The Public Theater News

ISLE of KLEZBOS, the swinging all-women's klezmer sextet, will celebrate their 20th Anniversary with a special concert Isle of Klezbos: Isle of Manhattan! at Joe's Pub on Today, October 25 at 7:00 PM featuring returning guest artist Natalia Zukerman. The band and spellbinding singer-songwriter - whose father, the classical violinist Pinchas Zukerman, is the son of a Polish-born klezmer player - first melded musical minds earlier this year, exploring poignant Yiddish roots and hidden gems from vintage soundtracks, personal histories, vivid resistance narratives, and soulful sounds of liberation. Spreading joy coast to coast this anniversary year, ISLE of KLEZBOS  latest repertoire also features original klezmer bugalu (boogaloo), lesser-known bawdy traditionals, and luscious retakes on irresistible Eastern European swing and tango. Natalia brings vibrant stories and tunes from her powerful multi-media performance, "The Women Who Rode Away," including lush arrangements with backing Klezbos bandmates. The studio project is scheduled for release later this year. Tickets are available at JoesPub.com HERE.

The Marsh San Francisco presents Irma Herrera's solo show Why Would I Mispronounce My Own Name?, a new work that weaves history and comedic insights into stories about names, shedding light and throwing shade on societal prejudices and assumptions. When giving her name its correct Spanish pronunciation, she often gets the "where are you from?" question. The assumption: that she is a foreigner. Irma's family has been in South Texas for generations, and the award-winning social justice activist, lawyer, and journalist thinks of herself as American as apple pie. Irma's notes from American history and laugh out-loud humor invite audience members to consider what it will take for everyone to get along. Post-show talkbacks, featuring experts in everything from civil liberties to laws related to baby naming, will be offered throughout the run.

Let the bells peal!  Ring in the holidays with a classic tale.  Long Island's newest theatrical venue The Argyle Theatrepresents the musical The Hunchback of Notre Dame, based on the novel by Victor Hugo and songs from the Disney film originally developed by Disney Theatrical Productions, with music by Alan Menkin, lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, and book by Peter Parnell.

Ma-Yi Theater Company - which had a breakout season with the award-winning success of the musical KPOP, and with Mike Lew's newest play TEENAGE DICK (at The Public Theater) - will debut two new American plays by Asian-American playwrights this fall;SESAR by Orlando Pabotoy and THE CHINESE LADY, by Lloyd Suh, will perform in rep October 20 - November 18 at Theatre Row (410 W. 42nd Street).

THE GREEN ROOM 42 in association with THE CIVILIANS, presents Michael Friedman's The State of The Union Songbook to benefit The Civilians 'Michael Friedman Legacy Fund' on Election Night.

Glenn Close is set to receive the prestigious Maltin Modern Master Award at the 34th annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival, the festival announced today.  Close will be honored on Saturday, February 2nd for her longstanding contributions to the film industry, most recently gracing the silver screen in Sony Pictures Classics' The Wife. Leonard Maltin will return for his 28th year to moderate the evening.

Token Theatre, under the leadership of Artistic Director David Rhee and Managing Director Erik Kaiko with Founding Board Members Stephenie Park and Helen Young, is proud to announce the arrival of Token Theatre and its Inaugural Season: Our Town by Thornton Wilder and a New Play by Artistic Director David Rhee.

From creating hand-drawn war maps and hand-carved colonial candlesticks to producing a live flame on stage as Eliza Hamilton burns her husband's letters, Props Master Jay Duckworth is the man behind the magic of Broadway's smash hit Hamilton: An American Musical.

THE BITTER GAME, a 'high-impact' immersive theater experience ripe with pain, poetry, and laughter that explores the experience of being black in America, debuts at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on Wednesday, November 14 through Saturday, November 17, 2018, outdoors on The Wallis' Promenade Terrace. Playwright-actor Keith A. Wallace's multi-character, solo performance in five acts, structured as the four quarters and overtime of a basketball game, tells the story of Jamel Smith, who witnesses a neighborhood act of violence as a child and later must learn to navigate his interactions with police. It speaks to both a personal and universal truth that is 'a sharp reminder of the persuasive powers of live theater,' according to The New York Times, which also described the play as closing the gap between artist and audience, giving the familiar subject an 'unignorable visceral immediacy.' Based on Wallace's youth in Philadelphia, THE BITTER GAME is created, written and performed by Wallace, co-created by Deborah Stein, and directed by Malika Oyetimein.

The Muse Project, in association with The Tank, presents Musings: a collection of Mini Muse presentations at The Flea Theater as a part of their Anchor Partnership. The Muse Project gives women performers the time, space, and opportunity to experiment with and explore their fantasy projects. Musings showcases the paradigm-shifting storytelling that 5 of New York's leading stage actresses have developed through intensive workshops, called Mini Muses.

This week the Broadwaysted crew is thrilled to be sitting down and sharing some laughs and some drinks with an exciting contemporary musical theatre composer, Max Vernon!

After a successful run at NYC's legendary Joe's Pub at The Public Theater, singer, dancer and performer, Migguel Anggelo is returning to the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) on Oct. 19 to present his show, So Close: Love & Hate as part of DIA's Today Night Live! series

THE BITTER GAME,  a 'high-impact' immersive theater experience ripe with pain, poetry, and laughter that explores the experience of being black in America, debuts at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on Wednesday, November 14 through Saturday, November 17, 2018, outdoors on The Wallis' Promenade Terrace.

Freedom to ACT, developed by Ann Rodiger and Belinda Mello, is in its 8th year! This year's conference topic is The Actors Audition: Preparation for Success and will focus on how actors use the Alexander Technique to maintain their presence throughout the audition process. The conference will take place on January 4th-6th, 2019 at Balance Arts Center: 151 West 30th Street, 3rd Floor, New York, NY. Register for the full conference or sign-up for individual workshops.

dick clark productions announced today several spectacular additions to the list of honorees at the 22nd Annual “Hollywood Film Awards.”  Glenn Close will receive the “Hollywood Actress Award” for her stunning performance in Sony Pictures Classic's The Wife, while Hugh Jackman will be recognized for his powerful turn in Sony Pictures' The Front Runner. Damien Chazelle will receive the “Hollywood Director Award” for his work on Universal Pictures' First Man.

The Gish Prize Trust today announced that the inspired Music and Artistic Director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Gustavo Dudamel, has been selected to receive the 25th annual Dorothy and Lillian Gish Prize in recognition of his ongoing achievements as a conductor and an advocate for music education. Established in 1994 through the will of legendary stage and screen actress Lillian Gish, known as the First Lady of Cinema, the Dorothy and Lillian Gish Prize is one of the most prestigious honors given to artists in the United States and bears one of the largest cash awards, currently valued at approximately $250,000.

The Public Theater's Mother of the Maid, written by Emmy Award winner Jane Anderson, officially opened last night, October 17. Directed by Emmy Award nominee Matthew Penn, the riveting new play was initially extended through Sunday, December 2 and has been extended a final three weeks through Sunday, December 23.

The Donmar Warehouse today announces full casting for Lynette Linton's production of Sweat by Lynn Nottage. Casting includes Leanne Best, Patrick Gibson, Osy Ikhile, Wil Johnson, Stuart McQuarrie, Clare Perkins, Martha Plimpton, Sule Rimi and Sebastian Viveros.

The Old Globe will expand San Diego's celebration of the holidays with a world premiere American musical about family, faith, and the magic of Christmas. The Globe is delighted to announce the complete cast and creative team for Looking for Christmas, the new Clint Black Christmas musical, inspired by the country music legend's 1995 chart-topping holiday album. With music and lyrics by Clint Black, book by James D. Sasser with Black, based on an idea by Sasser and Black, music supervision and music direction by Matt Hinkley, and directed by Kent Nicholson, Looking for Christmas will run November 11 - December 16, 2018 in the Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre, part of the Conrad Prebys Theatre Center. Tickets start at $39.00 and are on sale to the general public now. Previews run November 11-19. Opening night is Tuesday, November 20 at 8:00 p.m.

The 2019 MFA Playwriting students at Brooklyn College - Tanya Everett, Eri Nox, Arika Larson and Cherry Lou Sy - will be presenting readings of their full-length plays. All shows will be at The Tank on Wednesdays and Fridays at 3 pm.