The Public Theater News

The Playwrights Realm (Founding Artistic Director Katherine Kovner and Producing Director Roberta Pereira) will presents the 2020 INK'D Festival of New Plays, showcasing new works by this year's Realm Writing Fellows Tanya Everett, Maya Macdonald, Tasha Gordon-Solmon, and Christopher Reyes (February 24-27). The festival's plays offer vast tonal and stylistic variation while cohering around complex contemplations of structural issues. INK'D has proven to be an indispensable launching pad for the voices driving the future of playwriting. This year's powerful slate continues to introduce audiences to a diversity of fresh perspectives, thereby underscoring theater's potential to expand the possibilities of dramatic storytelling and engage with the world around it.

New York Times bestselling author Chris Bohjalian's world premiere stage adaptation of his novel MIDWIVES opened January 24th to ecstatic notices.The cast celebrated after the opening night performance at George Street Playhouse's new home at the New Brunswick Performing Arts Center. Chris Bohjalian's book, which has sold more than two million copies since its publication, was an early selection of Oprah's Book Club and its 2001 film adaptation starred Sissy Spacek.

The University of Texas at Austin Department of Theatre and Dance presents Marcus; or the Secret of Sweet by Tarell Alvin McCraney, directed by Robert Ramirez (head of acting, interim department chair) and Charles O. Anderson (head of dance) February 26-March 8, 2020 at the Oscar G. Brockett Theatre.

The 2014 Tony Award-Winning comedic musical, A GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER makes its San Antonio production debut at the Public Theater. Set in London in the early 1900's, Monty discovers he is the distant heir to a family fortune. Being eighth in line makes Monty's shot at the money seem pretty slim, so he decides to take matters into his own hands using the most inventive and hilarious of means of course! With book and lyrics by Robert L. Freedman, music and lyrics by Steven Lutvak, and based on a novel by Roy Horniman, A GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER  at the Public Theater is pure comic gold.

La Jolla Playhouse is pleased to launch its 2020 Performance Outreach Program (POP) Tour production: Emily Driver's Great Race through Time and Space, by A.A. Brenner and Gregg Mozgala, directed by National Disability Theatre (NDT) Co-Executive Directors and Playhouse Artists-in-Residence Talleri A. McRae and Mickey Rowe. The production will tour schools throughout San Diego County January 29 a?" March 27.  Commissioned by the Playhouse, this world-premiere play for young audiences will also have four public performances on February 29 and March 1 at 1:00pm and 3:00pm at La Jolla Playhouse. Tickets are available at LaJollaPlayhouse.org or (858) 550-1010.

Berkeley Repertory Theatre today announced that due to demand, Gatz, which enacts the beloved classic novel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald and is directed by John Collins, will have an extension. The show will now run for an extra three performances through Sunday, March 1. Gatz begins on Thursday, February 13, 2020. For ticket information visit berkeleyrep.org or call the box office at 510 647-2949.

Casting Directors Geoff Josselson, C.S.A., and Katja Zarolinski, C.S.A., announced today the launch of JZ Casting, a New York-based casting office, with over 25 years of combined experience in the entertainment industry. Their new offices are located at 226 West 37th Street, Suite 604.

Baruch Performing Arts Center will present a work-in-process presentation of Siachen from April 30-May 2, 2020 at Baruch Performing Arts Center, 55 Lexington Avenue (25th Street between Third and Lexington Avenues), NYC. Tickets are $11-$26 and can be purchased online at https://ci.ovationtix.com/1091/production/1014637.

Virginia Stage Company has been approved for a $20,000 Art Works grant to support a world premiere theater production by Ronve O'Daniel and Jevaris Myrick, co-creators of contemporary hip-hop musical Once Upon A Rhyme: A Musical Tale.  Mr. O'Daniel and Mr. Myrick will write a hip-hop musical that will serve as both education and a celebration of the unique history of the Hampton Roads community.  This theater production is created through the Public Works Virginia (PWVA) program, which leverages the artistic process for individual and community transformation. Overall, the National Endowment for the Arts has approved 1,187 grants totaling $27.3 million in the first round of fiscal year 2020 funding to support arts projects in every state in the nation, as well as the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.

Kokandy Productions is pleased to announce casting for the Chicago premiere of the bold new musical Hundred Days, featuring music and lyrics by The Bengsons, and book by The Bengsons and Sarah Gancher.

This Week's New Classified Listings on BroadwayWorld for 1/30/2020 include new jobs for those looking to work in the theatre industry.

NYC's premiere cabaret featuring trans, nonbinary, and gender non-conforming performers is back at The Duplex with their first show of the year on Saturday, February 22nd at 9:30pm. Trans Voices Cabaret is excited to be partnering with Babetown, a pop-up supper club for queer women, trans, and nonbinary folx created by chef Alex Koones. The show is directed by TVC creator Donnie Cianciotto, with Musical Direction by Anessa Marie. Cianciotto will also serve as the evening's emcee.

The Public Theater announced the line-up today for the 2020 Free Shakespeare in the Park season, continuing a 58-year tradition of free theater in Central Park.

New York Times bestselling author Chris Bohjalian's world premiere stage adaptation of his novel MIDWIVES opened this past Friday at George Street Playhouse. Take a look at the new video trailer below!

Currently in previews, a?oeUntil the Flooda?? will open at Center Theatre Group's Kirk Douglas Theatre on Wednesday, January 29 at 8 p.m. Written and starring Dael Orlandersmith and directed by Neel Keller, a?oeUntil the Flooda?? will continue through February 23. 

'If Music Be The Food Of Love - A Benefit for Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen' will be celebrated at Joe's Pub on February 10th, 2020 at 6:30pm (doors open at 6pm), with an after party at Pangea in the East Village (starting at 9:30).

February is coming in HOT at Joe's Pub!

Chicago Shakespeare Theater has announced today that it will stage the World Premiere musical The Notebook, based on the classic best-selling novel by Nicholas Sparks that inspired the hugely popular film. The musical adaptation features music and lyrics by multi-Platinum singer-songwriter Ingrid Michaelson with book by playwright Bekah Brunstetter-best known as a writer and producer on NBC's hit series This Is Us.

Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for theatre, has shared the entertainment and performers for the 2020 TCG Gala: Our Stories, which will be held on Monday, February 3, 2020, at The Edison Ballroom (240 W 47th St, New York, NY 10036).

INTAR Theatre (Lou Moreno, Artistic Director/John McCormack, Executive Director) and Radio Drama Network (Melina Brown, President) today announced the cast for the World Premiere of Bundle of Sticks, a new play by J. Julian Christopher, directed by Lou Moreno. Bundle of Sticks will play a special limited Off-Broadway engagement, beginning February 22nd and continuing through March 22nd only. Opening Night is set for Monday March 2nd.