Theresa Rebeck News

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.

City Theatre announces all six plays lined up for its compelling 2013-2014 season, including a madcap family reunion; a sonic journey about symphony and sports; a soul-stirring drama that daringly reimagines an American icon; a provocative New York hit about what it means to hear and listen; a high-intensity drama that follows a moxie fighter pilot; and a kinetic, new play about relationships and fate.

Artistic Director and award-winning solo performer Tracey Erin Smith has announced the programming for SoulOTheatre's inaugural SoulOTheatre Festival. Some of best solo performers from Canada and the United States take the stage from May 23-26 at the Red Sandcastle Theatre in Toronto's Leslieville. As well, the festival features a series of panels and workshops, with experts teaching the public how to do this work themselves.

The Tony Award Nominations were just announced and we've got the complete list. Always an equally hot topic -- we've also got the complete list of who was overlooked this year.

Magic Theatre will conclude its 46th Season with the first American production of Terminus by Mark O'Rowe. The production is directed by Jon Tracy and will run May 22 - June 16, 2013 at Magic Theatre, Fort Mason Center, Building D, 3rd Floor. Press Opening is Thursday, May 30, 2013 at 8pm.

New York Stage and Film (Johanna Pfaelzer, Artistic Director; Thomas Pearson, Executive Director; Mark Linn-Baker, Max Mayer, Leslie Urdang, Producing Directors) and Vassar College (Ed Cheetham, Producing Director) have announced the line-up of their 2013 Powerhouse Theater Season, which includes new works from actor, writer and prolific, Grammy Award-winning musician Steve Martin and Tony Award winner Lin-Manuel Miranda, the creator of Broadway'sIn the Heights, among many others. The 2013 Powerhouse Theater Season runs from June 21st - July 28th at Vassar College (Poughkeepsie, New York), and a full calendar and description of events are below. Casting is underway and will be announced shortly.

The Boston Theater Critics Association (BTCA) is pleased to announce its nominations for the 31st Annual Elliot Norton Awards. The awards, which recognize excellence in Greater Boston theater, will be presented on Monday, May 13, at 7 p.m. at the Paramount Mainstage, 559 Washington Street, Boston. Tickets are $30 (including post-party) and available by phone at 617-824-8000 or online www.nortonawardsboston.com. (Use "NortonSave" code to receive $5 off for the month of April only.) Sponsors for the 2013 awards ceremony include, ArtsEmerson, Actors' Equity Association, ArtsBoston, EdgeBoston, Emerson College, TheaterMania, The Boston Globe, WBUR, WERS and WGBH.

The Boston Theater Critics Association has announced its nominations for the 31st Annual Elliot Norton Awards. The awards, which recognize excellence in Greater Boston theater, will be presented on Monday, May 13, at 7 p.m. at the Paramount Mainstage, 559 Washington Street, Boston. Tickets are $30 (including post-party) and available by phone at 617-824-8000 or online www.nortonawardsboston.com. (Use "NortonSave" code to receive $5 off for the month of April only.) Sponsors for the 2013 awards ceremony include, ArtsEmerson, Actors' Equity Association, ArtsBoston, EdgeBoston, Emerson College, TheaterMania, The Boston Globe, WBUR, WERS and WGBH.

Prospect Theater Company, one of America's leading producers of new musical theater, will present the Off-Broadway premiere of UNLOCK'D, winner of a Richard Rodgers Award and a 'Best of Fest' winner at the New York Musical Theatre Festival. Performances begin June 16, 2013 at The Duke on 42nd Street, a New 42nd Street project. UNLOCK'D is presented by special arrangement with Judy Loseff Lavin.

City Theatre ends its 2012-2013 season with Abigail/1702, a juicy sequel about The Crucible's scandalous stage legend, Abigail Williams. Written by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and directed by Tracy Brigden, Abigail/1702 runs on City Theatre's Mainstage from May 4 - 26, 2013, with an Opening Night performance on Friday, May 10 at 8pm.

City Theatre ends its 2012-2013 season with Abigail/1702, a juicy sequel about The Crucible's scandalous stage legend, Abigail Williams. Written by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and directed by Tracy Brigden, Abigail/1702 runs on City Theatre's Mainstage from May 4 - 26, 2013, with an Opening Night performance on Friday, May 10 at 8pm.

The great fear of realizing that MOTHERHOOD OUT LOUD is a series of vignettes which look at varying phases of motherhood, is that it will turn out to be a Hallmark sentimental mindless experience. Fear not. The eighteen authors of the vignettes avoid making the experience sappy and purely entertaining. Instead, there is a balance of humor, pathos, and social commentary.

Select songs from tomorrow's episode of NBC's Golden Globe-nominated musical drama series Smash (Saturdays, 9-10pm ET) will be available from NBCUniversal Television Consumer Products and Columbia Records in the Smash iTunes store: http://www.itunes.com/NBCSmash.

Rice Theatre Program will present Mauritius by Theresa Rebeck, directed by Julia Traber. Stamp collecting is far more risky than you think.

Theresa Rebeck's (Pulitzer Prize nominee and creator of NBC's Smash) Seminar follows four aspiring novelists in Manhattan who form a weekly writing seminar under the fallible guidance of a renowned and callous literary expert. Sharing chapters from a few hours' work or several years' worth of painstaking effort leads to brutal critiques and new revelations. Vulnerabilities are exposed, loyalties shift and plots are afoot - the creative process has never been so fictitiously juicy.

Unicorn Theatre announces its 40th season of BoldNewPlays. Forty seasons is a milestone few theatres achieve. The theatre plans to present seven shows that will sweep up audiences on an audacious journey through cutting-edge, provocative and original entertainment. Prepare to experience dramatic highs, shocking revelations and plenty of laughs during seven unique evenings of live theatre.

Aspen's acclaimed Theater Masters will present its seventh annual 'Take 10,' an evening of nine 10-minute plays from award-winning MFA graduate playwriting students across the country as part of its National MFA Playwrights competition tonight, April 2nd - 6th at Off-Broadway's The Studio Theatre on Theatre Row (410 W 42nd Street).

City Theatre presents Little Gem, a lively, new comedy by Irish playwright Elaine Murphy. Directed by Kimberly Senior, Little Gem runs from tonight, March 30 to May 5, 2013 in City Theatre's Hamburg Studio Theatre, with an Opening Night performance on Friday, April 5 at 8pm.

Sideshow Theatre Company continues its 2012/13 season with the Chicago premiere of MARIA/STUART by Jason Grote, directed by Marti Lyons, playing tonight, March 30 - May 5, 2013 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) announces William Shakespeare's Henry VIII, the first professional Chicago production in 400 years since its debut at Shakespeare's Globe in London. Staged by Artistic Director Barbara Gaines in CST's Courtyard Theater April 30-June 16, 2013, Henry VIII features a celebrated company of artists that includes Gregory Wooddell in the title role and Christina Pumariega as Anne Boleyn. The acting company features an ensemble of veteran CST actors which includes Kate Buddeke, David Darlow, Kevin Gudahl, Scott Jaeck, Ora Jones, David Lively and Mike Nussbaum.