Many may think that the heartwarming and brassy American musical comedy of yore with it's hummable tunes will never be seen again. That the days of star driven shows have dried up. The era when the names of Mary Martin, Ethel Merman, or Carol Channing all but guaranteed a hit musical. Now producers are wary of putting all of their eggs in one basket, relying on a star to stick with a show until it recoups it's investment. Happily...... no, joyously...... Broadway producer Scott Rudin was able to engage superstar Bette Midler for a year in the first revival of HELLO DOLLY! ever to happen on Broadway without Carol Channing
The Long DistanceAnd thus is launched the 44th annual Humana Festival of New American Plays. Once not very long ago the showcase for the Professional Training Company used to be the last show to open; now it OPENS the festival itself. Whether this is just out of love for the members of the PTC, a company that has always been a crucial part of Actor Theatre operations but has more recently taken on distinct intentionality in both the selection and application of said members.
Two Tony Award-winning musicals, an American classic, a smart new comedy, a haunting new adaptation of a literary masterpiece and a world premiere are at the heart of Syracuse Stage's 48th season. Artistic director Robert Hupp said the shows in the season all in some way address ideas of home 'in all its idealized, romanticized, messy and real manifestations.'
Village Theatre has announced its 2020-2021 Season which is filled with a compelling collection of shows that will combine to create an incredible year of theatre. The lineup includes: Mamma Mia!, a dazzling musical triumph filled to the brim with hit ABBA songs; Hello, Dolly!, the universally acclaimed smash hit; Deathtrap, a deliciously shocking comedy thriller; Making Tracks, a powerful musical about the Asian-American experience; and Ain't Misbehavin', a delightful and energizing revue featuring the music of Fats Waller.
For the first time in its 20 years Dragon is mounting two plays at the same time on an alternating schedule. Why? Because while being very different plays, they share much of the same DNA.
After an abbreviated season in 2019 to accommodate renovations and expansion to add larger public spaces, upgraded concession areas, accessible lobby adjustments and more restrooms facilities, Theatre Memphis will open August 21, 2020 to begin celebrating a century of entertaining the community featuring eleven productions between two stages The 100 year milestone is one that very few community theatres can claim as continuously performing for that period of time.
Next up at Terrific New Theatre is the pairing of two plays a?" a 19th-century literary classic and its modern-day sequel a?" performed in repertory March 5-April 4. Packaged as a?oeThe Nora Plays,a?? the project marks the first time in TNT's history that the company will stage two plays a?oein rep,a?? meaning the productions will perform during the same time frame but on alternating schedules.
The HCLAB Theatre Company and the Art of Acting Studio are proud to present its second annual Old Play Reading Festival, a twist on the concept of a a?oenewa?? play festival that instead honors plays in the classic theatre canon. The festival features alumni, faculty, administration, and friends of the Art of Acting Los Angeles and Stella Adler Studio of Acting NYC communities.
Theatre for a New Audience (TFANA; Jeffrey Horowitz, Founding Artistic Director) will present the New York premiere of celebrated American playwright Will Eno's Gnit, inspired by Henrik Ibsen's Peer Gynt (originally published in 1867). Directed by Eno's frequent collaborator, the Obie and Lortel Award-Winner Oliver Butler (Eno's 2014 The Open House and the 2018 revival of Thom Paine (based on nothing), starring Michael C. Hall, both at Signature Theater, and 2019's The Plot at Yale Rep; Heidi Schreck's Tony Award-nominated What the Constitution Means to Me).
Strawdog Theatre Company is pleased announce casting for its world premiere of Brian James Polak's topical drama Welcome to Keene, New Hampshire, directed by Artistic Director Leda Hoffmann.
Producers Brennan T. Jones and Danielle Demisay have announced the first New York presentation of Grace McLeod's acclaimed New Play, Herland, directed by James Fleming. Herland is cast by Hano Casting.
a?oeDolly will never go away again!a??
But that's just it. Dolly has never gone anywhere.
So long as there are humans on earth, Hello, Dolly! will continue to live. Somewhere, somehow, the show will always be produced, the songs always sung, the characters always riffed off of. It has left an impact that would be immeasurable. The late Jerry Herman's infectious melodies are so intertwined within the fabric of America that its title song helped Lyndon Johnson become President in 1964. This show is not to be missed!
Dixon Place has announced their 2020 season, featuring nine commissioned original productions and four puppetry productions, including Concrete Temple Theatre, Sara Juli, Eszter Balint & Stew, Shayna Strype, Rachel Klein, Nora Burns, Marga Gomez, Maria Camia, Andy Manjuck, Dorothy James and Arif Silverman.
On January 23, The MacDowell Colony kicks off the year-long MacDowell NYC Salon Series a?oeSpark & Illuminationa?? with an evening of original musical theatre as James Lapine, Tom Kitt, and Michael Korie (pictured at MacDowell above) will be on hand to present excerpts of Flying Over Sunset and talk about their MacDowell-supported collaboration just weeks before the musical's Broadway premiere. Writer-director Lapine, composer Kitt, and lyricist Korie will present songs from their new play in an intimate setting in Chelsea and will share stories of their creative process. The evening launches a series of public salons scheduled for 2020, as some of the contemporary art world's most dynamic creators will perform, exhibit, and read from works created at The MacDowell Colony in Peterborough, NH, one of the nation's leading contemporary arts organizations and its first artist residency program.
Vineyard Theatre's Artistic Directors Douglas Aibel and Sarah Stern and Managing Director Suzanne Appel announce that the company's 2020 Gala fundraiser will celebrate Tony Award-winning producer Daryl Roth and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Paula Vogel. The annual benefit Gala will take place on Monday, April 20, 2020, beginning at 6:00pm at 583 Park Avenue. Vineyard Theatre Board Member Sally Horchow will chair the event.
