The Public Theatre News

David Byrne and Fatboy Slim's immersive musical HERE LIES LOVE, which has returned to The Public Theatre (425 Lafayette St.), after enjoying four extended runs last year, recently staged a special performance for predominantly Filipino audiences--another special performance is set October, in celebration of Filipino American History Month.

Solo Theatre Lovers Unite! Starting in October, The Public Theatre, Lewiston/Auburn's Professional Theatre will launch its exciting new PLAY PAL program. The Public Theatre's PLAY PAL program is for people who love to go to the theatre, but often find themselves having no one to go with. Who needs a date when there are other solo theatre-lovers waiting for you at The Public Theatre? The Public Theatre's PLAY PAL program will connect solo theatre-goers with other solo theatre-lovers when they attend a 3pm Saturday matinee performance.

The UK and New York casts of Here Lies Love, the David Byrne/Fatboy Slim musical at the Public Theatre, challenged each other to the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. The London cast, currently in rehearsal, welcomed Mr. Byrne in their video. Check them out below!

Here Lies Love, the David Byrne/Fatboy Slim musical at the Public Theatre played host to a very special guest over the weekend. Travelling from Washington, DC, Jose L. Cuisia, Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. and his wife, Maria Victoria caught the hit show about the life and times of Imelda Marcos and raved about it to the cast backstage after the performance.

Daryl Roth (Kinky Boots, The Normal Heart) and Karyl Lynn Burns (The Best is Yet to Come) present the New York premiere of Wiesenthal, the award-winning play written by and starring Tom Dugan and directed by Jenny Sullivan. Wiesenthal begins performances October 24 at the Acorn Theatre at Theatre Row, (410 W. 42nd Street). Opening night is November 5.

In 1985, Larry Kramer's play 'The Normal Heart' debuted at The Public Theatre, and sent shockwaves through the theatrical community. The play was a current, powerful look at the quick-spread of the AIDS epidemic that was raviging the gay community in New York. In The New York Times, theatre critic Frank Rich said of the initial production, 'There can be little doubt that 'The Normal Heart' is the most outspoken play around - or that it speaks up about a subject that justifies its author's unflagging, at times even hysterical, sense of urgency.'

A great, big Broadway season is on its way, with fourteen productions already slated to open in the next few months. With weeks until the craziness begins, there is still plenty of time to catch up on what's been going on at Broadway's already occupied theaters. BroadwayWorld will be profiling the hits of the Great White Way that continue to draw crowds after months, years, and (in some cases) decades. Meet the current cast of Broadway's MOTOWN below!

Summer Friday performances at 'Here Lies Love' at the Public Theatre always brings out some special VIP's and last week was no exception. Catching the hit David Byrne/Fatboy Slim musical were Joel Grey, Dule Hill, Rachel York and MSNBC's Thomas Roberts all getting together with the cast for some post show celebrating. Check out a look back below!

Real Housewives of New York star Countess Luann de Lesseps was on the town catching the David Byrne/Fatboy Slim hit musical Here Lies Love at the Public Theatre . She loved the show and was dancing along with the audience and leading the standing ovation at curtain call. Backstage after the show she met the cast, most of whom are her fans and fans of the Bravo reality series. Check out a look back at her visit below!

The September broadcasts of The New York Philharmonic This Week - the weekly radio series of concerts and recordings by the New York Philharmonic, hosted by Alec Baldwin - begins with Music Director Alan Gilbert launching the Philharmonic's 2014 Bravo! Vail residency with Nielsen's Maskarade Overture; Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 3, with the 2013-14 Mary and James G. Wallach Artist-in-Residence Yefim Bronfman as soloist; selections from Grieg's Peer Gynt; and Liszt's Les Preludes. The second week, Alan Gilbert conducts the Orchestra in a performance of R. Strauss's Don Juan and Till Eulenspiegel's Merry Pranks; The Marie-Josee Kravis Composer-in-Residence Christopher Rouse's Oboe Concerto, with Principal Oboe Liang Wang as soloist; and Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet, Overture-Fantasy. The following week, Bramwell Tovey conducts the New York Philharmonic at Bravo! Vail in Copland's Fanfare for the Common Man; Gershwin's "Strike Up the Band" from Strike Up the Band; Copland's Clarinet Concerto, with Associate Principal Clarinet Mark Nuccio as soloist; and Grofe's Grand Canyon Suite. In the final week of September, Music Director Alan Gilbert conducts the New York Philharmonic in a program of Mozart's final three symphonies - Nos. 39, 40, and 41, Jupiter -recorded in November 2013.

The Broadway Experience returned for a seventh summer program at Manhattan Movement & Arts Center from July 28th - August 10th. With over 20 professional educators from the Broadway community, TBE offered over 75 classes, workshops, lectures, a performance based second week and invited Jonathan Groff as guest speaker. Jonathan spoke about his life on and off the stage, and took the time to answer questions and offer advice and inspiration. He was even kind enough to give an impromptu performance from Disney's recent hit film, Frozen.

Upcoming Equity Auditions from Sunday, August 10, 2014.

DRAGON'S BREATH premieres at the 18th Annual New York International Fringe Festival today, August 9th.

Whether you've been living under a rock for the past week or you're just in the mood for a recap, BroadwayWorld's 'this week in pictures' is here to satisfy your end-of-the-week fix! Take a look below to catch up on the latest happenings from the Great White Way to The West End (and everywhere in between) with coverage of press events, rehearsals, opening nights and more. Highlights this week include The Public Theatre's KING LEAR, Constantine Maroulis' return to ROCK OF AGES, the opening of the Off-Broadway production of PHOENIX, and more!

Producing Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside and American Blues Theater, Chicago's second oldest Equity ensemble, are proud to announce the extension of American Blues Theater's Hank Williams: Lost Highway, by Randal Myler and Mark Harelik, directed by Damon Kiely, music director Malcolm Ruhl and starring Matthew Brumlow as "Hank Williams," through Sunday, September 28, at the Greenhouse Theater Center's Downstage Mainstage Theater, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave.

Nick Gehlfuss (Shameless, The Newsroom), Shawn Hatosy (Southland, Reckless), Amber Tamblyn (Joan of Arcadia, Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants) and Alicia Witt (Justified, 88 Minutes) are cast in the Geffen Playhouse production of Reasons to Be Pretty, nominated for the Tony Award for Best Play (2009). Helmed by Geffen Playhouse Artistic Director Randall Arney, Reasons to Be Pretty will be performed in the Gil Cates Theater through August 31 with an opening night of tonight, August 6.

DRAGON'S BREATH premieres at the 18th Annual New York International Fringe Festival on August 9th. Playwright, Michael C. O'Day makes his writing debut with this production. As an actor, he has appeared at the Public Theatre, Classical Theatre of Harlem, and the Paper Mill Playhouse, among other venues - most recently Judson Arts in the acclaimed revival of The Bonus Army. DRAGON'S BREATH is directed by Mikaela Kafka, known for her directing work with Centenary Stage and NJ Dramatists.

Upcoming Equity Auditions from Sunday, August 3, 2014.

square product theatre kicks off its 9th Season with the World Premiere of SLAB, adapted by Gleason Bauer and Emily K. Harrison from the forthcoming novel by Mississippi born, Denver-based writer Selah Saterstrom. SLAB will be presented in the ATLAS Black Box theater on the University of Colorado Boulder campus, today, July 31-August 16, 2014.

Nick Gehlfuss (Shameless, The Newsroom), Shawn Hatosy (Southland, Reckless), Amber Tamblyn (Joan of Arcadia, Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants) and Alicia Witt (Justified, 88 Minutes) are cast in the Geffen Playhouse production of Reasons to Be Pretty, nominated for the Tony Award for Best Play (2009). Helmed by Geffen Playhouse Artistic Director Randall Arney, Reasons to Be Pretty will be performed in the Gil Cates Theater today, July 29 to August 31 with an opening night of August 6.