The Public Theatre News

THE STORY makes its West Coast Premiere opening March 21st through April 25, 2009, previews March 18, 19 and 20 'A riveting drama about race, reporting and the truth'-Associated Press Inspired by real-life events, an ambitious newspaper reporter goes against her editor to investigate a murder and finds the best story...but at what cost?

The 16th Annual Merritt Award for Excellence in Design and Collaboration program, honoring world class scenic designer Todd Rosenthal (August: Osage County), will take place on Monday, April 27, at the Steppenwolf Merle Reskin Garage Theatre. The doors open at 5:30 p.m. with a viewing of the third annual ?Theater Design Expo' showcasing the works of over 20 Chicago-area emerging theatrical designers and a student portfolio review. Martha Lavey, Artistic Director of Steppenwolf Theatre Company, will moderate an inclusive discussion, 'Moving Chicago Productions to New York and Beyond' with the awardees, Director Anna Shapiro and Joshua Schmidt, composer and librettist, from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

As playwright Matthew Lombardo continues to develop the upcoming Arena Stage production of Looped starring four-time Emmy Award-winning Valerie Harper (Rhoda on The Mary Tyler Moore Show) as Tallulah Bankhead, a casting change has taken place. Jay Goede, known for his work on Broadway in Angels in America, A Year with Frog and Toad and Sex and Longing, will now play opposite Harper in the pre-Broadway staging, directed by Rob Ruggiero at Arena Stage at the Lincoln Theatre May 29 through June 28, 2009. Full release to follow at a later date.

Stella Cartiano presents Night of the Butterfly, A Musical for Children and Their Adults written by Zack Friedman, with music & lyrics by Dan Kitrosser, additional material provided by Evan Green. Night of the Butterfly will begin performances on Sundays beginning March 15 at 11AM & 1PM and will run through April 26. Running time is 1 hour and tickets are $25 and are available at Telecharge.com and NightoftheButterfly.com.

Abingdon Theatre Company has announced that it will present the world premiere of Romulus Linney's LOVE DRUNK, directed by Kelly Morgan and featuring Austin Pendleton and Kristina Valada-Viars on March 28, 2009. The official opening will be on Sunday, April 5, 2009 at 5:00 PM in the Abingdon Theatre Company's Dorothy Strelsin Theatre.

Native Voices at the Autry proudly presents the world premiere of Wings of Night Sky, Wings of Morning Light by musician, poet, songwriter, and playwright Joy Harjo (Mvskoke). The play is a deeply compelling journey of struggle, displacement, self-discovery, and healing. Invoking spoken word, storytelling, music, and song, Harjo takes us on a wild theatrical ride where she tells it like it is with spirit and a mean jazz sax. An allegorical work of tremendous power, Wings demonstrates how theater and art can bring life full circle.

Native Voices at the Autry proudly presents the world premiere of Wings of Night Sky, Wings of Morning Light by musician, poet, songwriter, and playwright Joy Harjo (Mvskoke). The play is a deeply compelling journey of struggle, displacement, self-discovery, and healing. Invoking spoken word, storytelling, music, and song, Harjo takes us on a wild theatrical ride where she tells it like it is with spirit and a mean jazz sax. An allegorical work of tremendous power, Wings demonstrates how theater and art can bring life full circle.

Broadway heats up this summer when three-time Emmy Award nominee and 'Grey's Anatomy' star Chandra Wilson steps into the celebrated role of Matron 'Mama' Morton, the reigning cellblock diva of the smash hit musical CHICAGO, for a four-week limited engagement, Monday, June 8 through Sunday, July 5, 2009 at the Ambassador Theatre (219 W. 49th St.).

Playwrights Foundation (PF) welcomes an unprecedented group of national and regional playwrights and directors for the development of new works as part of the In The Rough Reading Series 2009, or ROUGH. This year's selections include: Meat by Samuel D. Hunter, directed by Mark Rucker; Language Rooms by Yussef El Guindi, directed by Mark Routhier; Job by Thomas Bradshaw, directed by Jonathan Spector; Defiant by George Brant, directed by Marissa Wolf; This Is Not a Torture or an Engine by Erin Bregman, directed by Molly Aaronson-Gelb; Assisted Living by Deirdre O'Connor, directed by Jon Tracy; Natasha and the Coat by Deborah Stein, directed by Sean Daniels; and The Verizon Play by Lisa Kron, directed by Amy Mueller. Readings will take place from Mar. 30 -- May 19, every Monday and Tuesday.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) will begin previews on Tuesday, March 3 for Tracey Scott Wilson's THE GOOD NEGRO, which will run through Sunday, April 19 with an official press opening on Monday, March 16. Directed by Liesl Tommy and presented in association with Dallas Theater Center, THE GOOD NEGRO is the first new play to transfer from the Public LAB initiative to a full main stage production at The Public.

The producers of HAIR: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical have established a pre-performance ticket lottery for box-seat tickets, aptly renamed 'BE-IN BOXES.' Those wishing to purchase these tickets are asked to show up at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre 2 1/2 hours before each performance for a drawing that will take place 2 hours before curtain. For every performance (beginning Friday), a limited number of lucky audience members will receive $25 'be-in box' tickets, promising to make their experience of the show both affordable and unique.

Phylicia Rashad has been announced to step into the role of Violet Weston in the Broadway production of August: Osage County. Rashad will follow Deanna Dunagan and Estelle Parsons in the part and will join the show on May 26.

Robert Falls proudly names his longtime artistic collaborator Brian Dennehy-two-time Tony and Golden Globe Award winner and six-time Emmy Award nominee-the newest member of Goodman Theatre's Artistic Collective, a diverse group of outstanding American theater artists who make the Goodman their artistic home.

The producers of HAIR: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical have established a pre-performance ticket lottery for box-seat tickets, aptly renamed 'BE-IN BOXES.' Those wishing to purchase these tickets are asked to show up at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre 2 1/2 hours before each performance for a drawing that will take place 2 hours before curtain. For every performance (beginning Friday), a limited number of lucky audience members will receive $25 'be-in box' tickets, promising to make their experience of the show both affordable and unique.

Native Voices at the Autry proudly presents the world premiere of Wings of Night Sky, Wings of Morning Light by musician, poet, songwriter, and playwright Joy Harjo (Mvskoke). The play is a deeply compelling journey of struggle, displacement, self-discovery, and healing. Invoking spoken word, storytelling, music, and song, Harjo takes us on a wild theatrical ride where she tells it like it is with spirit and a mean jazz sax. An allegorical work of tremendous power, Wings demonstrates how theater and art can bring life full circle.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) will begin previews on Tuesday, March 3 for Tracey Scott Wilson's THE GOOD NEGRO, which will run through Sunday, April 19 with an official press opening on Monday, March 16. Directed by Liesl Tommy and presented in association with Dallas Theater Center, THE GOOD NEGRO is the first new play to transfer from the Public LAB initiative to a full main stage production at The Public.

Broadway's most talked about new musical and the biggest Tony Award-winner in years is coming to Cleveland. Spring Awakening, the 8-time Tony Award? winning Broadway musical, will open at PlayhouseSquare's PalaceTheatre and play for 16 performances, March 3-15. Spring Awakening is part of the KeyBank Broadway Series at PlayhouseSquare. Spring Awakening swept the 2007 Tony Awards? winning eight out of its eleven nominations, including Best Musical, Best Director (Michael Mayer), Best Book (Steven Sater), Best Choreography (Bill T. Jones), Best Orchestrations (Duncan Sheik), Best Lighting Design (Kevin Adams), Best Featured Actor (John Gallagher Jr.).

Two of the creative forces behind the Roundabout Theater Company's Broadway production of Hedda Gabler - Tony? Award-winning actor Michael Cerveris, who stars as Jorgen Tesman, and Obie-Award-winning playwright Christopher Shinn, who adapted Henrik Ibsen's script - discuss the legendary play and the current incarnation making waves on Broadway. They are joined by the New York Post's new chief theater critic, Elisabeth Vincentelli.

Desire Under the Elms at Goodman Theater opens tonight. Rumors have spread that the show has Broadway in its sights, and hopes to come to New York next spring. The show has been extended before opening night, as it will now play through March 1. Goodman Theatre Artistic Director Robert Falls and renowned actor Brian Dennehy bring their artistic partnership to new heights with Eugene O'Neill's haunting drama, Desire Under the Elms-marking their fifth collaboration on O'Neill's work over two decades. Falls' cast includes stage and screen stars Carla Gugino (Entourage, Spy Kids, Sin City) Pablo Schreiber (Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Awake and Sing!), Boris McGiver (The Wire) and Daniel Stewart Sherman (Broadway's Cyrano de Bergerac). The centerpiece production of Goodman Theatre's two-month 'A Global Exploration: Eugene O'Neill in the 21st Century,' Desire Under the Elms appears January 17 - March 1 in the Goodman's 856-seat Albert Ivar Theatre. Tickets are $25 - 82; a full Exploration calendar, including dates, times and ticket prices, appears at the end of the release. Allstate is the Corporate Sponsor Partner of Desire Under the Elms and The Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation is the Sponsor Partner. UBS is the Lead Corporate Sponsor for 'A Global Exploration: Eugene O'Neill in the 21st Century' and The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation is the Sponsor Partner. Motorola Foundation is the Corporate Sponsor Partner. American Airlines is the Exclusive Airline of Goodman Theatre.

Two of the creative forces behind the Roundabout Theater Company's Broadway production of Hedda Gabler - Tony? Award-winning actor Michael Cerveris, who stars as Jorgen Tesman, and Obie-Award-winning playwright Christopher Shinn, who adapted Henrik Ibsen's script - discuss the legendary play and the current incarnation making waves on Broadway. They are joined by the New York Post's new chief theater critic, Elisabeth Vincentelli.