CINO NIGHTS SERIES: sex and death in london- a new play BY crystal skillman and directed by michael padden.

Cheryl Henson (President, The Jim Henson Foundation); Kevin Clash (Elmo's Emmy-winning creator and Muppet veteran); and Carole Demas (Broadway star, children's television icon from The Magic Garden) have joined the advisory board of The New York Children's Theater Festival, it was announced today by Michael Shawn Lewis, co-founder of The Festival.

The New York Children's Theater Festival has officially begun accepting submissions this week for its inaugural season.

Dixon Place presents This Lurking Thing, a Halloween rumination performed and written by Jonathan Fielding and featuring an adaptation of the short story 'Auntie Elspeth's Halloween Story' penned by celebrated science fiction author and Nebula Award winner Esther Friesner. The show is produced by the Artful Conspirators and will have a one night only performance on Thursday, October 27th, 2011 at 9:30 pm.

terraNOVA Collective announces six new playwrights for the 2012 season of their Groundbreakers Playwrights Group which will include Krista Knight (2011 KCACTF Musical Theater Award for Salamander Leviathan), Jennifer Lane (Harlowe at 3LD), Andrea Lepcio (NEA Outstanding New American Play Award finalist for Looking for the Pony), Matthew Paul Olmos (Princess Grace Award finalist), Crystal Skillman (2010 New York Innovative Theatre Award for The Vigil or The Guided Cradle), and Ken Urban (Summer Play Festival at The Public).

Artistic Director Chay Yew and Executive Director Jan Kallish announce the Chicago Premiere of Sarah Ruhl's Tony-nominated play In the Next Room or the vibrator play directed by Associate Artistic Director Sandy Shinner. The production closes October 9, 2011 at the Victory Gardens Biograph Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue in Lincoln Park. The Press Opening is Monday, September 19, 2011.

Dixon Place presents This Lurking Thing, a Halloween rumination performed and written by Jonathan Fielding and featuring an adaptation of the short story 'Auntie Elspeth's Halloween Story' penned by celebrated science fiction author and Nebula Award winner Esther Friesner. The show is produced by the Artful Conspirators and will have a one night only performance on Thursday, October 27th, 2011 at 9:30 pm.

Horse Trade Theater Group in association with Hard Sparks will present Eightythree Down, written by J. Stephen Brantley (Village Voice Pick of the Year for Distortion Taco; Winner of 2011 Fresh Fruit One-Act Competition for Shiny Pair of Complications) and directed by Daniel Talbott (2007 NYIT Award for Outstanding Direction of Rules of the Universe; Keep Your Baggage With You (at all times) at Theater for the New City).

Artistic Director Chay Yew and Executive Director Jan Kallish announce the Chicago Premiere of Sarah Ruhl's Tony-nominated play In the Next Room or the vibrator play directed by Associate Artistic Director Sandy Shinner.

Artistic Director Chay Yew and Executive Director Jan Kallish announce the Chicago Premiere of Sarah Ruhl's Tony-nominated play In the Next Room or the vibrator play directed by Associate Artistic Director Sandy Shinner.

59E59 Theaters (Elysabeth Kleinhans, Artistic Director; Peter Tear, Executive Producer) welcomes Oracle Theatre, Inc. with the world premiere of CAPTAIN FERGUSON'S SCHOOL FOR BALLOON WARFARE, written by Isaac Rathbone and directed by Philip Emeott.

At Play presents the U.S. premiere of HERMAN KLINE'S MIDLIFE CRISIS - a new play by Josh Koenigsberg, whose play 'Al's Business Cards' was called 'a zippy new comedy' when it debuted in 2009 -- with previews starting August 7th prior to its official press opening on August 14th at Theatre Row's Beckett Theatre (410 West 42nd Street) in Manhattan. HERMAN KLINE'S MIDLIFE CRISIS is produced by Kelcie Beene and Anthony Francavilla.

Horse Trade Theater Group in association with Hard Sparks will present Eightythree Down, written by J. Stephen Brantley (Village Voice Pick of the Year for Distortion Taco; Winner of 2011 Fresh Fruit One-Act Competition for Shiny Pair of Complications) and directed by Daniel Talbott (2007 NYIT Award for Outstanding Direction of Rules of the Universe; Keep Your Baggage With You (at all times) at Theater for the New City).

It's New Year's Eve 1983 and Martin's plan for a quiet night in his parents' basement is thrown into chaos when his old friend Dina and her hooligan roommates arrive with a gun, a bag of stolen books, and a dangerous idea.

It's New Year's Eve 1983 and Martin's plan for a quiet night in his parents' basement is thrown into chaos when his old friend Dina and her hooligan roommates arrive with a gun, a bag of stolen books, and a dangerous idea.