Thom Weaver News

Roundabout Theatre Company's first new play of Roundabout Underground's newly expanded 2016-2017 season, Kingdom Come, is currently in previews and will open officially on Wednesday, November 2, 2016at the Black Box Theatre in the Harold and Miriam Steinberg Center for Theatre (111 West 46th Street). This is a limited engagement through Sunday, December 18, 2016. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

The gala 48th Annual Equity Jeff Awards held at Drury Lane Oakbrook on Monday, October 17, celebrated a season of outstanding productions.

**Bonus** Nominations are NOW OPEN for the 2016 BroadwayWorld Regional Awards!  Click on your region below and nominate your favorites thru October 31st only!

Two men enclosed in a boxing ring--one black and one white-vie for the World Heavyweight Boxing Championship and a transformative match that might knock out race relations for decades to come. Milwaukee Repertory Theaer imports Marco Ramiriez's The Royale to the Stiemke Studio in sophisticated style starring David St. Louis playing the African American boxing champion Jay 'the Sport' Jackson. Jay Jackson represents the actual heavyweight champion Jack Johnson who defeated the previous World Heavyweight champion, Jim Jeffries, a white man, on July 4, 2010 to win freedom for the black boxer. In the stunning Rep production, Ramirez's script loosely retells the story that changed the course of boxing history where Jackson became the first African American Heavyweight Champion in an era when the Klu Klux Klan lynched black men for merely the color of their skin.

A friendly reminder! Roundabout Theatre Company's first new play of Roundabout Underground's newly expanded 2016-2017 season begins tomorrow, October 7.

Rehearsals begin tomorrow, Tuesday, September 13, for the world-premiere production of Kingdom Come by Jenny Rachel Weiner, directed by Kip Fagan, as part of Roundabout's 50th Anniversary Season.

Six world premiere plays and four new adaptations seen first by Chicago audiences were among those receiving nominations by The Jeff Awards Committee. 178 nominations in 32 categories honor Chicago Equity theatrical productions that opened between August 1, 2015 and July 31, 2016.

Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) has just announced the cast for the first new play of Roundabout Underground's newly expanded 2016-2017 season. The world-premiere production of Kingdom Come by Jenny Rachel Weiner will be directed by Kip Fagan, as part of Roundabout's 50th Anniversary Season, and will feature Brooke Bloom (Layne), Carmen M. Herlihy (Samantha Carlin), Alex Hernandez (Dominick Aquendo), Socorro Santiago (Delores Aquendo) and Stephanie Styles (Suz).

After a sold-out world premiere reading in May 2015, Barrymore Award-winning Theatre Exile plans to bring you a full-scale production of Tommy and Me by Ray Didinger. This autobiographical play recounts a seminal time in Ray Didinger's life as he helps his boyhood hero, Tommy McDonald, reach his goal of induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The Wilma Theater has announced its final production of the 2016/17 Season, the world premiere of Blanka Zizka's Adapt!. Launching off of Wilma Artistic Director Blanka Zizka's recent receipt of the Vilcek Prize in Theatre-which recognizes immigrants who have made lasting artistic contributions to American society-this world premiere project examines the process of assimilation and adaptation. It also showcases artists from the recently launched Wilma HotHouse resident acting company, who have been developing the piece with Zizka during their weekly training sessions, alongside an exciting collection of international artists including composer Mariana Sadovska, Czech actor Aneta Kernova, and Greek actor and singer Aneza Papadopoulou. The creative team includes Set Designer Matt Saunders, Costume Designer Oana Botez, Lighting Designer Thom Weaver, and Sound Designer Daniel Perelstein. Major Support for Adapt! has been provided by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage.

The Public Theater announced today that THE TOTAL BENT will extend an additional week through Sunday, June 26. With text by Stew and music by Stew and Heidi Rodewald, the team behind the Tony Award-wining musical Passing Strange, which premiered at The Public in 2003, this world premiere musical is directed by Joanna Settle. THE TOTAL BENT officially opened on Wednesday, May 25 and was originally extended to Sunday, June 19. It has now been extended an additional week to Sunday, June 26.

The Public Theater presents THE TOTAL BENT, with text by Stew and music by Stew and Heidi Rodewald, the team behind the Tony Award-wining musical Passing Strange, now through through Sunday, June 19. The production officially opened last night, Wednesday, May 25. Check out photos from the opening below!

Tonight, before a gathering of theatre artists and patrons, theatreWashington announced the winners of the 2016 Helen Hayes Awards, drawn from 202 eligible productions presented in the 2015 calendar year. Scroll down for the full list of nominees and winners!

The Public Theater presents THE TOTAL BENT, with text by Stew and music by Stew and Heidi Rodewald, the team behind the Tony Award-wining musical Passing Strange, now through through Sunday, June 19. The production officially opens on Wednesday, May 25. Check out a first look below!

The Public Theater announced today that THE TOTAL BENT will extend one week through Sunday, June 19. With text by Stew and music by Stew and Heidi Rodewald, the team behind the Tony Award-wining musical Passing Strange, which premiered at The Public in 2003, this world premiere musical is directed by Joanna Settle. Performances begin today, Tuesday, May 10 with an official press opening on Wednesday, May 25.

Primary Stages presents EXIT STRATEGY, a New York premiere by Ike Holter (Hit the Wall) and directed by Kip Fagan (Grand Concourse). The limited engagement runs now through May 6, 2016 at Primary Stages at the Cherry Lane Theatre and features Michael Cullen, Aime Donna Kelly,Rey Lucas, Deirdre Madigan, Christina Nieves, Brandon J. Pierce, and Ryan Spahn. BroadwayWorld brings you photos from opening night below!

Primary Stages presents EXIT STRATEGY, a New York premiere by Ike Holter (Hit the Wall)and directed by Kip Fagan (Grand Concourse). The limited engagement runs now through May 6, 2016 at Primary Stages at the Cherry Lane Theatre and features Michael Cullen, Aime Donna Kelly, Rey Lucas, Deirdre Madigan, Christina Nieves, Brandon J. Pierce, and Ryan Spahn. Opening night is tonight, April 12at 8PM. Exit Strategy is produced in association with Philadelphia Theater Company.

The Public Theater announced today that Stew and Heidi Rodewald will perform live with the on-stage band for THE TOTAL BENT, playing the guitar and bass, respectively. With text by Stew and music by Stew and Heidi Rodewald, the team behind the Tony Award-wining musical Passing Strange, which premiered at The Public in 2003, this world premiere musical is directed by Joanna Settle. Performances begin Tuesday, May 10 and continue through Sunday, June 12, with an official press opening on Wednesday, May 25.

Primary Stages and Catherine Adler & Jamie deRoy present EXIT STRATEGY, a New York premiere by Ike Holter (Hit the Wall) and directed by Kip Fagan (Grand Concourse). The limited engagement runs through May 6, 2016 at Primary Stages at the Cherry Lane Theatre and features Michael Cullen, Aime Donna Kelly, Rey Lucas, Deirdre Madigan, Christina Nieves, Brandon J. Pierce, and Ryan Spahn. Opening night is Tuesday, April 12. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

On April 22, EgoPo presents the opening of Sophie Treadwell's expressionist masterpiece, Machinal. Machinal is directed by Brenna Geffers, whose most recent work with EgoPo includes Eugene O'Neill's The Hairy Ape, and Henrik Ibsen's Lady from the Sea and A Doll's House.