Second Stage Theatre News

The Civilians, the award-winning New York-based theatre company, announces the members of its 2013-14 R & D Group. The group's emerging and established artists were selected from over one hundred applicants. The R & D Group is comprised of artists from multiple theatrical disciplines. Each artist or creative team will develop an original work over the season. The artists and projects were selected to represent a range of different strategies for making new work from creative inquiry and research. This diversity of approach helps feed a culture of innovation in the group, making the R & D Group an effective lab of experimentation for the field of investigative theater.

Theatre Communications Group (TCG) has announced the publication of By the Way, Meet Vera Stark by Lynn Nottage, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Ruined. Declared 'one of our finest playwrights' by Time Out New York, Lynn Nottage premiered her newest play at Second Stage Theatre in spring 2011. In the 2013-2014 season, the play will receive productions at seven theaters across the country, including the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta and the Actor's Theatre of Charlotte.

HIGHLIGHTS from this week include the first look at HONEYMOON IN VEGAS, first bows in THE SUNSHINE BOYS, and PRISCILLA makes it's first stop on tour!

Second Stage Theatre presented a cast album release party for THE LAST FIVE YEARS on September 30 at Etcetera, Etcetera, featuring performances by Adam Kantor and Betsy Wolfe -- the cast of Second Stage's hit production -- accompanied by composer Jason Robert Brown. Scroll down for photos!

54 Below will present the special series The Last Five Years in Concert - with the show's recent stars Adam Kantor and Betsy Wolfe - from October 16 to 19 to celebrate the new cast recording from Sh-K-Boom / Ghostlight Records. These four shows will give audiences a chance to celebrate the musical in the intimate setting of 54 Below with the critically acclaimed performances of Betsy and Adam, along with the full band reunited from this year's hit production at Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director). The composer Jason Robert Brown himself will be at the piano on October 16 -17 at 7:00 PM, with Andrew Resnick taking over on October 18-19 at 11:00 PM. The entire set of concerts will feature Gary Sieger on acoustic guitar, Randy Landau on fretless bass, Thomas Kim Carney on violin, and Summer Boggess and Mairi Dorman on cello. The cover charge ranges from $35 to $45 and there is a $25 food and beverage minimum. Please visit 54Below.com for additional information. Brown, Wolfe, and Kantor recently gave a preview of the concerts at 54 Below and you can check out photos below!

The Marsh is delighted to announce that Geoff Hoyle's hit solo show GEEZER, will return toThe Marsh San Francisco for a limited engagement September 18 - October 26, 2013. Enjoying a multi-extended run and critical raves in its prior engagement, this vivid look at NOT "going gentle into that good night" by one of the era's most acclaimed physical comedy actors will play on Wednesdays -Thursdays at 8pm, Saturdays at 5pm. For tickets, the public may visit www.themarsh.org or call 415-282-3055 between 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday.

The Huntington Theatre Company presents a concert version of Jason Robert Brown's powerful contemporary musical The Last Five Years for three performances only November 23 and 24. Adam Kantor (Rent, Avenue Q) and Betsy Wolfe (The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Everyday Rapture) play the two twenty-something New Yorkers who dive head-first into marriage, fueled by the optimism of finding 'the one.' Winner of Drama Desk Drama Awards for Outstanding Music and Outstanding Lyrics, The Last Five Years takes a bold look at one young couple's hope that love endures the test of time.

Murder For Two features book and music by Joe Kinosian, book and lyrics by Kellen Blair and direction by Scott Schwartz and stars Jeff Blumenkrantz and Brett Ryback. Previews will begin Wednesday, October 23rd at New World Stages - Stage 5 (340 West 50th Street) with opening night set for Wednesday, November 6th, and a final performance set for Sunday, January 5th.

The Old Globe today announced the complete cast and creative team for the World Premiere comedy The Few by award-winning playwright Samuel D. Hunter (The Whale). Directed by Davis McCallum, The Few will run Sept. 28 - Oct. 27, 2013 in the Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre, part of the Globe's Conrad Prebys Theatre Center. Preview performances run Sept. 28 - Oct. 2. Opening night is Thursday, Oct. 3 at 8:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at www.TheOldGlobe.org, by phone at (619) 23-GLOBE or by visiting the Box Office at 1363 Old Globe Way in Balboa Park.

Theatre Aspen announced the hiring of John Thew as the new Managing Director of the organization, after a national search. Thew, who held the same position with Minneapolis's Theater Latte Da, replacesEmily Zeck, effective in early November.

Savory Thymes hosts a benefit for Marin Theatre Company's New Play Program on Sunday, October 6, 2013, from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. at Hillside Gardens in Mill Valley.

Aaron Tveit's sold out concerts in May at New York's 54 BELOW will be recorded and released by Broadway Records. 'The Radio In My Head: Live At 54 BELOW' will be released digitally today, September 6th and on CD on September 10, 2013.

Tony Award nominee WILL SWENSON (Priscilla: Queen of the Desert; Hair) will play the role of Richard Hoover in the upcoming off-Broadway musical comedy, LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE, with book and direction by Tony Award-Winner JAMES LAPINE and music and lyrics by Tony Award Winner WILLIAM FINN. Mr. Swenson replaces the previously announced Will Chase.

Dallas Theater Center has announced the regional premiere of Clybourne Park, running in rotating rep with A Raisin in the Sun, to launch the theater's 55th season. Clybourne Park will be directed by DTC Associate Artistic Director Joel Ferrell. Clybourne Park begins with a Pay-What-You-Can performance on Friday, October 4 and runs through Sunday, October 27 at the Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre in the AT&T Performing Arts Center.

With several new shows having opened on Broadway in the past couple of months, and a constant need for replacements, there has been a solid group of performers making their Broadway debuts this Summer. Meet all of Broadway's newest stars below!

Dallas Theater Center launches its 2013-14 season with A Raisin in the Sun. Tre Garrett of Fort Worth's Jubilee Theatre will make his directorial debut at DTC with this Tony Award-winning play. A Raisin in the Sun begins with a Pay-What-You-Can performance on Friday, September 13 and runs through Sunday, October 27 at the Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre in the AT&T Performing Arts Center.

The recently recorded cast album of the first Off-Broadway revival of Jason Robert Brown's celebrated cult two-character musical THE LAST FIVE YEARS is now available for pre-order.

The Marsh is delighted to announce that Geoff Hoyle's hit solo show GEEZER, will return to The Marsh San Francisco for a limited engagement September 18 - October 26, 2013. Enjoying a multi-extended run and critical raves in its prior engagement, this vivid look at NOT "going gentle into that good night" by one of the era's most acclaimed physical comedy actors will play on Wednesdays -Thursdays at 8pm, Saturdays at 8:30pm. For tickets, the public may visit www.themarsh.org or call 415-282-3055 between 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday.

Preview of the Arts Presents BRADLEY COLE at Theater 80, St. Marks, August 10-23, 2013. This production is part of The New York International Fringe Festival. For tickets visit www.FringeNYC.com.

This is the last week to see the new musical comedy, NOBODY LOVES YOU, at Second Stage Theatre. The production, which Newsday calls,"Delightful - a refreshing, 90-minute musical for a hot summer night," features book and lyrics by Itamar Moses, music and lyrics by Gaby Alter, choreography by Mandy Moore, and direction by Michelle Tattenbaum. NOBODY LOVES YOU is playing at Second Stage's Tony Kiser Theatre (305 West 43rd Street). For subscription or ticket information, please call the Second Stage Box Office at 212-246-4422 or visit the company's website, www.2ST.com.