Wilma Theater News

Following the successful run of A Small Fire, with Bebe Neuwirth, Philadelphia Theatre Company next focuses on the season selection process. The company welcomes audiences to its annual See & Be Scene, a one-night only staged-reading showcase, on Monday, December 2 at 7:00 pm. Now in its third year, Producing Artistic Director Paige Price is looking to add a selection of comedies and musicals into the mix. Eight works will be showcased.

Pittsburgh Public Theater continues its 45th anniversary season with the Pittsburgh premiere of School Girls; Or The African Mean Girls Play. A smash hit Off-Broadway last year, the play was written by Jocelyn Bioh, a first generation American whose parents emigrated from Ghana in West Africa. Directed by Kenyan native Shariffa Ali, School Girls runs November 7 - December 8, 2019 at the O'Reilly Theater, Pittsburgh Public Theater's home in the heart of Downtown's Cultural District. For tickets call 412.316.1600, go to ppt.org, or visit the Box Office.

The Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation announced its 2019 grants in The Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation's Women Playwrights Commissioning Program. These grants fund commissions for emerging female playwrights at selected theaters nationwide.

The Wilma Theater has announced that Dance Nation by Clare Barron has been extended by popular demand until November 17, 2019. Critics and audiences alike are raving about this fierce comedy. The Philadelphia Inquirer says a?oethe cast of dancersa??is terrific,a?? and called the show a?oepotent and entertaining.a??

BalletX, America's premier contemporary ballet led by Artistic & Executive Director Christine Cox, kicks off its 2019-2020 Season with Fall Series 2019 at The Wilma Theater, a limited engagement of 13 performances running Dec. 4-15. The company, named “among America's best” by The New York Times, and recently featured on the cover of Dance Magazine, will perform two world premiere ballets: one by the creative team of choreographer Matthew Neenan with composers Rosie Langabeer and Tara Middleton, and a second by choreographer Jo Strømgren.

Pittsburgh Public Theater continues its 45th anniversary season with the Pittsburgh premiere of School Girls; Or The African Mean Girls Play. A smash hit Off-Broadway last year, the play was written by Jocelyn Bioh, a first generation American whose parents emigrated from Ghana in West Africa. Directed by Kenyan native Shariffa Ali, School Girls runs November 7 a?" December 8, 2019 at the O'Reilly Theater, Pittsburgh Public Theater's home in the heart of Downtown's Cultural District. For tickets call 412.316.1600, go to ppt.org, or visit the Box Office.

Inis Nua Theatre presents the Philadelphia Premiere of the award-winning play THE NIGHT ALIVE by Tony Award-nominated Conor McPherson. THE NIGHT ALIVE tells the story of Tommy who lives in a filthy studio apartment and survives on odd jobs around Dublin. When he rescues a young woman from her abusive boyfriend, Tommy's dilapidated home becomes a safe haven from her violent past and the tenuous friendship they build forever alters their lives. The production will be directed by Barrymore Award-nominated director and Inis Nua Founder and Artistic Director Tom Reing. Previews begin Wednesday, October 9, with opening night on Friday, October 11. The show runs through October 27, 2019 for a total of 15 performances. All performances will take place at the Louis Bluver Theatre at the Drake, 302 South Hicks Street. Tickets are $15 - $35. For reservations, visit inisnuatheatre.org.

Clare Barron's ferocious, tender, and raucous comedy Dance Nation takes the stage at the Wilma Theater, October 22 through November 10, 2019.

Philadelphia Theatre Company's 45th Anniversary Season kicks off with the Philadelphia premiere of Obie Award Recipient Adam Bock's meticulously crafted drama A Small Fire, starring two-time Tony and Emmy Award winner Bebe Neuwirth. The play will be directed by Joanie Schultz, former Artistic Director of the WaterTower Theatre in Texas, and also known for her work in Chicago at The Goodman, Victory Gardens and Steppenwolf Theatres. Producing Artistic Director Paige Price and Managing Director Emily Zeck are excited to welcome Neuwirth and a cast of nationally and locally renowned actors to star in the season opener. Previews begin October 18th, Opening Night is Wednesday, October 23rd, and the show runs through November 10th. Single tickets range from $25-$74 and 3-play subscriptions start as low as $48, available now at the box office, online at philatheatreco.org or by phone at 215-985-0420.

Matt Williams' play FEAR will receive its World Premiere beginning Tuesday, October 15 at the Lucille Lortel Theatre (121 Christopher Street), directed by Tea Alagić. A limited run, FEAR will celebrate its opening night on Thursday, October 24 and run through December 8, 2019. Tickets are $65- $89 and can be purchased by visiting FearthePlay.com or by calling (866) 811-4111.

Who are we if not you and me? On which side of history are we going to be? Is place an illusion? Are we borrowing the here and now and if we are from whom? Is destruction an inseparable component of love? These are some of the questions posed by Lebanese poet and artist Etel Adnan in her introspective poem There: In the Light and the Darkness of the Self and of the Other. 

Theatre Horizon, a professional theatre company located in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, is pleased to announce that arts leader and theater director Nell Bang-Jensen will join the company as Theatre Horizon's new Artistic Director. Current Artistic Director and co-founder Erin Reilly will transition to a new fundraising role at Theatre Horizon.

California Shakespeare Theater continues its 2019 summer season with the world premiere of House of Joy by Madhuri Shekar as part of their New Classics Initiative; playing now through September 8, 2019 at the Bruns Amphitheater. A Pay What You Can performance will be held on Wednesday, August 14. 

California Shakespeare Theater closes its 2019 summer season with Macbeth by William Shakespeare and directed by Victor Malana Maog playing September 18 through October 13, 2019 at the Bruns Amphitheater. 

BalletX, led by Artistic & Executive Director Christine Cox, is proud to announce that company dancer Stanley Glover is the recipient of a 2019 Princess Grace Award in Dance. The Princess Grace Foundation-USA (PGF-USA) enlisted one of its most illustrious Award winners, Leslie Odom Jr., to announce the winners on August 13, 2019. The Awards will be presented at the Foundation's annual Gala and continue the legacy of Princess Grace (Kelly) of Monaco, who helped emerging artists pursue their artistic goals during Her lifetime. Since 1982, the Foundation has awarded nearly 800 artists with grants totaling over $1 million annually in theater, dance and film. In the presence of His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco, this year's Gala will be held at the Plaza Hotel in New York City on November 25, 2019.

Theatre Philadelphia, the non-profit organization that promotes and celebrates theatre across the Philadelphia region, has announced this year's nominees for the Barrymore Awards for Excellence in Theatre. 

Empanada Loca will be performed evenings only at Panorama Philly, 5213 Grays Avenue, the warehouse where the collective intention is to support artistic and creative activity in the Gray's Ferry neighborhood.

Renowned visual artist and film maker Rosa Barba and Wilma Theater Artistic Director Blanka Zizka team up to create this world premiere adaptation of this poem.

California Shakespeare Theater continues its 2019 summer season with the world premiere of House of Joy by Madhuri Shekar as part of their New Classics Initiative; playing August 14 through September 1, 2019 at the Bruns Amphitheater. A Pay What You Can performance will be held on Wednesday, August 14. 

1812 Productions is pleased to announce the residents of the 2019 Jilline Ringle Solo Performance Program. The summer residencies provide essential time and space for artists to continue development of original solo works.  This year, 1812 Productions and the Advisory Board of the Jilline Ringle Solo Performance Program are pleased to award residencies to Brett Robinson, Jessica Johnson, TS Hawkins, and Gwendolyn Rice. The summer residencies will take place from Saturday, July 6th through Sunday, July 14th at 1812 Productions' rehearsal studio in South Philadelphia.