The Public Theatre News

Milwaukee Repertory Theater announced casting today for Gutenberg! The Musical, the first production in The Rep's 2012/13 season, and The Mountaintop, which opens this September.

Stage and screen star Sanaa Lathan (A Raisin in the Sun, Contagion) returns to the title role in Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage's By the Way, Meet Vera Stark for its West Coast premiere at the Geffen Playhouse. Lathan, who originated the character of Vera Stark in the critically acclaimed New York run, will once again take the stage as the 1930's era maid turned movie star, reunited with original cast member Kimberly Hebert Gregory (Spike Lee's Red Hook Summer) reprising her role as fellow aspiring African American actress Lottie. Broadway vet and Geffen alum Merle Dandridge (Spamalot, Rent, Aida) will take on the spicy role of Anna Mae, who fakes a Brazilian accent for a slice of fame, and former leading lady of ABC's Man Up, Amanda Detmer, will portray Gloria Mitchell, the white starlet dubbed "America's little sweetie pie" and Vera's first employer. Helmed by award-winning director Jo Bonney, the West Coast premiere cast also features Kevin Carroll (Paid in Full, Being John Malkovich), Spencer Garrett (Iron Man 3, Air Force One) and Geffen alum Mather Zickel (Extraordinary Chambers, Rachel Getting Married).

The Lower Depth Theatre Ensemble presents the West Coast premiere of ELMINA'S KITCHEN, written by award-winning playwright Kwame Kwei-Armah, directed by Gregg T. Daniel. This gut-wrenching drama is set in the notorious "Murder Mile" section of London's East End. ELMINA'S KITCHEN examines the bitter clash of values between three generations of black men and its effect on their family and community. The play runs August 11 through September 9. Fridays & Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 4pm. The Lost Studio, 130 S. La Brea, Los Angeles, Calif.

From the brutal double murder in a locked house, to the disappearance of a beautiful young woman, and the dangerous secrets in a stolen letter, these are Detective Dupin's greatest cases.

SOUNDING BECKETT - a singular evening of theater and music that pairs three plays by Samuel Beckett from his 'ghost period' with new works by contemporary composers written expressly in response to those plays - will be presented September 14-23 at the Classic Stage Company (136 E. 13 St.) in Manhattan.

The new musical Foreverman, with book, music, and lyrics by Brett M. Boles, will be presented as an official selection of the New York Musical Theatre Festival's (NYMF's) 2012 Next Link Project, beginning performances tonight, July 20 and running through Sunday, July 28, at the PTC Performance Space, 555 West 42 Street (between Tenth and Eleventh Avenues).

The all-new Australian production of one the most successful American Broadway musicals of all time, A CHORUS LINE will play at Sydney's Capitol Theatre for 21 performances only from tonight, 20 July, 2012. Having played to full houses in Adelaide and Melbourne, this iconic smash hit musical is directed and re-staged by Baayork Lee, one of the original cast members and inspirations from the Tony Award® winning 1975 production. See photos from the show below!

The Community Theatre of Little Rock will present its Summer Musical Production of 'Hairspray". Show dates are tonight, July 13th and July 14th, 20th, 21st, 27th and 28th at 7:30 pm and July 15th, 22nd and 29th at 2pm to be held at The Public Theatre, located at 616 Center Street, next to Horn's Men's Store in downtown Little Rock.

TheatreWorks, the nationally acclaimed theatre of Silicon Valley, launches its 43rd season with the world premiere of UPRIGHT GRAND, a play with live music by acclaimed playwright Laura Schellhardt (Auctioning the Ainsleys). A hit at last year's New Works Festival, this tender and intelligent portrait of the complex relationship between a father and daughter will be helmed by TheatreWorks New Works Director Meredith McDonough. Dan Hiatt will star as aging songwriter "Pops," with Renata Friedman as "Kiddo" and Brett Ryback as "The Accompanist." UPRIGHT GRAND plays tonight, July 11 - August 10, 2011 (press opening July 14) at TheatreWorks at the Lucie Stern Theatre in Palo Alto. For tickets ($24-$73) and information the public may call (650) 463-1960 or visit www.theatreworks.org.

From the brutal double murder in a locked house, to the disappearance of a beautiful young woman, and the dangerous secrets in a stolen letter, these are Detective Dupin's greatest cases.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) and Aron Lewis Productions present He's Not Himself a new musical comedy by Marc Silverberg. Michael Pantone directs a cast of five including Keith Panzarella, Marc Silverberg, Taylor Sorice, Dexter Thomas-Payne, and Carly Voight. Performances for He's Not Himself will be held at the PTC Performance Space, 555 West 42nd Street (bet. 10th & 11th Avenues) in NYC for six performances from tonight, July 9 through Monday, July 16, 2012.

The new musical Foreverman, with book, music, and lyrics by Brett M. Boles, will be presented as an official selection of the New York Musical Theatre Festival's (NYMF's) 2012 Next Link Project, beginning performances Friday, July 20 and running through Sunday, July 28, at the PTC Performance Space, 555 West 42 Street (between Tenth and Eleventh Avenues).