Williamstown Theatre News

A Hollywood action star tries to prove himself in a serious Broadway play by Kafka, and he comes up against a new understudy with a chip on his shoulder and a tangled romantic past, in San Jose Rep's production of The Understudy, scheduled to run tonight, May 10 through June 3. Press Opening Night is May 16, 2012, at 7:30 pm.

Ars Nova presents, as part of the Out Loud series, a FREE reading of: QUEEN BEE by Sharyn Rothstein, directed by Adrienne Campbell-Holt. The cast includes Leslie Ayvazian, Kyle Beltran, Aya Cash, Will Jackson Harper and Chip Zien.

Acclaimed Off-Broadway not-for-profit theater company Playwrights Horizons (Tim Sanford, Artistic Director; Leslie Marcus, Managing Director) has announced additional details for its 2012 special online Auction. Bidding for the auction, which already features an outstanding array of unique opportunities and experiences, is now underway at www.BiddingForGood/PlaywrightsHorizons. Online bidding continues through Monday, May 14 (with items staggered to close at 8PM and 9PM).

Penguin Rep Theatre (Joe Brancato, Artistic Director, and Andrew M. Horn, Executive Director) and Morton Wolkowitz (Stomp, The Unexpected Man) will present the Off-Broadway premiere of Miracle On South Division Street, by Tom Dudzick, directed by Joe Brancato. Opening Night is Sunday May 13th at St. Luke's Theatre (308 West 46th Street, between 8th and 9th Avenues). See photos from the production below!

Princeton's own Bebe Neuwirth headlines McCarter Theatre Center's Annual Gala Benefit tonight, May 5, 2012.

HERO Theatre announced today that the cast of the "King Lear" benefit staged reading starring Olympia Dukakis and directed by Austin Pendleton will include Louis Cancelmi (Sarah Kane's "Blasted" at Soho Rep), Lynn Cohen ("Sex and the City," Tina Howe's "Chasing Manet'), Dashiell Eaves ("Becky Shaw", "A Behanding In Spokane"), Paul Lazar (Classic Stage Company's "Three Sisters", "Silence of the Lambs") and George Morfogen ("Freud's Last Session", CSC's "Three Sisters", and HBO's "OZ"). The cast also includes Elisa Bocanegra, Seth Duerr, Korey Jackson, Albert Jones, Thomas Kopache, James Martinez, Desiree Matthews, Anya Migdal, Liam Mitchell and Bobby Plasencia.

Canal Park Playhouse today announced the next play in their monthly THE BACK ROOM READING SERIES, Kenny Finkle's ALIVE AND WELL, directed by Samuel Buggeln. The reading of ALIVE AND WELL takes place on Wednesday, May 16 at 7 PM at Canal Park Playhouse (508 Canal Street, between Greenwich and West Streets in Tribeca). The reading series is FREE and open to the public. Tickets are available at the door, one hour prior to the performance. For more information, visit www.canalparkplayhouse.com.

Comedian and commentator Lewis Black shows off his playwriting prowess with ACT - A Contemporary Theatre's production of the wedding day comedy One Slight Hitch. The play is the West Coast debut of a new work by Black, who is not only a Comedy Central regular and a contributor to the award winning The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, but also a stand-up performer and studied playwright.

Katselas Theatre Company will presents the world premiere of BEAUTIFIED by multi-award-winner Tony Abatemarco, opening Friday, May 25, 2012 with reception to follow and then 8pm Friday and Saturdays, 2pm Sundays through July 1, 2012 at the Skylight Theatre 1816 N. Vermont, LA 90027.

Today, Actors Theatre of Louisville's Artistic Director Les Waters and Managing Director Jennifer Bielstein announce the appointment of Meredith McDonough as the Theatre's Associate Artistic Director.

The New Group presents the world premiere of An Early History of Fire, a new play by Tony Award-winning playwright David Rabe. Directed by Jo Bonney, this production features Gordon Clapp, Erin Darke, Jonny Orsini, Devin Ratray, Dennis Staroselsky, Theo Stockman and Claire van der Boom. Limited Off-Broadway engagement is slated April 5 - May 26 at The New Group @ Theatre Row (410 West 42nd Street). The official Opening Night was Monday, April 30 at 7:00 PM. Check out the after-party photos below featuing Meryle Streep and all the cast.

Dixon Place will present BD Wong in the one-man musical Herringbone. Wong, best known for his Tony Award winning performance in M. Butterfly and his role in the long running hit series Law & Order: SVU, will appear in Herringbone for two performances only on Monday May 21, and Tuesday May 22, at 7:00pm.

We'll be talking to nominees all day for their reactions! Click here for the complete list! Audra McDonald for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical for THE GERSHWINS' PORGY AND BESS 'I am honored and grateful and I'm super thrilled for the production as a whole to get so many nominations. I am so proud of this production and thankful to the Tony nominating committee for recognizing all aspects of the show. I got the news via text message. As usual, it was up at 6:15 for me to get the kids to school and I was back in bed by 8! Will was here though so it was nice to roll over when I got the news and say 'Hey I got a nomination!' Then we both conked out again. When we finally got up I asked him to be my date for the Tonys - he said yes! - so I guess that was our little celebration. Now it's back to being a mom for the day and get ready for the show tonight. I'm really looking forward to seeing everyone at the theater tonight to congratulate them.'

Judith Light, Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play for Other Desert Cities 'I'm really excited, and I'm really honored and thrilled! I got a text first from our company manager from Lombardi, and my manager at got up at 4 this morning in California and called me right away. I spoke to both first! Today I'm going to a memorial service for Ted Mann- one of the founders of Circle in the Square who passed a way a little while ago. We were very close. I know he would be very happy right now. I'm happy I get to honor him today. I'm so thrilled that we got so many nominations- Jon Robin Baitz, and sets and lighting and Stockard! It's so extraordinary! It's the second year in a row for me and to be welcomed back is really special. It's all about the honor.'

The Contemporary American Theater Festival (CATF) at Shepherd University has announced the 2012 five-play repertory for its 22nd season of producing and developing new American theater. The season will feature new plays from Johnna Adams, Bob Clyman, Neil LaBute, Evan M. Wiener, and Bess Wohl. The four-week festival, consisting of 94 performances and other programming, will be held July 6 - 29 in Shepherdstown, WV.

Rubicon Theatre Artistic Directors KARYL LYNN BURNS and JAMES O'NEIL announced the company's 15th Anniversary Season at a preview event for subscribers, donors and media last earlier this month at the theatre's home in Ventura's Downtown Cultural District.

The Attic Theater Company will present a limited run of Erica Lipez's play The Tutors. The production will be directed by Drama League Directors Project Alumnus Laura Braza, and performances are May 18th-26th at The Access Theater.

The New Group presents the world premiere of An Early History of Fire, a new play by Tony Award-winning playwright David Rabe. Directed by Jo Bonney, this production features Gordon Clapp, Erin Darke, Jonny Orsini, Devin Ratray, Dennis Staroselsky, Theo Stockman and Claire van der Boom. Limited Off-Broadway engagement is slated tonight, April 30 through May 26 at The New Group @ Theatre Row (410 West 42nd Street). Official Opening Night is tonight, April 30 at 7:00 PM. See the photos below for a first look at the production!

The New Group presents the world premiere of An Early History of Fire, a new play by Tony Award-winning playwright David Rabe. Directed by Jo Bonney, this production features Deema Aitken, Gordon Clapp, Erin Darke, Jonny Orsini, Devin Ratray, The New Group presents the world premiere of An Early History of Fire, a new play by Tony Award-winning playwright David Rabe. Directed by Jo Bonney, this production features Deema Aitken, Gordon Clapp, Erin Darke, Jonny Orsini, Devin Ratray, Dennis Staroselsky, Theo Stockman and Claire van der Boom. Limited Off-Broadway engagement is slated tonight, April 30, through May 26 at The New Group at Theatre Row (410 West 42nd Street). Official Opening Night is tonight, April 30 at 7:00 PM. Staroselsky, Theo Stockman and Claire van der Boom. Limited Off-Broadway engagement is slated April 5 - May 26 at The New Group at Theatre Row (410 West 42nd Street). Official Opening Night is set for Monday, April 30 at 7:00 PM.