Vineyard Theatre News

Broadway In Chicago is proud to present the Chicago premiere of Avenue Q - the Tony Award-winning smash-hit musical about trying to make it in New York with big dreams and a tiny bank account. Avenue Q will play for a limited three-week engagement from May 21 - June 7, 2008 at the Cadillac Palace Theatre (151 W. Randolph St) as part of its national tour.

The Vineyard Theatre will present the world premiere of Tarell Alvin McCraney's new play WIG OUT! to kick off its 2008-2009 season in September, it has been announced by Douglas Aibel, The Vineyard's artistic director.

The new season on Broadway will begin with fireworks the day after July 4th when the musical [title of show] begins previews at the Lyceum Theatre (149 W. 45 St) on Saturday, July 5th prior to its official opening night on July 17th. [title of show] -- a most original American musical about the making of an original musical -- will be produced on Broadway by Kevin McCollum, Jeffrey Seller, Laura Camien, Roy Miller, Kris Stewart and The Vineyard Theatre, where [title of show] had its Off-Broadway debut in 2006.

Vineyard Theatre presents its 2008 Paula Vogel Playwriting Award to emerging playwright Rajiv Joseph, whose works include ANIMALS OUT OF PAPER and HUCK AND HOLDEN, it has been announced today by Vineyard Theatre's Artistic Director Douglas Aibel and Associate Artistic Director Sarah Stern.

THE LEAGUE OF OFF-BROADWAY THEATRES AND PRODUCERS today announced the nominations for THE 23rd ANNUAL LUCILLE LORTEL AWARDS FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT OFF-BROADWAY, which will be presented on Monday, May 5th at the Union Square Theatre (100 East 17th Street).

Soho Rep launches the 10th season of its highly popular WRITER/DIRECTOR LAB READING SERIES, readings of the very newest work by writers and directors at Soho Rep on Monday, April 7 at 7pm with, playwright Mike Daisey's THE MOON IS A DEAD WORLD, directed by Maria Goyanes -- the first of six new plays commissioned for the lab.

Magic Theatre announced Loretta Greco as its new artistic director. Ms. Greco comes to the Magic with an acclaimed directing career regionally and in New York, as well as celebrated producing experience as the Producing Artistic Director of Women's Project in NYC and as Associate Director and Staff Producer of McCarter Theatre.

Kathleen Chalfant, one of the theater's most celebrated actors, will star in the World Premiere of Alexander Dinelaris' searing new play, 'Red Dog Howls' at the El Portal Theatre for a strictly limited five week engagement from May 14 to June 13.

Manhattan Theatre Club (Lynne Meadow, Artistic Director; Barry Grove, Executive Producer; Daniel Sullivan, Acting Artistic Director 2007-2008 Season) is pleased to announce the lineup for this spring's Ernst C. Stiefel '7@7' Reading Series, formerly known as '6@6.'

Jenny Schwartz's new play that was developed by Vineyard Theatre and debuted at New Georges last year -- will return to The Vineyard (108 East 15th Street) as the company's third mainstage production of the 2007-08 Season, with previews set to begin April 9, prior to its official press opening April 17, it has been announced by Douglas Aibel, artistic director of Vineyard Theatre. Directed by Anne Kauffman (THE THUGS), the production was critically acclaimed when it opened at New Georges in May 2007. GOD'S EAR -- which The Vineyard will present in association with New Georges -- is a compelling and moving new play about a young couple struggling through their relationship after the loss of their child. About bringing GOD'S EAR back to The Vineyard for a mainstage production, Mr. Aibel says, 'It's really thrilling for me to welcome Jenny Schwartz and GOD'S EAR to The Vineyard. Jenny first worked with The Vineyard as an intern in our literary office some years ago, and then we had the honor of collaborating with her on a series of readings and workshops of GOD'S EAR. We were proud to see the play go on to a production at New Georges last season in a limited engagement - and absolutely delighted that the play will now have the opportunity to return to New York and The Vineyard.' The cast of GOD'S EAR includes Gibson Frazier, Judith Greentree, Christina Kirk, Raymond McAnally, Matthew Montelongo, Monique Vukovic, and Rebecca Wisocky. The production features original songs by Michael Friedman, with additional lyrics by Jenny Schwartz. GOD'S EAR has scenic design by Kris Stone; costume design by Olivera Gajic; lighting design by Tyler Micoleau; sound design by Leah Gelpe.

The 2008 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize has been awarded to Judith Thompson for her critically acclaimed play Palace of the End, marking the first time a Canadian writer has received the prestigious playwriting award's highest honor. Thompson received $20,000 and a signed and numbered print by artist Willem de Kooning at a special 30th Anniversary ceremony on Monday, March 10th at the Alley Theatre in Houston, Texas where Ms. Blackburn first became involved in theatre.

The American Theatre Wing and XM Satellite Radio proudly present an interview with actress Kathleen Chalfant, on their weekly theatrical interview show, 'Downstage Center,' on XM's On Broadway (XM Channel 28).

The 2007-2008 Reprise! Broadway's Best season will end with Flora, the Red Menace, John Kander and lyricist Fred Ebb's first Broadway musical. Kander and Ebb went on to become among American musical theatre's most important creators. Eden Espinosa stars as Flora, opposite Manoel Felciano as Harry.

The premiere of Fugitive Songs, a new musical by the emerging team of composer Chris Miller and lyricist Nathan Tysen, will be presented by Off-Broadway's Dreamlight Theatre Company, from March 8 - 30 at the 45th Street Theatre

Beginning Monday, February 25 at 5:30 PM, catch performances from some of today's hottest Off-Broadway productions including Altar Boyz, Forbidden Broadway, Celia, JUMP, Perfect Crime and Fabulous Divas of Broadway. Performances begin at 5:30PM and take place on the balcony just off the main floor of Bloomingdales

Composer Mark Mulcahy, also known as a solo artist and the former lead of the indie-rock band Miracle Legion, makes his Off-Broadway debut February 21 when he joins the cast of Vineyard Theatre's new hit musical The Slug Bearers of Kayrol Island (Or, The Friends of Dr. Rushower), which he co-created with librettist and noted cartoonist Ben Katchor, for five performances only through February 24, at the Vineyard Theatre (108 East 15th Street)

The Tony Award-winning Vineyard Theatre (108 East 15th Street) has announced a two-week extension of its new musical The Slug Bearers of Kayrol Island (Or, The Friends of Dr. Rushower) with libretto and drawings by Ben Katchor and music composed by Mark Mulcahy, now set to play through March 16.

The Tony Award-winning Vineyard Theatre celebrated the opening of its newest musical, The Slug Bearers of Kayrol Island (Or, The Friends of Dr. Rushower), featuring libretto and drawings by acclaimed cartoonist Ben Katchor and music composed by musician Mark Mulcahy, on Tuesday, February 12 at Osso Bucco on Unversity Place.