The Public Theater News

Today's top stories: Freestyle Love Supreme and Girl From The North Country are heading to Broadway, and more!

A major new theatrical work from Back to Back Theatre, co-commissioned and presented by Carriageworks, The Shadow Whose Prey the Hunter Becomes, will have its world premiere at Carriageworks on 25 September, before completing an Australian tour and going on to the United States. Inspired by its own ensemble of actors, Back to Back Theatre is a leading voice in contemporary world theatre. Over the last decade the multi-award-winning company has presented 44 national and 82 international seasons of its work. This production will explore the changing nature of intelligence in contemporary society.

Central Works summer season continues with Christina Gorman's political thriller, Roan @ The Gates, opening July 20 and running through August 18 (previews July 18 & 19). The production is directed by M. Graham Smith, positing in Gorman's words "If our government can access information from your present or your past, they can use it to get you to do what they want.  What's being collected and stored is not information, it's leverage."

The Public Theater presented a free one-night-only PUBLIC FORUM: QUEER & NOW on Monday, June 17 at The Delacorte Theater.

INTAR today announced the cast for the World Premiere of Julio Down by the Schoolyard, a new play by J. Julian Christopher, directed by Lou Moreno.Julio Down by the Schoolyard will play a special limited Off-Broadway engagement during World Pride/Stonewall 50, three performances only: Thursday June 27th, Friday June 28th, and Saturday June 29th all at 7pm.

Huntington Theatre Company announced today that tickets to The Purists are now on sale to the general public. The world premiere play, directed by Tony and Grammy Award winner Billy Porter (Kinky Boots, 'Pose' on FX), will begin performances at the South EndCalderwood Pavilion at the BCA (527 Tremont St., Boston) on Friday, August 30, 2019 and will run through Sunday, September 29, 2019.

After critically acclaimed, smash-hit runs at The Old Vic London, in London's West End, and at The Public Theater New York, GIRL FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY will bring its rousing spirit to Toronto's Royal Alexandra Theatre for a strictly limited engagement. Performances will begin Saturday, September 28 and run until Sunday, November 24. The media performance is scheduled for Sunday, October 6.

The Drama League has announced an inaugural event: First Stage Festival, where new works take their first steps, featuring 10 resident directors who will have 10 hours to focus and manifest a particular moment or element of 10 new works, giving a glimpse into the future of the American Theater.

After its hit runs at The Public Theater, The Old Vic London, and in the West End, Girl from the North Country will come to Broadway, beginning performances on Friday, February 7 at the Belasco Theatre (111 West 44th Street) with the opening night set for Thursday, March 5.  

Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director/CEO) is thrilled to announce the newest addition to the artistic team: Directing Fellow Cristina Angeles. Angeles is the fourth Roundabout Directing Fellow; this season she will assist on Broadway and Off-Broadway productions, work with the theatre's artistic team as a script reader, and use Roundabout's resources to develop her own projects.

Roundabout Theatre Company has announce the newest addition to its artistic team: Directing Fellow Cristina Angeles. Angeles is the fourth Roundabout Directing Fellow; this season she will assist on Broadway and Off-Broadway productions, work with the theatre's artistic team as a script reader, and use Roundabout's resources to develop her own projects.

The World Premiere of SINK, FLORIDA, SINK. makes a splash at The Public Theater of San Antonio. Written by David L. Kimple this fascinating new production explores where our loyalties lie and how far we are willing to go to stay true to what we know. As well as entertaining, SINK, FLORIDA, SINK. raises thought provoking questions such as the role we play in our community and our commitment to that role. This show also educates about disaster awareness and explores the rationality of those who decide to stay in the place they love despite all odds.

Corkscrew Theater Festival's third annual summer season continues with the world premiere of Sam Silbiger's Six Years Old. Directed by Helen Handelman and running July 13-28, Six Years Old centers on a precocious child's frustrations with being treated as a girl and her journey of self-discovery, aided by her babysitter Kim, to become the person she longs to be: Han Solo.

The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center announces casting and creative teams for the summer season of new musicals and plays selected for development at the National Music Theater Conference and National Playwrights Conference.

Featuring an all Argentinean cast: Valeria Llaneza, Carmen Borla, Natalia Ivana Escobar and Jesica Terry. The play tells the life story of four completely different friends who had been complementing each other for twenty-five years: Katherine, Caroline, Nathalie and Vivian. During one of their regular gatherings, the unexpected happens and their friendship is tested.

Victory Gardens Theater Artistic Director Chay Yew, Executive Director Erica Daniels and Director of New Play Development Skyler Gray announce the lineup for the 2019 IGNITION Festival of New Plays, including The Tasters by Meghan Brown; The Gradient by Steph Del Rosso; [hieroglyph] by Erika Dickerson-Despenza; #NEWSLAVES by Keelay Gipson; Reckoning: Furies from a New Queer Nation by Geraldine Inoa; and They Could Give No Name by Exal Iraheta. The 2019 Festival runs August 2 -4, 2019 at Victory Gardens Theater, located at 2433 N Lincoln Avenue.

The Flea Theater is proud to announce the addition of six new Resident Directors to its intensive practicum for early-career directors. Rebecca Aparicio, Jake Beckhard, Daniella Caggiano, Lauren DeLeon, Will Steinberger, and Raz Golden will join the current group of Resident Directors. 

Acclaimed playwright Luis Alfaro talks to BroadwayWorld about revisiting his 'Oedipus El Rey' currently playing at San Francisco's Magic Theatre, how he forged a path for himself in the theater world, his influences along the way, and the role of artists in creating change.

Normal Ave is proud to announce its 2019-20 season. The season will kick off October 3, 2019 with the world premiere of Of the woman came the beginning of sin and through her we all die by Lily Houghton, directed by Kylie M. Brown. Following will be another world premiere: Indoor Person by Kayla Martine, directed by Andrew Garrett, which begins performances February 19, 2020. The season will finish with The Book of Grace by Suzan-Lori Parks, directed by Shariffa Ali, which returns to New York for the first time since the 2010 run at The Public. The Parks revival begins performances April 23, 2020. Casts and creative teams will be announced at a later date.

For the third consecutive year, The Old Globe will participate in the George L. Stevens Senior Center's annual Juneteenth Celebration by presenting an original work developed through The Old Globe's arts engagement program coLAB: The Ruby in Us, with book and music written by Karen Ann Daniels, Director of the Mobile Unit at New York's Public Theater. Music for the piece was composed by Brandon Cerquedo, and language for the performance was collaboratively evolved in a workshop setting at the Center with the senior community that hosts the annual celebration. Award-winning director Delicia Turner Sonnenberg (Skeleton Crew at the Globe, Globe Classical Directing Fellow) returns to helm this wonderful program alongside lauded jazz musician, musical theatre favorite, and The Ruby in Us music director Leonard Patton.