The New Group News

The York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director; Andrew Levine, Executive Director), in association with Jim Kierstead, as part of its acclaimed Developmental Reading Series, continues its summer schedule with the new musical Unexpected Joy, with Book & Lyrics by Bill Russell and Music by Janet Hood. Directed by Tony Award nominee Sheryl Kaller and with music direction by Jodie Moore, the four-member cast will feature Annie Golden, Emma Hunton, Capathia Jenkins and AnnMarie Milazzo.

Hangar Theatre kicks off its 2013 season tonight, June 13th with Neil Simon's irresistible comedy Last of the Red Hot Lovers, which runs through June 29.

Artistic Director David Winitsky and Producer Jenny Levison, of the Jewish Plays Project have announced the plays that have been chosen for OPEN: The Festival of New Jewish Theater at the 14th Street Y. The performances and readings of these plays will be held today, June 10-30, 2013 at the Theater at 14th Street Y, 344 East 14th Street (between 1st and 2nd Ave), New York, NY.

The Brick Theater, Inc., in association with Stephanie Lane, presents Lighthouse Triptych as part of Sound Scape, a festival of theatrical sound design, running tonight, June 8 at 5 p.m., June 9 at 6 p.m., June 13 at 7 p.m., June 16 at 8 p.m. and June 26 at 9 p.m.

Philadelphia Young Playwrights has kicked off its 25th anniversary celebration by announcing the launch of the Paula Vogel Mentors Project, a living award honoring the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and teacher and extending her mentorship legacy. The three-year pilot program will bring together five acclaimed professional playwrights as mentors for five promising young playwright fellows, who will embark on yearlong playwriting journeys.

The Irish Repertory Theatre continues its award-winning 25th Anniversary Season with the Off-Broadway premiere of GIBRALTAR-Patrick Fitzgerald's two-character adaptation of James Joyce's 'Ulysses'-with previews set to begin June 5, prior to opening June 13 in the company's W. Scott McLucas Studio Theatre (132 West 22nd Street). Terry Kinney directs.

The Irish Repertory Theatre continues its award-winning 25th Anniversary Season with the Off-Broadway premiere of GIBRALTAR-Patrick Fitzgerald's two-character adaptation of James Joyce's 'Ulysses'-with previews set to begin tonight, June 5, prior to opening June 13 in the company's W. Scott McLucas Studio Theatre (132 West 22nd Street). Terry Kinney directs.

PS3 Charrette Elementary School NYC has announced a benefit reading of Kenneth Lonergan's This Is Our Youth on Monday, June 10 at 7pm at The Irene Diamond Stage at The Pershing Square Signature Center, 480 West 42 Street. The reading will feature original cast members Josh Hamilton, Mark Ruffalo, and Missy Yager, and will be directed by original director Mark Brokaw.

Hangar Theatre kicks off its 2013 season on June 13th with Neil Simon's irresistible comedy Last of the Red Hot Lovers, which runs through June 29. Featuring a stellar cast including three Broadway favorites, this seminal work will be directed by Hangar Associate Artistic Director Jesse Bush. Last of the Red Hot Lovers had its original Broadway run from 1969-1971 and received four Tony nominations, including for Best Play. The Hangar production features the talents of Jordan Gelber (Broadway's Avenue Q, All My Sons, Elf) as Barney Cashman, Jennifer Cody (Shrek, Urinetown) as Elaine Navazio, Leenya Rideout (Company, War Horse, Cabaret) as Jeannette Fisher, and Natalie Walker as Bobbi Michele.

Scandinavian American Theater Company will present the US Premiere of GORILLA by Rhea Leman. The Danish premiere was just nominated for the 2013 Reumert Award (the Danish equivalent of the Tony Award) for Best Playwrighting. Directed by Ari Edelson, previews begin tonight, May 24 at the Lion Theatre at Theatre Row. Opening is slated for May 30.

Actors' Equity Association ("AEA" or "Equity"), the labor union representing more than 49,000 professional stage actors and stage managers in the US, will commemorate its 100th anniversary on Sunday, May 26. Founded in 1913 by 112 actors, AEA is the oldest performing arts union. For the last century, AEA has stood for excellence and diversity in the American theater, and for fairness, dignity and respect for its members.

NETworks Presentations LLC's Founder and CEO Kenneth Gentry has just announced the addition of Orin Wolf to its executive staff. Effective July 1, 2013, Orin will join the company as President, with co-founder Scott W. Jackson serving as Chief Operating Officer and co-founder Seth Wenig as Executive Vice President - Production. Gentry will continue as Chief Executive Officer.

Scandinavian American Theater Company will present the US Premiere of GORILLA by Rhea Leman. The Danish premiere was just nominated for the 2013 Reumert Award (the Danish equivalent of the Tony Award) for Best Playwrighting. Directed by Ari Edelson, previews begin May 24 at the Lion Theatre at Theatre Row. Opening is slated for May 30.

Screen Actors Guild Foundation and Broadway World have partnered for an inaugural filmed Conversations Q&A series to recognize and celebrate the vibrant theatre community in New York City and the union actors who aspire to have a career on the stage and screen. The most recent event was a two hour career conversation with 2013 Tony nominee Keith Carradine moderated by Broadway World's own Richard Ridge, and you can check out highlights from the discussion below!

The Irish Repertory Theatre continues its award-winning 25th Anniversary Season with the Off-Broadway premiere of GIBRALTAR-Patrick Fitzgerald's two-character adaptation of James Joyce's 'Ulysses'-with previews set to begin June 5, prior to opening June 13 in the company's W. Scott McLucas Studio Theatre (132 West 22nd Street). Terry Kinney directs.

On Sunday, May 19, Jules Feiffer's Little Murders arrives at The New Group @ Theatre Row in a one-night-only benefit reading. Directed by Cynthia Nixon, this benefit reading features Eric Bogosian, Kevin Cahoon, John Doman, America Ferrera, Charles Grodin, Rory O'Malley, Caroline Rhea and Michael Stuhlbarg.

If Betty Comden and Adolph Green were both born in Bombay, Singin' In The Rain might have wound up resembling The New Group's new musical, Bunty Berman Presents….  Not that Ayub Khan Din (book, music and lyrics) and Paul Bogaev's (music) Bollywood-set musical comedy is on the same level as that masterwork, but the spirit of silly 1950s MGM hijinks abounds throughout the evening.  It's got laughs, it's got tunes and it offers a fun, mindless time.

The Brick Theater, Inc., in association with Stephanie Lane, presents Lighthouse Triptych as part of Sound Scape, a festival of theatrical sound design, running June 8 at 5 p.m., June 9 at 6 p.m., June 13 at 7 p.m., June 16 at 8 p.m. and June 26 at 9 p.m.

I suppose Richard Foreman doesn't have many talkbacks after performances of his plays because, really, how many times can you respond to an audience member asking, 'What the f***?'

Artistic Director David Winitsky and Producer Jenny Levison, of the Jewish Plays Project have announced the plays that have been chosen for OPEN: The Festival of New Jewish Theater at the 14th Street Y. The performances and readings of these plays will be held June 10-30, 2013 at the Theater at 14th Street Y, 344 East 14th Street (between 1st and 2nd Ave), New York, NY.