The Public Theatre News

Over the last ten years Independent Shakespeare Co. has grown to become one of L.A.'s best-loved summer events. Thousands of children and adults attended their 2011 summer of Free Shakespeare in Griffith Park, which included a HAMLET that had audiences raving. That production is now playing in ISC's Atwater Studio starring the company's managing director, David Melville. David and I sat down to discuss how playing Hamlet has changed for him over the years, as well as what the future holds, and how he learned to play the ukulele. And that's a story that will surprise you.

Happy February!! Eager to get a jump start on booking up your calendar for the month? Since no one can be everywhere at once, here are my official BroadwayGirlNYC picks for the month of February.

GIRLFRIEND, which debuted at Berkeley Rep's Thrust Stage, comes to Joe's Pub tonight.

92YTribeca is set to host BEHIND THE MUSIC-AL: TEENAGE DREAMS, moderated by Steve Fickinger, Vice President of Creative Development for Disney Theatrical Group on Wed, Feb 22, 8pm, tickets from $10 adv / $12 door.

Jeremy Schonfeld, Scars on 45 and more are set for performances this week at Joe's Pub.

Jeremy Schonfeld will be bringing his exciting hybrid brand of rock/theatrical pianoman storytelling to the Pub for one night only! Featuring music from his just-released, highly-acclaimed new concept album 'Iron & Coal', plus additional new arrangements of favorites from 'Drift', '37 Notebooks', and 'Blue Skies and All', this will be a night you won't want to miss!

Starving Artist Studios, a new performing arts training facility in Central Florida, brings Tony-Award winning composer and lyricist Jason Robert Brown to Orlando for a Concert and Master Class.

The New Jersey State Council on the Arts awarded the 2012 Individual Artist Fellowship grants totaling $182,600 to 22 New Jersey artists selected from more than 300 applicants in the categories of crafts, sculpture, photography, playwriting and poetry. John Pietrowski, Artistic Director for Playwrights Theatre, was named a winner in the playwriting category. The public meeting to announce the awards was held today at the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey in Summit.

The Colony Theatre is set to present the fifth production of its 37th season of shows, the Pulitzer Prize nominee, OLD WICKED SONGS, written by Jon Marans and directed by Stephanie Vlahos. OLD WICKED SONGS will preview on Wednesday, February 1; Thursday, February 2; and Friday, February 3 at 8:00pm and will open on Saturday, February 4 at 8:00pm and continue through Sunday, March 4 at The Colony Theatre, 555 North Third Street (at Cypress) adjacent to the Burbank Town Center.

Running February 1-26, Caroline, or Change will be performed in the Archbold Theatre at Syracuse Stage, 820 East Genesee Street.

Running February 1-26, Caroline, or Change will be performed in the Archbold Theatre at Syracuse Stage, 820 East Genesee Street.

Alley Theatre Artistic Director Gregory Boyd announces the cast and creative team for the Alley Theatre's production of the 2010 Best Play Tony Award Winner, Red.

Quintessence Theatre Group continues its second season with Jean Anouilh's 1943 adaptation of Sophocles' ANTIGONE, in a translation by Jeremy Sams, directed by Alexander Burns.

The Colony Theatre is set to present the fifth production of its 37th season of shows, the Pulitzer Prize nominee, OLD WICKED SONGS, written by Jon Marans and directed by Stephanie Vlahos. OLD WICKED SONGS will preview on Wednesday, February 1; Thursday, February 2; and Friday, February 3 at 8:00pm and will open on Saturday, February 4 at 8:00pm and continue through Sunday, March 4 at The Colony Theatre, 555 North Third Street (at Cypress) adjacent to the Burbank Town Center.

Singer/songwriter Jeremy Schonfeld returns to Joe's Pub bringing his hybrid brand of rock/theatrical piano man storytelling for one night only - February 6 at 7:30pm.

Bad behavior has never been so much fun. Artistic director caryn desai [sic] jump starts International City Theatre's 27th season at the helm of Yasmina Reza's scathingly funny, Tony Award-winning God of Carnage. The limited, four-week engagement runs January 27-February 19, with low-priced previews on January 24, 25 and 26. Here's a chance to see this hilarious comedy in ICT's more intimate setting and watch the fur fly up close!

New Feet Productions presents Leave the Balcony Open, a hopeful and humorous new play about learning how to live with loss written by Maya Macdonald. Jessica Bauman directs a cast of seven including Heidi Armbruster* (Broadway: Time Stands Still), Jerzy Gwiazdowski* (Broadway: The Lieutenant of Inishmore), Betsy Hogg* (Broadway: Fiddler on the Roof; The Crucible), Julie Kline* (Moment of Zen/Women's Project; Birthday/Rising Phoenix Rep.), Jared McGuire (Photograph 51/3LD), Anna O'Donoghue* (B'way: Tom Stoppard's Rock 'n' Roll); Mary Rasmussen* (Romeo & Juliet/The Public Theatre). Performances for Leave the Balcony Open will be held at 3LD Art & Technology Center, 80 Greenwich Street (between Rector and Edgar Streets) for sixteen performances beginning Sunday, February 5th through Sunday, February 26th, 2012. AEA Approved Showcase. *Member, Actors' Equity Assoc.

Avila Productions, LLC, by special arrangement with Cherry Lane Theatre in association with Jack Sharkey, has announced the world premiere of TERESA'S ECSTASY, written by Begonya Plaza and directed by Will Pomerantz.

Monday, January 23 was the Aquarius New Moon AND Chinese New Year (year of the Dragon) - it was also the 80th birthday of one of our national treasures - James Rado - co-author of the legendary musical HAIR. Rado celebrated this milestone at The Copacabana, with a crowd of over 125 - family and friends - including original Broadway HAIR cast members - Natalie Mosco, Marjorie LiPari, Robert I. Rubinsky (aka Bobby The Middle-Aged Celebrity); HAIR alumni including Heather MacRae, André De Shields, Ula Hedwig, Zora Rasmussen, Dale Soules. Other guests included Luther Creek (SPIDER-MAN, 25th Anniversary tour of HAIR, RENT) who performed excerpts from Rado's latest musical AMERICAN SOLDIER (written with brother Ted Rado) at the party along with Rosalind Brown, A.D. Coughlan, Ula Hedwig, Sean Jenness, Marjorie LiPari, Michael Lynch, Natalie Mosco, Cheryl Pepsii Riley, Gordon Ramsey, Robert I. Rubinsky, Sam Underwood and Alex York.