The Public Theatre News

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.

Sixdollarsinmypocket productions will present CONEY ISLAND AVENUE, the world premiere by playwright Charles L. Mee, featuring a company of 20 actors under the direction of Anjali Vashi. The exciting, one-of-a-kind work will be performed at New York Theater Workshop's 4th Street Theater from August 5-16, 2009.

The Playwrights Realm - under the leadership of Co-Artistic Directors John Dias and Katherine Kovner and Producing Director Stephanie Ybarra - and the Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts present the 2009 WRITERS JAM SESSION - a week of readings by emerging artists, featuring such acting talents as Tovah Feldshuh (IRENA'S VOW, GOLDA'S BALCONY), Michael Cumpsty (DEMOCRACY, COPENHAGEN), Mather Zickel ('Rachel Getting Married,' 'I Love You, Man'), etc. free and open to the public - at the NYU Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program Center (113 2nd Avenue, between 6th and 7th Streets). For reservations please email jd1429@nyu.edu.

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.

On Wednesday, July 22nd DRD Theatricals will present two workshop performances of THE LIVING NEWSPAPER, a new interactive theatrical venture that reinvents the concept of the Great Depression-era 'Living Newspaper' performances.

The Playwrights Realm - under the leadership of Co-Artistic Directors John Dias and Katherine Kovner and Producing Director Stephanie Ybarra - and the Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts present the 2009 WRITERS JAM SESSION - a week of readings by emerging artists, featuring such acting talents as Tovah Feldshuh (IRENA'S VOW, GOLDA'S BALCONY), Michael Cumpsty (DEMOCRACY, COPENHAGEN), Mather Zickel ('Rachel Getting Married,' 'I Love You, Man'), etc. free and open to the public - at the NYU Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program Center (113 2nd Avenue, between 6th and 7th Streets). For reservations please email jd1429@nyu.edu.

United Theatre Company presents Emma Hunton in Concert at Joe's Pub (425 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10003) on Monday, July 20 at 11:30PM. With special guests, Blake Daniel and Morgan Karr.

Aurora Theatre Company opens its 18th season, focusing on 'family and fortune,' with Clifford Odets' classic Depression-era drama AWAKE AND SING! Bay Area theater veteran Joy Carlin (Jack Goes Boating, Hysteria, The Price), who first directed this play for Berkeley Repertory Theatre 24 years ago, revisits this landmark drama for Aurora.

Jonathan Groff goes from THE BACCHAE on stage to 'Taking Woodstock' on screen this summer, the always evolving young talent spoke to The New York Daily News about the two upcoming projects.

New York's OBIE Award-winning Epic TheatreEnsemble (Zak Berkman, Melissa Friedman, Ron Russell, Founding Executive Directors) has announced its 9 th Anniversary Season of new works: the world premiere of Mahida's Extra Key To Heaven by Russell Davis, and the New York Premiere of Passion Play by Sarah Ruhl. Also scheduled is Shakespeare Remix MacBeth a collaboration with Epic's unrivaled After School Shakespeare Program at Chelsea High School.

La Jolla Playhouse announced today the addition of the world-premiere musical Bonnie & Clyde, to its 2009-10 season, replacing The Big Time. This production features music by Frank Wildhorn (Jekyll & Hyde, The Scarlet Pimpernel), lyrics by Tony Award-winner Don Black (Sunset Boulevard, Song and Dance), book by Ivan Menchell (The Cemetery Club, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang), and direction by Jeff Calhoun (Deaf West's Big River and Pippin, Grease!). Bonnie & Clyde will run November 10 - December 20, 2009 in the Playhouse's Mandell Weiss Theatre.

Rich Affannato in association with Meri Krassner will present a special invitational reading of the new musical, CALIGULA, with book, music & lyrics by Eric Svejcar, for two performances on Monday, July 13 and Tuesday, July 14 at 3 p.m. at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street).

Cape May Stage continues to build its artistic momentum as it presents Social Security, starring a strong ensemble of some of the most accomplished actors ever to grace its stage. Real-life couple Lynn & Ronald Cohen's natural chemistry creates comedic fireworks in this smart, fast-paced contemporary play. Written by acclaimed screenwriter, Andrew Bergman, (Blazing Saddles, Soapdish, Fletch, The In-Laws) this comedy set in the pretentious world of the New York City art scene promises laughs from start to finish.

Rich Affannato in association with Meri Krassner will present a special invitational reading of the new musical, CALIGULA, with book, music & lyrics by Eric Svejcar, for two performances next Monday, July 13 and Tuesday, July 14 at 3 p.m. at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street). Under the direction of Chris Presley, the cast features Euan Morton (Taboo) in the title role, with Autumn Hurlbert (MTV's Legally Blonde: The Search for Elle Woods), Matt Bogart (Jersey Boys, Aida), and Anastasia Barzee (White Christmas, Urinetown). These presentations of CALIGULA will be backed by a six-piece band led by Musical Director David Andrews Rogers.

Carrie Fisher set box-office records at Berkeley Repertory Theatre with her hilarious solo show, Wishful Drinking. Then it became a New York Times bestseller and played to sold-out crowds on a six-city national tour. Now Fisher returns to Berkeley Rep's Roda Theatre, her last stop before the show bursts onto Broadway! This limited run - 15 performances only - begins July 9 and ends July 23.

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).

The Tony Award®-winning Old Globe continues its 2009 Summer Shakespeare Festival with Shakespeare's TWELFTH NIGHT, a delightful tale of wild infatuation and mistaken identities. The production debuts tonight in the Globe's outdoor Lowell Davies Festival Theatre.

The U.S. premiere of the Playwrights Realm's production of DOV AND ALI - a new drama by playwright Anna Ziegler and directed by Katherine Kovner - opened at The Cherry Lane Studio Theatre (38 Commerce Street) on Friday, June 12 to enthusiastic reviews. Previews of DOV AND ALI began on June 5, and it will continue to play through June 27.

EUAN MORTON - Caledonia: Songs for the Homecoming plays at the Metropolitan Room June 11-27 2009, Thursday-Saturday, 9.45 pm. Tel 212-206-0440

'Grey's Anatomy' star Chandra Wilson has stepped into the celebrated role of Matron 'Mama' Morton, the reigning cellblock diva of the smash hit musical CHICAGO. Chandra Wilson has joined the production for a four-week limited engagement which began, Monday, June 8th. She will perform in the production through Sunday, July 5, 2009 at the Ambassador Theatre (219 W. 49th St.). BroadwayWorld.com's cameras were there as she welcomed 'Grey's Anatomy' creator Shonda Rhimes backstage after the Monday June 22nd performance!