Tarell McCraney News

From March 12 to April 9, 2016, SpeakEasy Stage Company will present the New England Premiere of BOOTYCANDY, a shockingly funny and saucy spin on race, sex, and sexuality, written by award-winning playwright and director Robert O'Hara.

Named one of the Top Ten Plays of 2014 by The New York Times, BOOTYCANDY is based on the author's own experiences growing up black and gay. The play unfolds in a series of loosely linked vignettes that take no prisoners when confronting racial, sexual, and cultural stereotypes. With outrageous humor and real heart, O'Hara tests how we talk about our bodies at home, in church, and in the theatre.   (Please note that BOOTYCANDY contains strong language, adult content, and nudity). 

National YoungArts Week will culminate with the organization's largest annual fundraiser, the YoungArts Backyard Ball Performance and Gala, tonight, January 9, presented by MaxMara and emceed by Tony and Grammy Award-winning actor, singer and director, YoungArts Alumnus Billy Porter (1987 Winner in Theater). During the event, YoungArts will honor director and actress Rosie Perez and director Robert Wilson with the Arison Award, as well as performer, Tony Award nominee, YoungArts Master Teacher and 1997 YoungArts Winner in Theater Tony Yazbeck with the Arison Alumni Award, for their outstanding contributions and indelible impact on the arts.

The National YoungArts Foundation (YoungArts) today announced its 2016 YoungArts Winners. From more than 12,000 applications-the largest number to date-819 young artists from 42 states have been selected for their outstanding work and accomplishments across the literary, visual, design and performing arts. Winners receive cash awards of up to $10,000, validation by renowned mentors, opportunities to participate in YoungArts programs, a strong professional network, and guidance in taking important steps toward achieving their goals.  A complete list of the 2016 Winners is available online at http://youngarts.org/winners.  

Members and constituents of United Scenic Artists Local USA 829 have been busy speaking out against The New York Times' recent decision to leave out the names of shows' designers when listing credits for theatre productions at the end of reviews. As of today, their hard work has paid off.

? City Theatre is excited to welcome playwright Mat Smart for a writing residency November 17-19, 2015. The residency will be tailored to Smart's individual creative needs and offer him full use of City Theatre's resources, a developmental reading with local actors, and artistic support from Director of New Play Development Clare Drobot and Artistic Director Tracy Brigden. Fulfilling its mission that emphasizes new play development, City Theatre also commissions works by diverse writers and produces world premiere productions, including this season's Some Brighter Distance by Keith Reddin, which will run January 23-February 14, 2016. City Theatre hosts an annual festival of new plays at different stages of development called Momentum, which will take place June 2-5, 2016.

City Theatre gets festive with A BROADWAY HOLIDAY, a one-night-only concert featuring performances by award-winning Broadway stars Billy Porter and Anthony Rapp. With local talents Maria Becoates-Bey, Daina Michelle Griffith, and Billy Hartung, the special performance will include hit Broadway songs as well as a variety of holiday favorites.

National YoungArts Week will culminate with the organization's largest annual fundraiser, the YoungArts Backyard Ball Performance and Gala, presented by MaxMara and emceed by Tony and Grammy Award-winning actor, singer and director, YoungArts Alumnus Billy Porter (1987 Winner in Theater). During the event, YoungArts will honor director and actress Rosie Perez and director Robert Wilson with the Arison Award, as well as performer, Tony Award nominee, YoungArts Master Teacher and 1997 YoungArts Winner in Theater Tony Yazbeck with the Arison Alumni Award, for their outstanding contributions and indelible impact on the arts.

As previously reported, United Scenic Artists Local USA 829 recently started a campaign to nudge its members and constituents to speak out against The New York Times' recent decision to leave out the names of shows' designers when listing credits for theatre productions at the end of reviews.

Sundance Institute today announced the projects and artists participating in its two Fall artist development programs: the Alumni Writers Studio at Flying Point in Water Mill, NY, which ran October 4-11, as well as the two-week Theatre Lab for musical theatre, ensemble-generated projects and solo work at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA), taking place November 8-22. Under the supervision of Artistic Director Philip Himberg and Producing Director Christopher Hibma, the initiatives are among the 24 residency Labs the Institute hosts each year for independent artists in theatre, film, new media and episodic content.

City Theatre Company is excited to introduce a series of Pay-What-You-Want performances throughout the 2015/16 Season.

Dark & Stormy Productions today announces the producers, venue, and partners for its upcoming production of Extremities by William Mastrosimone. Previously, Dark & Stormy has presented Outside Providence by Edward Allan Baker, Speed-the-Plow by David Mamet, The Receptionist by Adam Bock, The Drunken City by Adam Bock, and The Hothouse by Harold Pinter. Extremities will be the first production of Dark & Stormy's 2015 season.

Curious Theatre Company continues Tarell Alvin McCraney's The Brother/Sister Plays, a trilogy set deep in the Louisiana Bayou that follows one close-knit community across generations as they come of age through trials of heartache, love and kinship.

Curious Theatre Company continues Tarell Alvin McCraney's The Brother/Sister Plays, a trilogy set deep in the Louisiana Bayou that follows one close-knit community across generations as they come of age through trials of heartache, love and kinship.

Dark & Stormy Productions today announces the producers, venue, and partners for its upcoming production of Extremities by William Mastrosimone. Previously, Dark & Stormy has presented Outside Providence by Edward Allan Baker, Speed-the-Plow by David Mamet, The Receptionist by Adam Bock, The Drunken City by Adam Bock, and The Hothouse by Harold Pinter. Extremities will be the first production of Dark & Stormy's 2015 season.

City Theatre has announced the six winners of our 2015 Young Playwrights Contest. These winning playwrights will develop their scripts in collaboration with professional theatre artists in productions on City Theatre's Hamburg Studio stage during the 16th annual Young Playwrights Festival, September 29 - October 9, 2015.