Second Stage Theatre News

A total of 35 established and emerging writers, composers and lyricists will converge on the Goodspeed campus this month to participate in the first-ever Johnny Mercer Writers Colony at Goodspeed Musicals. The writing teams, representing more than twenty new musicals, will populate the campus, creating a truly exciting environment for discovery and inspiration.

Long Wharf Theatre will present the world premiere of Laura Jacqmin's new play January Joiner: A Weight Loss Horror Comedy, now through February 10, 2013 on Stage II. The production will be directed by Associate Artistic Director Eric Ting. The cast includes Ashlie Atkinson (Terry), Anthony Bowden (Brian), Tonya Glanz (April), Meredith Holzman (Myrtle), Maria-Christina Oliveras (Not-Terry), and Daniel Stewart Sherman (Darnell.) Get a first look at the cast onstage in the photos below!

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.

Heather Henderson recently accepted the position of Managing Director with Abingdon Theatre Company, now in its 20th Season of developing and producing new plays by American playwrights, announces Artistic Director Jan Buttram. For the past 18 months, Ms. Henderson served as Abingdon's Director of Development. She replaces Samuel J. Bellinger who recently became Director of Finance at Second Stage Theatre. Mr. Bellinger served as Abingdon's Managing Director for 19 years and will continue to serve on Abingdon's Board of Directors. Prior to joining Abingdon's staff, Ms. Henderson had a multi-faceted career in the financial sector, spending the bulk of her time sitting on a foreign exchange trading floor as a representative of the Private Banking Group for Citibank, working predominantly with Latin American clientele. She also served as a team member of UBS Financial Services, managing assets that ran the gamut from retail to ultra high net worth individuals. She also worked with high net worth families creating customized tax efficient wealth management strategies to meet their special needs, utilizing long-term focus and advising clients in proper estate and tax planning. Prior to joining UBS, she was a Financial Advisor for Merrill Lynch.

Long Wharf Theatre will present the world premiere of Laura Jacqmin's new play January Joiner: A Weight Loss Horror Comedy from tonight, January 9 through February 10, 2013 on Stage II.

The Douglas Morrisson Theatre (DMT) is excited to introduce GRUESOME PLAYGROUND INJURIES, the first production in the 2013-2014 BARE BONES staged reading series. The eccentrically amusing and affecting play by Rajiv Joseph was inspired by a barroom conversation the playwright had with a friend who shared wild stories about all the injuries he had as a child.

Five of the entertainment world's leading ladies will perform in New Orleans in 2013 as Seth Rudetsky's popular Broadway Concert Series makes the leap to NOCCA's Lupin Hall from its summer home at The Art House in Provincetown, MA. Patti LuPone, two-time Tony winner for Gypsy and as the legendary original Evita, will appear for two shows only on January 7th at 6:30 and 8:30. Sutton Foster, two-time Tony-winner for this year's Anything Goes and previously for Thoroughly Modern Millie and star of the ABC Family series Bunheads arrives for one show only on March 2nd at 7:30. Megan Mullally, two-time Emmy-winning star of TV's Will and Grace and star of Broadway's Young Frankenstein performs two shows only on April 6th at 7:30 and 9:30. Audra McDonald, a five-time Tony Award winner and recent star of Porgy and Bess on Broadway and TV's Private Practice will make her New Orleans debut with two shows only on May 18 at 7:30 and 9:30. Betty Buckley, the Tony winning legendary star of Cats and Sunset Boulevard will close the series on June 1 with two shows only at 7:30 and 9:30. The visiting Broadway artists will also be giving master classes for the NOCCA Institute's high school-aged musical theatre students. All five concerts are produced by Mark Cortale, long time producer/manager of Jeffery Roberson aka Varla Jean Merman, and will be hosted by Sirius/XM radio star Seth Rudetsky at the piano. The series is sponsored exclusively by the New Orleans Hotel Collection and Gambit. Tickets can be purchased at www.broadwaynola.com or by calling 800-838-3006.

David Sisco (Founder/Creator) and Lorene Phillips (Contributing Editor) will officially launch their now acclaimed DIRECTORY OF CONTEMPORARY THEATRE WRITERS website with a musical event of remarkable proportions, on Monday, January 21 at Second Stage Theatre (305 West 43 Street - between Eighth & Ninth Avenues).

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!

Associate Artistic Director Eric Ting will join playwright Laura Jacqmin for a discussion about her new play January Joiner: A Weight Loss Horror Comedy at RJ Julia Booksellers on Monday, January 7.

Dallas Theater Center will conclude its four-year Shakespeare cycle with one of the playwright's greatest tragedies King Lear, a co-production with Trinity Repertory Company and directed by DTC artistic director Kevin Moriarty. King Lear opens for previews on Friday, January 18 and runs through Sunday, February 18.

Works & Process at the Guggenheim has announced its spring 2013 season. Since 1984, the performing-arts series has championed new works and offered audiences unprecedented access to leading creators and performers. Each intimate, 80-minute performance uniquely combines artistic creation and stimulating conversation and takes place in the Guggenheim's Frank Lloyd Wright-designed, 285-seat Peter B. Lewis Theater, where new reserved seating is now offered. A reception for the audience and artists follows most programs. Described by the New York Times as "a popular series devoted to shedding light on the creative process," Works & Process is produced by founder Mary Sharp Cronson. Past performance highlights can be viewed at youtube.com/worksandprocess.

ADAM KANTOR (Rent) and BETSY WOLFE (The Mystery of Edwin Drood) will co-star in the highly anticipated revival of JASON ROBERT BROWN's musical THE LAST FIVE YEARS at Second Stage Theatre. The beloved two-character musical, which has received more than 500 regional productions and 3,000 performances around the world, is returning to New York City after eleven years in an all-new staging directed by Mr. Brown. THE LAST FIVE YEARS will begin previews on Thursday, March 7 at Second Stage's Tony Kiser Theatre (305 West 43rd street). Opening night is scheduled for Tuesday, April 2 at 7pm.

Following its acclaimed 16-week run at the Lookingglass Theatre Company this fall, Metamorphoses brings the mythical tales of Ovid to life at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater, 10 years after the Broadway premiere. Written and directed by Tony Award winner Mary Zimmerman, Metamorphoses is based on David Slavitt's translation and marks the first time Zimmerman will direct the production since its Broadway run. This is also the first time Zimmerman will stage Metamorphoses in the round, and a custom set will be designed with the largest pool of water ever created for this production. Metamorphoses dives onto the Fichandler Stage February 8-March 17, 2013.

GHOSTLIGHT RECORDS has announced the digital release of the Original London Cast Recording of the acclaimed musical 13 - The Musical on Tuesday, December 18. The show has music and lyrics by Tony Award-winner Jason Robert Brown and book by Dan Elish and Robert Horn, and was produced in London by Jeremy Walker for National Youth Music Theatre. The new recording, produced by Brown and recorded by Robin Sellars, includes two previously unrecorded songs, as well as revised lyrics and musical scoring, and the all-teenage cast that Mark Shenton of The Stage called 'rougher, tougher and more adorable' than the original Broadway company. In addition to the download - which will be available on Tuesday everywhere digital music is sold - physical CDs are available to order now at http://sh-k-boom.com/13MusicalOriginalLondonCast.shtml.

Long Wharf Theatre will present the world premiere of Laura Jacqmin's new play January Joiner: A Weight Loss Horror Comedy from January 9 through February 10, 2013 on Stage II.

The Douglas Morrisson Theatre (DMT) is excited to introduce GRUESOME PLAYGROUND INJURIES, the first production in the 2013-2014 BARE BONES staged reading series. The eccentrically amusing and affecting play by Rajiv Joseph was inspired by a barroom conversation the playwright had with a friend who shared wild stories about all the injuries he had as a child.

From the author of Pride and Prejudice comes this heartwarming, humorous tale of two sisters struggling to move past a family disaster. Sensible, reserved Elinor and passionate, impulsive Marianne find the road to true love beset with dashing suitors and well-meaning relatives, devoted friends and devious rivals, and scandalous secrets and unexpected twists in a period-perfect adaptation that captures all of the deliciousness, flirtation and folly of Jane Austen's well-loved novel.

Professional Actress Dee Smith has confirmed that she is producing an AEA production of Stephen Adly Guirgis's play, THE LAST DAYS OFJUDAS ISCARIOT at The Victory Theatre in Burbank. Smith is best known for playing the role of Ellis in the Festival Film, ALL OUT, which earned her a nomination for Best Actress at the Texas Black Film Festival. She also co-starred in the highly touted American Premiere of THE IMAGINARY LIFE OF THE STREET SWEEPER, AUGUST G last year at Casa 0101 Theatre in Los Angeles.

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