Second Stage News

DISNEY'S THE LION KING JR. opens at Artisan Center Theater on Friday, August 10, 2018 and runs through Saturday, August 18, 2018. The 148 seat Second Stage facility is located at 444 East Pipeline Road in Hurst. Performances are at 7:00pm on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday with additional 3:30pm matinees on Saturdays. Reserved seating tickets are $15.00. Tickets can be purchased online at ArtisanCT.com, or by calling the box office at 817-284-1200.

This weekend, an intrepid cast of five will present the staged reading of Rapture, Blister, Burn for two performances only at 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 4 and at 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 5 on the Second Stage at Stagecrafters in Royal Oak. Rapture, Blister, Burn was a 2013 Pulitzer Prize finalist for playwright and screenwriter Gina Gionfriddo.  Gionfriddo was also a 2009 Pulitzer Prize for Drama finalist for her play Becky Shaw. Broadwayworld.com (BBW) caught up with Director Dale Feldpausch before the final tech rehearsal to talk about this staged reading.  Here's what he had to say:

Monday August 6, 2018, Gamut Theatre Group will celebrate the Grand Opening of the recently renovated, 10,000 square foot Gamut Theatre Education Center. The center features the Alexander Grass Second Stage, two renovated classrooms, and technical teaching shops for students to learn about costume construction, scenery design, sound and lighting, and more. Its new four-stop elevator and outdoor access will make this space fully accessible and ADA-compliant. The new stage will be the permanent home for the Popcorn Hat Players Children's Theatre, as well as the Stage Door Series Ensemble and Gamut Theatre Academy.

Lindsay Mendez is currently wowing audiences at the Imperial Theatre with her performance as Carrie Pipperidge in Carousel, and now she'll be turning heads on 44th Street as well. Just yesterday, the newly minted Tony winner received Broadway's second-highest honor- her own portrait at Sardi's. Check out photos from the unveiling ceremony below!

San Diego Musical Theatre announced today the cast and creative team for its upcoming production of Hairspray. Hairspray, winner of eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Original Book, is a family-friendly musical, piled bouffant-high with laughter, romance and deliriously tuneful songs. Music by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman, and book by Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan. Hairspray will be directed by J. Scott Lapp (SDMT's First Date), with choreography by Jill Gorrie (SDMT's Singin' in the Rain, 42nd Street, Damn Yankees), and music direction by Don LeMaster. Hairspray runs August 3 - September 2, 2018 at the historic Horton Grand Theatre, with press opening on Saturday, August 4 at 8:00 PM.

Autumn Hurlbert (Legally Blonde, Nobody Loves You, Something Rotten!) will make her solo debut at Feinstein's/54 Below this Sunday, August 5th, 2018, at 7:00pm.

The last day of the BMI Stage at Lollapalooza features six emerging acts that will have the crowds buzzing with excitement. The stage opens with the music of dream-pop sensation Morgan Saint and popular folk-rocker Van William, formerly of Port O'Brien and Waters.

Hosted by Los Angeles-based composer, music director, and pianist Amanda Rafkin, enjoy a night of show tunes from popular contemporary musicals and classic productions.

Centenary Stage Company, the not for profit professionally producing Equity Theatre in residency on the campus of Centenary University will be holding a variety of educational opportunities during the fall of 2018. Continuing its tradition of cultivating a vibrant arts community, Centenary Stage Company will be offer the fall Conservatory of Dance, as well as, the Adult Acting Workshop. Both programs are open to the public with registration deadlines of August 24, 2018.

You Me At Six have today revealed the official video for their latest single '3AM', one of the first tracks to be taken from their new sixth studio album VI, out October 5th via AWAL, releasing under their new Underdog Records imprint.

The Detroit Actor's Theatre Company proudly presents Speak Up, Speak Out: a sensory, spoken cabaret that gives insight into the culture, emotions and experiences of the #MeToo movement. The show, directed by Shannon Grant, will be performed at Planet Ant Theatre in Hamtramck on Friday, Aug. 10 and Saturday, Aug. 11 at 7:30 pm. Tickets will be sold online or at the door for $15. Speak Up, Speak Out will feature a talkback after each show and is partnering with Alternatives for Girls, a local organization that provides services and support for homeless and high-risk women.

The third day of the BMI Stage at Lollapalooza gets underway with GRAMMY Award-winner Grace Weber, a go-to collaborator of Chance the Rapper and Kanye West. Soul standout DAVIE, who has been praised for embodying the passion and vitality of the genre, hits the stage next, followed by the female fronted rock'n'roll duo BONES (UK) and the infectious beats of fast rising electronic producer Melvv. Introspective alt-pop singer/songwriter morgxn promises to bring his trademark lyrical authenticity to the stage before Australian songstress Vera Blue closes out the day with her blend of folk/pop and moody electronica.

Dorset Theatre Festival, under the leadership of Artistic Director Dina Janis, Producing Director Will Rucker, and Executive Director Marissa Hutton, presents Kate Hamill's PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, adapted from the original novel by Jane Austen, directed by Christopher V. Edwards, with a cast that includes KRYSTEL LUCAS ("The Blacklist", "Jessica Jones") as "Jane, Miss De Bourgh," JESSICA FREY Sense and Sensibility - BEDLAM) as "Lizzy," AISHLING PEMBROKE as "Lydia, Lady Catherine," DAVE QUAY (The Low Road - The Public Theater) as "Mr. Darcy," RYAN QUINN (Whorl Inside a Loop - Second Stage) as "Mr. Collins, Mr. Wickham, Miss Bingley," CARMAN LACIVITA (Marvin's Room - Broadway) as "Mr. Bingley, Mary," OMAR ROBINSON (Hamlet - Actors' Shakespeare Project) as "Charlotte Lucas, Mr. Bennet," and JOAN COOMBS (Tartuffe - Shakespeare and Company) as "Mrs. Bennet".

After developmental productions that drew high praise from prominent theatre critics, and left audiences alternately speechless and effusive, engaged and enraged, the Huntington Theatre Company presents the world premiere of Eleanor Burgess's explosive new play, The Niceties, running August 31 to October 6 at the South End/Calderwood Pavilion at the Boston Center for the Arts. The Huntington is pleased to produce the play in association with two other leading theatre companies. The production will move Off Broadway to Manhattan Theatre Club immediately following the Boston run, and then continue on to Princeton, NJ for performances at McCarter Theatre Center.  

Berkeley Repertory Theatre today announced final casting for A Doll's House, Part 2, written by Lucas Hnath and directed by Les Waters, which begins previews on Thursday, September 6 and runs through Sunday, October 21. Individual tickets begin at $30 ($15 if you're under 35) and can be purchased online at berkeleyrep.org or by phone at 510 647-2949 beginning August 12, 2018. Subscription tickets are available now. Press night of this first show of Berkeley Rep's 50th anniversary season will be on Thursday, September 13.

Franklin Stage Company presents the final art show of their 22nd season, Marjorie Bradley Kellogg: Drawings and Maquettes, generously supported by the Erna McReynolds & Tom Morgan Artists-in-Collaboration Fund.

Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park will begin the 2018-2019 season with an adaptation of the Stephen King thriller MISERY in the Marx Theatre on Sept. 1. The production will run through Sept. 29, with opening night on Sept. 6.

Theater Resources Unlimited (TRU) announces Writer-Director Communications Lab on Saturday, August 11, 2018 from 10am-6pm at Studios 353, 353 W. 48th Street, Studio B (basement). Registration is $75 for TRU members ($85 for non-members), $30 for an additional collaborator (writer), and registration for TRU Member observers is $30 ($40 for non-members). Writers must be accepted before purchasing a spot.

Gamut Theatre Group is excited to announce the Grand Opening of the recently renovated, 10,000 square foot Gamut Theatre Education Center. The center features the Alexander Grass Second Stage, two renovated classrooms, and technical teaching shops for students to learn about costume construction, scenery design, sound and lighting, and more.  Its new four-stop elevator and outdoor access will make this space fully accessible and ADA-compliant. The new stage will be the permanent home for the Popcorn Hat Players Children's Theatre, as well as the Stage Door Series Ensemble and Gamut Theatre Academy. One of the unique features of the center is a wall-to-wall mural painted by local artist Jacintha Clark.

11th Hour Theatre Company is bringing its sold-out Next Step Concert Series to the Jersey Shore this summer.  11th Hour is excited to present The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee - In Concert at the Gateway Playhouse in Somers Point. The concert runs August 23-26.