Tanya Saracho News

Sundance Institute today announced the seven artists selected for its 2015 Playwrights & Composers Retreat at Ucross Foundation. The 16th annual writing colony at the 20,000-acre working cattle ranch outside of Sheridan, WY takes place February 2-20. Under the supervision of Artistic Director Philip Himberg and Producing Director Christopher Hibma, the Playwrights Retreat is made possible through the generosity of Ucross Foundation. The program is one of the 24 residency labs across many creative disciplines focusing on artistic process that Sundance Institute offers annually.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company kicks off the New Year with the Chicago premiere production of Marie Antoinette (February 5, 2015 - May 10, 2015), a modern, witty take on the young queen of France by David Adjmi (Elective Affinities, 3C) and directed by Robert O'Hara (Bootycandy). Next is the US premiere of The Herd (April 2, 2015 - June 7, 2015), the deftly comic story of a suburban English family by actor-playwright Rory Kinnear. Ensemble member and Tony Award winner Frank Galati directs in place of previously announced director K. Todd Freeman, who had an artistic scheduling conflict. Ensemble member Lois Smith joins the cast of The Herd, which features fellow ensemble members Francis Guinan and John Mahoney.

The monologues will be read at a public reading tonight, November 6, 2014 following the 8:00 p.m. performance. The writers will also receive a session with American Voices New Play Institute Dramaturg Jocelyn Clarke, a listing in the Our War program and an award certificate. The finished monologues along with video clips of the performed monologues will be posted on Arena Stage's website and shared via social media. Directed by Anita Maynard-Losh, Our War runs October 21 - November 9, 2014 in the Arlene and Robert Kogod Cradle.

The University of Texas at Austin Department of Theatre and Dance presents the pop-culture phenomenon Fame The Musical, directed by Jerry Ruiz, November 21-December 6, 2014 at the B. Iden Payne Theatre. Based on the Academy Award-winning film and hit television series, Fame The Musical is the unforgettable journey of a group of dedicated students with stars in their eyes. Be captivated as the story unfolds for these talented hopefuls studying at New York City's legendary High School for Performing Arts. Through their triumphs and tragedies, the ultimate goal remains - Fame.

In a bold undertaking as part of the company's involvement with the multi-year, multi-city National Civil War Project, Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater has commissioned Our War, a dynamic new theatrical event and collection of short stories that explores-through diverse perspectives-the historical memory and present-day reverberations of the U.S. Civil War. The series launched on October 21 and continues through November 9, 2014. BroadwayWorld has a first look at opening night below!

It's not an easy one, but there are ample chances to not only marvel at the work it took to put it together, but the ambition of the actors and creative team.

In a bold undertaking as part of the company's involvement with the multi-year, multi-city National Civil War Project, Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater has commissioned Our War, a dynamic new theatrical event and collection of short stories that explores-through diverse perspectives-the historical memory and present-day reverberations of the U.S. Civil War. The series launched on October 21 and continues through November 9, 2014. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

In a bold undertaking as part of the company's involvement with the multi-year, multi-city National Civil War Project, Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater has commissioned Our War, a dynamic new theatrical event and collection of short stories that explores-through diverse perspectives-the historical memory and present-day reverberations of the U.S. Civil War. The series launches today, October 21, and continues through November 9, 2014.

The Denver Center for the Performing Arts has announced the expansion of the Theatre Company's 10th annual Colorado New Play Summit. The enlargement coincides with the Women's Voices Fund endowment surpassing the one million dollar mark. The festival of new work will take place over two weekends, 2/14-2/15 and 2/21-2/22 and will feature new plays by four of the industry's hottest playwrights; Jason Gray Platt, Theresa Rebeck, Tanya Saracho, and Catherine Trieschmann.

Steppenwolf for Young Adults (SYA) presents the first production of its 2014/15 season, George Orwell's Animal Farm, a world premiere adaptation by Althos Low. Directed by SYA Artistic and Educational Director Hallie Gordon, the cast of professional actors features Will Allan, Jasmine Bracey, Lucy Carapetyan, Amelia Hefferon, Matt Kahler, Mildred Marie Langford, Blake Montgomery, Dana Murphy, Lance Newton and Sean Parris. Animal Farm runs today, October 15 - November 9, 2014; the press performance is on Saturday, October 18 at 3pm.

In a bold undertaking as part of the company's involvement with the multi-year, multi-city National Civil War Project, Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater has commissioned Our War, a dynamic new theatrical event and collection of short stories that explores-through diverse perspectives-the historical memory and present-day reverberations of the U.S. Civil War. The company just met the press, and BroadwayWorld has photos below!

Southern Rep has announced that it will accept submissions for The Ruby Prize, effective immediately. The $10,000 annual award is named in honor of Ruby Bridges, who showed incredible perseverance in the face of formidable obstacles. The Ruby Prize seeks to support women playwrights of color whose work expands the reach of American theatre in the face of formidable obstacles.

In June, Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater announced a national call for three-minute monologues held in conjunction with the world premiere of Our War, a dynamic new theatrical event and collection of short stories by 25 esteemed playwrights that explores--through diverse perspectives--the historical memory and present-day reverberations of the U.S. Civil War. The open monologue contest inspired by Our War brought in more than 150 entries from around the world, and the theater is pleased to announce the three winning monologues: Tree by Dave Lankford of New York, NY; Mary/Marcus by Sarah Pitard of London, UK; and The Peacock's War by Lisa Sillaway of Wichita, KS.

Victory Gardens Theater announces the first play of its 40th Anniversary Season: the Midwest Premiere of Rest by Ensemble Playwright Samuel D. Hunter, directed by Joanie Schultz. Rest runs tonight, September 12-October 12, 2014, with the press performance on September 19, 2014, at Victory Gardens Theatre, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue.

Continuing its 40th Anniversary Season, Victory Gardens Theater announces the Midwest Premiere of The Testament of Mary by Colm Toibin, directed by Dennis Zacek and featuring Linda Reiter. The Testament of Mary runs November 14-December 14, 2014, with the press performance on Friday, November 21, 2014, at Victory Gardens Theatre, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue.

Steppenwolf for Young Adults (SYA) has announced casting for the first production of its 2014/15 season, George Orwell's Animal Farm, a world premiere adaptation by Althos Low. Directed by SYA Artistic and Educational Director Hallie Gordon, the cast of professional actors features Will Allan, Jasmine Bracey, Lucy Carapetyan, Amelia Hefferon, Matt Kahler, Mildred Marie Langford, Blake Montgomery, Dana Murphy, Lance Newton and Sean Parris. Animal Farm runs October 15 - November 9, 2014; the press performance is on Saturday, October 18 at 3pm. Performances Tuesday through Friday at 10am are reserved for school groups only; public performances are scheduled Friday at 7:30pm (except October 17), Saturday at 3 and 7:30pm and Sunday at 3pm. Single tickets ($20) are on sale now through Audience Services (1650 N Halsted St), 312-335-1650 and steppenwolf.org. School group tickets are available through Education and Community Programs Coordinator Lauren Sivak at 312-654-5643.

In a bold undertaking as part of the company's involvement with the multi-year, multi-city National Civil War Project, Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater has commissioned Our War, a dynamic new theatrical event and collection of short stories that explores-through diverse perspectives-the historical memory and present-day reverberations of the U.S. Civil War.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company's ninth annual First Look Repertory of New Work, features three developmental productions of new plays, presented in rotating repertory through August 24, 2014 in the Garage Theatre (1624 N Halsted St). First Look 2014 includes: Ironbound by Martyna Majok, Hushabye by Tanya Saracho and Okay, Bye by Joshua Conkel. The 2014 festival also features readings of two new plays, American Beauty Shop by Dana Lynn Formby and Opium Den by Julie Marie Myatt. Tickets to First Look Repertory of New Work ($20) are on sale now. To purchase tickets or RSVP for the free readings, call Audience Services at 312-335-1650. Below, check out a first look at the three productions!

Victory Gardens Theater hosts Small Fish Radio Theatre and Thespinarium for a one-night-only performance of the radio adaptation of Mercury Considers the Last Layer, written and directed by Trina Kakacek. Mercury Considers the Last Layer is a melodramatic romp, set in the dualistic world of burlesque, which follows the age-old quest of finding one's heart and one's self. Mercury was developed in the Victory Gardens Access Project Artist Development Workshop, with the lead male role written for actor, writer and Thespinariam Michael Herzovi. This special performance, which includes open captioning and American Sign Language interpretation, is meant for a mature audience. The performance is Sunday, August 3, 2014 at 7:30PM in the Zacek-McVay Theater at the Victory Gardens Biograph, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue in Lincoln Park.

Second Stage Theatre continues the 2014 Uptown Series with the New York premiere of MALA HIERBA, written by Tanya Saracho (HBO's 'Looking' and 'Girls') and directed by Jerry Ruiz. MALA HIERBA features Roberta Colindrez, Sandra Marquez, Marta Milans, and Ana Nogueira. BroadwayWorld brings you photos from opening night below!