The Public Theatre News

Stage and screen stars Brooke Shields and Richard Chamberlain will take on the iconic roles of Chris MacNeil and Father Merrin in playwright John Pielmeier's world premiere of The Exorcist at the Geffen Playhouse. Helmed by acclaimed director John Doyle, who won a Tony Award for his striking reimagining of Sweeney Todd, this stage adaptation of William Peter Blatty's famous 1971 novel transforms the unsettling battles of good versus evil, faith versus fact and ego versus ethos into a uniquely theatrical experience as sophisticated as it is suspenseful.

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 Monday, July 9 through Monday, July 16, 2012.

The Attic Theater Company will present a limited run of Erica Lipez's (story editor for Suits on USA) play The Tutors. The production will be directed by Drama League Directors Project Alumnus Laura Braza, and performances are May 18th-26thh at The Access Theater.

The all-new Australian production of one the most successful American Broadway musicals of all time, A CHORUS LINE is currently playing in Singapore at Marina Bay Sands, and will play at Sydney's Capitol Theatre for 21 performances only beginning 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 below for a behind-the-scenes video of A CHORUS LINE's cast and creative team.

Rumours that The Public Theatre's production of INTO THE WOODS will transfer to Broadway have been fueled once more by The New York Post, which reports that extentions to Donna Murphy, Amy Adams and the rest of the cast's contracts are being negotiated.

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 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 Public Theater is presenting the world premiere of February House, with music and lyrics by Gabriel Kahane and book by Seth Bockley, beginning today, May 8th in The Public's Martinson Theater, and running through June 10th. Three stars of the show - composer and lyricist Gabriel Kahane, actress Kacie Sheik, and actor Julian Fleisher have all been tapped by Joe's Pub at The Public Theater for solo performances this June.

The loons have begun their pre-summer song at the Public Theatre in Lewiston, Maine as Ernest Thompson's dramedy, On Golden Pond, takes the stage starring theatre, film and TV actors (and real life couple), Mike Genovese and Ellen Crawford.

The Public Theater (Oskar Eustis, Artistic Director; Patrick Willingham, Executive Director) will continue the 2011-2012 Public Forum season tonight, May 7, with THE CULTURE CAPITAL: IS NEW YORK CITY STILL A HOME FOR ARTISTS?

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater produces the 2011 Tony Award-winning production of Larry Kramer's The Normal Heart, directed by George C. Wolfe. Wolfe, who directed the show's sold-out Broadway engagement last season, mounts the professional D.C.-area premiere of this production, which features returning Broadway cast members Patrick Breen and Luke MacFarlane, among others. Presented by special arrangement with Daryl Roth, The Normal Heart runs June 8-July 29, 2012 in the Kreeger Theater.

Katselas Theatre Company will presents the world premiere of BEAUTIFIED by multi-award-winner Tony Abatemarco, opening Friday, May 25, 2012 with reception to follow and then 8pm Friday and Saturdays, 2pm Sundays through July 1, 2012 at the Skylight Theatre 1816 N. Vermont, LA 90027.

The Attic Theater Company will present a limited run of Erica Lipez's play The Tutors. The production will be directed by Drama League Directors Project Alumnus Laura Braza, and performances are May 18th-26th at The Access Theater.

The world-premiere of the new play PRATFALLS, by playwright Holly Webber, directed by Jenn Thompson and starring Victor Verhaeghe (HBO's 'Boardwalk Empire'), Kate Middleton, Amelia White and Matthew Baldiga opens tonight, April 27 at the Abingdon Theatre Complex (312 West 36th Street).

The Community Theatre of Little Rock presents its spring production of Ron Hutchinson's comedy Moonlight and Magnolias in downtown Little Rock, Ark.

The BMI-Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop announces its Spring Smoker, a semi-annual showcase for new songs from Workshop writers. The event will be held in the 30th Floor Media Room of BMI's New York office at 7 World Trade Center/250 Greenwich Street tonight, April 26, at 5:30PM and is open to members of the entertainment industry as well as Workshop members. Reservations are a must: Ssantana@bmi.com or 212 220-3177. Running time is 70 minutes.

The BMI-Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop announces its Spring Smoker, a semi-annual showcase for new songs from Workshop writers. The event will be held in the 30th Floor Media Room of BMI's New York office at 7 World Trade Center/250 Greenwich Street on Thursday, April 26, at 5:30PM and is open to members of the entertainment industry as well as Workshop members. Reservations are a must: Ssantana@bmi.com or 212 220-3177. Running time is 70 minutes.