Second Stage Theatre News

Second Stage Theatre is pleased to announce that the critically acclaimed production of Anna Deavere Smith's LET ME DOWN EASY, has extended four weeks, through December 6. Conceived, written, and performed by Ms. Smith and directed by Leonard Foglia, LET ME DOWN EASY opened on Wednesday, October 7 and was originally scheduled to run through November 8.

Join Joe Iconis and his merry band of musical theater punks in their Second Annual insane celebration of all things red and green, wherein Joe and his friends learn the true meaning of Christmas. Featuring brand new holiday songs, old favorites, tiny elves, enormous reindeer, an inebriated Mr. and Mrs. Claus, and an ungodly number of candy canes, this promises to be the happiest and wildest holiday hoedown you've ever seen.

The Wilma Theater continues its 2009-2010 Season with the Philadelphia Premiere of Becky Shaw (December 30, 2009 - January 31, 2010), directed by Obie Award-winner Anne Kauffman.

Columbia Records and Twentieth Century Fox Television today released select songs on iTunes featured in this week's episode of GLEE, including cast versions of Van Halen's 'Jump,' Lily Allen's 'Smile' and Charlie Chaplin's 'Smile.'

People Talk receives world premiere by the Drama Desk Award-winning The Barrow Group on December 15 and 16 at 8:00pm.

Second Stage Theatre will host a post-performance conversation between Anna Deavere Smith and Elizabeth Alexander following the Thursday, December 3 evening performance of Let Me Down Easy. A renowned poet, essayist and playwright, Elizabeth Alexander most recently composed and delivered the poem 'Praise Song for the Day' for the inauguration of President Barack Obama. The conversation is free to all in attendance at the Thursday, December 3 8:00pm performance.

Emerging playwright Marisa Wegrzyn is the recipient of the 2009 Wasserstein Prize for her play Hickorydickory. The Wasserstein Prize was established in memory of the Pulitzer and Tony Award-winning playwright Wendy Wasserstein, who died in 2006. The $25,000 prize is awarded for an outstanding script by a young woman who has not yet received national attention. The Wasserstein Prize is funded by the Educational Foundation of America (EFA) and administered by Theatre Development Fund. It will be presented by Wendy's life-long friend and EFA Board member Heidi Ettinger and TDF's Executive Director Victoria Bailey at a reception at The Players at 16 Gramercy Park South in New York City on Tuesday, December 1. In addition to the $25,000 prize, Ms. Wegrzyn's play, Hickorydickory, will receive a reading at Second Stage Theatre in New York City.

YALE REPERTORY THEATRE (James Bundy, Artistic Director; Victoria Nolan, Managing Director) announces complete casting and the creative team for the world premiere of POP!, a new musical with book and lyrics by Maggie-Kate Coleman and music by Anna K. Jacobs, directed by Mark Brokaw. POP! will play for 22 performances only, November 27-December 19. Opening Night is Thursday, December 3.

Emerging playwright Marisa Wegrzyn is the recipient of the 2009 Wasserstein Prize for her play Hickorydickory. The Wasserstein Prize was established in memory of the Pulitzer and Tony Award-winning playwright Wendy Wasserstein, who died in 2006. The $25,000 prize is awarded for an outstanding script by a young woman who has not yet received national attention. The Wasserstein Prize is funded by the Educational Foundation of America (EFA) and administered by Theatre Development Fund. It will be presented by Wendy's life-long friend and EFA Board member Heidi Ettinger and TDF's Executive Director Victoria Bailey at a reception at The Players at 16 Gramercy Park South in New York City on Tuesday, December 1. In addition to the $25,000 prize, Ms. Wegrzyn's play, Hickorydickory, will receive a reading at Second Stage Theatre in New York City.

Join Joe Iconis and his merry band of musical theater punks in their Second Annual insane celebration of all things red and green, wherein Joe and his friends learn the true meaning of Christmas. Featuring brand new holiday songs, old favorites, tiny elves, enormous reindeer, an inebriated Mr. and Mrs. Claus, and an ungodly number of candy canes, this promises to be the happiest and wildest holiday hoedown you've ever seen.

Due to popular demand, the critically acclaimed production of Anna Deavere Smith's LET ME DOWN EASY, now playing at Second Stage Theatre, has extended a second time and will now close on January 3, 2010. The show, which is currently extended through December 6, will not be performed December 14 - 20 due to Smith's previous commitment to perform Hymn with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater at City Center.

William Shakespeare's witty, playful and totally magical As You Like It is a compelling romantic adventure in which Rosalind and Orlando's celebrated courtship is played out against a backdrop of political rivalry, banishment and exile in the Forest of Arden.

MADISON STREET PRODUCTIONS in association with BOO-Arts PRODUCTIONS are pleased to announce their production of the 2008 Midtown International Theatre Festival nominated play, PENANG by James L. Larocca, directed by Donya K. Washington.

Page 73 Productions (Liz Jones and Asher Richelli, Executive Directors) and New Georges (Susan Bernfield, Artistic Director; Sarah Cameron Sunde, Associate Director) will present the world premiere of Heidi Schreck's riveting new play 'CREATURE,' directed by Leigh Silverman.

The Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park has finalized casting for its upcoming production of THREE SISTERS. This exciting new version, commissioned by the Playhouse, combines John Doyle, the Tony Award-winning director of Company, and Sarah Ruhl, one of America's most acclaimed young playwrights. THREE SISTERS, a poignant tale of love and dreams and the never-ending pursuit of happiness, begins previews in the Playhouse's Robert S. Marx Theatre October 24 and continues through November 21.

The Subjective Theater Company (STC) would like to invite audiences to come and be absolutely scandalized and deeply offended by its third production of the 2009/2010 season, JUMP JIM CROW: HOW TO PRODUCE YOUR OWN MINSTREL SHOW.

Second Stage Theatre will host a post performance discussion with Anna Deavere Smith and three of her interview subjects from Let Me Down Easy following the Friday, November 20 performance.

Rattlestick Playwrights Theater continues its 15th anniversary season with the world premiere of Post No Bills, a Tex-Mex play with music by Mando Alvarado. Directed by Michael Ray Escamilla, performances begin Thursday, November 11th, 2009. Opening night is Thursday, November 19th at 7pm. The show is scheduled to run through Sunday, December 13th, 2009.

William Shakespeare's witty, playful and totally magical As You Like It is a compelling romantic adventure in which Rosalind and Orlando's celebrated courtship is played out against a backdrop of political rivalry, banishment and exile in the Forest of Arden.

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director) will launch its 31st season this fall with the New York premiere of Anna Deavere Smith's LET ME DOWN EASY. Conceived, written, and performed by Ms. Smith and directed by Leonard Foglia, LET ME DOWN EASY will begin preview performances on Tuesday, September 15 and will officially open on Wednesday, October 7 at 6:45pm.