Second Stage Theatre News

The UC San Diego Department of Theatre and Dance presents Gruesome Playground Injuries by Rajiv Joseph, directed by Carla Harting, June 7-10, at the Arthur Wagner Theatre in Galbraith Hall, part of the Joan and Irwin Jacobs Theatre District on the university's campus.

Broadway shows are made, not born. Though the polished final product of a Broadway show seems to land before our very eyes as if put there by some divine circumstance, the life of the average show before it makes its way to New York is long.

Lesser America (Half Moon Bay, The Bachelors, Carnival Kids, Trevor) presents the New York Premiere of IN A WORD by Lauren Yee, winner of the 2016 Francesca Primus Prize and a finalist for the ATCA/Steinberg Award. Directed by Tyne Rafaeli (The Bridges of Madison County national tour, Actually at Geffen Playhouse), previews begin June 16 at Cherry Lane Theatre, where Lesser America continues its run as the inaugural Company in Residence.

Lookingglass Theatre Company concludes its 29th Season with its award-winning production of Moby Dick, adapted and directed by Ensemble Member David Catlin, from the book by Herman Melville, in association with The Actors Gymnasium. Moby Dick runs June 7 - September 3, 2017 at Lookingglass Theatre Company, located inside Chicago's historic Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave. at Pearson. The Press Opening is Saturday, June 17, 2017 at 7:30 p.m.

The Playwrights Realm has announced its 2017-18 season productions: the world premieres of Michael Yates Crowley's The Rape of the Sabine Women, By Grace B. Matthias, directed by Tyne Rafaeli (August - September 2017), and Don Nguyen's Hello, From the Children of Planet Earth, directed by Jade King Carroll (February - March 2018).Both will be presented at The Duke on 42nd Street, a New 42nd Street project.

Steep Theatre plunges into the world of horror with their Midwest premiere of Lauren Yee's Hookman. The play, which has been described by Yee as an 'existential slasher-comedy', was directed by the Jeff Award-winner Vanessa Stalling (United Flight 232 - Best Play, Midsize). The production marks Stalling's Steep Theatre directorial debut. ??The cast of Hookman features Karen Rodriguez, Kiayla Ryann, Aja Wiltshire, Sasha Smith, James Doherty, and Mary Tilden.

Theatre for a New Audience has announced casting for British director Simon Godwin's new staging of Measure for Measure, William Shakespeare's dark comedy about justice, faith, power, sex, and family.

Founding Executive Director Kathy Evans announced the 19 writers and 9 new musicals selected for development at this summer's Rhinebeck Writers Retreat. 

The Drama Book Shop is pleased to welcome playwright Gina Gionfriddo (After Ashley, Becky Shaw) for a discussion about her latest play, Can You Forgive Her?, opening soon at New York's Vineyard Theatre. The event will be followed by a signing of her work. The Tuesday, May 9th, 5:00pm event is free and open to the public. 

The Lortel Awards will be presented tonight, May 7, 2017 at NYU Skirball Center beginning at 7:00 PM EST. This year's event will be hosted by actor and comedian, Taran Killam, and will once again serve as a benefit for The Actors Fund.

2017 has already brought them a Golden Globe and Academy Award. Will a Tony be next? Justin Pasek and Benj Paul continue their amazing year with a Tony nomination for their work on DEAR EVAN HANSEN- a musical that they've been working on for nearly a decade. Find out why the show means so much to them below!

San Francisco Playhouse (Artistic Director Bill English; Producing Director Susi Damilano) announced the final selection for its 2017-18 Mainstage season-A Christmas Story: The Musical. With a book by Joseph Robinette and music and lyrics by Oscar-winning duo Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, A Christmas Story is based on the classic 1983 film of the same name. The play will be presented in the previously-unannounced holiday slot, running November 22, 2017 to January 13, 2018 (Press Opening is November 29, 2017).

Previews begin tonight, May 4th for the Vineyard Theatre's production of the New York premiere of two-time Pulitzer Prize-finalist Gina Gionfriddo's CAN YOU FORGIVE HER?, directed by Peter DuBois (SONS OF THE PROPHET, BECKY SHAW). CAN YOU FORGIVE HER? will  official open Tuesday, May 23.

Rhinebeck Writers Retreat is presenting the first reading of the new musical, BHANGIN' IT, book by Rehana Lew Mirza and Mike Lew and music and lyrics by Sam Willmott, on May 1 in New York City for an invited industry audience. The reading includes actors Shoba Narayan (Natasha Pierre & The Great Comet), Tony Sheldon (Amelie), Dan Rosales (Spamilton), Angel Desai (Company), and Salena Qureshi.  The reading is directed by David Ruttura (School of Rock) and music directed by James Dobinson (The View UpStairs).

Director Michael Greif, who has directed seminal Broadway musicals including Rent, Next to Normal, Grey Gardens and many more, just received a Sardi's portrait to celebrate his career and work on Broadway directing this season's new musicals Dear Evan Hansen and War Paint. The casts from both of his shows came out to celebrate the occasion and BroadwayWorld was there!

The National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) announces 16 awards granted from their National Fund for New Musicals, a major funding program to support NAMT member not-for-profit theatres in their collaborations with writers to create, develop and produce new musicals.

The Geffen Playhouse today announced that Downton Abbey star Allen Leech will make his U.S. stage debut opposite Ginnifer Goodwin (Once Upon a Time, Big Love) in the Los Angeles Premiere of Constellations, Nick Payne's 2015 Broadway sensation. The Geffen's production is directed by Giovanna Sardelli (Guards at the Taj) and marks Goodwin's Los Angeles stage debut.

After a sold-out run for Lost Girls, Theatre Exile closes their 20th anniversary season with Buzzer by Tracey Scott Wilson. Gentrification comes to a head as the thought-provoking social drama fans the flames of love, race, class and privilege.

Ruth Eckerd Hall presents Broadway's Dirty Dancing - The Classic Story On Stage on Friday, May 5 at 8 pm, Saturday, May 6 at 2 & 8 pm and Sunday, May 7 at 2 & 7 pm. Tickets are on sale now.

Kokandy Productions has announced casting for its Chicago premiere of Michael John LaChiusa's LITTLE FISH, an oblique parable for urban life after the attacks of September 11th, directed by Producing Artistic Director Allison Hendrix with music direction by Kory Danielson, playing July 9 - August 20, 2017 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago.