Williamstown Theatre News

Goodspeed Musicals is thrilled to announce that legendary performer Chita Rivera will be the latest recipient of The Goodspeed Award for Outstanding Contribution to Musical Theatre.

'God, Ben. We get it, we get it. Arts in school blah blah blah.' I know, I know, but I have to piggyback on last week and tell you about what I got to witness this week.

Previews begin tonight, May 13 at 8PM for the Playwrights Horizons world premiere production of Indian Summer, a new play by Gregory S. Moss (Reunion; punkplay; Billy Witch; La Brea; Orange, Hat & Grace; House of Gold).

The Old Globe presents the Arena Stage production of Pulitzer Prize winner Lawrence Wright's thrilling new play CAMP DAVID, directed by Arena Stage's artistic director, Molly Smith.

Following last month's announcement of the incoming Jerome and Many Voices Fellows, the Playwrights' Center is pleased to introduce the 2016-17 McKnight National Residency and Commission recipient, two 2016-17 McKnight Fellows in Playwriting, six new Core Writers and three 2016-17 Core Apprentices. McKnight Theater Artist Fellows will be announced in June.

From the moment Christopher Fitzgerld enters the stage in Sara Bareilles and Jessie Nelson's WAITRESS, the comic genius begins. He plays Ogie in a performance that has earned him his third Tony Nomination (Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical). How does he do it? Find out below!

On May 4, the nominees flocked to the Paramount Hotel, where they met with the press for the first time since getting the big news. BroadwayWorld will be bringing you coverage from the epic day over the next month (so watch out for lots more), but for now, check out photos of Best Performance by an Actor in Featured Role in a Musical nominee Christopher Fitzgerald, as captured by Walter McBride!

A friendly reminder! Previews begin next Friday, May 13 at 8PM for the Playwrights Horizons world premiere production of Indian Summer, a new play by Gregory S. Moss (Reunion; punkplay; Billy Witch; La Brea; Orange, Hat & Grace; House of Gold).

Lesser America (The Bachelors, Carnival Kids, Trevor) will present HALF MOON BAY by Dan Moyer. It is directed by Jess Chayes (AD of Peter and The Starcatcher) starring Keilly McQuail (You Got Older, Her Requiem) and Gabriel King (These Seven Sicknesses). Previews begin May 12 at Cherry Lane Theatre, where Lesser America is the inaugural Company in Residence. Opening set for Thursday, May 19.

The Habitat presents HARRY & THE THIEF, written by Sigrid Gilmer and directed by Katie Lindsay, running May 19 - June 4 at the Robert Moss Theater. Travel back in time. Find Harriet Tubman. Don't f**k it up.

Nancy Manocherian's the cell presents the World Premiere of SHOES & BAGGAGE, a one-woman musical about the 'high of the buy.' It is written and performed by Broadway veteran Cheryl Stern (La Cage Aux Folles, The Women) with music by Drama Desk nominee Tom Kochan (Almost, Maine). Directed by Joe Barros, previews begin tonight, May 5, at the cell with opening slated for Thursday, May 12. This limited engagement is produced on an Off-Broadway contract.

'Twas the night before the Tony nominations, when all through midtown pretty much everyone was stirring. Especially that mouse (at least in pre-war buildings above restaurants). The iphones were charging on bedside tables with care in hopes that when the nomination list came out at 8:30, your name would be there.

Zeitgeist Stage Company presents the Boston area premiere of Samuel D. Hunter's A GREAT WILDERNESS, set in a gay conversion camp in Idaho. A gentle Christian counselor takes on one final camper before his retirement, but the boy wanders off into the woods, setting in motion a physical search for him and soul-searching for the adults in his life. The plot gets lost in the woods with the missing boy, resulting in a very different play than anticipated.

AstonRep Theatre Company is pleased to announce its full 2016-17 Season, kicking off this fall with its first-ever world premiere - THE BLACK SLOT, Warren Hoffman's hilarious and biting satire about racial politics in the American regional theater, directed by Associate Artistic Director Derek Bertelsen. 

Nancy Manocherian's the cell presents the World Premiere of SHOES & BAGGAGE, a one-woman musical about the "high of the buy." It is written and performed by Broadway veteran Cheryl Stern (La Cage Aux Folles, The Women) with music by Drama Desk nominee Tom Kochan (Almost, Maine). Directed by Joe Barros , previews begin May 5 at the cell with opening slated for Thursday, May 12.

Bucolic setting are wonderful . . . until it rains and everyone is wall-to-wall unpacking their baggage, airing their dirty laundry, calling each other on the carpet, and climbing the walls. At least that's what happens in THE COUNTRY HOUSE by Donald Marguiles. It's an explicit homage to Chekhov -- sort of an UNCLE VANYA and THE SEAGULL mashup. I wasn't knocked out by the script. The setup is simple, the plot predictable, the conflicts obvious. The actors have to bring a lot to this show to make is worth watching. Fortunately, Director, David Landis, had an exceptional cast.wisecracks into heated discussions simply to hear them sizzle.

Vassar & New York Stage and Film have announced a few of the projects tapped for the upcoming 32nd Powerhouse Season, the annual summer season which stages full productions of new plays, workshop presentations of new plays and musicals, and readings of other works in progress, among other developmental programming.

In THE COUNTRY HOUSE, what The New York Times calls 'a valentine to the artists of the stage,' a group of famous and would-be-famous creative artists have come to their summer home during the Williamstown Theatre Festival. The weekend takes an unexpected turn, and everyone is forced to come to terms with the roles they play in each other's lives. Scroll down for a first look at The Circuit Playhouse's production below!

This weekend's big news: Will Swenson joins DISASTER!, the 2016 Lucille Lortel Awards take place on Sunday, and DEAR EVAN HANSEN opens off-Broadway!

Williamstown Theatre Festival has added a new community immersive theatre project entitled Orpheus in the Berkshires (July 14 - 17), a World Premiere production made by and for the Berkshires, as well as an exciting line-up of special events for their 62nd season.