Tanya Saracho News

Seven theatre artists have gathered for the nineteenth annual Sundance Institute Playwrights & Composers Retreat at Ucross Foundation in Wyoming, currently underway from February 5 to February 23, 2018. Designed to support theatrical writing in its earliest stages, the residency is dedicated to uninhibited creativity, peer mentorship and professional growth.

Victory Gardens Theater introduces Public Programs to Envision Justice through the Lens of Theater, a new initiative made possible by a grant from The David Rockefeller Fund. Public Programs is an event series designed to enhance audience experience by exploring themes and issues within Victory Gardens' productions by provoking dialogue and deepening the relationship between audiences and the plays. Public Programs to Envision Justice takes Victory Gardens one step further by building a stream of citizen engagement programs that will contextualize the plays in relation to the issues surrounding criminal justice and lead audiences to understanding their role in affecting change.

PRIMARY STAGES (Andrew Leynse, Artistic Director; Shane D. Hudson, Executive Director; Casey Childs, Founder) announced today Saturday Night Strings, a special post-show concert series following select Saturday night performances of A WALK WITH MR. HEIFETZ, written by James Inverne and directed by Andrew Leynse. All ticketholders for the evenings of Saturday, February 10 (Mariella Haubs); Saturday, February 17 (Edward W. Hardy of Sterling Strings); and Saturday, February 24 (Luisa Bastidas) are invited to remain after the performance to enjoy live music performed by special guest violinists. The concerts are free for all ticketholders for that evening's performance.

Stages Repertory Theatre presents the regional premiere of Houston native Philip Boehm's play Alma en venta (Soul on Sale), running January 24 - February 11, 2018. Boehm, who wrote and directed the production, is the Artistic Director of Upstream Theatre in St. Louis, MO, and previously collaborated with Stages to bring the US Premiere of De Kus (The Kiss) to Houston in 2016. Alma en venta, a story about the commodification of Latino art and culture, is presented in conjunction with Stages' first annual Latina/o theater festival, Sin Muros, a free event featuring the world premiere of Josh Innocencio's Purple Eyes, play readings from notable writers Bernardo Cubria, Tanya Saracho and Mando Alvarado, workshops, poetry readings, and more, taking place February 1-4.

New Jersey Theatre Alliance, in partnership with New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) in Newark, announces the return of NJPAC Stage Exchange for a fourth year. Cutting-edge play development meets insightful community dialogue at NJPAC Stage Exchange, a program that supports three new plays by established playwrights focusing on issues relevant to New Jersey residents.

Stages Repertory Theatre presents the regional premiere of Houston native Philip Boehm's play Alma en venta (Soul on Sale), running January 24 February 11, 2018. Boehm, who wrote and directed the production, is the Artistic Director of Upstream Theatre in St. Louis, MO, and previously collaborated with Stages to bring the US Premiere of De Kus (The Kiss) to Houston in 2016. Alma en venta, a story about the commodification of Latino art and culture, is presented in conjunction with Stages' first annual Latina/o theater festival, Sin Muros, a free event featuring the world premiere of Josh Innocencio's Purple Eyes, play readings from notable writers Bernardo Cubr a, Tanya Saracho and Mando Alvarado, workshops, poetry readings, and more, taking place February 1-4.

Victory Gardens Theater announces Jess McLeod and Aaron Todd Douglas as the 2018 Next Generation Fellows. Beginning in February 2018, the Next Generation Fellowship will provide comprehensive mentorship, requisite training, and experience for these future leaders of color, preparing them to helm arts institutions or departments on the national and local level. The program is made possible by a generous grant from The Field Foundation of Illinois.

Today at the Television Critics Association (TCA) Winter 2018 Press Tour, Starz President of Programming Carmi Zlotnik announced premiere dates for three new originals including the eagerly-awaited STARZ Original Limited Series Howards End, premiering on Sunday, April 8. Half-hour dramas Vida and Sweetbitter will premiere on Sunday, May 6.

Saracho's story is almost cheekily influenced by her own time as a television writer, though instead of being the Rom-Com one might expect from the aforementioned scenario, she uses the setting to cleverly approach the concepts of Latinx identity, class, and (in a silver-screen-reminiscent twist) appropriation in a way that is more personal than cultural.

Primary Stages has announced that tickets are on sale today for the final two productions of their 2017/18 season: the World Premiere of A WALK WITH MR. HEIFETZ, written by James Inverne and directed by Andrew Leynse; and FEEDING THE DRAGON, written and performed by Sharon Washington and directed by Maria Mileaf, and presented in a co-production with Hartford Stage.

Victory Gardens Theater continues its 43rd season with BREACH: a manifesto on race in america through the eyes of a black girl recovering from self-hate, written by Antoinette Nwandu and directed by Lisa Portes.

The Theatre Company at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts (DCPA) has announced playwrights, dates and details for the 2018 Colorado New Play Summit.

PRIMARY STAGES (Andrew Leynse, Artistic Director; Shane D. Hudson, Executive Director; Casey Childs, Founder) announced today additional programming and events for the Fall 2017 season.

Starz announced today that Mishel Prada ('Fear the Walking Dead: Passage,' Tell Me How I Die)an more have been cast as series regulars alongside Melissa Berrera ('Club de Cuervos,' 'La Mujer de Judas') in the new STARZ Original series VIDA

Victory Gardens Theater continues its 43rd season with Fade, a co-production with Teatro Vista, written by Tanya Saracho and directed by Sandra Marquez. Fade runs now through December 23, 2017, at Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue. Fade features Teatro Vista Ensemble Member Eddie Martinez (Abel) and Sari Sanchez (Lucia). BroadwayWorld has a first look at the stars onstage below!

The Old Globe today announced the cast and creative team for The Old Globe and University of San Diego Shiley Graduate Theatre Program presentation of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.

Primary Stages announces a three-week extension for Pride and Prejudice, adapted by and featuring Kate Hamill (Bedlam's Sense and Sensibility) and directed by Amanda Dehnert (Richard III), in a co-production with Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival (HVSF).

Victory Gardens Theater announces its new Next Generation Fellowship program, made possible by a generous grant from The Field Foundation of Illinois.

Chicago Latino Theater Alliance's (CLATA) DESTINOS (des-stee-noce), the first Chicago International Latino Theater Festival, an ambitious month-long festival of 'first voice' plays and panels, enters its final week of performances and officially ends on October 29, 2017.

Victory Gardens Theater announces the extension of the first show of its 43rd season, Fun Home, with music written by Jeanine Tesori, book and lyrics written by Lisa Kron and directed by Gary Griffin. Fun Home now runs through November 19, 2017 at Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue.