Williamstown Theatre News

The poignant and provocative new musical, A Minister's Wife, makes its West Coast premiere at San Jose Rep today, June 20 - July 14, 2013. Based on George Bernard Shaw's well-known play Candida, this musical soars with its emotive and dazzling score by the award-winning composer of Adding Machine, Joshua Schmidt, and its beautiful lyrics by Jan Levy Tranen. The smart script by Austin Pendleton, a Tony-nominated director, actor and playwright, and graceful directing by the originator and award-winning director, Michael Halberstam, shape this musical into an adventurous evening of theatre. The Wall Street Journal says, 'This is the most important new musical since The Light in the Piazza ... to say that you mustn't miss it is to grossly understate the case.'

David Abeles (Once, Original Cast Member) will take over the role of 'Pierre' in the hit downtown production ofNATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812 beginning Tuesday, July 9th. Dave Malloy, the show's creator, will play his final performance as 'Pierre' Friday, June 21st, as he leaves to work on several new projects including commissions from LCT3, San Francisco's American Conservatory Theater, and the Youth Musical Theater Company in Berkeley, as well as upcoming shows at the Incubator Arts Project and The Bushwick Starr. From June 22nd through July 7th, the role of 'Pierre' will be played by Luke Holloway.

The New Group launches its 2013-2014 Off-Broadway season with the New York premiere of Pulitzer Prize winner Beth Henley's The Jacksonian, arriving in Fall 2013. Directed by Tony Award winner Robert Falls, this production features Ed Harris, Glenne Headly, Amy Madigan and Bill Pullman. The Jacksonian was first produced at the Geffen Playhouse in 2012. In Winter 2014, as the second production in the company's season, The New Group delivers the world premiere of Thomas Bradshaw's Intimacy, directed by Scott Elliott. The third production of The New Group's upcoming season is to be announced.

Point Park University's Conservatory Theatre Company will produce five works, including a special, student-devised production, a rock musical and a famous Irish play, in the 2013-2014 season. The season begins Oct. 18 and runs through April 19, 2014.

The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey's summer of comedy continues with Noel Coward's frothy delightFallen Angels. Fallen Angels begins performances on July 3 and continues through July 28th at The Shakespeare Theatre's Main Stage - The F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre.

Penguin Rep Theatre will present How the World Began, Catherine Trieschmann's thought-provoking new play examining contemporary America where religion, science and irreconcilable beliefs collide, beginning Friday, June 28 in Stony Point (Rockland County), New York.

Caroline Aaron, Michelle Beck, Peter Grosz and Carla Gugino will be featured in the cast of the upcoming LCT3/Lincoln Center Theater world premiere production of A KID LIKE JAKE, a new play by Daniel Pearle, directed by Evan Cabnet. A KID LIKE JAKE opens tonight, June 17 and runs through Sunday, July 14 at the Claire Tow Theater, 150 West 65 Street.

OPEN REHEARSAL READINGS TODAY, JUNE 15-16 The YALE INSTITUTE FOR MUSIC THEATRE (Mark Brokaw, Artistic Director) announces the creative teams and casting for the two original book musicals, The Last Queen of Canaan, with music by Jacob Yandura and book and lyrics by Rebekah Greer Melocik, and Mrs. Hughes, with music and lyrics by Sharon Kenny and book by Janine Nabers, which will be developed in an intensive lab setting in New Haven, June 4-16. The residency culminates with open rehearsal readings of each project, presented as part of the International Festival of Arts & Ideas, today, June 15 and the 16th, 2013.

Westport Country Playhouse stages the classic comedy, 'The Show-Off,' described as a funny, surprising, and moving story of a family in upheaval when their youngest daughter becomes engaged to a brash loudmouth, playing now through June 29. Cast in principal roles are 2013 Drama Desk Award winner Jayne Houdyshell as the imperious Mrs. Fisher, and Drama Desk nominee Will Rogers as Aubrey Piper, the show-off of the title. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Cutting-Edge Composers is in the studio with Eli Bolin exclusively on Broadwayworld.com. We caught up with Eli to find out about his upcoming productions of Found at NY Stage and Film, and Volleygirls, starring Susan Blackwell, at NYMF. Check out the video below for insight into Eli's writing process, and a sneak peek at two songs from two of his latest musicals! You might even see a surprise guest performance from Volleygirls cast member Jennifer Johnson.

Dixon Place & The Apothetae present The Penalty, written by Clay McLeod Chapman and directed by Kris Thor, with music and lyrics by Robert M. Johanson and Clay McLeod Chapman. The inaugural show for a company devoted to theatre featuring disabled artists begins previews tonight, June 13 at 7:30, and continues Fridays and Saturdays: June 14, 15, 21, 22, 28 & 29 at 7:30 at Dixon Place, 161A Chrystie Street, New York, NY. Tickets: $15 GA / $18 door / $12 Students & Seniors. Visit www.dixonplace.org or call 212 219­0736. Run time: 70 minutes,­ no intermission.

Concrete Temple Theatre presents the World Premiere of Geppetto, written and directed by Renee Philippi, performed and designed by Carlo Adinolfi, with original music composed by Lewis Flinn (Lysistrata Jones & The Little Dog Laughed on Broadway) performed live by cellist Jeanette Stenson. Geppetto runs from tonight, June 13 - 30, 2013 in a limited engagement at HERE, located at 145 6th Avenue (Enter on Dominick, 1 block south of Spring) in New York City. Previews begin tonight, June 13 for a June 16 opening.

Firehouse Theatre has announced the winner of the 11th Annual Festival of New American Plays, Kelly Younger's This World We Know. Based in Los Angeles, Younger is an award-winning playwright with work staged off-Broadway, regionally, and internationally. The Festival took place June 6 - 9, generously sponsored by Carole Weinstein.

The rock musical Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, which was seen on Broadway in 2010, will receive its Hampton Roads regional debut in a new immersive production at the The Generic Theater in downtown Norfolk, VA this fall.

Award-winning playwright David Koteles' play After the Chairs, directed by Jason Jacobs is an official selection of the 2013 All Out Arts, Inc.'s Fresh Fruit Festival, and will be presented July 10th - 14th at The Wild Project (195 E. 3rd Street).

SOMETHING SUDDEN 5WEPT 0V3R ME, a new play written by Steven Mark Tenney and directed & choreographed by Susan Tenney, began performances at the Robert Moss Theatre (440 Lafayette Street, NYC) on June 5th as part of the Planet Connections Theatre Festivity, New York's premiere eco-friendly/socially-conscious arts festival. The benefitting organization for this production is Rainforest Alliance. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Summer Stages: BWW's Top Summer Theatre Picks in Massachusetts