The Public Theatre News

New Line Theatre, 'the Bad Boy of Musical Theatre,' opens its 21st season with the St. Louis premiere of the electrifying Broadway rock musical PASSING STRANGE, running September 22 through October 15, 2011, at the Washington University South Campus Theatre (formerly CBC High School), 6501 Clayton Road, just east of Big Bend.

The 15th Annual Hollywood Film Festival and Hollywood Film Awards, presented by Starz Entertainment, have announced that the cast of DreamWorks Pictures and Participant Media's 'The Help' - Jessica Chastain, Viola Davis, Bryce Dallas Howard, Allison Janney, Chris Lowell, Ahna O'Reilly, Octavia Spencer, Emma Stone, Sissy Spacek, Mary Steenburgen, Cicely Tyson and Mike Vogel - will be recognized at the Hollywood Awards Gala Ceremony with the 'Hollywood Ensemble Acting Award.'

The first play to be featured will be MURDER ON GIN LANE by Tony Finstrom. Wayne Rudisill will direct the reading and the all-star cast will include Jeffrey Bruce, soon to be seen in JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECNICOLOR DREAMCOAT at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre; Iris Acker, the host of the local Beacon TV series Onstage with iris Acker; Beth Holland, New York actress and local Board of Directors President of The Symphony of the Americas; and Ms. McArt, who is widely recognized as the First Lady of Florida's Musical Theatre.

59E59 Theaters (Elysabeth Kleinhans, Artistic Director; Peter Tear, Executive Producer) welcomes Starry Night Theater with the New York premiere of THE BUS, written by James Lantz and directed by John Simpkins.

ARLA Productions & Rosalind Productions will present the Off-Broadway premiere of Alan Lester Brooks' A Splintered Soul.

KRAVIS CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS Celebrates 20th Anniversary Season A Sizzling Line Up of Smash Broadway Hits, Comedy Giants and Rock, Pop & Classical Music Superstars Joshua Bell, Chris Botti, Cleveland Orchestra, Larry King, Kings of Salsa, Patti LaBelle, Larry the Cable Guy, Huey Lewis & The News, Matisyahu, Dennis Miller, Bernadette Peters, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra with Pinchas Zukerman, Diana Krall, Martin Short, Wanda Sykes, & THE ADDAMS FAMILY, DAMN YANKEES, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, FOREVER TANGO, HAIR, LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, LES MISÉRABLES, MAMMA MIA!, MY FAIR LADY, SOUTH PACIFIC And So Much More!

RABBIT HOLE ENSEMBLE will present the world premiere of THE TALE OF FRANKENSTEIN'S DAUGHTER written by Resident Playwright/NYITA* nominee Stanton Wood, and directed by Rabbit Hole Ensemble Artistic Director/NYITA winner Edward Elefterion.

Suffolk University and Boston Playwrights' Theatre present Robert Brustein's Mortal Terror, directed by Daniela Varon from September 15 through October 2 at the Modern Theatre at Suffolk University, 525 Washington Street, Boston.

American Theater Company (ATC) announces the Chicago Premiere of The Amish Project written by Jessica Dickey and directed by Artistic Director PJ Paparelli, featuring ATC Ensemble member Sadieh Rifai. The production will run September 23 - October 23, 2011 at American Theater Company, 1909 W Byron, Chicago, IL. Press opening is Monday, September 26, 2011 at 7:00PM.

In a special limited engagement, Signature Theatre is presenting the Washington D.C. premiere of E. Patrick Johnson's one-man show, Sweet Tea: Black Gay Men of the South.

59E59 Theaters (Elysabeth Kleinhans, Artistic Director; Peter Tear, Executive Producer) welcomes Starry Night Theater with the New York premiere of THE BUS, written by James Lantz and directed by John Simpkins.

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director) has announced the complete cast for its upcoming production of the new musical THE BLUE FLOWER: Sebastian Arcelus (Buddy in Elf, Wicked, Jersey Boys), Marc Kudisch (Three-time Tony Award nominee for 9 to 5, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Thoroughly Modern Millie), Meghan McGeary (The Blue Flower at A.R.T.), Joseph Medeiros (Irving Berlin's White Christmas), Julia Osborne (National Tour of South Pacific), Graham Rowat (Guys and Dolls), Aaron Serotsky (August: Osage County), and Teal Wicks (Elphaba in Wicked).

The Manhattan Theatre Club has announced full casting for the upcoming world premiere of CLOSE UP SPACE by Molly Smith Metzler, directed by Leigh Silverman. Joining the cast is Academy Award & Emmy Award nominee Rosie Perez (Fearless, The Ritz) as famous author 'Vanessa Finn Adams.' Completing the cast are Jessica DiGiovanni (Off-Broadway Debut) and Colby Minifie (The Pillowman, Landscape of the Body) as well as already announced Tony Award and four-time Emmy Award winner David Hyde Pierce ('Frasier', Curtains) and Obie Award winner Michael Chernus (The Aliens, In The Wake).

To commemorate the 10th anniversary of September 11th, Walt Whitman's America will be brought to life throughout his beloved New York in a stirring music-theater adaptation of 'Song of Myself,' the poet's eloquent tribute to a nation's ideals on the brink of civil war.

MUNCHED was produced in 2009 in Los Angeles by Buzzworks Theater Company where it won the LA Drama Critics Circle award, The LA WEEKLY award and the McDonald Award for Playwriting excellence. The East coast premier of MUNCHED will be directed by Petronia Paley (Multiple AUDELCO award winner and legendary soap opera veteran.

'Priscilla' star Will Swenson will be participating in Cherry Lane Theatre's Tongues Reading Series presentation of Israel Horovitz's AFTER PARADISE on Sunday, September 11th at 2pm. The reading will be directed by Damien Gray.

Producers Jeffrey Richards and Jerry Frankel previously announced that tickets for CHINGLISH would go on sale to the general public on Saturday, September 3rd, 2011 at 12:00am.

Third Street Theatre has announced its first production in L.A.'s newest 99-seat Equity Waiver house; the Tony award-winning musical FALSETTOS, with book by James Lapine and William Finn, music and lyrics by William Finn, choreography by John Todd, musical direction by Greg Nabours and directed by Richard Israel.

The Community Theatre of Little Rock is will present its Fall production of 'The Dixie Swim Club'.

American Theater Company (ATC) announces the Chicago Premiere of The Amish Project written by Jessica Dickey and directed by Artistic Director PJ Paparelli, featuring ATC Ensemble member Sadieh Rifai. The production will run September 23 - October 23, 2011 at American Theater Company, 1909 W Byron, Chicago, IL. Press opening is Monday, September 26, 2011 at 7:00PM.