Second Stage Theatre News

LOVEBIRDS, fresh from its New York City premiere at La MaMa Theater, moves to The Marsh Berkeley. A rollicking tale of incurable romantics from GLAAD award-winning solo theater artist and comedian Marga Gomez, LOVEBIRDS enjoyed a critically acclaimed six-month original run at The Marsh San Francisco as well as a tour to the Santa Cruz Fringe Festival. Directed by David Schweizer in his sixth collaboration with Gomez, LOVEBIRDS will transfer to The Marsh Berkeley (2120 Allston Way) with performances Fridays at 8pm and Saturdays at 8:30pm. For tickets ($20-$35, $50-$100 reserved), the public may visit www.themarsh.org or call 415-282-3055 between 1 - 4pm, Monday through Friday.

This week's New York Times In Performance video features Emmy Award-winning actress Anna Gunn and Tony-nominated actor Billy Magnussen in a scene from Laura Eason's play SEX WITH STRANGERS.

The Theatre @ Boston Court presents Happy Days by Samuel Beckett, directed by Andrei Belgrader and featuring Brooke Adams and Tony Shalhoub. Opening night is Saturday, September 13, 2014 on the Main Stage at Boston Court Performing Arts Center, 70 North Mentor Avenue.

The Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors (HOLA), the nation's longest running active arts advocacy organization for Latino actors, have announced that it will honor Obie and Emmy winner Hector Elizondo ('Last Man Standing', 'Chicago Hope', Pretty Woman, Runaway Bride, The Princess Diaries films), five-time Tony nominee Danny Burstein (currently in Cabaret on Broadway), actress Ana Ortiz ('Devious Maids', 'Ugly Betty'), triple threat Bianca Marroquin (currently in Chicago on Broadway), Pedro Pascal ('Game of Thrones'), Cierra Ramirez ('The Fosters') and WNBC-TV anchor Sibila Vargas at the Fifteenth Annual HOLA Awards Gala and Benefit. The HOLA Awards will take place on Monday, October 13, 2014 at 6:30pm at The Battery Gardens, overlooking and located on the waterfront overlooking New York Harbor in Battery Park (opposite 17 State Street in lower Manhattan).

The Guthrie Theater today announced casting for the first production on the Wurtele Thrust Stage in the 2014-2015 season, Wendy Wasserstein's Pulitzer Prize-winning play The Heidi Chronicles. Under the direction of 2014 Tony Award nominee Leigh Silverman (Broadway's Violet, Chinglish, Well), The Heidi Chronicles will feature the talents of Kate Wetherhead, Ben Graney, Tracey Maloney and Zach Shaffer, as well as Sam Bardwell, Eleonore Dendy, Mo Perry and Stacia Rice.

Join O'Neill Center artistic directors Wendy Goldberg, of the National Playwrights Conference, and Paulette Haupt, of the National Music Theater Conference, distinguished alumni Adam Gwon, Sarah Hammond and Deborah Zoe Laufer, and moderator Anne G. Morgan, for a look at the O'Neill's influential role as a theatrical laboratory over the last 50 years.

In 1994 Sarajevo, in a bedroom brimming with bullet holes, Dahlia and Peter have a whirlwind romance. A famous writer reporting on the Bosnian War, he leaves her to return to his wife. In 2001 Kabul, in a bedroom with blacked out windows, an Afghan prostitute is having affair with a member of the Taliban religious police. Dahlia's book about Leila, Ash and the aftermath of their affair in Kabul makes her a famous writer in her own right. On her book tour, struggling with how we all profit from telling stories of war from a safe distance, Dahlia and Peter meet again.

Chautauqua Theatre Company, under the leadership of Vivienne Benesch, Artistic Director, and Sarah Clare Corporandy, Managing Director, presents William Shakespeare's magical masterwork, The Tempest, directed by Jade King Carroll, playing August 8-15 on the Bratton Theatre Mainstage. The press opening is tonight (August 9) at 6:00pm.

The Guthrie Theater, in partnership with the Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation, today announced it will host a one-on-one conversation with Tony Award-nominee Leigh Silverman (Violet on Broadway), director of The Heidi Chronicles which kicks off the Guthrie's 2014-2015 thrust season, and Joel Sass, director of the Guthrie's current hit comedy Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike on August 25 at 7:30pm at the Dowling Studio.

Whether you've been living under a rock for the past week or you're just in the mood for a recap, BroadwayWorld's 'this week in pictures' is here to satisfy your end-of-the-week fix! Take a look below to catch up on the latest happenings from the Great White Way to The West End (and everywhere in between) with coverage of press events, rehearsals, opening nights and more. Highlights this week include BROADWAY THE HARDWAY, Tina Fey's visit to HEATHERS, a first look at THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME, and more!

Second Stage Theatre's critically acclaimed production of Laura Eason's play, SEX WITH STRANGERS, has been extended one week and will now play through Sunday, August 31st. The production stars Emmy Award Winner Anna Gunn and Tony Award Nominee Billy Magnussen and is directed by David Schwimmer. SEX WITH STRANGERS opened on Wednesday, July 30th.

Two-time Tony nominee Christopher Fitzgerald rejoins the Broadway cast of CHICAGO as Billy Flynn -- his second starring role in the acclaimed production-- beginning Tuesday, August 5.

Second Stage Theatre continues its 35th Anniversary Season with Laura Eason's SEX WITH STRANGERS, directed by David Schwimmer and featuring Anna Gunn and Billy Magnussen. The show opens tonight, July 30, off-Broadway. Let's see what the critics had to say...

American Indian Artists Inc. (AMERINDA) will present the World Premiere of POWWOW HIGHWAY, a stage adaptation of David Seals novel turned cult classic film by William S. Yellow Robe, Jr. Directed by Madeline Sayet, previews begin October 10 at HERE. Opening night is slated for Thursday, October 16.

Second Stage Theatre continues its 35th Anniversary Season with Laura Eason's SEX WITH STRANGERS, directed by David Schwimmer and featuring Anna Gunn and Billy Magnussen. Scroll down for a first look at the stars in action!

Second Stage Theatre continues the 2014 Uptown Series with the New York premiere of MALA HIERBA, written by Tanya Saracho (HBO's 'Looking' and 'Girls') and directed by Jerry Ruiz. MALA HIERBA will feature Roberta Colindrez, Sandra Marquez, Marta Milans, and Ana Nogueira. The show is currently in previews and will open tomorrow, Thursday, July 24th. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Sundance Institute and the LUMA Foundation today announced that the two organizations will again collaborate to host the second Sundance Institute | LUMA Foundation Theatre Directors Retreat in Arles, France, July 29 through August 11. The Retreat is one of 10 residential programs hosted by Sundance Institute this summer, collectively representing 15 weeks of support and mentorship for promising independent artists in theatre and film from the United States and around the world.

It's Saturday, and that means it's time for BroadwayWorld's 'Saturday Intermission Pics' roundup! Today's photos come from the casts of Broadway's BULLETS OVER BROADWAY, CINDERELLA, ROCKY, PIPPIN, the 1st National Tour of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, and more!

Pittsburgh CLO has announced the Pittsburgh Premiere of the Off-Broadway sensation Murder For Two, October 22-January 18 at the CLO Cabaret. Everyone is a suspect in this exciting production where classic musical comedy meets Agatha Christie. In this witty and winking musical homage to old-fashioned murder mysteries, TWO performers play THIRTEEN ROLES -- not to mention the piano.