Second Stage News

The New Group presents the world premiere of An Early History of Fire, a new play by Tony Award-winning playwright David Rabe. Directed by Jo Bonney, this production features Gordon Clapp, Erin Darke, Jonny Orsini, Devin Ratray, Dennis Staroselsky, Theo Stockman and Claire van der Boom. Limited Off-Broadway engagement is slated tonight, April 30 through May 26 at The New Group @ Theatre Row (410 West 42nd Street). Official Opening Night is tonight, April 30 at 7:00 PM. See the photos below for a first look at the production!

Dinner with Friends by Donald Margulies opens tonight, April 29 with additional performances on May 6 and 13, 2012. All performances are Sunday evenings at 7:30. This popular Bay Street Players' Second Stage series brings newer works and alternative theatre to its audience.

The Broadway play Red at to Berkeley Repertory Theatre, is staged as a valedictory by Obie Award-winner Les Waters as he departs the Bay Area to take the reins at Actors Theatre of Louisville. John Logan, the Oscar-nominated author of Aviator and Gladiator, won Tony and Drama Desk Awards for this feverish 90-minute drama. Now Waters and two exceptional actors bring this powerful play to local audiences. Red runs through tonight, April 29.

The New Group presents the world premiere of An Early History of Fire, a new play by Tony Award-winning playwright David Rabe. Directed by Jo Bonney, this production features Gordon Clapp, Erin Darke, Jonny Orsini, Devin Ratray, Dennis Staroselsky, Theo Stockman and Claire van der Boom. Limited Off-Broadway engagement is slated April 5 - May 26 at The New Group @ Theatre Row (410 West 42nd Street). Official Opening Night is set for Monday, April 30 at 7:00 PM. See the photos below for a first look at the production!

Central Square Theater and its resident companies, The Nora Theatre Company and Underground Railway Theater, have announced their 2012-2013, and 5th anniversary, season.

The American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.), under the Artistic Direction of Diane Paulus, today announced the 2012/13 subscription season, which includes the previously announced world premiere of Marie Antoinette and a bold new staging of Pippin.

American Theater Company (ATC), together with About Face Theatre, presents a co-production of Jonathan Larson's Rent, directed by David Cromer. Rent will run tonight, April 27, 2012 - June 17, 2012 at ATC, 1909 W. Byron. The press openings are Sunday, May 6, 2012 and Monday, May 7, 2012 at 7 pm.

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director and Casey Reitz, Executive Director) has been chosen as one of the 40 finalists in this year's Partners in Preservation program, which awards up to $250,000 to the cultural institutions that receive the most votes from its supporters. If selected, Second Stage Theatre will use the grant money to restore the facade of the company's future home, the 100-year old Helen Hayes Theatre on Broadway. The finalists were presented by celebrity guest Katharine McPhee of NBC's hit "Smash" at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on Thursday, April 26. Second Stage at the Helen Hayes Theatre is the only Broadway theatre selected as a finalist.

The Gift Theatre Company will host a limited engagement presentation of co-founder William Nedved's Fact & Fiction - which enjoyed a critically-acclaimed, sold-out run at the 2011 Hollywood Fringe Festival - for five performances Thursday, May 24th at 7:30pm; Friday, May 25th at 7:30pm and 10:00pm; and Saturday, May 26th at 7:30pm and 10:00pm. Tickets are $20.

Today we are talking to one of the busiest choreographers on Broadway who was recently represented by four shows running on the Great White Way simultaneously (a new record) - the long-running hit JERSEY BOYS, Pulitzer Prize-winner NEXT TO NORMAL, multi-Tony Award-winning MEMPHIS and THE ADDAMS FAMILY. His most recent Broadway credit is the new Alan Menken/Glenn Slater musical adaptation of the 90s hit Steve Martin comedy LEAP OF FAITH featuring Broadway superstar Raul Esparza in the lead. In addition to discussing the unique demands of his involvement with the aforementioned new musicals with a pronounced focus on his current project, Trujillo opens up about the process of collaborating with a director and what musical staging is all about at its core, as well as outlining his experiences working with a number of notable names on his impressive assortment of projects so far and taking a look back at his own career as a performer, having previously appeared in GUYS & DOLLS, FOSSE and the film version of CHICAGO among other illustrious resume entries. Plus, Trujillo shares his infectious enthusiasm and passionate dedication to his art and reveals what he will be taking on next after LEAP OF FAITH's opening night, which is tonight - a tryout tour of a screen-to-stage adaptation of the iconic 80s hit FLASHDANCE and an original dramatic musical included. All of that and much, much more!

When you think of vibrators, the Victorian era generally doesn't come to mind. Most people would probably find the sexual revolution of the 1960s a far more appropriate time frame … and yet Sarah Ruhl's IN THE NEXT ROOM, or the vibrator play, takes place in 1880s post-Civil War America when vibrators were regularly used as a medical tool.

A Hollywood action star tries to prove himself in a serious Broadway play by Kafka, and he comes up against a new understudy with a chip on his shoulder and a tangled romantic past, in San Jose Rep's production of The Understudy, scheduled to run from May 10 through June 3. Press Opening Night is May 16, 2012, at 7:30 pm.

Topher Grace and Olivia Thirlby co-star in Second Stage Theatre's production of Paul Weitz's world premiere comedy, LONELY, I'M NOT, directed by Trip Cullman. Preview performances began Tuesday, April 10 at Second Stage's Tony Kiser Theatre (305 West 43rd street). The production will officially open on Monday, May 7. For tickets or more information, please visit www.2ST.com. BroadwayWorld brings you just-released production shots below!

Profiles Theatre announces an additional four weeks of performances of the Midwest premiere of Bachelorette by Leslye Headland, directed by Profiles Co-Artistic Director Darrell W. Cox. The full cast, Eric Burgher (A Behanding in Spokane, Kid Sister), Hillary Marren, Linda Augusta Orr, Rakisha Pollard, Amanda Powell and Adam Soule will continue with the production through the extension. The production will run through May 27, 2012, at Profiles Theatre, 4147 N. Broadway in Chicago.

'The Wizard of Oz' by L. Frank Baum, book by John Kane, music by Harold Arlen, lyrics by E.Y. Harburg, directed by Jonah Hagans, will be presented on TIP's mainstage May 17-20. TIP has also announced several upcoming performances and the program for its 2012-2013 season.

Following the sold out performances and overflow crowds for its first year and a half of Cino Nights presentations (including new plays by Gary Sunshine, Mando Alvarado, Courtney Baron, Florencia Lozano,Kristen Palmer, Emily DeVoti, Lucy Thurber, Jessica Dickey, Adam Szymkowicz, Laura Eason, Daniel Reitz, Megan Mostyn-Brown, Dael Orlandersmith, Keith Reddin, Crystal Skillman, and Charlotte Miller), Rising Phoenix Rep continues the series on April 22nd at 7 p.m. with Casual Encountersby Brooke Berman.

Prometheus Dance presents Desiderare, choreographed by Diane Arvanites and Tommy Neblett. Sunday, May 13 at 8:00 pm (doors open at 7:00 pm). Tickets: $30 general admission, $25 students, seniors, BDA members; with cash bar. Oberon is the second stage of the American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.), a destination for theater and nightlife on the fringe of Harvard Square. 2 Arrow Street, Harvard Square, Cambridge. Wheelchair accessible and conveniently located near the Harvard T Station on the Red Line.

Starting Friday, April 27th, The Players Club of Swarthmore Theater will end its second Children's Theater season with an original musical based on the classic fairy tale, RAPUNZEL written by PCS member Miriam Boland with music by Marty Hyde.