The Actors Studio News

The Dramatists Guild of America is presenting season four of The Dramatists Guild Presents: TALKBACK. The Guild celebrates writers from a diverse array of backgrounds and how they’ve built meaningful careers within a constantly evolving industry. The first episode of the season debuts today with Branden Jacobs-Jenkins. Listen here!

Over the last seven years, Backyard Renaissance (BYR) has proudly accepted the monikers 'edgy,' 'scrappy,' and 'gutsy,' all bequeathed by local media. Creative playing spaces, purposefully bad B-movie readings, a La Jolla Playhouse Residency, teeny-tiny musicals, a 5-camera filmed production and several world premieres have all been part of BYR's short but lively history.

Today's question is: Who has worn the most hats on Broadway- director, producer, writer, actor, etc.? Here are a few folks that could hold a record for the 'number of hats' they've worn on Broadway shows. Part one includes those who have worn four or five hats on Broadway shows and part two will include those who have held even more positions than that!

The Bridge Production Group (Max Hunter, Artistic Director) will present the New York Premiere of Frédéric Sonntag’s George Kaplan with an English Translation by Samuel Buggeln (Cherry Arts), directed by Max Hunter ([title of show] at Brooklyn Navy Yards; See You at The New Ohio). The production will run November 15-December 3 at The New Ohio (154 Christopher Street New York, NY 10014). 

New York's critically acclaimed and revolutionary Shakespeare ensemble, Frog & Peach Theatre Company will return to the stage with a LIVE showing of their long-anticipated comedy blockbuster, AS YOU LIKE IT. Directed by Lynnea Benson, the production will feature music by Ted Zurkowski, Lyrics by WS. 

The Players' Ring of Portsmouth's new hit comedy MOONGLOW, by Jack Neary, will be presented for four performances only at the Firehouse Center for the Arts in Newburyport on October 6-9, co-produced by the Actors Studio of Newburyport and the Players' Ring.

As with most intelligent and clever actors struggling to find paying work during difficult times, LeLand Gantt readily admits that he was inspired to create Rhapsody in Black, which has been described as “a powerful personal narrative on racism, identity, and self-image” to provide some work for himself, allowing him to “stay in town to do more tv and film.” Now, however, as acclaim for his one-man show continues to grow, he’s finding himself “out of town” – he's based in New York – to give theater-goers all over the country a chance to see his the result of his creativity on his personal journey to transcene racism in America.

TLab Shares hosts RPR Productions in The World Premiere of BETHUNE: Our Black Velvet Rose. The production runs October 7 - 23 with an official opening date of October 9 at Theaterlab in New York City.

Albert Camus’ The Fall will come to life onstage as Belgian-born actor Ronald Guttman embodies the anguish of exiled Parisian lawyer Jean-Baptiste Clamence. Performances of Albert Camus’ The Fall begin October 13 at The Huron Club at Soho Playhouse, with an opening set for Wednesday, October 19, for a limited run through November 19.

Frog & Peach Theatre Company has announced that New York's revolutionary Shakespeare ensemble will return to the live stage with their long-anticipated comedy blockbuster, AS YOU LIKE IT.

The Actors Studio will host a 75th Anniversary benefit screening of the Academy Award-winning film Dog Day Afternoon, followed by a live interview with the film’s star and The Actors Studio co-president Al Pacino. The Gala event will take place Thursday, October 27 at 7PM, the United Palace.

Applications are being accepted now through September 23rd for the fifth round of Queens Theatre's Theatre For All (TFA) Professional Actor Training Program. The free, two-week program will run virtually this season, from Monday, October 17th through Friday, October 28th and is open to Deaf or Disabled performers, aged 18 and over. Through intensive workshops over the two weeks, students will build skills, as well as their networks. 

Second Stage Theater has announced casting for the Broadway debut production of Stephen Adly Guirgis’ Pulitzer Prize-winning play, BETWEEN RIVERSIDE AND CRAZY, directed by Austin Pendleton. The production will star Victor Almanzar, Elizabeth Canavan, Rosal Colon and more.

The Green Room 42 has announced their September line-up for in-person cabaret performances, featuring See Eva Noblezada, James Jackson Jr. & John-Andrew Morrison and more. See the full lineup here!

Laguna Playhouse has announced that JoBeth Williams (“Poltergeist,” “The Big Chill”) and Peter Strauss (“Rich Man, Poor Man,” “The Jericho Mile”) are set to star in the upcoming World Premiere production, based on the 1975 ABC Theatre Presentation that starred Katharine Hepburn and Laurence Olivier, of LOVE AMONG THE RUINS.

Patti LuPone is remembering her late brother Robert LuPone, who recently passed away, following a three-year battle with pancreatic cancer.

In Mr. Yunioshi, J. Elijah Cho cleverly explores Mickey Rooney's infamous performance as Mr. Yunioshi in 'Breakfast at Tiffany's,' often pointed to as the most egregious example of yellowface in the movies. Rooney's 'over the top' characterization is cringeworthy to watch to this day, but it also raises several questions: Should actors have the opportunity to play ANY role? Could there ever have been a 'right' way to play it? And what compels an actor to play a character that they really shouldn't be playing? Asian-American writer/performer J. Elijah Cho attempts to explore these topics and more in this poignant and funny satire.

MCC Theater has announced the passing of performer and MCC Founding Co-Artistic Director Bob LuPone. LuPone passed this morning following a three-year battle with pancreatic cancer.

Premiere Stages at Kean University will present the New Jersey Premiere of Gino Diiorio's Scab September 8-25 in Kean University's Bauer Boucher Theatre Center (Vaughn Eames Hall, 1000 Morris Avenue, Union, N.J.).

Award winning playwright, Tom Cavanaugh will present the World Premiere his new, short play as part of the 2022 Pittsburgh New Works Play Festival Thursday, August 25th at 8pm PT & 11pm EST.