Theresa Rebeck News

Monday night, Julia Jordan, Theresa Rebeck, Marsha Norman, Tim Sanford and The Committee for Recognizing Women in Theatre presented the 4thAnnual Lilly Awards at Playwrights Horizons. Named for playwright Lillian Hellman, The Lilly Awards were created to recognize the extraordinary contributions made by women to the American Theater. Producers, playwrights, actors, designers, and directors were honored last night for their continued excellence in the theater community. Check out a look back at the ceremony below!

Dreamcatcher Repertory Theatre is announcing its nineteenth season, and its second year at The Oakes Center at 120 Morris Avenue in Summit. This professional company will bring three New Jersey premieres to the stage in addition to improvisational comedy, new play readings, a holiday variety show and many programs for seniors and students. As always, the Dreamcatcher Resident Acting Company and their guests will tell stories that reflect our shared experience of being human with heart and humor

JEFF BLUMENKRANTZ and BRETT RYBACK to Co-Star in Second Stage Uptown's MURDER FOR TWO

Jiehae Park will receive the 2013 Leah Ryan Prize for Emerging Women Writers at the fourth annual Lilly Awards held tonight, June 3rd, 6pm at Playwright's Horizons, 416 West 42nd Street in New York.

The Dorset Theatre Festival has just completed its 6th Annual Writers Retreat hosted by Theresa Rebeck in collaboration with The Lark New Play Development Center. This year's writers in attendance were Theresa Rebeck (Seminar/Broadway, Smash/NBC), Ronan Noone (Lepers of Baile Baiste/Kennedy Center & Irish Rep), Jackie Reingold (In Treatment/HBO, String Fever/EST), Neena Beber (Misreadings/Humana), Suzanne Bradbeer(Shakespeare in Vegas/Dreamcatcher Rep), Marisa Smith (Saving Kitty/W.H.A.T.) and Eric Holmes.

On June 3, 2013 Julia Jordan, Theresa Rebeck, Marsha Norman, Tim Sanford and The Committee for Recognizing Women in Theatre will present the 4th Annual Lilly Awards at Playwrights Horizons. Named for playwright Lillian Hellman, The Lilly Awards were created to recognize the extraordinary contributions made by women to the American Theater. Producers, playwrights, actors, designers, and directors will be honored for their continued excellence in the theater community.

Jiehae Park will receive the 2013 Leah Ryan Prize for Emerging Women Writers at the fourth annual Lilly Awards held on June 3rd, 6pm at Playwright's Horizons, 416 West 42nd Street in New York. Her award winning new play, HANNAH AND THE DREAD GAZEBO, will have a public reading, directed by Jose Zayas on Tuesday, June 4 at 7pm at Primary Stages located at 307 W 38th St #1510 (between 8th and 9th Avenue) in New York. For reservations, email leahryansfeww@gmail.com.

The Unbleached American tells the story of Ernest Hogan, the 'father of ragtime' and the first African American to perform on Broadway. Beloved by his fans and wealthy beyond his wildest dreams, Hogan was also an infamous writer of 'coon songs' that many considered offensive to his own race. The Unbleached American imagines the relationship between Ernest and the woman sent to care for him at the end of his life.

In an interview with EW.com, executive producer Joshua Safran, who replaced the series creator Theresa Rebeck, reveals what he had planned for the series if it had the opportunity to return this fall.

Like on her Broadway-themed television show 'Smash,' in 'Seminar,' running through June 16th at Actor's Express, Theresa Rebeck pulls away the curtain to revel the struggles required to create something for the enjoyment of others. Being able to see those struggles, both personal and creative, is a bit like seeing a sausage being stuffed; it can be ugly, but, if done well, the results are nonetheless appetizing. While Rebeck's script is mostly edge-of-your-seat exciting, it is riddled with lukewarm cliches. Thankfully, the superb cast compensates with deliciously rich performances. Directed by Suzi Award winner Freddie Ashley, 'Seminar' almost completely avoids the self-important tedium of a writer writing about writers who complain about how difficult writing is.

Barrington Stage Company (BSC), the award-winning theatre in downtown Pittsfield, MA, under the leadership of Artistic Director Julianne Boyd and Managing Director Tristan Wilson, presents the world premiere production of Muckrakers, a new play by Zayd Dohrn, directed by Giovanna Sardelli (BSC's The North Pool and Lord of the Flies). Muckrakers begins previews Thursday, June 13, opens Wednesday, June 19 and will run through Saturday, July 6 at the St. Germain Stage, at the Sydelle and Lee Blatt Performing Arts Center, 36 Linden Street, Pittsfield.

For nearly a decade, Andrew Benator has been one of Atlanta's most versatile actors. Having won a Suzi Award for playing a child-like Lord of the Underworld in Georgia Shakespeare and the Alliance's 'Eurydice', he is known by a wider audience as Dr. Jawfy on Tyler Perry sitcoms 'House of Payne' and 'Meet the Browns.' Since the Atlanta-native moved back home from New York in 2005, he has been a regular part of both the city's expanding stage and screen industries. Benator recently spoke with Broadway World Atlanta about his upcoming show 'Seminar,' which runs May 16th-June 16th at Actor's Express.

A host of Broadway talent as well as several film and television stars will be appearing on the Dorset Theatre Festival stage this summer. Tim Daly, well known for his work on Wings (NBC) and Private Practice (ABC) will headline in the first production of the season, Theresa Rebeck's The Scene. Joining him will be Geoffrey Arend (ABC's Body of Proof) and well-known NY stage actress Mary Bacon (most recently seen in the Michael John LaChiusa/Sybille Pearson musical Giant as well as on Bway in Tom Stoppard's Rock 'n' Roll). They will be joined by newcomer Carolyn Holding (The Philadelphia Story/Chautauqua). Adrienne Campbell-Holt will direct the production.

The Boston Theater Critics Association previously announced its nominations for the 31st Annual Elliot Norton Awards. The awards, which recognize excellence in Greater Boston theater, will be presented tonight, May 13, at 7 p.m. at the Paramount Mainstage, 559 Washington Street, Boston.

Actor's Express announces the final play of the 25th Anniversary Season SEMINAR, by Theresa Rebeck. The production opens on Saturday night, May 18, 2013, 8pm curtain, preview performances are May 16 and 17, and the pay-what-you-want sneak peek, "Director's Rough Cut", is Wednesday, May 15.

San Francisco Playhouse Artistic Director Bill Englishand Producing Director Susi Damilano announced selections today for the 2013-14 Season.

After more than seven months of playing to packed houses in Santa Monica and North Hollywood, Smoke and Mirrors - a heartfelt comedy-drama with mind-bending magic that has been named 'Critics Choice' in the Los Angeles Times - has extended its run again at The Road on Lankershim, 5108 Lankershim Blvd in NoHo. Smoke and Mirrors is now set to run through Sunday, June 30.

National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Chairman Rocco Landesman previously announced that the Alley Theatre is one of 832 non-profit organizations nationwide to receive an NEA Art Works grant. The Alley Theatre received a $50,000 grant to support the production of Kenneth Lin's Warrior Class as part of the Alley Theatre's New Play Initiative.

Tennessee Repertory Theatre has announced its schedule for the Martha R. Ingram New Works Festival. The festival will be held May 8 - 18 and will feature staged readings of new plays from four regional playwrights as well as nationally-renowned playwright Theresa Rebeck. Rebeck is this year's recipient of the Ingram New Works Fellowship.

In a recent series of emails this week, SMASH creator Theresa Rebeck called the show's sophomore season a 'complete disaster.' Had SMASH already hit a 'point of no return' even before new showrunner Josh Safran took the reins, or was it Safran himself who steered a show, once brimming with potential, in the entirely wrong direction.