The Actors Studio News

At Hand Theatre Company is proud to present the New York premiere of TRICKSTER AT THE GATE. The Yoruba God Esu Elegba has been sentenced to live the life of a mortal African-American woman throughout the 20th Century as penance for causing human deformities and suffering. Inspired by the life and works of Zora Neale Hurston, the play takes us from the Harlem Renaissance, to the mystical realms of African gods, to present day Louisiana to impart a tale of faith, acceptance and love.

From March 13 to 22, The Club at La MaMa E.T.C. will present the U.S. premiere of 'Tonight: Lola Blau,' written and composed by Georg Kreisler, English version by Don White, directed by Dick Top (Holland), featuring Anna Kr?mer (Germany) as Lola. This U.S. premiere is an opportunity for NY audiences to savor one of Europe's 'big little' musicals and its unforgettable holocaust themes. The piece depicts a rising, charismatic, Dietrich-style cabaret singer who is forced to flee Austria because of her Jewish heritage, taking refuge in the U.S. She makes do with 'survival jobs' on Tin Pan Alley until her sensational return to her homeland after the war, when she discovers that nothing much has changed.

The biggest night in Hollywood is tomorrow night, and who better to make winner predictions than Inside the Actors Studio host James Lipton. Bravo put together a photo gallery of the biggest nominees with James Lipton's favorite picks. If it were up to him, Slumdog Millionaire would win an Oscar for Innovation -- who knows maybe it will come home with the consolation prize of Best Picture!

On February 18 and 19, La MaMa will host an open house, 'New Voices Heard,' featuring a sampling of eight plays that were developed during the summer of 2008 in the La MaMa Umbria International Playwrights Retreat. This free event will take place at La MaMa La Galleria, 6 East First Street, Manhattan (between Second Avenue and Bowery), Manhattan. Admission is free. Excerpts of eight plays will be presented. Seven will be staged readings and one will be fully acted.

On February 18 and 19, La MaMa will host an open house, 'New Voices Heard,' featuring a sampling of eight plays that were developed during the summer of 2008 in the La MaMa Umbria International Playwrights Retreat. This free event will take place at La MaMa La Galleria, 6 East First Street, Manhattan (between Second Avenue and Bowery), Manhattan. Admission is free. Excerpts of eight plays will be presented. Seven will be staged readings and one will be fully acted.

Preview performances of Aurin Squire's play To Whom It May Concern will begin Thursday, March 19 at the Arclight Theater, 152 West 71st Street on Manhattan 's Upper West Side . The play is scheduled to run through Sunday April 12 with a press opening set for Sunday March 29.

Oscar & Emmy Award winning screen legend JANE FONDA will return to Broadway in MOISES KAUFMAN's 33 VARIATIONS. Performances begin on Monday, February 9th, 2009 at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre (230 West 49th Street). The official opening will be Monday, March 9th, 2009. The engagement will play through May 24th, 2009. Tickets are now available for sale to the general public.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis, Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) has announced the 10 members of the 2009 Emerging Writers Group, the second season of an annual program that targets playwrights at the earliest stages of their careers and nurtures their artistic growth by providing necessary resources and support. The 10 writers were selected from more than 400 applicants. The 2009 Emerging Writers are J. Julian Christopher, D.S.A. Deen, Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, Bridget Kelso, Mona Mansour, Vickie Ramirez, Jordan Seavey, Alena Smith, Kevin Christopher Snipes, and Lauren Yee.

Stage and screen star Anthony LaPaglia will guest on Inside the Actor's Studio tonight Monday February 2nd at 7pm on Bravo.

The American Actor's Company (The Traveling Lady) is proud to present the Off-Broadway premiere of The Unseen by Craig Wright. Performances of this limited Off-Broadway engagement will be at the Cherry Lane Theatre (38 Commerce St) beginning previews March 5th, Opening March 8th and closing March 28th. Performances run Tuesdays ? Sundays at 8 PM, Saturdays at 2 PM, Sundays at 3 PM. Tickets are $45 and can be purchased by calling Telecharge at 212-239-6200 or by going to www.telecharge.com. For more information please visit www.unseentheplay.com.

Broadway In Chicago is thrilled to announce the Chicago engagement of August: Osage County, the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning play that tells the bitingly funny and sensationally entertaining tale of the Weston family of Pawhuska, Oklahoma. Academy Award-winning actress Estelle Parsons will star as the family matriarch, Violet Weston. August: Osage County comes to Chicago's Ford Center for the Performing Arts, Oriental Theatre for a limited two-week engagement February 2 - 14, 2010. Written by 2008 Pulitzer Prize-winner Tracy Letts (Superior Donuts, Man From Nebraska, Killer Joe, Bug), this grand and gripping new play tells the story of the Westons, a large extended clan that comes together at their rural Oklahoma homestead after the alcoholic patriarch disappears. Forced to confront unspoken truths and astonishing secrets, the family must also contend with matriarch Violet, a pill-popping, deeply unsettled woman at the center of the storm. Directed by 2008 Tony Award-winner Anna D. Shapiro, August: Osage County is a rare theatrical event: a large-scale work filled with 13 unforgettable characters, a powerful tragicomedy told with unflinching honesty and the unforgettable breakthrough of a major American playwright. August: Osage County premiered and was produced at Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago in 2007. 'Steppenwolf is delighted that August: Osage County has a new life in Chicago,' comments Steppenwolf Artistic Director Martha Lavey. 'Steppenwolf audiences were the first to see this exciting play written by our ensemble member Tracy Letts, under the direction of fellow ensemble member Anna Shapiro, and we're thrilled that it will be playing in Chicago again after its successful runs on Broadway and at the National Theatre of London,' Lavey said.

BroadwayWorld.com is proud to announce its newest addition to the BWW TV family - StageTube! Presenting the best in viral, viewer-created videos, StageTube will connect BroadwayWorld.com visitors with the best of user driven video content. Inside the Actor's Studio welcomes comic genius and host of NBC's Late Night, Conan O'Brien on Monday January 26th at 7pm on Bravo. James Lipton sits down for a hilarious interview with the late night 'host with the most' and discusses Conan's acclaimed career as one of the most gifted comedic writers/performers in the business today.

AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY, the 2008 Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning play that tells the bitingly funny and sensationally entertaining tale of the Weston family of Pawhuska, Oklahoma, is coming to Seattle on Tuesday, October 27 for eight performances only starring Academy Award winner Estelle Parsons in the role of the family matriarch, Violet. Tickets for the Seattle engagement are available now as part of the four-show season package, by calling (toll-free) 888-451-4042. Tickets are also available through the National Group Sales department, with a minimum of 20 tickets purchased (toll-free) 888-214-6856. Single tickets for AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY will be available in the summer. Ms. Parsons is currently appearing in the show on Broadway where The New York Times recently raved, 'Estelle Parsons gives a superb performance...sends chills down your spine. It may prove to be a crowning moment in an illustrious career.' Ms. Parsons joined the company in June, 2008. Estelle Parsons' first foray into the business began when she was hired by 'The Today Show,' first as a production assistant, then staff writer, which eventually led her to become the first female television network political news reporter. Estelle began acting and appeared in her first stage performance on Broadway in Happy Hunting. Since then, Estelle has gone on to either star in or direct more than 25 productions. Most notably, she has been nominated for the Tony Award for her performances in THE SEVEN DESCENTS OF MYRTLE, AND MISS REARDON DRINKS A LITTLE, MISS MARGARIDA'S WAY and MORNINGS AT SEVEN.

Broadway In Chicago is thrilled to announce the Chicago engagement of August: Osage County, the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning play that tells the bitingly funny and sensationally entertaining tale of the Weston family of Pawhuska, Oklahoma. Academy Award-winning actress Estelle Parsons will star as the family matriarch, Violet Weston. August: Osage County comes to Chicago's Ford Center for the Performing Arts, Oriental Theatre for a limited two-week engagement February 2 - 14, 2010. Written by 2008 Pulitzer Prize-winner Tracy Letts (Superior Donuts, Man From Nebraska, Killer Joe, Bug), this grand and gripping new play tells the story of the Westons, a large extended clan that comes together at their rural Oklahoma homestead after the alcoholic patriarch disappears. Forced to confront unspoken truths and astonishing secrets, the family must also contend with matriarch Violet, a pill-popping, deeply unsettled woman at the center of the storm. Directed by 2008 Tony Award-winner Anna D. Shapiro, August: Osage County is a rare theatrical event: a large-scale work filled with 13 unforgettable characters, a powerful tragicomedy told with unflinching honesty and the unforgettable breakthrough of a major American playwright. August: Osage County premiered and was produced at Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago in 2007. 'Steppenwolf is delighted that August: Osage County has a new life in Chicago,' comments Steppenwolf Artistic Director Martha Lavey. 'Steppenwolf audiences were the first to see this exciting play written by our ensemble member Tracy Letts, under the direction of fellow ensemble member Anna Shapiro, and we're thrilled that it will be playing in Chicago again after its successful runs on Broadway and at the National Theatre of London,' Lavey said.

New York Stories, featuring the premiere of five short plays by Paul Manuel Kane, will open at the Roy Arias Theaters on January 22, 2009. The production is directed by best-selling political author and biographer Paul Alexander. The evening focuses on five specific instances of tested friendships, changing relationships and lives in flux.

New York Stories, featuring the premiere of five short plays by Paul Manuel Kane, will open at the Roy Arias Theaters on January 22, 2009. The production is directed by best-selling political author and biographer Paul Alexander. The evening focuses on five specific instances of tested friendships, changing relationships and lives in flux.

August: Osage County, the 2008 Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning play that tells the bitingly funny and sensationally entertaining tale of the Weston family of Pawhuska, Oklahoma, starring Academy Award winner Estelle Parsons in the role of the family matriarch, Violet, will launch its national tour, in Denver, CO on July 24th, 2009. Following two weeks at Denver's Ellie Caukins Opera House (7/24-8/8), the show will play San Francisco's Curran Theatre from August 11 - September 6, 2009. Subsequent engagements will be announced shortly. Ms. Parsons is currently appearing in the show on Broadway where The New York Times recently raved, 'Estelle Parsons gives a superb performance...sends chills down your spine. It may prove to be a crowning moment in an illustrious career.' Ms. Parsons joined the company in June, 2008. Estelle Parsons first foray into the business began when she was hired by 'The Today Show,' first as a production assistant, then staff writer, which eventually led her to become the first female television network political news reporter. Estelle began acting and appeared in her first stage performance on Broadway in Happy Hunting. Since then, Estelle has gone on to either star in or direct over 25 productions. Most notably, she has been nominated for the Tony Award for her performances in The Seven Descents of Myrtle, And Miss Reardon Drinks a Little, Miss Margarida's Way and Mornings at Seven.

BroadwayWorld.com is proud to announce its newest addition to the BWW TV family - StageTube! Presenting the best in viral, viewer-created videos, StageTube will connect BroadwayWorld.com visitors with the best of user driven video content. Inside the Actor's Studio welcomes actor Ricky Gervais on Monday January 19th at 7pm on Bravo. James Lipton sits down for a hilarious interview with funny-man Ricky Gervais. A can't-miss episode, Ricky talks comically about creating 'The Office', his clever role in 'Extras', and manages to make James Lipton blush on the subject of his penis size. Tune-in as Ricky chats up -and cracks up-the ever-serious Lipton!

New York Stories, featuring the premiere of five short plays by Paul Manuel Kane, will open at the Roy Arias Theaters on January 22, 2009. The production is directed by best-selling political author and biographer Paul Alexander. The evening focuses on five specific instances of tested friendships, changing relationships and lives in flux.

Target Margin Theater (David Herskovits, Artistic Director), Off-Broadway's extraordinary, Obie Award-winning theater company, present the New York premiere of the never-before-seen production of Ten Blocks on the Camino Real by Tennessee Williams at The Ohio Theater (66 Wooster Street). Under the direction of David Herskovits, the six-member cast features Purva Bedi, Satya Bhabha, Curt Hostetter, McKenna Kerrigan, Dara Seitzman and Raphael Nash Thompson. This production will offer an extremely rare view of the theatrical process of playwright Tennessee Williams.