The Public Theatre News

AL'S BUSINESS CARDS, a new comedy by Josh Koenigsberg, will be given its world-premiere this summer with previews beginning July 30 prior to an official press opening August 9 at the Lion Theater on Theater Row (410 W. 42 St.). The play is directed by Lauren Keating.

Full casting has been announced for Victoria & Frederick for President, running August 15th- 22nd at the New School for Drama in the 2009 New York International Fringe Festival. Official opening night is scheduled for Monday, August 17th.

Family Opera Initiative is excited to present the musical pre-premiere of Goodnight Moon, this year's Opera & Ice Cream performance. Goodnight Moon is a lullaby for singer and piano continuing composer Glen Roven's settings to music of celebrated children's author, Margaret Wise Brown. It will premiere next May at Carnegie Hall with the Buffalo Philharmonic. The pre-premiere musical event is executive produced by Family Opera Initiative founder Grethe Barrett Holby and produced by Ray Wetmore.

The critically acclaimed open mic series, Big Night Out is bigger and better than ever! Billed as a delicious gathering for the musical community, Big Night Out is a unique and supportive environment for performers and composers of all backgrounds to come together and perform the music that they love.

Operatic Heat presents Parsons Dance and the East Village Opera Company (EVOC) in Remember Me, a dance/rock opera to air on public television in August.

Taye Diggs talks about the upcoming birth of his baby boy to People Magazine. Diggs exclaims that, 'Everyone keeps telling me how amazing it's going to be. Once the birth happens, everything is going to change on every level.' He remarked 'I'm very excited.'

Singer/Actress, Rachel Bay Jones, will perform songs from her highly acclaimed new CD, 'ShowFolk', at Joe's Pub in New York City. Jones has been receiving accolades from both the musical theatre and folk worlds for her CD, which presents songs from the musical theatre repertoire in untraditional acoustic folk and bluegrass settings.

Operatic Heat presents Parsons Dance and the East Village Opera Company (EVOC) in REMEMBER ME, a dance/rock opera on public television beginning August 2, 2009.

La Jolla Playhouse is pleased to present Herringbone, book by Tom Cone, music by Skip Kennon, lyrics by Ellen Fitzhugh, directed by Roger Rees (La Jolla Playhouse's Peter and the Starcatchers), and starring Tony Award-winner BD Wong (M. Butterfly; Law & Order: SVU). Herringbone runs August 1 - 30 in the Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre (press opening: Friday, August 7 at 8:00 pm).

Two-Time Tony Award nominee André De Shields will be honored with the 'Living Legend' Award at The 2009 National Black Theatre Festival's Opening Night Gala and Awards banquet on Monday, August 3 in Winston-Salem, NC. The awards gala celebrating 20 years will kick off the Festival which runs through August 8.

AL'S BUSINESS CARDS, a new comedy by Josh Koenigsberg, will be given its world-premiere this summer with previews beginning July 30 prior to an official press opening August 9 at the Lion Theater on Theater Row (410 W. 42 St.). The play is directed by Lauren Keating.

The critically acclaimed open mic series, Big Night Out is bigger and better than ever! Billed as a delicious gathering for the musical community, Big Night Out is a unique and supportive environment for performers and composers of all backgrounds to come together and perform the music that they love.

Casting is announced for 'That Championship Season' at Westport Country Playhouse, the first production to be directed by Mark Lamos since he was named artistic director in February 2009 at the historic theater in Westport, Connecticut. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize, Tony Award and New York Drama Critics Circle Award, 'That Championship Season' by Jason Miller will run August 25 through September 12.

The critically acclaimed open mic series, Big Night Out is bigger and better than ever! Billed as a delicious gathering for the musical community, Big Night Out is a unique and supportive environment for performers and composers of all backgrounds to come together and perform the music that they love.

Full casting was announced today for MEMPHIS, an original Broadway musical, opening Monday, October 19, 2009 at the Shubert Theatre (225 W. 44th Street) following critically-acclaimed and sold-out engagements at La Jolla Playhouse and Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre. Previews begin on Wednesday, September 23, 2009.

Family Opera Initiative is excited to present the musical pre-premiere of Goodnight Moon, this year's Opera & Ice Cream performance. Goodnight Moon is a lullaby for singer and piano continuing composer Glen Roven's settings to music of celebrated children's author, Margaret Wise Brown. It will premiere next May at Carnegie Hall with the Buffalo Philharmonic. The pre-premiere musical event is executive produced by Family Opera Initiative founder Grethe Barrett Holby and produced by Ray Wetmore.

Today Berkeley Repertory Theatre announced the creative team for its world premiere of American Idiot. Based on the Grammy Award-winning album of the same name, the show features the music of Green Day and the lyrics of its frontman Billie Joe Armstrong. American Idiot is being staged by Tony Award-winning director Michael Mayer, who also collaborated with Armstrong on the story. It features the work of Olivier Award-winning choreographer Steven Hoggett and music supervisor Tom Kitt, the Tony-winning composer who provided string arrangements for the band's latest album, 21st Century Breakdown.

Cait Doyle's Hot Mess in Manhattan (2009 MAC Award for Best Female Debut) returns to the Duplex (61 Christopher Street at Seventh Avenue) on August 14th & 28th at 9:30pm.

Katie Thompson (left), Morgan Karr and Mac Award Winner Cait Doyle led the cast of This Preview is RATED RSO-a set of songs by Ryan Scott Oliver-which will perform at the Public Theatre, produced by the Summer Play Festival. The evening featured songs from Mrs. Sharp, Darling, plus new material. The concert play took place Friday, July 24 at 9:30pm.

Chicago Dramatists has a special block of orchestra tickets on reserve to A STEADY RAIN, the hottest upcoming Broadway show starring Daniel Craig and Hugh Jackman and directed by Tony-Award nominee John Crowley. With stars of this caliber, tickets are in high demand, but Chicago Dramatists will be hosting a benefit performance on November 14th. A STEADY RAIN, the smash hit production by Chicago Dramatists Resident Playwright, Keith Huff, thrilled audiences during its two critically and publicly acclaimed runs in Chicago and will open in New York City this September.