The Public Theatre News

Undercover Productions LLC will present the Off-Broadway Premiere of Ethel Sings, by Joan Beber beginning performances at Theatre Row's Beckett Theatre (410 West 42nd Street, between 9th and 10th Avenues) on May 31st, with Opening Night set for Friday June 6th. This limited engagement will continue through July 13th.

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 for the Off Broadway play on May 15th and the Opening is Monday, May 19th at 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 (head of lighting 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.

Let's see what the critics had to say...

Spring is finally here and it's time for Moonlight and Magnolias, the fun, farcical, and somewhat true behind-the-scenes look at the creation of the screenplay for Gone With the Wind, now playing at The Public Theatre, today, May 2 - 11.

The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey's 52nd Season opens with The Tempest, Shakespeare's final great work. Performances begin May 28th and continue through June 22nd at the F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre, 36 Madison Ave. (at Lancaster Road) in Madison. Individual tickets are now on sale and can be purchased by calling the Box Office at 973-408-5600 or by visiting www.ShakespeareNJ.org. Performances are Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Sundays at 7:30 p.m.; Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m.; and Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. Individual tickets range from $15 to $75.

Red Bull Theater has announced the Sixth Annual RUNNING OF THE RED BULLS BENEFIT on Monday June 2nd, at 6pm, celebrating their 10th Anniversary and honoring Juliet Rylance, ART/New York, and Olympia Dukakis with the 2014 Matador Awards For Excellence In Classical Theater

Cape May Stage presents the New Jersey premiere of The Mountaintop, Katori Hall's fantastical take on the last night of Martin Luther King Jr.'s life. In this winner of the Olivier Award for Best New Play, Hall daringly tackles the challenge of depicting a legend with a lasting legacy and showing him for what he truly was - a mere man. It is a powerfully vulnerable portrait of King; he is stripped down and exposed in all his flaws, more human than ever.

Alley Theatre Artistic Director Gregory Boyd announces the cast and creative team for recent Tony Award-winning comedy Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike. Appearing in titles roles are 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.

On Monday, April 21 Shrunken Shakespeare Company held their 2014 Fundraiser Gala at New York's TGB Theatre. The gala featured actor Paul Sorvino's 'Lear' Adaptation. Scroll down to see some photos from the event!

On 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.

Spring is finally here and it's time for Moonlight and Magnolias, the fun, farcical, and somewhat true behind-the-scenes look at the creation of the screenplay for Gone With the Wind, now playing at The Public Theatre, May 2 - 11.

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 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.

Spring is finally here and it's time for Moonlight and Magnolias, the fun, farcical, and somewhat true behind-the-scenes look at the creation of the screenplay for Gone With the Wind, now playing at The Public Theatre, May 2 - 11.

Amas Musical Theatre and The Amas Musical Theatre Lab will present free staged readings of "Cookin! - A Taste of Things to Come," a new musical by Debra Barsha and Hollye Levin, with musical direction by Gillian Berkowitz. Directed by Tony Award nominee Lynne Taylor-Corbett (Swing!), the readings will be held on Monday, May 12th at 1pm & 4pm and Tuesday, May 13th at 4pm at St. Luke's Theatre.

'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 on Tuesday, 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.

The Dorset Theatre Festival and Perfect Wife have combined forces to present the up and coming singer/songwriter Caroline Rose on April 25th at The Perfect Wife Restaurant in Manchester in an event that will raise funds for the DTF Giving Back Programs. Each year, the Dorset Theatre Festival underwrites free tickets to the following community groups: Firefighters, Police, EMS Workers, Local Farmers, Military and their families, the Refuse to Use graduates, Special Needs Community and, new this year. Habitat For Humanity volunteers.

LANCE HORNE - the Emmy Award winning composer, musician, vocalist and producer - will headline a special concert evening at Rockwood Table & Stage in Los Angeles tonight, April 15 at 8:00 PM with guest artists Ricki Lake, Julie Garnye and Lisa Ann Walter, with special surprise stars. They will perform songs from his acclaimed CD First Things Last in addition to a special preview of The Night Before My Wedding, Horne's upcoming collaboration with Neil Gaiman.

A staged reading of new play Buena Vista will be offered as part of Profile Theatre's 'In Dialogue Staged Reading Series' of new and contemporary plays in conversation with Sam Shepard's body of work. Buena Vista was developed and premiered at Steppenwolf Theatre Company and will continue to be refined while at Profile.

LANCE HORNE - the Emmy Award winning composer, musician, vocalist and producer - will headline a special concert evening at Rockwell Table & Stage in Los Angeles on Tuesday, April 15 at 8:00 PM. Special guests Ashley Fink ('Glee'), Shane Jenek (Courtney Act from 'RuPaul's Drag Race') and Adam Kantor (The Last Five Years) have joined the evening, in adition to previously announced Ricki Lake, Julie Garnye (Les Miserables at the Hollywood Bowl) and Lisa Ann Walter (The Parent Trap) with special surprise stars. They will perform songs from his acclaimed CD First Things Last in addition to a special preview of The Night Before My Wedding, Horne's upcoming collaboration with Neil Gaiman. Lance's March 31 evening at Birdland Jazz Club in New York featred Alan Cumming, Rachel Dratch, Stephen Wallem, Alice Ripley and more. He recently contributed a movement to Tyler's Suite, a choral song-cycle dedicated to Tyler Clementi, the 18-year-old Rutgers University student that took his life three years ago. The piece, which also includes contributions from Stephen Schwartz, Ann Hampton Callaway and Craig Carnelia, was premiered by the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus in March. Rockwell Table & Stage is located at 1714 Vermont Avenue in Los Angeles, CA.. Tickets are $20 with a two drink minimum. Visit Rockwell-LA.com for more information.

Shrunken Shakespeare Company (SSC), in association with Joe Paradise, announced today that Nigerian-born Royal Shakespeare Company associate artist Chukwudi Iwuji (The Public/RSC: Anthony and Cleopatra; London Old Vic/BAM: Richard III with Kevin Spacey) has joined the cast of Paul Sorvino's world premiere adaption of Lear as part of their 2014 Fundraiser Gala, including Broadway, Off-Broadway and TV veterans. The Gala will be held on Monday, April 21st at 7:30pm, at TBG Theatre located at 312 W 36th Street, 3rd Floor in NYC.