Second Stage Theatre News

Thomas Sadoski, a Tony nominee for his work in reasons to be pretty and who currently stars in HBO's The Newsroom, is set to appear in the world premiere production of Michael Golamco's Build in the Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater at the Geffen Playhouse.

On the eve of his assassination, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., cools down in a lonely Memphis hotel room after delivering the speech of a lifetime - when an unexpected visit from a feisty, young hotel maid pushes King into a confrontation with his doubts, fears and haunting premonitions. A soul-stirring hit in London and on Broadway, The Mountaintop's humorous, magical storytelling fuses theatricality with spirituality to reach a summit that will leave audiences breathless. The Mountaintop is written by playwright Katori Hall and will be directed by Rep Artistic Associate May Adrales, who returns to The Rep after directing last season's critically-acclaimed production of Yellowman. The Mountaintop runs in The Rep's Stiemke Studio from September 26 - November 4, and opens Friday, September 28.

The Old Globe today announced the cast and creative team for the San Diego Premiere of Pulitzer Prize winner David Lindsay-Abaire's Good People, the award-winning play about class divisions in modern-day Boston. Directed by Paul Mullins, Good People will run Sept. 29 - Oct. 28, 2012 in the Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre, part of the Globe's Conrad Prebys Theatre Center. Preview performances run Sept. 29 - Oct. 3. Opening night is Thursday, Oct. 4 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.

Lunar Energy Productions will present the World Premiere of By Rights We Should Be Giants, created and written by Lunar Energy ensemble members Nadia Sepsenwol and Tim Van Dyck, October 18-November 3 at The Secret Theatre (4402 23rd Street between 44th Avenue and 44th Road, Long Island City).

Theatre Communications Group (TCG) has announced the publication of Quiara Alegria Hudes's Water by the Spoonful, the 2012 winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The play, which will be available in paperback and hardcover, premiered at Hartford Stage in Hartford, CT in 2011 and will receive its Off-Broadway premiere at New York City's Second Stage Theatre in winter 2012.

Labyrinth Theater Company, the award-winning, downtown ensemble has announced their Fall lineup of free play readings for the 13th Annual Barn Series, to be held at the Bank Street Theater in Manhattan's West Village throughout the Company's 2012/13 Season.

As previously announced, RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN'S CINDERELLA will arrive on Broadway this season with previews set for January 21, 2013 prior to Opening Night on February 21 at the Broadway Theatre (1681 Broadway at 53rd Street).

Artistic Director Les Waters and Managing Director Jennifer Bielstein have announced that Waters will stage his inaugural production as Artistic Director with Long Day's Journey into Night by Eugene O'Neill. O'Neill's epic drama will play a limited engagement of 24 performances in the Pamela Brown Auditorium at Actors Theatre of Louisville as part of the Brown-Forman Series. It begins previews on October 9, opens October 11 and runs through October 28.

Aurora Theatre Company opens its 21st season with the coveted Bay Area Premiere of Kristoffer Diaz's smart, hilarious power-slam of a play, THE ELABORATE ENTRANCE OF CHAD DEITY. Jon Tracy makes his main stage directing debut at Aurora with this sardonic critique of pop culture and political correctness. Featuring Rod Gnapp, Tony Sancho, Beethovan Oden, Dave Maier, and Nasser Khan, THE ELABORATE ENTRANCE OF CHAD DEITY plays tonight, August 24 through September 30 at the Aurora Theatre in Berkeley. Get a first look at the production in the photos below!

On August 16th, Broadway star Ricky Martin appeared on LATE NIGHT WITH JIMMY FALLON, where he revealed his love of Twitter and his new habit of tweeting 'intermission pictures' from backstage to give fans a behind-the-scenes peek. Today, we bring you a double-sized 'Jimmy Fallon Edition,' Saturday Intermission Pics round-up with photos from yesterday's matinee and evening performances!

Tonight, August 17, The Screen Actors' Guild Foundation will feature a two-hour, moderated career Conversations event with Judith Light. The event is et to take place at the NYIT Auditorium on Broadway at 7:00 PM, and will be moderated by BroadwayWorld's own Richard Ridge.

Tickets to THE PERFORMERS-the new Broadway comedy by David West Read-go on sale via Telecharge today, August 13 it has been announced by the play's producers Robyn Goodman, Scott M. Delman and Amanda Lipitz. Patrons can purchase tickets by calling Telecharge at 212 239 6200 or online at www.telecharge.com.

New Line Theatre, 'the bad boy of musical theatre,' has secured the rights to three premieres for its 22nd season of alternative, adult musical theatre -- the outrageous emo rock musical BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON, running Sept. 27-Oct. 20, 2012; the powerhouse Pulitzer Prize-winning rock opera NEXT TO NORMAL, running Feb. 28-March 23, 2013; and the hilariously dark, adult musical comedy BUKOWSICAL, running May 30-June 22, 2013.

Just announced is official word that the new production of RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN'S CINDERELLA will arrive on Broadway this season with previews set for January 21, 2013 prior to Opening Night on February 21 at the Broadway Theatre (1681 Broadway), it has been announced by the musical's producers Robyn Goodman, Stephen Kocis and Jill Furman in association with Center Theatre Group.

Tickets to THE PERFORMERS -- the new Broadway comedy by David West Read -- will go on sale via Telecharge on Monday, August 13 it has been announced by the play's producers Robyn Goodman, Scott M. Delman and Amanda Lipitz. Patrons can purchase tickets by calling Telecharge at 212 239 6200 or online at www.telecharge.com.

Betty Buckley won a Tony Award for the role of Grizabella in Cats, starred as Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard, was a Tony nominee for Triumph of Love, and starred on TV's Eight is Enough, film's Tender Mercies and Carrie, and in many other memorable roles. On Aug 11 & 12 she makes her debut at The Art House, joined by Seth Rudetsky at piano, as the celebrated Broadway at The Art House series continues. For tickets please visit www.ptownarthouse.com or call 508-487-9222.

Victoria Clark, Harriet Harris, Ann Harada and Peter Bartlett will join Laura Osnes as Cinderella and Santino Fontana as the Prince in a workshop of the new production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's CINDERELLA August 2nd and 3rd in New York, it has been announced by the musical's producer Center Theatre Group in association with Robyn Goodman, Stephen Kocis and Jill Furman.

Second Stage Theatre has announced the casting for its upcoming world premiere comedy, MODERN TERRORISM, OR THEY WHO WANT TO KILL US AND HOW WE LEARN TO LOVE THEM. The company will feature UTKARSH AMBUDKAR (Second Stage's Animals Out of Paper and The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Diety), STEVEN BOYER (Obie Award-winner for Hand to God), WILLIAM JACKSON HARPER (Ruined), and NITYA VIDYASAGAR (The Glorious Ones, Leela on "Sesame Street").

Stage and screen star Sanaa Lathan (A Raisin in the Sun, Contagion) returns to the title role in Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage's By the Way, Meet Vera Stark for its West Coast premiere at the Geffen Playhouse. Lathan, who originated the character of Vera Stark in the critically acclaimed New York run, will once again take the stage as the 1930's era maid turned movie star, reunited with original cast member Kimberly Hebert Gregory (Spike Lee's Red Hook Summer) reprising her role as fellow aspiring African American actress Lottie. Broadway vet and Geffen alum Merle Dandridge (Spamalot, Rent, Aida) will take on the spicy role of Anna Mae, who fakes a Brazilian accent for a slice of fame, and former leading lady of ABC's Man Up, Amanda Detmer, will portray Gloria Mitchell, the white starlet dubbed "America's little sweetie pie" and Vera's first employer. Helmed by award-winning director Jo Bonney, the West Coast premiere cast also features Kevin Carroll (Paid in Full, Being John Malkovich), Spencer Garrett (Iron Man 3, Air Force One) and Geffen alum Mather Zickel (Extraordinary Chambers, Rachel Getting Married).

THE PERFORMERS -- a new comedy by David West Read (THE DREAM OF THE BURNING BOY) -- will open on Broadway this fall with a cast starring Cheyenne Jackson, Ari Graynor, Daniel Breaker, Jenni Barber and Henry Winkler, it has been announced by the play's producers Robyn Goodman, Scott M. Delman and Amanda Lipitz.