Second Stage Theatre News

THE HAPPIEST SONG PLAYS LAST is the third in a cycle of plays that began with Hudes' Elliot, A Soldier's Fugue, a play about a young Marine coming to terms with his time in Iraq and his father's and grandfather's service in Vietnam and Korea. The second play in the trilogy, the 2012 Pulitzer Prize-winning drama Water by the Spoonful, received its New York premiere at Second Stage Theatre in 2013. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you photos from opening night!

Kindling Theatre Company presents the World Premiere of TAKE ME BACK, written by Emily Schwend and directed by Jay Stull. TAKE ME BACK begins performances on Friday, February 28 for a limited engagement through Saturday, March 22. Opening Night is Wednesday, March 5 at 8 PM. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Cameron Mackintosh's acclaimed new production of Alain Boublil & Claude-Michel Schonberg's Tony Award-winning musical masterpiece LES MISERABLES begins previews on Broadway tomorrow, Saturday, March 1 at the Imperial Theatre. The official opening night for LES MISERABLES is Sunday, March 23. Scroll down to learn more about the full cast, plus watch a video of the company in rehearsal!

Atlantic Theater Company and Atlantic for Kids is tuning up to present the New York premiere of Mr. Chickee's Funny Money, an all-new, rhythm and blues family musical, featuring music and lyrics that groove to an original score by Motown legend Lamont Dozier (hits include Stop in the Name of Love, Sugar Pie Honey Bun, How Sweet it Is, more;) and his son, Paris Dozier, with a book by David Ingber (Major League Baseball Fan Cave), directed by Jade King Carroll (Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, Portland Stage), and musical supervision by Brian Usifer (Kinky Boots, Book of Mormon).

Second Stage Theatre has announced the addition of ALICE RIPLEY, GINA GERSHON, HENRY ALFORD, ILANA LEVINE, and SANDRA SANTIAGO to the line-up for Annabelle Gurwitch's I See You Made An Effort on March 10th, 2014. This one-night only benefit event is a part of the 35th Anniversary Season at Second Stage Theatre. I See You Made An Effort will also feature the previously announced AMY BRENNEMAN, JUDY GOLD, JESSICA HECHT, TONYA PINKINS, and ANNABELLA SCIORRA.

THE HAPPIEST SONG PLAYS LAST is the third in a cycle of plays that began with Hudes' Elliot, A Soldier's Fugue, a play about a young Marine coming to terms with his time in Iraq and his father's and grandfather's service in Vietnam and Korea. The second play in the trilogy, the 2012 Pulitzer Prize-winning drama Water by the Spoonful, received its New York premiere at Second Stage Theatre in 2013. Scroll down for a first look at the cast in action!

The Marsh announces that Geoff Hoyle's hit solo show GEEZER will extend at The Marsh Berkeley through April 26, following its current sold-out run previously scheduled to close March 1. This vivid look at NOT "going gentle into that good night" by one of the era's most acclaimed physical comedy actors will play Thursdays at 8pm and Saturdays at 5pm at The Marsh Berkeley Main Stage, 2120 Allston Way, Berkeley. For tickets ($25-$50), the public may visit www.themarsh.org or call 415-282-3055 between 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday. All proceeds from the final performance Saturday, April 26 (tickets $50-$100, include reception) will benefit The Marsh.

San Francisco Playhouse presents the world premiere commission of Bauer by Bay Area playwright Lauren Gunderson.

Second Stage Theatre has announced the two plays which will be presented as part of the company's twelfth annual Second Stage Theatre Uptown Series this summer: Bess Wohl's American Hero, directed by Leigh Silverman and Mala Hierba by Tanya Saracho, directed by Jerry Ruiz.

Upcoming Equity Auditions from Sunday, February 16, 2014.

Off-Broadway's tastiest new musical The Chocolate Show! opens tonight, Valentine's Day, February 14 at 7pm at the 47th Street Theatre, 304 West 47th Street between 8th and 9th Avenues. Audiences at the opening night performance will each receive the world's most expensive chocolate truffle by chocolatier Fritz Knipschildt. The Chocolate Show! is written by Alan Golub (book, music and lyrics) & Laura Goldfader (book and music), with direction by Dan Foster, choreography by Grady McLeod Bowman and under the music direction of Jeffrey Klitz.

Buzz22 Chicago has announced that tickets for the World Premiere production of Laura Jacqmin's 'Ghost Bike,' directed by Co-Artistic Director Sara Sawicki are now on sale. The production runs March 8 - April 6, 2014 at the Greenhouse Upstairs Mainstage, 2257 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL, 60647. Combining elements of Greek, African, and Chinese mythology, 'Ghost Bike' depicts two best friends navigating the ultimate challenge to a friendship through an underworld beneath their home city, Chicago. 'Ghost Bike' is Buzz22 Chicago's next production after 2013's sold out and highly acclaimed production of 'She Kills Monsters' at the Steppenwolf Garage.

Just yesterday, Barnes & Noble celebrated the release of the new Ghostlight Records cast recording MURDER FOR TWO with a special in-store performance and CD signing Hosted by MURDER FOR TWO creators Joe Kinosian and Kellen Blair, the special event featured performances by original cast members Jeff Blumenkrantz and Brett Ryback. Check out photos from the special event below!

The Jeff-Recommended world premiere of Laura Jacqmin's Do-Gooder will extend through Saturday, March 1 at North Berwyn Park District's 16th Street Theater, 6420 16th Street in Berwyn. Directed by Artistic Director Ann Filmer, Do-Gooder is the first show in 16th Street's Season Seven 2014: How to Be Good.

Upcoming Equity Auditions from Sunday, February 9, 2014.

Just last night, Second Stage Theatre celebrated its annual All-Star Bowling Classic at Lucky Strike Lanes and Lounge. For over 25 years, stars of stage and screen have come out to bowl in support of Second Stage's award-winning seasons and to assist the theatre in its fund-raising efforts, and included in this year's roster was Constantine Maroulis, Julie White, Dylan Baker, Perez Hilton, Anika Noni Rose, Richard Kind, Ben Rappaport, Zach Braff and more!

Kindling Theatre Company has announced the World Premiere of TAKE ME BACK, written by Emily Schwend and directed by Jay Stull. TAKE ME BACK begins performances on Friday, February 28 for a limited engagement through Saturday, March 22. Opening Night is Wednesday, March 5 at 8 PM. The performance schedule is Wednesday - Saturday at 8 PM, with added performances on Monday, March 3 and Tuesday, March 4 at 8 PM. Performances are at Walkerspace (46 Walker Street, between Broadway and Church Streets). Tickets are $18 and are available by calling SmartTix at (212) 868-4444 or visiting www.smarttix.com.

Performances of Off-Broadway's tastiest new musical The Chocolate Show! begin Saturday, February 1 at 8pm with an official opening set for Valentine's Day, February 14 at 7pm at the 47th Street Theatre, 304 West 47th Street between 8th and 9th Avenues. The Chocolate Show! is written by Alan Golub (book, music and lyrics) & Laura Goldfader (book and music), with direction by Dan Foster, choreography by Grady McLeod Bowman and under the music direction of Jeffrey Klitz. Tickets for The Chocolate Show! are $39.50 - $59.50 and can be arranged online at www.ticketcentral.com or by calling 212.279.4200 or at the TicketCentral Box Office located at 416 West 42nd Street. The 47th Street Theatre box office (304 West 47th Street) will open 30 minutes before each performance.

Minnesota Jewish Theatre Company will present THE LAST FIVE YEARS, with Music and Lyrics by Jason Robert Brown, at Hillcrest Center Theater from February 8 - March 2, 2014. Audio Described Performance on Sunday, February 16, 2014 at 1 pm.

Solo performer Jill Vice brings her 'Best of Fringe' award-winning show TIPPED & TIPSY to The Marsh. A hilarious and touching send-up of American bar culture, TIPPED & TIPSY plays March 1 - April 6, 2014, with performances Saturdays at 5pm and Sundays at 7pm at The Marsh Studio Theater at 1062 Valencia Street. (Press opening is Sunday, March 9.) For tickets ($15-$50), the public may visit www.themarsh.org or call 415-282-3055 between 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday.