The Public Theatre News

Maestro Luke Frazier and The American Pops Orchestra - Washington, DC's innovative hometown orchestra - will open their all-star 2016-2017 season with I'll Be Seeing You: A World War II Love Story on Veterans Day, tonight, November 11 at 8:00 PM.

Mile Square Theatre, Hudson County's leading professional theatre, presents the holiday favorite It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play.

Rehearsals are underway for the Steppenwolf-commissioned world premiere production of Erika Sheffer's The Fundamentals, directed by ensemble member Yasen Peyankov, who also directed Sheffer's Russian Transport at Steppenwolf in 2014.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company announced today the complete cast for Erika Sheffer's The Fundamentals, a smart and searing look at America's corporate culture through the story of a Manhattan hotel maid with higher aspirations.

During World War II, nearly 120,000 Japanese-Americans, including over 200 Alaskans, were ordered to internment camps in the name of "national security." Gordon Hirabayashi was one of only three people who attempted to defy the order on legal grounds. Hold These Truths is his story. It's a play about one man who stood up to power and discrimination in the middle of a worldwide conflict. Gordon persevered, bringing his fight to the U.S. Supreme Court twice, and in 2012 was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Perseverance Theatre is honored to be collaborating with a team that includes a Japanese scenic designer, and Japanese-American actor, director, and playwright to produce this story in Alaska.

On Sunday, October 30, 2016, Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation (SDC Foundation), the not-for-profit foundation of Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC), presented the 2016 Zelda Fichandler Award to Lisa Portes of Chicago, IL. Scroll down for photos!

Today, BWW participated in a media conference call with HAIRSPRAY composer/co-lyricist Marc Shaiman and co-lyricist Scott Wittman who answered questions and shared the latest developments on NBC's highly anticipated broadcast of HAIRSPRAY LIVE!

For the upcoming holiday season, 4th Wall Theatre Company (formerly Stark Naked Theatre Company) brings love and laughter to Houston audiences with Shakespeare's beloved romantic comedy, Much Ado About Nothing.  Widely considered to be one of Shakespeare's best comedies, Much Ado is a delightfully hilarious and witty tale of love, friendship and intrigue.  Appropriate for all ages, this not-to-be-missed holiday treat opens on December 1st and runs through Christmas Eve.

Today's subject is living her theatre life from a very important vantage point; the audience. Let's face it, without audience members there would be no reason to do what we do.

Cornelia Street Cafe welcomes award-winning writer/performer, Tulis McCall, for three special performances of her one-person show, Are You Serious? - A Woman of a Certain Age Inquires. This funny, poignant and gently in-your-face rumination on arriving at the inevitable and being unprepared will be performed on Sundays, November 6th and 13th at 3:00pm (Doors open at 2pm for drinks and brunch) and Sunday, November 27th at 6:00pm (doors open at 5:45pm for drinks and dinner).

The Ziegfeld Society of New York City presents the second show of its Eighth Season on October 29th, 2016 with CALL MY PUBLICIST! - THE STARRY EDUCATION OF A BROADWAY PRESS AGENT. Billed as "An Insider's View of the Theatre's Glamour and Folly," the autobiographical play with music is written and performed by Josh Ellis, directed by Gretchen Cryer, with musical direction and arrangements by Mark York, on Today, October 29th.

Steppenwolf continues its 41st season with the Chicago premiere of Lucas Hnath's The Christians directed by ensemble member K. Todd Freeman.

Ghostlight Records will release the original cast recording of the musical The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz online and in stores on Friday, December 2, 2016.

Based on the 2006 graphic memoir by Alison Bechdel, Fun Home tells the true story of Bechdel discovering her own sexuality, her relationship with her gay father, and her attempts to unlock the mysteries surrounding his life.

4th Wall Theatre Company (formerly Stark Naked Theatre Company) is excited to announce its First Annual Up Close Cocktails Benefit, hosted by Trish Rigdon, Chair of Media Arts at The Art Institute of Houston. The Up Close Cocktails Benefit is Wednesday, November 9th from 6-8pm. We're transforming our theatre at Spring Street Studios, for an elegant cocktail night celebrating 4th Wall's bright future and the awesome generosity of our patrons. Patrons will enjoy live music and beer provided by Karbach Brewery, wine from Nice Winery,  hor d'oeuvres provided by Shade Restaurant and valet parking service available.  Join us to meet new friends and reconnect with old friends while making a difference in the lives of Houston performing artists. Your participation will make a big difference at this first must-attend event.

New Freedom Theatre is pleased to announce the appointment of Rajendra Ramoon Maharaj as its new Artistic Director.  Maharaj, who had served as Guest Artistic Director last season, is only the fourth full-time artistic director in the company's fifty year history, following foundr John E. Allen, Jr., Robert E. Leslie and Walter Dallas.

Molasses in January is a fun, new musical for all ages! Book, lyrics, and music by Francine Pellegrino, the recently workshopped show is being transferred to The Davenport Theatre Off Broadway. Director Whitney Stone will be returning to the production after directing it's two developmental workshops last fall at the Times Square Arts Center. Only two performances of the production remain: October 25th, and November 1st.

For nearly two years, all theatre lovers the world over, whether they'd seen the show or not, have understood that Hamilton is a deeply affecting, intelligently written, and surprisingly personal musical. Now, for fans who have seen Lin-Manuel Miranda's masterpiece, and for those who know it only through the cast recording, television appearances, and 'Hamilton: The Revolution,' PBS's GREAT PERFORMANCES has delivered a documentary that is as affecting, intelligent, and personal as its subject.

The Ziegfeld Society of New York City presents the second show of its Eighth Season on Saturday, October 29, 2016 at 3:30pm CALL MY PUBLICIST! - THE STARRY EDUCATION OF A BROADWAY PRESS AGENT. Billed as "An Insider's View of the Theatre's Glamour and Folly," at Lang Recital Hall, Hunter College, 107 East 69th Street, (bet Park & Lexington Ave).  The autobiographical play with music is written and performed by Joshua Ellis, with direction by Gretchen Cryer, with musical direction and arrangements by Mark York. 

CASA 0101 Theater, Josefina Lopez, Artistic Director and the newly formed production company, Angel City Theater Ensemble (ACTE), Vance Valencia, Founder, will present the Los Angeles Premiere of the critically acclaimed play, MARIELA IN THE DESERT, written by Karen Zacarias, directed by Robert Beltran (Star Trek:  Voyager; Zoot Suit; Eating Raoul).  The production will be presented for a five-week run on the theater's Main Stage located at 2102 East First Street (at St. Louis Street), Boyle Heights, CA  90033 on Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. and on Sundays at 5:00 p.m., November 4 - December 11, 2016.  There will be no performances on Thanksgiving Weekend, November 25th, 26th and 27th.