The Long Wharf Theatre News

After a 48 year absence, Bye Bye Birdie will return to Broadway this fall presented by Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) in a production starring John Stamos (Albert Peterson), Gina Gershon (Rose Alvarez), Bill Irwin (Mr. Harry MacAfee) and Jayne Houdyshell (Mrs. Mae Peterson). Directed & choreographed by Robert Longbottom, Bye Bye Birdie has a book by Michael Stewart, lyrics by Lee Adams and music by Charles Strouse. Roundabout is proud to welcome back three artists who have previously worked at the theatrical institution: John Stamos, Gina Gershon and Bill Irwin.

A Nervous Smile is the final, most powerful play by John Belluso, a wonderful playwright with a disability who passed away tragically more than two years ago, on the cusp of a promising career. In the play, the wealthy parents of a girl severely disabled with cerebral palsy are strained to the breaking point by the burden of caring for their daughter.

Modern Muse Theatre Company opens the regional premiere of Judy GeBauer's captivating play 'Reclaimed'.

Theater Breaking Through Barriers will present the New York Premiere of John Belluso's, A Nervous Smile, on Friday, April 17, 2009 at 8PM at the Kirk Theatre, Theatre Row, 410 West 42nd St. The official opening will be on Sunday, April 26, 2009 at 8PM. Ike Schambelan directs.

At a packed event last night at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, TheatreWorks, the nationally-acclaimed theatre of Silicon Valley, announced its 2009-2010 season to a crowd of enthusiastic patrons and supporters. Under the direction of Founding Artistic Director Robert Kelley, the company is celebrating 40 years of bringing quality theatre, including more than 50 world premieres, to the San Francisco Bay Area.

Atlantic Theater Company (Neil Pepe, Artistic Director; Jeffory Lawson, Managing Director) is proud to announce the final production of its 2008-2009 season - the world premiere of Leslie Ayvazian's play MAKE ME, directed by Atlantic associate artistic director Christian Parker. Casting will be announced shortly.

At a packed event last night at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, TheatreWorks, the nationally-acclaimed theatre of Silicon Valley, announced its 2009-2010 season to a crowd of enthusiastic patrons and supporters. Under the direction of Founding Artistic Director Robert Kelley, the company is celebrating 40 years of bringing quality theatre, including more than 50 world premieres, to the San Francisco Bay Area. The season announcement, which culminated a day of public activities launching the company's Ruby Anniversary, revealed that TheatreWorks will once again be presenting the area's first looks at several news-making productions, and deepening its commitment to presenting new works. The company announced a vibrant season leading off with an extensive New Works Festival that will draw national artists to the area; a World Premiere musical to be directed by the Tony Award-winning director of Les Miserables; two West Coast Premieres; two Regional Premieres, and two classics brought to the stage.

Broadway Dance Center presents BDC Gives for the month of February- A special class with David Marquez. All proceeds for this new series of classes are donated to BC/EFA. Marquez's class will focus on Intermediate Theater and take place on February 27, 2009 from 10:30A.M. - Noon. Regular class rates apply, and additional donations are welcome.

The Los Angeles premiere of Pulitzer Prize winner Robert Schenkkan's By the Waters of Babylon brings two award-winning, long-time theater actors to the Geffen stage for the first time: Demián Bichir and Shannon Cochran. Bichir, who is currently starring as Mary Louise-Parker's love interest on Showtime's Weeds, will play the role of Arturo, a Cuban immigrant who is hired to (coincidentally) weed the garden of unconventional Austin widow Catherine. Cochran, who will star as Catherine, is straight from Chicago where she starred in sold out performances of The Lion in Winter at the Writers Theatre.

The Los Angeles premiere of Pulitzer Prize winner Robert Schenkkan's By the Waters of Babylon brings two award-winning, long-time theater actors to the Geffen stage for the first time: Demián Bichir and Shannon Cochran. Bichir, who is currently starring as Mary Louise-Parker's love interest on Showtime's Weeds, will play the role of Arturo, a Cuban immigrant who is hired to (coincidentally) weed the garden of unconventional Austin widow Catherine. Cochran, who will star as Catherine, is straight from Chicago where she starred in sold out performances of The Lion in Winter at the Writers Theatre.

Following the success of last season's THE COCKTAIL HOUR, Theater Breaking Through Barriers (formerly Theater By The Blind) presents another comedy by A.R. Gurney. TBTB will begin its 2008-2009 season with THE MIDDLE AGES, on Wednesday, October 22, 2008 at 7PM at the Kirk Theatre, Theatre Row. The official opening will be on Sunday, November 2, 2008 at 3PM. Artistic Director of TBTB, Ike Schambelan, will direct.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival, in association with TPTE LLC, will present the New York premiere of TO PAINT THE EARTH, music by Jonathan Portera and words by Daniel Frederick Levin, directed by Michael Bush (Stormy Weather, Based on a Totally True Story), as part of the 5th Annual NY Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF). Performances will run September 22nd-Oct 1st.

Lincoln Center Theater has announced its 2008-2009 Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater season.

Manhattan Theatre Club has announced the recipients of its first Bank of America Playwright Commissioning Program. The three recipients are David Lindsay-Abaire, Noah Haidle and Liz Flahive.

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director; Ellen Richard, Executive Director) will conclude its current mainstage season with Richard Nelson's comedy, SOME AMERICANS ABROAD, directed by Gordon Edelstein.

Westport Country Playhouse and Westport Arts Center will co-present two award-winning legends - playwright Edward Albee and film and theatre actor Kathleen Turner in 'Artists in Conversation,' a casual, intimate talk between two theatre professionals who also happen to be good friends, on Monday, June 23, 8 p.m., at the Playhouse.

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director; Ellen Richard, Executive Director) will conclude its current mainstage season with Richard Nelson's comedy, SOME AMERICANS ABROAD, directed by Gordon Edelstein.

Westport Country Playhouse and Westport Arts Center will co-present two award-winning legends - playwright Edward Albee and film and theatre actor Kathleen Turner in 'Artists in Conversation,' a casual, intimate talk between two theatre professionals who also happen to be good friends, on Monday, June 23, 8 p.m., at the Playhouse.

Columbia Stages announces a 24-person cast for the upcoming production of Tennessee Williams' Camino Real directed by Tony Speciale.

Joanne Woodward and Anne Keefe return to the helm to put the 78-year-old Connecticut theatrical landmark back on course