Sandy Rustin News

Theatre Aspen announced the launch of a new play development series today, with the early workshopping of Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater musical Alice By Heart, based on the Lewis Carroll novel Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Sheik and Sater are best known for their 2007 rock musical Spring Awakening which won eight Tony Awards including Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, and Best Original Score.

The Astoria Performing Arts Center (APAC) announced today that Artistic Director Tom Wojtunik will be stepping down from his position as Artistic Director on June 30th, 2014. During Wojtunik's six years as Artistic Director, he successfully raised the company's artistic profile and solidified APAC's place as a respected developer and producer of new works. For his final production, he will direct Rodgers & Hammerstein's rarely seen Allegro, opening May 1st, 2014. (Critics are invited to all performances.)

MIDTOWN DIRECT REP (MDR), the resident theater company at South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC), and co-directors/producers Sandy Rustin (Playwright/Co-Lyricist Rated P ... for Parenthood) and Deborah Goldstein (Publisher Village Q) are pleased to announce the incredible local cast of the 2014 North Jersey show of Listen to Your Mother, a national series of original live readings about motherhood (www.listentoyourmothershow.com). The production will be May 10th at 5:00 PM show at The South Orange Performing Arts Center (One SOPAC Way, South Orange, NJ, 07079). Statewide open auditions were held in early March and 15 writers have been selected to join the movement of 'giving motherhood a microphone.' Tickets are $20-$25 and are available at www.sopacnow.org.

Theatre Aspen has announced that the annual benefit gala, to be held on March 8th at 6:30 pm at the Hotel Jerome has sold out. This year's theme is 'The Disco Ball,' and the glittery evening will feature entertainment, dinner, DJ, silent and live auctions and disco dancing.

MIDTOWN DIRECT REP (MDR), the resident theater company at South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC), has announced a staged reading of the new musical SEXTET, based on an original story by Chad Hardin, with music and lyrics by Hardin, and book plus additional music, lyrics and direction by Bradley Dean, on Sunday, February 9, 2014 at 7 pm.

Award-winning Theatre Aspen announced the lineup for its 31st season today. The Hurst Theatre will open with the musical comedy The Full Monty, running in repertory with the musical Little Women, and a brand new comedy by Sandy Rustin called The Cottage. Casting begins early in 2014.

The Award-Winning Astoria Performing Arts Center (APAC) has announced the world premiere production of a (mostly) non-violent, romantic comedy by Sandy Rustin's (Rated P [For Parenthood]) THE COTTAGE directed by Adam Dannheisser (Rock of Ages, resident director/performer). THE COTTAGE will play a three week limited engagement at Good Shepard United Methodist Church, 30-44 Crescent St (@30th Rd), in Astoria, Queens. Performances begin tonight, November 7 and continue through Saturday, November 23. Opening Night is Saturday, November 9 at 8 p.m.

MIDTOWN DIRECT REP is pleased to announce a reading of Kara Lee Corthron's (Princess Grace Award-winner) Listen For The Light, directed by Amy Saltz (Almost Maine), as part of Midtown Direct Rep's play development series focuses on new and innovative American theatre: Theatre in the Loft. The performance will be Sunday, November 3rd, 2013 at 7 pm at SOPAC (One Sopac Way, South Orange, NJ, 07079). The reading is $15 per ticket at http://www.sopacnow.org/632/midtown-direct-rep-in-the-loft-nov-3.

The Award-Winning Astoria Performing Arts Center (APAC) has announced the world premiere production of a (mostly) non-violent, romantic comedy by Sandy Rustin's (Rated P [For Parenthood]) THE COTTAGE directed by Adam Dannheisser (Rock of Ages, resident director/performer). THE COTTAGE will play a three week limited engagement at Good Shepard United Methodist Church, 30-44 Crescent St (@30th Rd), in Astoria, Queens. Performances begin Thursday, November 7 and continue through Saturday, November 23. Opening Night is Saturday, November 9 at 8 p.m.

Midtown Direct Rep announces the cast for the previously announced staged reading of David Myer's From Under the Tree as part of Midtown Direct Rep's play development series focused on new and innovative American theatre: Theatre in the Loft.

Following on the heels of MDR's successful development of Rated P (for parenthood), MDR's program, Theatre in the Loft, aims to do the same for other previously unseen material. MDR now presents monthly readings or workshops of new plays and musicals one Sunday night a month at 7 PM in the SOPAC loft. With a cash bar and post show discussions with the casts and creative teams, MDR fosters a fun and collaborative environment to nurture the development of top notch theatre right here at home.

Midtown Direct Rep announces the cast for the previously announced reading of David Johnston's Evil Time as part of Midtown Direct Rep's play development series focused on new and innovative American theatre: Theatre in the Loft.

Midtown Direct Rep will present a reading of David Johnston's Evil Time as part of Midtown Direct Rep's play development series focused on new and innovative American theatre: Theatre in the Loft. The reading is set for SOPAC on Sunday, September 8th at 7 PM.

The Astoria Performing Arts Center (APAC), recipient of the 2012 Caffe Cino Fellowship Award from the Innovative Theatre Foundation, has announced their 13th season will include a world premiere play by Sandy Rustin (Rated P (for Parenthood)) THE COTTAGE, directed by Adam Dannheisser (Rock of Ages, resident director), and Rodgers and Hammerstein's ALLEGRO, directed by Artistic Director Tom Wojtunik. APAC's performance venue is located at the Good Shepherd United Methodist Church, 30-44 Crescent St (@30th Rd), in Astoria, Queens. In the meantime, APAC's Board of Directors is in the midst of a search to find a new Executive Director, visit apacny.org for more information.

The fast-paced anecdotal collection of vignettes takes a musical romp through the struggles and unexpected joys of being a parent in a completely relatable way, whether you are a parent or not. Mostly set up as, at least, PG-13 humor (never underestimate the comic effect of belting out a long curse word), Rated P surprises with a few tender moments from the women that will touch your heart when you least expect.

Midtown Direct Rep will present a reading of the Terrance McNally Award finalist play, The Drama Department by James Hindman as part of Midtown Direct Rep's play development series focused on new and innovative American theatre: Theatre in the Loft. Directed by Peter Flynn, the reading will take place tonight, Sunday, July 14th at 7:00PM. Admission: $15 Cover, Cash Bar, No Drink Minimum.

Casting highlights for Vassar & New York Stage and Film Powerhouse Theater's second Mainstage production, Mozhan Marno's When The Lights Went Out, and the Martel Musical workshop of the new Simon Rich/Peter Lerman musical inspired by The Brooklyn Hero Supply Company, have been announced. In addition, casting highlights for the season's Inside Look Workshops, Found and Mother of Invention have also been announced. Tickets are on sale through the Box Office: (845) 437-5599 or PHTBoxOffice@vassar.edu. The Box Office is located at Vassar in the Powerhouse Theater building. For online sales visit http://powerhouse.vassar.edu/boxoffice. For general season information call 845-437-5907 or visitpowerhouse@vassar.edu

Rated P for Parenthood, the new Off-Broadway musical revue about the joys and quirks of having kids, will have its South Florida premiere at Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre from July 10 - August 11, 2013.

Jason Little (Hair), Sainty Reid (Finding Nemo) and special guest, All My Children star, Eric Nelsen will join the previously announced cast, Adam Dannheisser (Rock of Ages), Danielle Ferland (Into The Woods), Jim Ferris (Lion King) and Christiane Noll (Tony Nominee for Ragtime).