The Public Theatre News

Here they go again! Additional casting has been announced for the Hollywood Bowl's upcoming production of Mamma Mia!, Friday, July 28, at 8 PM, Saturday, July 29, at 8 PM and Sunday, July 30, at 7:30 PM. The new cast members are Corbin Bleu as Sky, Dove Cameron as Sophie, Lea DeLaria as Rosie, and Jennifer Nettles as Donna. The production also stars previously announced Jamie Camil as Sam.

Casting is announced today for the UK premiere of Hir, written by Taylor Mac (24-Decade History of Popular Music) and directed by Nadia Fall (Disgraced). Arthur Darvill (Doctor Who, Broadchurch, Once) will play Isaac, Griffyn Gilligan (Teddy Ferrara) plays younger sibling Max, Ashley McGuire (Shopping and F***ing, The Suicide) will play their mom Paige and Andy Williams (The 39 Steps, War Horse) plays her husband Arnold.

The Connecticut premiere of Trav'lin - The 1930s Harlem Musical opens this weekend at Waterbury's Seven Angels Theatre, following productions at Houston's Ensemble Theatre and Fort Worth's Jubilee Theatre, and development in Washington, D.C. and New York City, including a sold-out run at the New York Musical Festival (NYMF).  Performances being Thursday, May 11, Official Opening is Saturday, May 13, and the show runs through Sunday, June 11, 2017.

Following productions at Houston's Ensemble Theatre and Fort Worth's Jubilee Theatre, and development in New York City and Washington, D.C., including a sold-out run at the New York Musical Festival (NYMF), Trav'lin - The 1930s Harlem Musical receives its Connecticut Premiere at Waterbury's Seven Angels Theatre, beginning Thursday, May 11, 2017. Opening Night is Saturday, May 13, and the show runs through Sunday, June 11, 2017.

This gritty, gripping, and shockingly funny world premiere tosses audiences into a revolutionary Philadelphia court designed by a passionate group of women. Every day these lawyers, judges, parole officers and staff members work to transform the lives of women repeatedly convicted for prostitution. In her daring and vital new play Project Dawn, playwright Karen Hartman probes the thin lines between freedom and slavery, activism and obsession, for women on both sides of the law. Inspired by Hartman's extensive, first-hand research inside Philly's real-life court system, and cast with seven actresses who play multiple characters, this production represents the first world premiere to emerge from the acclaimed New Play Frontiers Residency & Commission program at People's Light. People's Light is located at 39 Conestoga Road, Malvern, PA 19355. For tickets, call 610.644.3500 or visit peopleslight.org. This production is sponsored by PECO, and supported by grants from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts.

The National Theatre will mark the 50th anniversary of the partial decriminalisation of homosexuality in England and Wales by staging its first Queer Theatre event series from 6th - 10th July 2017.

Andrew Lloyd Webber's Olivier award-winning production of School of Rock - The Musical today announces that Gary Trainor, having played the role of alternate Dewey since the show's London premiere, will lead the cast as Dewey Finn from 17 May 2017, with Stephen Leask joining the cast as the alternate Dewey.

The American Theatre Wing nominated two plays commissioned by the Oregon Shakespeare Festival for 2017 Tony Awards today, including Best Play. Commissioned through OSF's American Revolutions: The United States History Cycle, Sweat by Lynn Nottage and Indecent by Paula Vogel each received three nominations.

Native Voices at the Autry, America's leading Native American theatre company, presents its 23rd Annual Festival of New Plays at the Autry Museum of the American West and La Jolla Playhouse. The festival features staged readings of new and in-progress plays by Native writers followed by talkbacks in which each audience member becomes an important part of the collaborative process. These new works explore questions of solidarity and community, spirituality and culture, environment and economic success, and the often contentious relationships that emerge. 

Jadelake Productions presents the world premiere of F*CK TINDER: a love story, Written & Performed by David Rodwin at the Hollywood Fringe Festival. The show runs June 8, 9, 11, 21 and 22 at Sacred Fools Theatre, Second Stage (6320 Santa Monica Blvd. Hollywood, CA 90038) Tix: http://hff14.org/4634

Earlier this morning, Laura Benanti (She Loves Me, Gypsy) and Javier Muñoz (Hamilton, In the Heights) announced the nominations for the 62nd Annual Drama Desk Awards.

Interrupting Vanessa is a very sweet compact play; it is slow, compassionate, and very concise. It does not pander to its audience, and is not superfluous in its story telling. It is beautifully paced and allows for audiences of different ages to enjoy it. The message of holding on, and moving on, is gentle and very organic in its writing. Adults experience a very different play than the children do. It is such a joy to be part of telling this story.

Taylor Mac will perform A 24-Decade History of Popular Music, the singular artist's 24-hour performance art concert, in its entirety in San Francisco and Los Angeles.

We have a first look at the CST production of SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE! Check out the video below!

The Cleveland Orchestra and Music Director Franz Welser-Möst announce further details of their new production of Debussy's Pelléas and Mélisande, including the complete three-part series of behind-the-scenes production videos.  The impressionistic French opera, with its luminous and hypnotic score, is being presented at Severance Hall May 2, 4, and 6, 2017.  The creative team for this brand-new, made-for-Cleveland production is being led by Director Yuval Sharon working with Set Designer Mimi Lien, Lighting and Projection Designer Jason Thompson, Choreographer Danielle Agami, and Costume Designer Ann Closs-Farley.

The 29th Street Playwrights Collective has announced full casting of the Shakespeare-inspired LADY CAPULET, a prequel to Romeo and Juliet, which will be presented as a staged reading as part of their New Works Series on Monday, May 1, at 7pm, at the Bernie Wohl Center.

AEA President Kate Shindle is currently starring in the national tour of the Tony Award-winning Best Musical, FUN HOME. She took a moment from her cross-country drive to chat with BroadwayWorld.

Join 4th Wall Theatre for the Houston premiere of Lobby Hero, written by acclaimed playwright and Manchester by the Sea's Academy Award-winning director/screenwriter, Kenneth Lonergan. 

As Hello, Dolly! returns to Broadway, The Wilder Family and Samuel French present        a conversation on staging Thornton Wilder's works with directors Abigail Adams (Peoples Light), Theater For A New Audience's Arin Arbus, the Geva Theater's Mark Cuddy, and Columbia University's         Gregory Mosher.

MYCARL PRODUCTIONS, in association with KAMPFIRE FILMS and FRIGID New York @ Horse Trade, is pleased to present the once monthly comedy performance of No, I'M the Worst!!!, created and hosted by Kevin R. Free.