The New Group News

The 2013 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize has been awarded to U.K. playwright Lucy Kirkwood for her play Chimerica. In addition, a Special Commendation has been awarded to Phoebe Waller-Bridge for her debut play, Fleabag.

The Pekoe Group, the only full-service boutique marketing and advertising agency serving the New York theater industry, celebrates its fifth anniversary on Monday, February 24. Click below to watch a fun video commemorating their work!

The Gift Theatre Artistic Director Michael Patrick Thornton announces the Chicago premiere of Thinner Than Water written by Melissa Ross and directed by The Gift ensemble member John Gawlik (2013 Jeff Award winner for When the Rain Stops Falling at Circle Theatre). The production marks Thornton's return to The Gift main stage since ensemble member Andrew Hinderaker's Jeff Nominated Dirty in 2012. Thornton recently appeared in Les Waters' production of Our Town at Actors Theatre of Louisville. Thornton joins guest artists Donna McGough (last seen in Coriolanus with The Hypocrites) and Darci Nalepa (Dirty) and fellow Gift ensemble members Brittany Burch (The Lonesome West), Paul D'Addario (One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest), Gabriel Franken (Broadsword), Lynda Newton (Absolute Hell) and Jay Worthington (Vigils).

BOYS NOIZE (Alexander Ridha) released Out Of The Black - The Remixes earlier this month, including unreleased remixes from Audion (Matthew Dear), Oliver, Jimmy Edgar, Housemeister and MMM in addition to BOYS NOIZE DJ-edits.

The Harold Clurman Playwrights Division, a program of the Stella Adler Studio of Acting, has chosen actor/writer Dennis Staroselsky as it's Playwright-in-Residence for 2014. Previous residents include Halley Feiffer, Mia Chung, Anton Dudley, Christina Gorman, Zayd Dohrn, and Peter Nickowitz. Over seventy writers submitted applications and full-length plays for consideration in the merit-based annual search.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company's Chicago-premiere production of Russian Transport by Erika Sheffer begins tonight, February 16, 2014. Ensemble member Yasen Peyankov directs a cast of five featuring ensemble members Tim Hopper, Mariann Mayberry and Alan Wilder with Aaron Himelstein and Melanie Neilan. This 'thoughtful, well-written domestic drama with something original to say about immigrant families living by old world values in a new world culture' (Variety) received its world-premiere production Off-Broadway at The New Group in 2012. Russian Transport began previews February 6, 2014 (opening night is February 16; press performances are February 15 at 3pm and February 18 at 7:30pm) and runs through May 11, 2014 in Steppenwolf's Upstairs Theatre (1650 N Halsted St).

After winning the FringeNYC Overall Excellence Award and the Creative Award for Best Production at Prague Fringe Festival, HUMAN FRUIT BOWL makes the leap to Off-Broadway. This acclaimed portrait of live nude modeling is written by Andrea Kuchlewska, performed by Harmony Stempel, and directed by Jessi D. Hill. Presented by Baruch Performing Arts Center in association with terraNOVA Collective & soloNOVA Arts, performances of this limited engagement begin previews March 27 at The Rose Nagelberg Theater. Opening night is slated for March 30.

Scott Elliott, Founding Artistic Director of The New Group and Serge Nivelle, Chairman of its Board of Directors, have announced that Adam Bernstein has been named Executive Director of the company.

Kindling Theatre Company has announced the World Premiere of TAKE ME BACK, written by Emily Schwend and directed by Jay Stull. TAKE ME BACK begins performances on Friday, February 28 for a limited engagement through Saturday, March 22. Opening Night is Wednesday, March 5 at 8 PM. The performance schedule is Wednesday - Saturday at 8 PM, with added performances on Monday, March 3 and Tuesday, March 4 at 8 PM. Performances are at Walkerspace (46 Walker Street, between Broadway and Church Streets). Tickets are $18 and are available by calling SmartTix at (212) 868-4444 or visiting www.smarttix.com.

Winter usually isn't the busiest time of year for incoming Broadway shows, but that doesn't mean that there is any lack of fresh talent making their debuts! The Broadway Winter has arrived, and while a solid number of new faces are treading the boards, dozens more are on their way in the coming months. Meet all of Broadway's newest stars below!

Shining East Productions presents The Sun Shines East, based on a true story written by Corinne Chateau* about an adoptive mother's struggle to break through deep personal barriers and international politics to bring home her daughter. Pat Golden directs a cast of 5 including Karen Christie-Ward*, Tara Gadomski*, Mary Francina Golden*, Bristol Pomeroy, and Amy Staats*. Fourteen performances will be held at the Marjorie S. Deane Little Theatre, 10 West 64th Street, in New York City from tonight, January 31-February 16, 2014.

The New Group continues its 2013-2014 season with the world premiere of Intimacy, a new play by Thomas Bradshaw. Directed by Scott Elliott, Intimacy features David Anzuelo, Austin Cauldwell, Ella Dershowitz, Laura Esterman, Daniel Gerroll, Dea Julien and Keith Randolph Smith. A limited Off-Broadway engagement plays now through March 8 at TheNew Group @ Theatre Row (The Acorn Theatre / 410 West 42nd Street). BroadwayWorld was there for opening night and you can check out photos below!

This January, playwright Christina Masciotti whose most recent play VISION DISTURBANCE, directed by Richard Maxwell, was described as a 'showcase for Masciotti's gift for writing' by The New York Times, 'brilliant … and … unforgettable' by The New Yorker, and named one of the Top Ten Plays of 2010 by Time Out New York, will premiere her latest play ADULT, presented by Darling and Company in association with terraNOVA Collective, at Abrons Art Center.

The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize has announced 10 Finalists for its prestigious playwriting award, now celebrating its thirty-sixth year. Chosen from over 100 submitted plays, the Finalists are

Thomas Bradshaw is at it again.

The New Group continues its 2013-2014 season with the world premiere of Intimacy, a new play by Thomas Bradshaw. Directed by Scott Elliott, Intimacy features David Anzuelo, Austin Cauldwell, Ella Dershowitz, Laura Esterman, Daniel Gerroll, Dea Julien and Keith Randolph Smith. A limited Off-Broadway engagement plays now through March 8 at TheNew Group @ Theatre Row (The Acorn Theatre / 410 West 42nd Street), with Official Opening Night set for tonight, January 29 at 7:00pm. BroadwayWorld has a look at the cast in action below!

YALE REPERTORY THEATRE presents the world premiere of THESE PAPER BULLETS!, a modish ripoff of William Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, adapted by Rolin Jones, with songs by Billie Joe Armstrong, and directed by Jackson Gay, March 14-April 5 at the University Theatre (222 York Street). Opening Night is Thursday, March 20.

Roundabout Theatre Company's production of Machinal, starring Rebecca Hall, written by Sophie Treadwell and directed by Lyndsey Turner, began previews on December 20 and opened on January 16, 2014 at the American Airlines Theatre on Broadway. Machinal is a limited engagement through March 2. Below you can check out photos of Morgan Spector in the BroadwayWorld.com series 'In The Spotlight' by acclaimed photographer Walter McBride!

Profiles Theatre continues its 25th Anniversary Season with the Midwest premiere of Gidion's Knot by Johnna Adams, directed by Artistic Director Joe Jahraus and featuring Amy J. Carle and Laura Hooper. The production runs now through March 9, 2014 at The Alley Stage, 4147 N. Broadway. The press opening is tonoight, January 25 at 8:00pm. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

The New Group continues its 2013-2014 season with the world premiere of Intimacy, a new play by Thomas Bradshaw. Directed by Scott Elliott, Intimacy features David Anzuelo,Austin Cauldwell, Ella Dershowitz, Laura Esterman, Daniel Gerroll, Déa Julien and Keith Randolph Smith. A limited Off-Broadway engagement plays now through March 8 at TheNew Group @ Theatre Row (The Acorn Theatre / 410 West 42nd Street), with Official Opening Night set for Wednesday, January 29 at 7:00pm. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!