Sam Shepard News

THE 15th ANNUAL LOWER EAST SIDE (LES) FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS will bring together under one roof in just three days a multitude of performing artists - actors, dancers, singers, painters, sculptors, playwrights, performance artists, poets, etc. -- all of whom reside, work or have their roots in the culturally diverse, artistically rich Lower East Side -- for New York City's most diverse FREE 3-day festival, from Friday, May 28 through Sunday, May 30, at Theater for the New City (155 1st Avenue, between E. 9th and 10th Sts.) in Manhattan.

On Monday, May 17th at 6pm journalist and theater critic Don Shewey will interview Tony Award-winning actress Carole Shelley. On stage, Shelley made her Broadway debut in the original 1965 production of The Odd Couple, playing Gwendolyn Pigeon, a role which she reprised for the film version and for the first season of the subsequent television series.

What starts as an innocent lunch between a septuagenarian Mom and her two adult children degenerates into a fierce game of cat and mouse which leads to a confession that will radically upset the lives of the entire family. In Joel Drake Johnson's darkly humorous play, a weekly family outing takes some unimaginable turns.

The Amoralists will close the run of their current Off-Broadway production of Happy In The Poorhouse on April 26th. The World Premiere of Happy In The Poorhouse began performances on March 11 with an original closing date set for April 5.

Rubicon Theatre Company continues its 2009-2010 Season with a revival of BETH HENLEY's Pulitzer Prize-winning play CRIMES OF THE HEART. Set in Mississippi in 1974 (five years after Hurricane Camille), this sweet, sexy comedy follows the travails of the three Magrath sisters, who come together at the family home in Hazelhurst when the youngest Babe is charged with shooting her husband 'cause she didn't like his looks.'

Atlantic Theater Company (Neil Pepe, Artistic Director; Jeffory Lawson, Managing Director) is proud to announce casting, dates and a director for the American premiere of Olivier Award nominee Moira Buffini's award-winning play GABRIEL, which will mark the final main stage production of Atlantic's 2009-2010 season.

Starting Gate productions Proudly presents Our final production before closing the gate.

Classic Stage Company (CSC), under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Jessica R. Jenen, will honor their board member Rosemarie Tichler, the highly-respected producer, casting director, teacher and author, at this year's annual benefit gala Monday evening, May 17 at Twenty Four Fifth. The Honorary Chair for the evening is Mike Nichols and Honorary Co-Chairs are Olympia Dukakis, Dianne Wiest, Walter Bobbie and James Lapine. Honorary Artists include F. Murray Abraham, Christopher Durang, Michael Greif, John Guare, Bill Irwin, S. Epatha Merkerson, Mandy Patinkin, Wallace Shawn and Michael Stuhlbarg.

Rubicon Theatre Company continues its 2009-2010 Season with a revival of BETH HENLEY's Pulitzer Prize-winning play CRIMES OF THE HEART. Set in Mississippi in 1974 (five years after Hurricane Camille), this sweet, sexy comedy follows the travails of the three Magrath sisters, who come together at the family home in Hazelhurst when the youngest Babe is charged with shooting her husband 'cause she didn't like his looks.'

The Drama League (Jano Herbosch, President; Gabriel Shanks, Executive Director), announced the nominations for the 2009-10 Drama League Awards today at Sardi's with the help of Broadway stars Kelsey Grammer (La Cage Aux Folles) and Bebe Neuwirth (The Addams Family). The 76th Annual Drama League Awards Ceremony and Luncheon will take place on Friday, May 21, 2010 at 12:00pm at the Grand Ballroom of the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Times Square. The event will be co-hosted by Vanessa Williams (Sondheim on Sondheim) and Michael Urie (The Temperamentals).

The Drama League (Jano Herbosch, President; Gabriel Shanks, Executive Director) proudly announces nominations for the 2009-10 Drama League Awards, to be presented at The 76th Annual Drama League Awards Ceremony and Luncheon on Friday, May 21, 2010 (noon) in the Grand Ballroom of the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Times Square (1535 Broadway at 46th Street). The event will be co-hosted by Vanessa Williams (Sondheim on Sondheim) and Michael Urie (The Temperamentals).

The Imago Theatre will hold open auditions for its 2010/2011 season on May 12th at 6pm. Productions include HERO, ZOOZOO, THE TOOTH CRIME, SECOND DANCE and SLOW ROLL.

Dark Nights at The New Group proudly presents 'The Modern Family: A Discussion of Gay Adoption' Sunday, April 18 @ 7:00 PM, THE NEW GROUP @ THEATRE ROW (410 WEST 42ND STREET).

Tremont's resident theatre company, convergence-continuum, opens its 2010 season at the Liminis theatre with KIMBERLY AKIMBO, a wacky and warmhearted dark comedy by David Linsay-Abaire.

Huntington Theatre Company has announced casting for its production of Craig Lucas' PRELUDE TO A KISS, which will run from May 14 through June 13.

Up next for The New Group is the new musical The Kid, beginning performances on Friday, April 16. Official Opening Night is set for Monday, May 10. This marks the final production in The New Group's current 2009-2010 season, which featured Kenneth Lonergan's The Starry Messenger and most recently, the hit revival of Sam Shepard's A Lie of the Mind, directed by Ethan Hawke.

Tickets to the Vineyard Theatre's world-premiere production of THE METAL CHILDREN, written and directed by Adam Rapp, will go on sale on Thursday, April 15 prior to the beginning of previews on May 5 and the official opening on May 19 of the play at the Vineyard (108 E. 15 St.) in Manhattan.

Just in - NEXT TO NORMAL has one the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Drama! As per the official Pulitzer's web site: For a distinguished play by an American author, preferably original in its source and dealing with American life, Ten thousand dollars ($10,000).

Atlantic Theater Company (Neil Pepe, Artistic Director; Jeffory Lawson, Managing Director) is proud to announce casting, dates and a director for the American premiere of Olivier Award nominee Moira Buffini's award-winning play GABRIEL, which will mark the final main stage production of Atlantic's 2009-2010 season.

The 2010 Pulitzer Prizewinners and Nominated Finalists in all categories will be announced on April 12, 2010 at 3 p.m. Eastern daylight time. Finalists are not announced in advance. The 2010 Prizes are awarded for work published, produced or premiered in 2009.