Taylor Mac News

Sundance Institute today announced the acting company, artists-in-residence and creative advisors for the seven projects being developed at its 2013 Theatre Lab, July 8-28 at the Sundance Resort in Utah. Under the supervision of Artistic Director Philip Himberg and Producing Director Christopher Hibma, the Lab is the centerpiece of the Theatre Program's year-round work and is designed to support both emerging and established artists and to create a place where their original work can be effectively mentored and challenged free from commercial pressure.

Drake joins librettist Lola Rock 'N' Rolla (writer/director of B-movies Dragzilla, Night of the Living Gay, I Was a Tranny Werewolf, and Nefertitty) and songwriter Gina Volpe (guitarist of the seminal NYC punk band The Lunachicks) to mount the new musical. Homo The Musical! opens at the PTC Performance Space (555 West 42nd Street) on July 23, 2013.

Lauren Yee's new play The Hatmaker's Wife will have its New York premiere directed by recent OBIE Award winner and Drama Desk nominee Rachel Chavkin and produced by critically-acclaimed not-for-profit theatre company The Playwrights Realm, Katherine Kovner, Artistic Director and Renee Blinkwolt, Producing Director. The Hatmaker's Wife begins previews at the Peter Jay Sharp Theater, 416 West 42nd Street, Tuesday, August 27, for an opening Thursday, September 5, at 7:30 pm.

Following the sold-out reading and discussion at 92YTribeca, comes the fully staged, Off-Broadway production and world premiere of HANDBOOK FOR AN AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY.

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Greg Reiner, today announced plans for its upcoming season. The esteemed off-Broadway company, which is wrapping up one of its most successful seasons ever, will kick off its 2013/2014 Season in September with the previously announced new production ofShakespeare's ROMEO & JULIET, featuring acclaimed rising film actress Elizabeth Olsen (Martha Marcy May Marlene) and Finn Wittrock, who won raves last season on Broadway in Death of a Salesman. ROMEO & JULIET will be directed by Tea Alagi? (Jackie).

Recently, the theater company called the TEAM did some work in Chapel Hill, as part of a residency program with PlayMakers Repertory Company. According to their website, 'the TEAM is a New York City-based theatre company dedicated to dissecting and celebrating the experience of living in America today.' Founded in 2004, the TEAM writes collectively as a unit, separately from their individual careers in the arts. They met collaborator Taylor Mac in 2008. Some members of the TEAM spent a week in residence with PlayMakers Repertory Company, developing new work by collaborating with each other and experts among the faculty at UNC. In the two-to-four-year process of writing a show, the week they spent in residence at PlayMakers is step one. Their current work focuses on the themes of drive and discipline, based on the idea that in America, perhaps we have an abundance of drive and a deficiency of discipline.

The fourth annual celebration features a groundbreaking lineup of award-winning LGBT artists from New York, boldly mixed with cutting edge performers from Havana, Cuba that are traveling to Miami for their U.S. debuts.

To coincide with the 20-year anniversary of the Ford Partnership Program, which nurtures locally based artists and arts organizations, the Los Angeles County Arts Commission presents the inaugural Zev Yaroslavsky Signatures Series. This two-concert program benefiting the Ford Theatre Foundation pairs world-renowned performers with a local artistic treasure, celebrating Los Angeles as a destination for world-class artists, who find here both collaboration with, and inspiration from, celebrated local artists.

New York theater ensemble The TEAM -- which will be developing a new performance piece while in residence with PlayMakers Repertory Company at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill -- will unveil its work-in-progress tonight, May 29 at 7:30 p.m. at Frey Rehearsal Hall in the Center for Dramatic Art on Country Club Road.

New York theater ensemble The TEAM -- which will be developing a new performance piece while in residence with PlayMakers Repertory Company at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill -- will unveil its work-in-progress May 29 at 7:30 p.m. at Frey Rehearsal Hall in the Center for Dramatic Art on Country Club Road.

Performance artist Taylor Mac is constantly in creative development, but Children's Theatre Company (CTC) charged him with a first - to create an engaging theatrical piece for a multigenerational audience. His work has been seen and praised at theatres, art institutes, and festivals around the world. He was named best cabaret performer of 2012 by Time Out NY. His new theatrical experience The Fre was one of 41 projects nationwide to be honored with a grant from the MAP Fund, receiving $35,000. The Fre is also one of seven projects selected for the Sundance Institute 2013 Theatre Lab. CTC Artistic Director Peter Brosius claims, 'Taylor is fearless and one of the most creative forces in American theatre today; to have this energy, his heart, and his radical vision on our stage is absolutely thrilling.'

The fourth annual celebration features a groundbreaking lineup of award-winning LGBT artists from New York, boldly mixed with cutting edge performers from Havana, Cuba that are traveling to Miami for their U.S. debuts.

Joe's Pub at The Public welcomes world premieres, highly-anticipated debuts and the return of many esteemed performers this May and June. Funny girl JULIE KLAUSNER makes her debut with two evenings of cabaret. Legendary downtown performance artist JOHN KELLY returns to premiere Rebel Songs. The 60s-inspired flight attendant PAM ANN returns for five nights in the Cockpit. Elsewhere: Tony Award-winners TONYA PINKINS and LIN-MANUEL MIRANDA, Once star CRISTIN MILIOTI, TAYLOR MAC'S epic exploration of popular music, a special appearance from Justin Vivian Bond, JOEY ARIAS, the greatest rapper in the world, CHAMPAGNE JERRY and more. Read on for more May and June cabaret, comedy, Broadway and musical theater highlights at Joe's Pub at The Public.

Sundance Institute today announced the seven projects selected to participate in the 2013 Theatre Lab, July 8-28 at the Sundance Resort in Utah. Under the supervision of Philip Himberg, Artistic Director, and Producing Director Christopher Hibma, the Theatre Lab is the centerpiece of the Sundance Institute's Theatre Program's year-round work and is designed to support emerging and established artists and to create a place where their original work can be effectively mentored and challenged.

If you haven't had the chance to catch up on your theater news, look no further than today's recap of all things theater - exclusive features, interviews, reviews and more! - around the Broadway World for the week of May 6!

Nothing quite strikes fear in my heart upon entering a performance like the words 'audience participation'. Opening with Tori Amos' Precious Things, Taylor Mac pulled an unsuspecting audience member onstage to provide backing vocals.

Theater Resources Unlimited (TRU) announces its April panel, How to Be a Singular Sensation: What Makes a Successful Solo Show on Tuesday, May 21, 2013 at 7:30pm at The Players Theatre's Steve & Marie Sgouros Theatre, 3rd floor, 115 MacDougal Street, NYC. Doors open at 7pm for networking and refreshments, panel starts promptly at 7:30pm.

To coincide with the 20-year anniversary of the Ford Partnership Program, which nurtures locally based artists and arts organizations, the Los Angeles County Arts Commission presents the inaugural Zev Yaroslavsky Signatures Series. This two-concert program benefiting the Ford Theatre Foundation pairs world-renowned performers with a local artistic treasure, celebrating Los Angeles as a destination for world-class artists, who find here both collaboration with, and inspiration from, celebrated local artists.

Magic Theatre will conclude its 46th Season with the first American production of Terminus by Mark O'Rowe. The production is directed by Jon Tracy and will run May 22 - June 16, 2013 at Magic Theatre, Fort Mason Center, Building D, 3rd Floor. Press Opening is Thursday, May 30, 2013 at 8pm.

PlayMakers Repertory Company presents Obie Award-winning actor-playwright-performance artist Taylor Mac in a solo concert tonight, April 22 in Chapel Hill.