The Public Theatre News

'NCIS: Los Angeles' star and Broadway veteran Barrett Foa (Mamma Mia!, Avenue Q, ...Spelling Bee) will begin performances as Alex More in the smash hit comedy Buyer & Cellar tonight, May 27, 2014 at the Barrow Street Theatre (27 Barrow Street). For the past five seasons, Barrett Foa has co-starred opposite LL Cool J and Chris O'Donnell as tech geek Eric Beale on CBS' top-rated hit series 'NCIS: Los Angeles' which is currently the #2 show on television.

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 a first look at 'Just Jim Dale,' the Stars in the Alley concert, the cast of 'Submissions Only' at 54 Below, and more!

Tony Award-winning comedy Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike will feature Resident Actor Jeffrey Bean as Vanya, Sharon Lockwood returning to the Alley as Sonia, Alley Artist Josie de Guzman returning as Masha, and Resident Actor Jay Sullivan as Spike. Rounding out the cast and making their Alley debuts are Rachael Holmes as Cassandra and Sarah Nealis as Nina. Jonathan Moscone, Artistic Director of California Shakespeare Theater, helms the production and returns after having directed the Alley's 2011 production of Amadeus.

Steppenwolf for Young Adults (SYA) has announced its 2014/15 season: George Orwell's Animal Farm, adapted for the stage by Althos Low, directed by SYA Artistic and Educational Director Hallie Gordon; and the world premiere of This Is Modern Art by Kevin Coval and Idris Goodwin, directed by Lisa Portes.

Casting has been announced for the National Theatre production of THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME

Word for Word presents '36 Stories by Sam Shepard' arranged for the stage and directed by Amy Kossow opening with a press night on Saturday May 24 8pm, running through June 22 (previews May 21-23) at Z Space's second venue, Z Below, at 470 Florida Street. Last year the Magic Theatre spearheaded a multi-theater celebration of Shepard's 70th birthday when they opened their season with Shepard's Pulitzer Prize-winning 'Buried Child.' Other companies participating in the celebration have been Crowded Fire, American Conservatory Theater in collaboration with Intersection for the Arts/Campo Santo and Word for Word.

Upcoming Equity Auditions from Sunday, May 18, 2014.

The Vertical Company presents "O Walter, My Walter" by Elena Zucker at The Celebration of Whimsy Theatre (the former Living Theatre home). 21-A Cinton Street, NYC. Previews for the Off Broadway play continue through tonight, May 15th and the Opening is Monday, May 19th at 8:00 pm for the limited engagement.

Beth Malone, a Parker native, has been selected for the coveted title role in the 'refreshed' launch of the famous Broadway musical, THE UNSINKABLE MOLLY BROWN, beginning at the Denver Center Theatre Company (DCTC) on Sept. 12. The staging is helmed by three-time Tony winner Kathleen Marshall and written by three-time Tony nominee Dick Scanlan.

Local playwright and actor Jason Lindner tells the story of a deteriorating former Manhattan Project physicist who has discovered that radioactive material can be extruded from his memory. Visits from his colorful colleagues and lost love will determine his fate and perhaps the fate of us all. The Half-Life of Memory, produced by Cold Basement Dramatics in association with the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events and directed by Co-Artistic Director Sophie Blumberg, will run from June 4 through June 29 at the Storefront Theater (66 E Randolph St) in The Loop.

Tonight, May 13, Goodman Theatre celebrates the life and creative contributions of Robert (Bob) Christen, its longtime Resident Lighting Designer and one of the most prolific live performance designers in the country, who passed away last month at age 64.

The Vertical Company presents "O Walter, My Walter" by Elena Zucker at The Celebration of Whimsy Theatre (the former Living Theatre home). 21-A Cinton Street, NYC. Previews begin this week for the Off Broadway play on Thursday, May 15th and the Opening is Monday, May 19that 8:00 pm for the limited engagement. Set Design is by Simon Harding, (who recently did the set design for 3LD's amazing Tyson/Ali). The Lighting Design by Zach Murphy (Lighting supervisor at The Public Theatre). The award-winning play is directed by the playwright. This production features some of New York City's most talented physical theater actors: Andrew Baldwin, Richard Crawford, Mischa Ipp, Scott Janes, Timur Kocak, Jenny Lee Mitchell, Vicki Oceguera, Michael Villastrego, William Webber.

Lewiston's Public Theatre ended its 2013-2014 season with Ron Hutchinson's slapstick sendup about the script writing of Gone with the Wind, Moonlight and Magnolias. Premiered in 2004, the play imagines the tense week in which the legendary producer, David O. Selznick, effectively kidnaps his new writer, newsman Ben Hecht, and director, Victor Fleming, demanding that the trio rewrite and rescue his floundering epic picture. The ensuing antics in this broad and boisterous comedy are wild and frenzied - almost a Three Stooges routine with barely a moment to catch a breath.

Philadelphia Theatre Company is pleased to announce Martin Zimmerman as the recipient of the third Terrence McNally New Play Award for the development of his play Let Me Count The Ways. The Terrence McNally New Play Award is a cash prize given annually to recognize a new play that celebrates the transformative power of art. The Award will also include a year of development support at PTC, including readings as well as administrative support and networking to help manage the future of the play beyond its time at PTC.

The Group Rep presents the world premiere musical 'The Ghost of Gershwin,' with music by Wayland Pickard, book by Doug Haverty, lyrics by Laura Manning, directed by Jules Aaron, choreographed by Michele Bernath, and produced by Richard Alan Woody. The play runs today, May 9 through June 22, 2014, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 2pm at the Lonny Chapman Theatre at the edge of the NoHo Arts District.

Connecticut Repertory Theatre (CRT) announces the complete cast for its production of Neil Simon's THE SUNSHINE BOYS, the second show of its three-show Summer Nutmeg Summer Series onstage June 14-29 in the Harriet S. Jorgensen Theater, Storrs.

Kathleen Tolan ("Memory House") has granted the side project the world premiere rights to her exploration of memory, history and music, What to Listen For, opening June 3, 2014. The company will also present the Midwest premiere of Washington State-based playwright/performer Kristen Kosmas' Hello Failure, commencing June 15, as it continues its 2013-14 season of repertory plays. Overall, the June Rep, featuring two of America's most fascinating female playwrights, will explore themes of loss and the search for lasting connections.

Director Alex Timbers has confirmed that Here Lies Love, the musical based on David Byrne and Fatboy Slim's 2010 concept album, will be opening in London at the National's Dorfman Theatre in October. The show tells the story of Filipina First Lady Imelda Marcos' rise to power and subsequent descent into infamy and disgrace at the end of the People Power Revolution. It originally opened in April 2013 at the Public Theatre in New York City, and was extended by popular demand on four occasions.

The sixteenth annual Otto Rene Castillo Awards for Political Theatre (executive producer, Diane Stiles) will be held on Sunday, May 18, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. at the Castillo Theatre (artistic director, Dan Friedman).

The sun is finally shining and it's time for a fun family day at The Public Theatre, as we present the Crabgrass Puppet Theatre's wonderfully imaginative The Pirate, the Princess and the Pea, Sunday, May 18 at 2:00PM. This story will thrill children of all ages as we set off on an amazing voyage chock full of sea monsters, surprises and side-splitting excitement!