Susan Smith News

A Red Orchid Theatre opens its 22nd Season with the US premiere of Strandline, written by Abbie Spallen and directed by JR Sullivan (The Faith Healer). The production runs today, October 23 - December 7, 2014 at A Red Orchid Theatre, 1531 N. Wells. Press Opening is Monday, October 27, 2014 at 7 p.m.

Lynne Meadow (Artistic Director) and Barry Grove (Executive Producer) announce recent recipients of the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Initiative commissions for Manhattan Theatre Club. The commissioned writers are Jeff Augustin (Little Children Dream of God), Courtney Baron (A Very Common Procedure) and Juliana Nash (Murder Ballad), Nell Benjamin (The Explorers Club), Madeline George (The (curious case of the) Watson Intelligence), Tom Holloway (And No More Shall We Part), Nathan Jackson (Broke-ology), Branden Jacobs-Jenkins (An Octoroon), Greg Pierce (Slowgirl), and Alexandra Wood (The Initiate).

Rehearsals begin tomorrow, Tuesday, October 21 for the Playwrights Horizons production of POCATELLO, the world premiere of a new play by Obie, Drama Desk and Lortel awards winner and 2014 MacArthur Foundation 'Genius' grantee Samuel D. Hunter (The Whale at PH, The Few, A Bright New Boise). Directed by Davis McCallum (The Whale at PH, The Few, London Wall, A Bright New Boise, Water by the Spoonful), the play will be the third production of the theater company's 2014/2015 Season.

Sonia Friedman Productions, Scott M Delman and Tulchin Bartner Productions present the West End transfer of Jennifer Haley's critically acclaimed, multi-award-winning The Nether. In a Headlong and Royal Court Theatre co-production directed by Jeremy Herrin, The Nether previews at the Duke of York's Theatre from 30 January 2015, opens on23 February and is booking for 12 weeks only to 25 April 2015.

Sonia Friedman Productions, Scott M Delman and Tulchin Bartner Productions present the West End transfer of Jennifer Haley's critically acclaimed, multi-award-winning The Nether. In a Headlong and Royal Court Theatre co-production directed by Jeremy Herrin, The Nether previews at the Duke of York's Theatre from 30 January 2015, opens on23 February and is booking for 12 weeks only to 25 April 2015.

Sonia Friedman Productions, Scott M Delman and Tulchin Bartner Productions present the West End transfer ofJennifer Haley's critically acclaimed, multi-award-winning The Nether. In a Headlong and Royal Court Theatre co-production directed by Jeremy Herrin, The Nether previews at the Duke of York's Theatre from 30 January 2015, opens on 23 February and is booking for 12 weeks only to 25 April 2015.

The Royal Court Theatre and Headlong's co-production of The Nether by Jennifer Haley is coming to the West End. According to the Daily Mail, the play will run at the Duke of York's Theatre from January 30, 2015, starring original cast members Amanda Hale, Stanley Townsend, Zoe Brough and Isabella Pappas.

Previews begin tomorrow, Friday, October 17 at 7:30 PM for the Playwrights Horizons' world premiere production of GRAND CONCOURSE, a new play by playwright and two-time Obie Award-winning actress Heidi Schreck (author of There Are No More Big Secrets, Creature, Showtime's 'Nurse Jackie'). Directed by Kip Fagan (The Revisionist, Asuncion), the play is the second production of the acclaimed theater company's 2014/2015 Season. It follows the critically-acclaimed Bootycandy, a new play written and directed by Robert O'Hara, which concludes its extended run this Sunday evening on the Mainstage.

New Jersey Repertory Company, located at 179 Broadway in Long Branch, will present the World Premiere of Angels and Ministers of Grace by Elaine Smith on October 23 through November 23, 2014. A poignant and compelling story of a close-knit, yet eccentric family's struggle to overcome life's ups and downs, Angels and Ministers of Grace captures the struggles that confront families today throughout the heartland and urban centers of America, and reveals the forces that threaten to destroy the American dream.

As part of their 31st season, Undermain Theatre is thrilled to bring the Regional Premiere of Meg Miroshnik's The Fairytale Lives of Russian Girls to their home in Deep Ellum at 3200 Main Street. Performances will run November 11th through December 6th, 2014.

Playwrights Horizons is now accepting entries for its popular LIVEforFIVE online lottery for up to two $5 tickets each to the world premiere of GRAND CONCOURSE, a new play by playwright and two-time Obie Award-winning actress Heidi Schreck (There Are No More Big Secrets, Creature, Showtime's "Nurse Jackie"), directed by Kip Fagan (The Revisionist, Asuncion).

After the highly acclaimed production of Becky Shaw in the 2009/10 season The Wilma Theater is thrilled to be producing its second Gina Gionfriddo play-Rapture, Blister, Burn directed by UArts Ira Brind School of Theater Director Joanna Settle. When celebrity professor Catherine reunites with her best friends from graduate school, now a married couple with kids living in a New England college town, she begins to rethink the choices she's made over the past twenty years. As these three friends navigate their new relationships with each other, feelings of regret begin to arise. Catherine's homecoming leads to shifting dynamics and a larger look at how much (or little) the lives of women have evolved over the past century, while examining subjects ranging from pornography to Betty Friedan to slasher films. Susan Smith Blackburn Prize-winner Gina Gionfriddo offers a fresh take on timeless questions by wittily juxtaposing feminist theories with messy human desires.

Lincoln Center Theater will present two special events in conjunction with its production of THE OLDEST BOY, a new play by Sarah Ruhl and directed by Rebecca Taichman, which begins performances at the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater on Thursday (October 9). These special events are being presented in association with Tibet Fund.

A Jewish, Midwestern, Chekhovian comic drama for the 21st century will be the third offering in The Echo Theater Company's 2015 season at Atwater Village Theatre, the company's new permanent home. Jennifer Chambers directs the world premiere of Better, a gentle examination of family and mortality by Jessica Goldberg, opening Oct. 4.

A Jewish, Midwestern, Chekhovian comic drama for the 21st century will be the third offering in The Echo Theater Company's 2015 seaason at Atwater Village Theatre, the company's new permanent home. Jennifer Chambers directs the world premiere of Better, a gentle examination of family and mortality by Jessica Goldberg, opening tonight, Oct. 4.

Playwrights Horizons announced the appointment of Liz Fallon Culp as the institution's new Director of Development. Ms. Culp joins the acclaimed theater company direct from New York Public Radio (WNYC/WQXR), where she served as the Senior Director of Major Gifts and Legacy Giving. She began with the theater company this month, leading its seven-person Development department.

Tarragon Theatre presents the world premiere of The Bakelite Masterpiece, written by Tarragon playwright-in-residence Kate Cayley, directed by Tarragon's Artistic Director Richard Rose and starring two award-winning, powerhouse actors, Geordie Johnson and Irene Poole. Set in the Netherlands in the aftermath of World War II, this penetrating new play exploring art, forgery and war crimes opens October 29 and runs to November 30 (with previews from October 21) in Tarragon's Extraspace.

The Bijou Theatre presents the first show in their main stage season, the Connecticut premiere of the Off-Broadway hit 'Murder Ballad,' for three performances only tonight, September 26th, and Saturday, September 27th at 8:00pm and Sunday, September 28th at 7:00pm.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company continues its 2014/15 subscription season with the world premiere production of Airline Highway, written by Lisa D'Amour (Detroit) and directed by Joe Mantello (The Last Ship, Casa Valentina, Wicked). Steppenwolf's production will open on Broadway at Manhattan Theatre Club (MTC)'s Samuel J. Friedman Theatre following its world premiere engagement in Chicago.