William Morris News

A selection of 40 short plays, chosen from over 450 submissions by playwriting workshops, university theatre programs, and professional companies nationwide will be presented at the 33rd Annual Samuel French Inc.Off-Off Broadway Short Play Festival on July 15th.

Twelve of theatre's most highly regarded artistic directors and literary agents and have been added to judging panel and will jury the 40 short plays featured in the 34th Annual Samuel French Inc. Off-Off Broadway Short Play Festival beginning July 14th at Peter Jay Sharp Theatre (416 West 42nd Street).

Casting has just been announced for Vassar & New York Stage and Film Powerhouse Theater's three musicals of the 25th anniversary season.

The fabulous Pink Martini, 'beautiful and sophisticated,' as declared by The New Yorker, returns to Toronto after a highly successful debut on March of 2008. This concert also marks the annual gala fundraising event for The Corporation of Massey Hall and Roy Thomson Hall. The event includes a fantastic dinner, concert ticket, and cocktail reception.

Renowned Theatrical Agent Peter Franklin has been let go from the William Morris Agency, according to Variety. Franklin, the head of the theater division at WMA, is among the 100+ employees fired as part of the ongoing William Morris-Endeavor merger.

Joe Iconis' vibrant and angry song cycle has moved to Second Stage.

The fabulous Pink Martini, 'beautiful and sophisticated,' as declared by The New Yorker, returns to Toronto after a highly successful debut on March of 2008. This concert also marks the annual gala fundraising event for The Corporation of Massey Hall and Roy Thomson Hall. The event includes a fantastic dinner, concert ticket, and cocktail reception.

The award-winning York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director) is thrilled to announce, due to overwhelming response, the next offering in its acclaimed Developmental Reading Series, Dillinger: Public Enemy Number One, is essentially 'sold out.' As always, these readings are open to the general public and admission is free, however this particular reading is already fully reserved and now on waitlist only.

Sara Katz and Sh-K-Boom Records are happy to announce a new venue for THINGS TO RUIN, the critically acclaimed, incendiary collection of songs by Joe Iconis, directed by John Simpkins. For the month of May, T2R will be presented at Second Stage Theatre (307 W 43rd) with performances beginning Monday, May 4, 2009. This limited-engagement run is scheduled through Monday, May 18th (detailed schedule below). Tickets are $25 and can be purchased by calling 212-246-4422 or online at www.2st.com.

THINGS TO RUIN is about human beings who are messy, emotional, drugged up, knocked down, inspired, electric and who don't have nearly enough time to cause the kind of commotion they so desperately need to. Performed by a cast of viciously talented young singers and a highly flammable four-piece band led by Joe himself, THINGS TO RUIN rocks with an occasionally profane and always heartfelt explosion of music and high drama.

Tony Winner Dan Fogler premiered his directing debut at the Tribeca Film Festival last week. The movie, Hysterical Psycho, is a spoof of cabin in the woods movies, made with his theater group, Stage 13.

Variety reports that the leaders of WMA and Endeavor have agreed to a merger, forming a true powerhouse, WME Entertainment, that promises to change the landscape of the talent business.

Sara Katz and Sh-K-Boom Records are happy to announce a new venue for THINGS TO RUIN, the critically acclaimed, incendiary collection of songs by Joe Iconis, directed by John Simpkins. For the month of May, T2R will be presented at Second Stage Theatre (307 W 43rd) with performances beginning Monday, May 4, 2009. This limited-engagement run is scheduled through Monday, May 18th (detailed schedule below). Tickets are $25 and can be purchased by calling 212-246-4422 or online at www.2st.com.

The New York Times is reporting that major talent agencies Endeavor and William Morris have been discussing a merger.

The Zipper has closed but that is not going to get the Things to Ruin gang down. While they look for a new home, join Joe Iconis and family for a THINGS TO RUIN PEP RALLY - FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, beginning at 8PM at DALTON'S (611 9th Ave, between 43rd and 44th). This is a FREE event. An announcement regarding the future home of T2R is coming shortly, but until then- let the party continue - have some fun, make some noise, sing some songs and put our arms around the people we love. As a wise man once said, 'They can take away our home, but they can't take away our rock and roll. Things To Ruin is about human beings who are messy, emotional, drugged up, knocked down, inspired, electric and who don't have nearly enough time to cause the kind of commotion they so desperately need to. Performed by a cast of viciously talented young singers and a highly flammable four-piece band led by Joe himself, Things to Ruin rocks with an occasionally profane and always heartfelt explosion of music and high drama.

Things To Ruin, the critically acclaimed, incendiary collection of songs by Joe Iconis will return to The Zipper Factory Theater (336 West 37th Street, between 8th and 9th Avenues) with weekly Friday night performances beginning Friday, January 9, 2009. The limited-performance, limited-engagement run is scheduled through Friday, February 27.

THE ZIPPER FACTORY THEATER (336 West 37th Street, between 8th and 9th Avenues) will present the following entertainment events in January 2009. For advance tickets to all Zipper events call OvationTix at 212-352-3101 or buy online at www.thezipperfactory.com (For IN-PERSON purchases, The Zipper Box Office opens one hour prior to curtain for all events).

Today's Broadway Blogs on BroadwayWorld.com from Sunday, December 28, 2008.

A couple of years ago I went to The Flea Theater and had a fun time with A.R. Gurney's then newest play, Post Mortem. It was a clever little piece taking place in the future about a college student writing his thesis on a long-forgotten playwright named A.R. Gurney, and was filled with self-referential zingers based on his reputation for writing 'middle class comedies of manners' that made him popular with WASP theatergoers.

THE ZIPPER FACTORY THEATER (336 West 37th Street, between 8th and 9th Avenues) will present the following entertainment events in January 2009. For advance tickets to all Zipper events call OvationTix at 212-352-3101 or buy online at www.thezipperfactory.com (For IN-PERSON purchases, The Zipper Box Office opens one hour prior to curtain for all events).