Tony Speciale News

Abingdon Theatre Company proudly announces that San Francisco-based playwright, Jordan Ramirez Puckett is this year's recipient of the Christopher Brian Wolk Award for her play RESTORE.

Abingdon Theatre Company launches its new Master Class Series with THE SOLO STORY WORKSHOP, a three-day intensive workshop with award-winning writer and actor James Lecesne, to be held this weekend, December 11-13 at Abingdon Theatre Company (312 West 36th Street).

Classic Stage Company's production of Bertolt Brecht's MOTHER COURAGE AND HER CHILDREN, starring Tony Award winner Tonya Pinkins, begins performances tonight, December 9 for a limited engagement through January 24. MOTHER COURAGE AND HER CHILDREN will be directed by Brian Kulick and will feature original music by Tony Award winner Duncan Sheik. The official press opening is Thursday, January 7.

Abingdon Theatre Company continues its 2015-2016 Season with the world premiere of A ROOM OF MY OWN, written and directed by Charles Messina. The production features Mario Cantone (Sex and the City, Laugh Whore, Steve) and Ralph Macchio (Dancing with the Stars, The Karate Kid, My Cousin Vinny). A limited Off-Broadway engagement is set to begin previews February 13 in the June Havoc Theatre (312 West 36th Street). Opening night is set for Thursday, February 25, with performances through March 13.

The critically acclaimed off-Broadway hit THE ABSOLUTE BRIGHTNESS OF LEONARD PELKEY, written by and starring James Lecesne, the writer of the Academy Award-winning film Trevor, will have a limited 23 performance engagement at the Kirk Douglas Theatre, Wednesday, January 13 to Sunday, January 31, 2016 (press opening Thursday January 14).

Abingdon Theatre Company announces that San Francisco-based playwright Jordan Ramirez Puckett will receive its 2015 Christopher Brian Wolk Award for her play RESTORE. A presentation of the award and staged reading of the play is set for Monday, December 14, at 7:00pm in the June Havoc Theatre, 312 West 36th Street, in Manhattan.

Abingdon Theatre Company launches its new Master Class Series with THE SOLO STORY WORKSHOP, a three-day intensive workshop with award-winning writer and actor James Lecesne, to be held December 11-13 at Abingdon Theatre Company (312 West 36th Street).

BroadwayWorld is excited to report that Classic Stage Company's production of Bertolt Brecht's MOTHER COURAGE AND HER CHILDREN, starring Tony Award winner Tonya Pinkins, will begin performances Wednesday, December 9 for a limited engagement through January 24. MOTHER COURAGE AND HER CHILDREN will be directed by Brian Kulick and will feature original music by Tony Award winner Duncan Sheik. The official press opening is Thursday, January 7.

Abingdon Theatre Company just celebrated its 2015-2016 Season with ABINGDON: REFLECTIONS OF STARLIGHT, last night, October 26 at Espace (635 West 42nd Street in Manhattan). Richard Jay-Alexander, best known for directing Barbra Streisand and other artists in concert, directed the event, honoring Tony Award-winning costume designer Jane Greenwood, who designed Abingdon's acclaimed production of Hellman v. McCarthy; Abingdon Theatre Company's Vice Chair and former Managing Director, Heather Henderson; and one of New York's most prominent lawyers in entertainment, Mark Sendroff.

Abingdon Theatre Company just celebrated its 2015-2016 Season with ABINGDON: REFLECTIONS OF STARLIGHT, last night, October 26 at Espace (635 West 42nd Street in Manhattan). Richard Jay-Alexander, best known for directing Barbra Streisand and other artists in concert, directed the event, honoring Tony Award-winning costume designer Jane Greenwood, who designed Abingdon's acclaimed production of Hellman v. McCarthy; Abingdon Theatre Company's Vice Chair and former Managing Director, Heather Henderson; and one of New York's most prominent lawyers in entertainment, Mark Sendroff.

The producers of the critically-acclaimed new play THE ABSOLUTE BRIGHTNESS OF LEONARD PELKEY announced today that the play written by and starring James Lecesne will play a strictly limited three week engagement in Los Angeles from Wednesday, January 13, 2016 through Sunday, January 31, 2016 as a guest production at the Kirk Douglas Theatre (9820 Washington Boulevard, Culver City).  The hit play ends its Off-Broadway engagement Sunday, October 18, 2015 at the Westside Theatre (407 West 43 Street).

THE ABSOLUTE BRIGHTNESS OF LEONARD PELKEY, the hit play written by and starring James Lecesne about an LGBT youth who chose to shine brighter than bullies, will lead the charge in the Broadway and Off-Broadway community to be #BrighterThanBullies in celebration of Stomp Out Bullying's Blue Shirt Day, the seventh annual World Day of Bully Prevention on Monday, October 5, 2015. 

Abingdon Theatre Company has appointed Tony Speciale as its next Artistic Director. Mr. Speciale, currently represented Off-Broadway as director of The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey, succeeds Jan Buttram, who leaves her post after 22 years. Mr. Speciale begins October 1.

Just last night, The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey presented Tony Award winning playwright, performer and activist Eve Ensler with the Absolute Brightness Award. The award, previously awarded to LGBT civil rights hero Edie Windsor and Tony Award Winner and activist Alan Cumming, is given to a unique individual who is a shining beacon in their community, and an inspiration to live as your truest self. 

The producers of the critically-acclaimed new play THE ABSOLUTE BRIGHTNESS OF LEONARD PELKEY announced today that the hit play written by and starring James Lecesne will extend its engagement and now play through Sunday, October 18 at the Westside Theatre (407 West 43 Street). A complete national tour schedule will be announced in the coming weeks.

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Managing Director Jeff Griffin, has announced that its production of IPHIGENIA IN AULIS, acclaimed playwright Anne Washburn's (Mr. Burns, a post-electric play) transadaptation of Euripides' final play, directed by Obie Award winner Rachel Chavkin (Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812), will extend through Sunday, October 4 at CSC (136 East 13th Street). IPHIGENIA IN AULIS features original musical by The Bengsons and choreography by Sonya Tayeh. IPHIGENIA IN AULIS is part of CSC's Greek Festival, celebrating classical Greek theater as explored by some of the downtown theatre scene's most exciting artists.

The producers of the critically-acclaimed new play The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey announced today that Tony Award winning playwright, performer and activist Eve Ensler will be the next recipient of the Absolute Brightness Award. The award, previously awarded to LGBT civil rights hero Edie Windsor and Tony Award Winner and activist Alan Cumming, is given to a unique individual who is a shining beacon in their community, and an inspiration to live as your truest self. Ms. Ensler will be given the Absolute Brightness Award after the evening performance on Wednesday, September 23, 2015, at the Westside Theatre (407 West 43 Street).

Michael Urie and David Hyde Pierce stopped by THE ABSOLUTE BRIGHTNESS OF LEONARD PELKEY at the Westside Theatre last night, September 8, and posed with the show's creator and star James Lecesne after the show. Scroll down for a photo of the trio!

Atlantic Theater Company just announced the lineup for its 2015-16 Amplified Reading Series.

Classical Greek theatre will take over Classic Stage Company when it begins its 2015/2016 season with the inaugural GREEK FESTIVAL!