The Directors Company News

Producer Douglas Denoff and 59E59 Theaters are presenting the Directors Company’s production of The Lucky Star by Karen Hartman, opening tonight, Thursday, May 5, as part of the inaugural VOLT Festival at 59E59.

Producer Douglas Denoff and 59E59 Theaters have announced the full cast and creative team of The Directors Company's production of The Lucky Star by Karen Hartman, part of the inaugural VOLT Festival at 59E59. Directed by Noah Himmelstein (Rooted), The Lucky Star begins previews on April 26, 2022, in Theater A and opens May 5 for a run through June 12, 2022.

59E59 Theaters has announced the complete casts & creative teams for the inaugural VOLT Festival at 59E59. New Golden Age begins previews on April 28, 2022, in Theater B and opens May 11 for a run through June 9, 2022. Goldie, Max & Milk begins previews May 1, 2022, in Theater C and opens May 8 for a run through June 4, 2022.

The 2022 winners of Douglas Lyons' Next Wave Initiative have been announced.  NWI is a developmental branch of The Directors Company committed to amplifying future Black voices in The American Theatre. Each winner will receive financial scholarships ranging from $500 to $1,959 to support their undergraduate or graduate education.

The full cast & creative team has been announced for the Directors Company’s production of The Lucky Star by Karen Hartman, part of the inaugural VOLT Festival at 59E59. Directed by Noah Himmelstein (Rooted), The Lucky Star begins previews on April 26, 2022, in Theater A and opens May 5 for a run through June 12, 2022.

On March 10, 2022, LINDA MANNING’s play, BITE THE APPLE, will make its Off-Broadway debut in the West Village at the 224 Waverly Place Theater. The play explores the intersection of trauma, desire, and female sexuality and how trauma continues to disrupt a woman’s life long after it happens – all through the conduit of fairytales.

The Next Wave Initiative has announced open submissions for Cycle 2 of its scholarship program. Founded by Broadway multihyphenate, Douglas Lyons (Chicken and Biscuits and Beau), The Next Wave Initiative is a developmental branch of The Directors Company committed to amplifying future Black voices in the American theatre.

59E59 Theaters has announced their return to in-person programming in January 2022, including their Winter 2022 Season and the launch of the VOLT Festival in Spring 2022.

The National Arts Club has announced Brooklyn-based playwright Matthew Freeman as recipient of the 2021 Kesselring Prize.

Join The National Arts Club for an online performance of Joyce Carol Oates's one-act play Wild Nights!, directed by Michael Parva.

The Next Wave Initiative, a scholarship and development branch of The Directors Company dedicated to future Black Theatre makers, has announced the winners of it's inaugural cycle. All 5 winners will receive financial scholarships ranging from $500- $1,959 towards their undergraduate or MFA education. 

The 2020 Kesselring Prize for playwriting—a $25,000 award given annually to an outstanding playwright deserving of national recognition—is to be presented to Mona Mansour by The National Arts Club during a virtual ceremony on Thursday, February 25 at 6:00 PM.

Michael Urie (Ugly Betty) and Carly Hughes (American Housewife) will join Janet Hubert (Fresh Prince of Bel Air) to star in a virtual reading of Douglas Lyons’ CHICKEN AND BISCUITS on Saturday, February 27, 2021 at 8:00p.m. (EST) to benefit the Next Wave Initiative.

Janet Hubert, best known to television audiences as “Aunt Viv” on The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, will star as Baneatta Mabry in a virtual reading of Douglas Lyons' family comedy, CHICKEN AND BISCUITS on Saturday, February 27, 2021 at 8:00p.m.

The Next Wave Initiative has announced open submissions for Cycle 1 of its scholarship program. Founded by actor-composer and TV writer Douglas Lyons (Beautiful, Beau), The Next Wave Initiative is a developmental branch of The Directors Company committed to amplifying future Black voices in the American theatre.

The 2020 Kesselring Prize for playwriting-a $25,000 award given annually to an outstanding playwright deserving of national recognition-will be given this year to Mona Mansour, it has been announced by The National Arts Club, which has bestowed the award since 1980.

New York Theatre Barn will host a free live stream of its New Works Series on Wednesday, July 15th, 2020 at 7PM EDT, featuring excerpts from the new musicals Talk to Me and F.L.I.P.PED.

Founded by Douglas Lyons (Beautiful, Beau), The Next Wave Initiative is a developmental branch of The Directors Company, committed to amplifying future Black voices in The American Theatre. On July 1st, at 7pm EST, NWI will host its first Zoom-Room Series: 'To be Young, Gifted, Black...and cast.'

Douglas Lyons (Beautiful, Beau) has launched The Next Wave Initiative, a developmental branch of The Directors Company committed to amplifying future Black voices in The American Theatre.

Musical Theatre Factory Tune In Tuesdays continues on May 5 with Douglas Lyons and Ethan Pakchar's BEAU. BEAU had a rousing launch production at the 25th season of the Adirondack Theatre Festival last year; after development with MTF, The Directors Company, Lincoln Center, Roundabout Theatre Company and Bucks County Playhouse.