Suzan-Lori Parks News

Mari Marchbanks announced today the 2014 recipients of the Horton Foote Prize, named in honor of the legendary writer, to award excellence in American Theater. Presented biennially, the 2014 Prize for the 2012-13/2013-14 seasons' Outstanding New American Play is awarded to The Body of an American by Dan O'Brien. The 2014 Prize for Promising New American Play is awarded to Father Comes Home from the Wars (Parts 1, 2, & 3) by Suzan-Lori Parks.

Bucks County Playhouse Producers Robyn Goodman and Alexander Fraser announce the launch of a musical theatre development program focusing on the importance of lyrics in the creation of new musicals: The Oscar Hammerstein Festival - named in honor of the master writer whose countless accomplishments during his illustrious career include having mentored a young Stephen Sondheim at Hammerstein's Bucks County farm -- is a year-long program that offers expert mentorship to early career composers and lyricists. The Oscar Hammerstein Festival will culminate in a weekend with musical theatre experts, artists, and enthusiasts and various events open to the general public. The Festival will launch September 26 - 28, 2014.

The Lark Play Development Center named five New York City-based playwrights as Playwrights' Workshop Fellows for the 2014-15 season. The group spans a wide range of backgrounds and professional experiences and will meet regularly throughout the year to develop new plays.

The Public Theater announced the 2014 Fall Public Forum season, featuring an exciting line-up of one-night-only readings and discussions that connect dramatic literature to society. Celebrating its fifth year, the popular Public Forum series presents the theater of ideas: conversations and performances with leading voices in politics, media, and the arts.

Timothy Sheader's critically acclaimed production of Porgy and Bess which ends its strictly limited run at Regents Park Open Air Theatre on 23 August, draws on talent from both sides of the Atlantic, Rufus Bonds Jr plays Porgy and Nicola Hughes plays Bess, with Phillip Boykin as Crown, Cedric Neal as Sportin' Life and Olivier Award-winning Sharon D Clarke as Mariah. Check out highlights from the production below!

Skylight Theatre Company and Lower Depth Theatre Ensemble present the Los Angeles Premiere of Pulitzer Prize Finalist Bulrusher, written by Eisa Davis and directed by Nataki Garrett. The show opens on 8pm on August 23rd and 3pm August 24th. RECEPTION TO FOLLOW BOTH PERFORMANCES. Runs 8pm Fridays and Saturdays, 3pm Sundays through September 28, 2014 at the Skylight Theatre, 1816 1/2 N. Vermont, LA, 90027

Single tickets are on sale now for The Public Theater's 2014-15 season that will include three world premiere musicals, a free Public Works musical adaptation of Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale, new plays by Suzan-Lori Parks, Young Jean Lee, and Lemon Andersen, Bridget Everett's new show at Joe's Pub, the 11th edition of the acclaimed Under the Radar Festival, the continuation of the Mobile Shakespeare Unit, the fifth season of Public Forum, New Work Now!, the Emerging Writers Group Spotlight Series and $20 tickets to Public Lab, now in its eighth year. Single tickets are available by calling (212) 967-7555, at www.publictheater.org, or in person at the Taub Box Office at The Public Theater at Astor Place at 425 Lafayette Street.

Last night, Monday 28 July, was the Opening Night of the Gershwins' Porgy and Bess which runs at Regents Park Open Air Theatre until 23 August. After the show, cast, creative team and invited guests enjoyed a summer drink of Canard Duchene Champagne on the lawn of Regents Park Open Air Theatre, accompanied by Belly Pork Croquettes with Roasted Corn Cream and Lemon Cone Trees. Check out the photos below!

Celebrated as a landmark piece of American theatre with iconic songs including 'Summertime', 'I Got Plenty of Nothing', 'I Loves You Porgy' and 'It Ain't Necessarily So', Porgy and Bess will be directed by Regents Park Open Air Theatre's Artistic Director Timothy Sheader, with a book adapted by Suzan-Lori Parks and a musical score adapted by Diedre L. Murray. Check out a first look at the production below!

The National Tour of THE GERSHWINS' PORGY AND BESS, winner of the 2012 Tony Award for Best Musical Revival, ends on a high note grossing $1,030,014 for the week closing July 20, 2014, making it the highest-grossing week on the tour. More than 15,000 people attended the show in Charlotte.

As one of the largest theatrical events in the world, The New York International Fringe Festival boasts an impressive roster of world premieres yearly. Of them, Los Angeles native Joshua Metzger's new play Sitting Shiva will see its first three dimensional presentation this August. Christopher Scott will direct the 90 minute play. The Broadway and Regional vet cast includes Eddie Boroevich*, Neal Mayer*, and Jeffery Plunkett*. The Production Stage Manager is Katy Moore*, and the production will be designed by Joan Racho-Jansen. *Appearing courtesy of Actors' Equity Association. Sitting Shiva is an AEA-approved showcase.

Theatre Horizon unveils its 10th Anniversary Season, the third in its home at 401 Dekalb Street. This year, the theatre sets out to showcase works that deal with apartheid in South Africa, adulthood through a fairy tale, and homelessness. The season will include Pamela Gien's The Syringa Tree, Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's Into The Woods, and Suzan-Lori Park's In The Blood. In conjunction with In The Blood, the theatre is conducting a county-wide project called Imagine No Homelessness. This thrilling season begins in October and runs through May. Subscriptions run between $62-$108 and are available online at www.theatrehorizon.org.

Though the weather was stormy on the opening night of the MUNY's presentation of the American Repertory Theater's 2011 update of THE GERSHWINS' PORGY AND BESS, and believe me I drove through some heavy downpours as I made my way to Forest Park, somehow the rain held off and allowed this wonderful show to proceed. Purists have been in an uproar over the fact that the original show has been altered, and while I certainly understand what all the fuss was about, there's no denying the fact that this new interpretation is a moving and compelling production that's definitely a winning crowd-pleaser.

The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess will run at Regents Park Open Air Theatre from 17 July to 23 August with Opening Night for press on 28 July. Celebrated as a landmark piece of American theatre with iconic songs including 'Summertime', 'I Got Plenty of Nothing', 'I Loves You Porgy' and 'It Ain't Necessarily So', Porgy and Bess will be directed by Regents Park Open Air Theatre's Artistic Director Timothy Sheader, with a book adapted by Suzan-Lori Parks and a musical score adapted by Diedre L. Murray.

Rehearsals have now started, for the Gershwins' Porgy and Bess which will run at Regents Park Open Air Theatre from 17 July to 23 August with Opening Night for press on 28 July. Celebrated as a landmark piece of American theatre with iconic songs including 'Summertime', 'I Got Plenty of Nothing', 'I Loves You Porgy' and 'It Ain't Necessarily So', Porgy and Bess will be directed by Regents Park Open Air Theatre's Artistic Director Timothy Sheader, with a book adapted by Suzan-Lori Parks and a musical score adapted by Diedre L. Murray.

Producing Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside and American Blues Theater, Chicago's second oldest Equity ensemble, are proud to announce the Saturday, June 21 performance of Grounded, by George Brant and directed by Lisa Portes, at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave. is a benefit performance for Children of War Foundation. Proceeds from the performance will go directly to surgery and medical treatment for Shah Bibi Tarakhail, an Afghan Child Affected by War. The running time is approximately 80 minutes. Grounded runs through July 13. The performance schedule is Thursdays - Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $19 - $49 and are available at 773.404.7336 or americanbluestheater.com.

Huntington Theatre Company announces that Malcolm-Jamal Warner, best known for his breakout role as Theo Huxtable, Bill Cosby's son on "The Cosby Show," will play Dr. John Prentice in Guess Who's Coming to Dinner in the Huntington's season opener September 5 - October 5, 2014 at the BU Theatre / Avenue of the Arts. Complete casting will be announced at a later date. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Tuesday, June 24, 2014.

Classic Stage Company has announced that Dave Quay, who appeared in the company's recent production of David Ives' The Heir Apparent, is this year's recipient of the Rosemarie Tichler Fund grant.

Producing Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside and American Blues Theater, Chicago's second oldest Equity ensemble, are proud to announce the Chicago premiere of Grounded, by George Brant and directed by Lisa Portes, today, June 6 - July 13 at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave.

The New Group opened the New York premiere of Annapurna by Sharr White, directed by Bart DeLorenzo and featuring Megan Mullally and Nick Offerman, on April 21. The limited Off-Broadway engagement will officially end its run on June 1.