The Public Theatre News

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) announced today that Director of Special Projects Maria Goyanes will assume the position of Associate Producer, effective September 1, 2010. Goyanes has been on staff at The Public since 2004 and was instrumental in launching the theater's successful Public LAB series.

Penumbra Theatre Company, the nation's preeminent African American theatre, proudly announced today the second annual Word(s)PLAY!, a forum designed to develop new plays by African American playwrights.

After a brief hiatus from any major productions, STAGED! Portland's Musical Theatre Series is back with an ambitious summer line-up. STAGED! is presenting an in-depth look at one of the most dynamic musical theatre composers working today, Tony Award-winning composer Jason Robert Brown.

Forced to find a new member just days before an appearance at the White House, the artists of an internationally celebrated string quartet are caught in a crescendo of talent and personality in the regional premiere of Michael Hollinger's OPUS, presented by TheatreWorks, the nationally acclaimed theater of the Silicon Valley.

This spring, Berkeley Repertory Theatre and Center Theatre Group present In the Wake, a powerful world premiere from the creators of Broadway's Well. Obie Award-winners Lisa Kron and Leigh Silverman reunite for a searing show which questions whether we as Americans appreciate our freedom.

According to reports from the Hollywood Reporter, actress Jessica Chastain has joined the cast of the upcoming DreamWorks film 'The Help,' based on the best-selling novel by Kathryn Stockett.

The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey continues its popular annual summer tradition of family theatre under the stars with a new translation/adaptation of Carlo Goldoni's comedy The Servant of Two Masters. Performances begin on June 23 and continue through August 1. Performances are Tuesdays through Sundays at 8:15pm at the outdoor amphitheatre on the campus of the College of St. Elizabeth, 2 Convent Road in Morris Township.

Nicholas Martin announced today the remainder of the 2010 Season for Williamstown Theatre Festival (WTF), the 56th season, and final one under Martin's tenure as WTF Artistic Director.

The Right Brian Project (RBP) presents the world premiere drama 'Hesperia,' by Chicago playwright Randall Colburn, directed by Artistic Director Nathan Robbel. The second of three thematically-linked new dramas, 'Hesperia' follows Claudia, a former porn star, as she takes a new name and a new faith in the Midwestern cornfields of Hesperia. Her fiancée Trick, an idealistic youth minister, shepherds her in her new life.

Jonathan Groff performed a concert at Joe's Pub on June 20th in New York City. According to Zap2it.com Groff was joined by Craig Taborn, Ben Perowsky, Jonathan Haffiner, Eivind Opsvik and Kenny Wollesen. Groff performed songs such as 'Here I Go Again,' and 'You Don't Know My Name,' as well as 'Mama Who Bore Me,' from SPRING AWAKENING.

Tony Award-nominee Jonathan Groff performed two solo concerts at Joe's Pub on Father's Day, June 20th, at 7:00pm and 9:30pm. Groff, who guest starred on GLEE this season with former SPRING AWAKENING co-star Lea Michele, was accompanied by Jonathan Haffiner, Craig Taborn, Eivind Opsvik, Ben Perowsky, and Kenny Wollesen for both performances at Joe's Pub.

Tony Award-nominee Jonathan Groff is set to perform two solo concerts at Joe's Pub on June 20th at 7:00pm and 9:30pm.

Showbiz411 reports that Benjamin Walker, currently starring in Off-Broadway's BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON, has been confirmed for Matthew Vaughn's upcoming 'X-Men' prequel, 'X-Men: First Class.' According to the report, Walker has been cast as Beast, a role played previously in the series by LA CAGE AUX FOLLES star Kelsey Grammer.

Miracle Theatre Group and Staged! Portland's Musical Theatre Series present a collaborative production of SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD

The New York Times has just revealed that BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON, which is playing the Public Theatre through June 27 after multiple extensions, has been offered the Jacob's Theatre on Broadway for a fall opening by the Shubert Organization, should producers choose to make the quick transfer.

The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey continues its popular annual summer tradition of family theatre under the stars with a new translation/adaptation of Carlo Goldoni's comedy The Servant of Two Masters. Performances begin on June 23 and continue through August 1. Performances are Tuesdays through Sundays at 8:15pm at the outdoor amphitheatre on the campus of the College of St. Elizabeth, 2 Convent Road in Morris Township.

Previews will begin today at Virginia's Signature Theatre for the world premiere musical Sycamore Trees written by Ricky Ian Gordon, the award-winning composer of the opera The Grapes of Wrath and the musicals Dream True and My Life with Albertine. A starry Broadway cast portrays Gordon's own family story - complete with a tough Bronx-born father and former 'Borscht Belt' singer/comedian mother - in a tale of two generations' struggles and triumphs in the decades from World War II through the 1990s.

Signature Theatre, the current recipient of the Tony Award® for Regional Theatre, presents the world premiere musical Sycamore Trees by Ricky Ian Gordon, composer of the acclaimed opera The Grapes of Wrath and the OBIE Award-winning Orpheus and Euridice, as well as the musicals My Life with Albertine and Dream True.

SummerStage has announced their first theater season debut with The Etymology of Bird, written by Zakiyyah Alexander and Directed by Jade King Carroll. This show is a part of SummerStage's summer-long FREE theater program and will take place on Friday, June 11th and Saturday June 12th at Von King Park in Brooklyn and Friday, June 18th and Saturday, June 19th at Betsy Head Park, Brooklyn at 8:00 p.m.

Know Theatre of Cincinnati and the Cincinnati Fringe Festival is proud to announce The 2010 Cincinnati Fringe Festival. The 7th annual festival is scheduled to kick-off June 1st with CityBeat's official Fringe Kick-off Party. The festival will continue through June 12th with 29 productions and more than 170 artists.