TheatreWorks News

On Thursday, May 30 at 9pm at NYC's sexiest party Speakeasy Moderne, the show's host and producer "Official Hank" Stampfl will release his newly remixed single by DJ Mark Picchiotti (Kylie Minogue) titled "Gonna Get Better." Hank is also the owner of Feel Good Music Inc. and each month at Stage 72, Speakeasy Moderne offers an unforgettable evening featuring an intoxicating blend of Jazz Age Manhattan, vaudeville, cabaret and a touch of burlesque.

The San Francisco Playhouse (Bill English, Artistic Director; Susi Damilano, Producing Director) concludes its fourth season of the Sandbox Series of new plays in alliance with theNational New Play Network (NNPN) to present the 'Rolling World Premiere' of Grounded by George Brant. The one-woman play will be directed by Susannah Martin and feature Lauren English*. The San Francisco Playhouse is proud to host the first production for this year's 'Rolling World Premiere.'

Dixon Place & The Apothetae present The Penalty, written by Clay McLeod Chapman and directed by Kris Thor, with music and lyrics by Robert M. Johanson and Clay McLeod Chapman. The inaugural show for a company devoted to theatre featuring disabled artists begins previews on Thursday, June 13 at 7:30, and continues Fridays and Saturdays: June 14, 15, 21, 22, 28 & 29 at 7:30 at Dixon Place, 161A Chrystie Street, New York, NY.

Continuing its commitment to developing new works, TheatreWorks, the nationally-acclaimed theatre of Silicon Valley, has announced the lineup for its 2013 New Works Festival, including a new comedy from Pulitzer Prize winner Beth Henley (Crimes of the Heart, The Miss Firecracker Contest).

Announcing the cast and creative team for the enchanting musical, South Pacific. Sailor hijinks, the danger of war, and the passion of young love are all joined together by Rogers & Hammerstein's sensational score in one of the most powerful musicals of all time. Previews begin on Thursday, May 23 at 8:00 p.m.; with the official opening on Saturday, May 25 at 8:00 p.m. and running through July 14, 2013.

BroadwayWorld has confirmed that Broadway veteran Heidi Blickenstaff will lead Vermont's award-winning Weston Playhouse Theatre Company production of Next to Normal. Blickenstaff will play 'Diana' in the show, which is set to run July 11-27 and will be directed by Michael Berresse.

The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust has announced the 2013-2014 Pittsburgh International Children's Theater Family Series. Now in its 44th season, the Family Series will present award-winning, professional theater companies featuring live performances for young audiences ages 3 and up.

Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma hasn't presented the beloved Rodgers and Hammerstein musical THE KING AND I since 1983, but this summer the production will return with a vengeance, featuring a powerful cast and creative team, July 9-13 at the Civic Center Music Hall, as part of Lyric's 50th Anniversary Season. THE KING AND I will be directed by 'Sesame Street' star Alan Muraoka, known as Al on the show.

Theatreworks USA, the nation's leading not-for-profit professional theatre for young audiences, has announced the Off-Broadway premiere of the new children's musical THE CIVIL WAR. as the 25th Anniversary production of the company's annual Free Summer Theatre Program.

BENJ PASEK and JUSTIN PAUL have added a second show at Joe's Pub at The Public on Wednesday, May 15. An 11:30 PM show was just added due to popular demand after the 9:30 PM show sold out. The Tony Award nominated composer and lyricist team is celebrating the new Ghostlight Records cast recording of Dogfight. Both shows will features performances by the original cast of the Second Stage Theatre production and other special guests. Dogfight just won the 2013 Lucille Lortel Award for "Outstanding Musical." Tickets to Joe's Pub are $25 and on sale now at JoesPub.com.

Closing Aurora Theatre Company's 21st season is the Bay Area Premiere of Neil LaBute's dark, edgy comic drama THIS IS HOW IT GOES, directed by Aurora Theatre Company Artistic Director Tom Ross (A Delicate Balance). Ross helmed LaBute's The Shape of Things, the first LaBute play produced in the Bay Area, in 2003. Featuring Aldo Billingslea (Collapse), Gabriel Marin (Collapse, Jack Goes Boating), and Carrie Paff (A Delicate Balance, Collapse, Betrayal), THIS IS HOW IT GOES presents a one-two punch after LaBute's Fat Pig (staged at Aurora in 2009). Tweaking perspectives of truth and interpretation to broach sharp questions about race, love, and manipulation,THIS IS HOW IT GOES, about which the Chicago Tribune raved "Highly recommended! LaBute's play has a lot of sting and nothing is as it seems!" plays June 14 through July 21 at the Aurora Theatre in Berkeley. For tickets ($35-60) and information the public can call (510) 843-4822 or visit auroratheatre.org.

A groundbreaking artistic-journalistic collaboration, which seeks to artistically explore investigative reporting through performances developed in front of live audiences, by Tides Theatre (Jennifer Welch, Producing Artistic Director and Cary Cronholm Rose, Associate Artistic Director), an innovative artistic collective in San Francisco, and The Center for Investigative Reporting (Phil Bronstein, Executive Chair and Robert J. Rosenthal, Executive Director), which believes that journalism that moves people to action is an essential pillar of democracy.

Closing Aurora Theatre Company's 21st season is the Bay Area Premiere of Neil LaBute's dark, edgy comic drama THIS IS HOW IT GOES, directed by Aurora Theatre Company Artistic Director Tom Ross (A Delicate Balance). Ross helmed LaBute's The Shape of Things, the first LaBute play produced in the Bay Area, in 2003. Featuring Aldo Billingslea (Collapse), Gabriel Marin (Collapse, Jack Goes Boating), and Carrie Paff (A Delicate Balance, Collapse, Betrayal), THIS IS HOW IT GOES presents a one-two punch after LaBute's Fat Pig (staged at Aurora in 2009).

Producers Darren Bagert, Dan Shaheen, and Ted Snowdon have announced that the hit comedy Buyer & Cellar, starring Michael Urie ('Ugly Betty'), written by Jonathan Tolins, and directed by Stephen Brackett, will transfer to the Barrow Street Theatre for a ten-week engagement beginning Tuesday, June 18, at 7:30pm and opening Monday, June 24. Tickets go on sale today.

Previews begin today, Wednesday, May 8 for the Playwrights Horizons (Tim Sanford, Artistic Director; Leslie Marcus, Managing Director) World Premiere production of FAR FROM HEAVEN.

TheatreWorks, the nationally acclaimed theatre of Silicon Valley, will stage its annual TheatreWorks Honors gala June 15, shining the spotlight on a Silicon Valley leader and a renowned theatre artist, both of whom have dedicated their lives to bringing forth vision, innovation, and creativity. The evening's honorees are Chairman of Fenwick & West law firm Gordon Davidson and Tony Award-winning Broadway playwright and composer Joe DiPietro (Memphis, Nice Work If You Can Get It).

Long Wharf Theatre concludes its 2012-13 season with Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning play Clybourne Park, by Bruce Norris, and directed by Associate Artistic Director Eric Ting. The play will take place on The Claire Tow Stage in the C. Newton Schenck III Mainstage from tonight, May 8, 2013 through June 2, 2013.

Playwrights Horizons presents Far From Heaven, a new musical with book by Tony Award winner and two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist Richard Greenberg (Take Me Out, Three Days of Rain, the current Breakfast at Tiffany's and The Assembled Parties both now on Broadway), music by Tony Award nominee Scott Frankel (Grey Gardens at PH and on Broadway, Finding Neverland) and lyrics by Tony Award nominee Michael Korie (Grey Gardens at PH and on Broadway, The Grapes of Wrath, Finding Neverland). The musical is choreographed by Alex Sanchez (Giant, Fiorello!) and directed by three-time Tony Award nominee Michael Greif (Grey Gardens at PH and on Broadway; Rent, Next to Normal, Giant). The musical is based on the Focus Features/Vulcan Productions motion picture Far From Heaven, written and directed by Todd Haynes.

The Old Globe presents the San Diego premiere of Jon Robin Baitz's award-winning family drama Other Desert Cities. Directed by Richard Seer, Other Desert Cities is now running on the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage in the Old Globe Theatre, part of the Globe's Conrad Prebys Theatre Center, through June 2, 2013. The show opened on May 2. Scroll down for photos of the cast on opening night!

When a group of actors gathers to give a presentation on a distant genocide, they realize that summaries are not enough. In their attempt to delve into history, they struggle with stereotype, fear and their own personal histories, uncovering the potential for brutality in all of us. Joseph Stern and The Matrix Theatre Company present the West Coast premiere of a brave, chilling and very funny new work by Jackie Sibblies Drury."We Are Proud to Present a Presentation About the Herero of Namibia, Formerly Known as South-West Africa, From the German Sudwestafrika, Between the Years 1884-1915" opens on June 8.