Tony Kushner News

Artistic Director Charles Newell and Executive Director Dawn Helsing announce the addition of new performances dates for the Chicago Premiere production of Caroline, or Change by Tony Award-winner Tony Kushner and Jeanine Tesori, directed by Charles Newell. The production has been extended through Sunday, October 26, 2008, at Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis Avenue.

The Living Theatre will begin its 2008-2009 season with the limited run of Judith Malina and Hanon Reznikov's 'Eureka!', based on an Edgar Allen Poe essay about the origin of the Universe. Previews begin on Saturday, September 27, 2008 and will officially open on Wednesday, October 1. The production is directed by Judith Malina and features an original score by Patrick Grant.

Following a successful try-out engagement in Seattle, SHREK THE MUSICAL will begin preview performances in New York at the Broadway Theatre on Saturday, November 8, with the official opening on Sunday, December 14.

On Wednesday, October 15, 2008, the Princess Grace Foundation-USA will host the Princess Grace Awards Gala at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City and present 31 Awards to emerging artists in theater, dance and film, as well as two Princess Grace Statue Awards to artists who have previously won Awards and have shown achievement and growth in their respective fields.

Actress and playwright ELLEN MCLAUGHLIN, best known for originating the role of the Angel in Tony Kushner's 'ANGELS IN AMERICA', appearing in every U.S. production from its earliest workshops through its Broadway run, will present a workshop presentation of her new play 'PENELOPE' at NYU this fall. 'PENELOPE' is a music-theater piece featuring Ms. Mc Laughlin and a string quartet with original music by Sarah Kirkland Snider. It will be presented at NYU Gallatin School's new Labowitz theatre, 715 Broadway, on October 29, 20, 31 and November 1st at 7 PM with a 2 PM matinee on November 1.

Today Tony Taccone, artistic director of Berkeley Repertory Theatre, announced additional dates for two solo shows that he staged in Berkeley before launching them on tours across the continent. Danny Hoch's Taking Over had its world premiere at Berkeley Rep in January and hit it big in Montreal this July; next week it starts an All City Tour featuring free performances in Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx in addition to previously announced dates in Manhattan and Los Angeles. Moreover, after a record-breaking run in Berkeley last winter, Carrie Fisher's Wishful Drinking careened through Hartford, San Jose, Santa Fe, and Washington, DC this summer; now it adds Seattle to a list of upcoming destinations that also includes Boston.

The Living Theatre (21 Clinton St.) will begin its 2008-2009 season with the limited run of Judith Malina and Hanon Reznikov's EUREKA!, based on an Edgar Allen Poe essay about the origin of the Universe. Previews begin on Saturday, September 27, 2008 and will officially open on Wednesday, October 1. The production is directed by Judith Malina and features an original score by Patrick Grant.

The Huntington Theatre Company opens its season at the Calderwood Pavilion at the BCA with Academy Award-nominated Jose Rivera's Boleros for the Disenchanted. Directed by OBIE Award-winning Chay Yew, the production runs October 10 - November 15, 2008.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) will present the New York premiere of TAKING OVER, the first new solo play by OBIE Award winner Danny Hoch in 10 years. Prior to its run at The Public in November, the Hip-Hop Theater Festival and The Public will join forces to present free performances of TAKING OVER in neighborhoods most affected by the play's explosive topic of gentrification: the South Bronx, Long Island City, and Williamsburg.

South Coast Repertory will present the Southern California premiere of Dead Man's Cell Phone, Sarah Ruhl's fantastical new play about a woman who answers a dead man's cell phone and finds her life turned upside down. Directed by Bart DeLorenzo, Dead Man's Cell Phone runs Sept. 21 - Oct. 12 on the Julianne Argyros Stage.

Euan Morton used the writings of John Lennon and his son Julian as well as John Denver and Nik Kershaw to create an evening of poetry and song entitled 'Stranger in a Strange Land.' 'Stranger in a Strange Land' will be performed at the Metropolitan Room Sundays, October 5, 12, and 19 at 9:30 PM. There will be a $30 cover and two beverage minimum. These performances over the month of October will be the first time in a long time that Euan has performed some of the signature material from the musical 'Taboo' and the first time he and his accompanist, Bryan Reeder, will have played their new material in public.

Epic Theater Ensemble, in partnership with John Jay College of Criminal Justice, will host a one-night only special event to benefit Epic's innovative, civic-minded in-school and after-school education programs. Some of today's top writers and performers will honor a large group of First Time Voters with an evening of satirical, scandalous, and inspiring short plays, songs, sketches, and toasts

Tony Kushner has been named the first recipient of the 'Steinberg Distinguished Playwright Award,' it was officially announced today at a press conference in New York City. The award, which was established earlier this year by The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust, will be presented at a ceremony on Tuesday, October 21, at 620 Loft & Garden at Rockefeller Center. The honor comes with a cash prize of $200,000, making this by far the largest award ever created to honor and encourage artistic achievement in the American theater.

A statue designed by Tony Award-nominated scenic designer and architect David Rockwell, and dubbed 'The Mimi' was unveiled today at a press conference in New York City.

The New York Times reports this morning that Playwright Tony Kushner has been named the first recipient of the Steinberg Distinguished Playwright Award. The award, which which comes with a cash prize of $200,000 will be presented on Wednesday.

Euan Morton is set to return to the Metropolitan Room in 'Stranger in a Strange Land' on October 5, 12 and 19th at 9:30 PM.

New York Theatre Workshop (NYTW) Artistic Director James C. Nicola and Managing Director William Russo have announced that Beast, written by Michael Weller and directed by Jo Bonney, will begin performances Friday, August 29 at 8pm, at NYTW, 79 East 4th Street, between Second Avenue and Bowery. Opening night is scheduled for Monday, September 15 at 7pm. The production will run through Sunday, October 12.

Artistic Director James C. Nicola and Managing Director William Russo have announced that New York Theatre Workshop (NYTW) will present its 2008 Pre-Election Series, a program of public readings and events timed to this year's historic presidential election.

Artistic Director James C. Nicola and Managing Director William Russo have announced that New York Theatre Workshop (NYTW) will present its 2008 Pre-Election Series, a program of public readings and events timed to this year's historic presidential election.

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Jessica R. Jenen, will present the return of its popular First Look Festival - a program of one-night only staged readings, performed by notable actors. This season, the CSC First Look Festival turns its gaze to the works of Bertolt Brecht, perhaps one of the most influential playwrights of the 20th Century. Brecht's plays redefined the very nature of theatrical presentation to address the most pressing concerns of his tumultuous generation. CSC will be presenting four of Brecht's seminal works: The Caucasian Chalk Circle, In the Jungle of Cities, The Good Person of Sezuan, and Life of Galileo.