Wilma Theater News

Ally is thrilled to welcome Miz Washington playwright and 2017 Whiting Award Winner, James Ijames to the show on Sunday, April 30th. James will participate in a post-show talkback with the cast after the 3PM Matinee.

Community, collaboration and crime capture the mood at Bristol Riverside Theatre's production of Agatha Christie's Witness for the Prosecution, running May 9-May 28.  Directed by Susan D. Atkinson, the high-voltage thriller by the Queen of Crime drama, which concludes BRT's 30th Anniversary Season, features an ensemble of professional actors Sharon Alexander, Keith Baker, Kenneth Boys, Hanna Gaffney,  Leonard C. Haas, Eleanor Handley, Thomas-Robert Irvin, Kyra Leeds, Matt Leisy, James Luse, William R. McHattie, Christopher J. Perugini, Carl Wallnau, Paul B. Weagraff, and Kylie Westerbeck performing alongside Bucks County community members Missy Andrews, Mari Bernhagen, Drew Burke, Melissa Bushey, David Owen Cashell, Sybil Cooper, Matthew DiMarino, Ginny Fairweather, Maryann Fanning, Michael Gearty, Regina Gluhski, Terri Hall, Sarah Konyves, Donna Rae Lee, Matt Lydon, Sr., Matt Lydon, Jr., Donna McCole, Ronald Pae, Eileen Peters, Dottie Polsenberg, Lesia Pryor, Patricia Rooney, Kurt Scholer, Marion M. Walter, Harriet Zeff, and Margie Zielinski.

Ryan Jamaal Swain, Donnell E. Smith, Clinton Lowe and Sidiki Fofana will star in the award-winning playwright James Ijames' "Kill Move Paradise," opening at Dr. Barbara Ann Teer's National Black Theatre (NBT) this spring. The world premiere production is also the New York City debut of Ijames, a Whiting Award winner. Saheem Ali ("Nollywood," "The Booty Call," and "The Erlkings") will direct. The provocative production closes the historic theater's 48th season, "In Pursuit of Black Joy," and runs from May 31 through June 25.

L ynne Meadow (Artistic Director) and Barry Grove (Executive Producer) have announced full casting for Manhattan Theatre Club's New York premiere of Cost of Living, the new play by Martyna Majok (Ironbound, Mouse in a Jar), directed by Jo Bonney (Father Comes Home from the Wars; By the Way, Meet Vera Stark).

As previously announced, Second Stage Theatre will begin the 2017 Uptown Series with the world premiere of Chisa Hutchinson's SOMEBODY'S DAUGHTER, directed by MAY ADRALES.

Folger Theatre concludes its very successful 25th anniversary season this spring with Shakespeare's gripping tragedy Timon of Athens.

American Theater Company (ATC) concludes its Season 32 with the world premiere of Dan Aibel's T., an exploration of the competitive ice skating saga between Nancy Kerrigan and Tonya Harding. Margot Bordelon directs a cast featuring Guy Massey (Al), Leah Raidt (T.), ensemble member Tyler Ravelson (Jeff), Kelli Simpkins (Joanne) and Nate Whelden (Shawn). T. runs from May 18-June 25, 2017 (press opening: Monday, May 22).

Mobile ticketing app TodayTix - which, until now, has exclusively connected ticket buyers with last minute offerings only - announced today that it will offer its first-ever presale in partnership with the highly-anticipated Broadway Premiere of George Orwell's 1984 starring Tony Award nominee Tom Sturridge, Olivia Wilde in her Broadway debut, and Tony Award winner Reed Birney.

Artists Repertory Theatre presents the World Premiere of The Talented Ones by Yussef El Guindi, directed by Jane Unger. Preview performances run April 25 through April 28, the play opens April 29 and runs through May 21 on the Morrison Stage. The Talented Ones is Artists Rep's first new play development commission for Table|Room|Stage (T|R|S) as part of the Oregon Community Foundation's "Creative Heights Initiative."

Yale Repertory Theatre (James Bundy, Artistic Director; Victoria Nolan, Managing Director) concludes its 50th Anniversary Season with the world premiere of MARY JANE by Amy Herzog, directed by Anne Kauffman, April 28 through May 20 at Yale Repertory Theatre (1120 Chapel Street). Opening Night is Friday, May 5.

Cherry Lane Theatre will end its Obie award-winning MENTOR PROJECT 2017 season with Jocelyn Bioh's NOLLYWOOD DREAMS, directed by Saheem Ali and mentored by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins.

Opera Philadelphia announced today that Lawrence Brownlee, whose lead performance in the 2015 world premiere of Charlie Parker's YARDBIRD kick started the company's “big commitment to new repertoire” (The Wall Street Journal), has joined the company as an Artistic Advisor.

1812 Productions, Philadelphia's all comedy theatre company, will present the Philadelphia premiere of Marc Camoletti's raucous farce Happy Birthday.

This year's Rough Draft Festival at LaGuardia Performing Arts features six new plays that are in the pre-production stage of development. Each of the plays has gone through readings and workshops in the past and the writers Melis Aker, Scott Barrow, Leila Buck, Kevin Doyle, Joey Merlo, Kyoung Park and their plays are ready for the next step.

The Wilma Theater is pleased to announce its upcoming 2017/18 Season. The season will begin with Federico Garcia Lorca's Blood Wedding, directed by Csaba Horvath and featuring the Wilma HotHouse Company of actors.

Internationally acclaimed South African playwright Athol Fugard tackles the subject of apartheid head on in his gripping drama, Playland. Playland begins on Wednesday, April 5, 2017 at 7pm, and opens on Thursday, April 6, 2017 at 7pm. For ticket arrangements, contact playlandphilly@gmail.com.

Theatre Horizon's 12th season concludes with a World Premiere by a Philadelphia favorite. The theatre is presenting the World Premiere of James Ijames' smart and hilarious WHITE. Winner of the 2015 Terrence McNally New Play Award, WHITE runs April 27-May 21. Opening Night is Wednesday, May 3 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $20-$35. Theatre Horizon is located at 401 DeKalb Street. Tickets and more information are available online at www.theatrehorizon.org or by phone at 610-283-2230.

Cleveland Play House's Outcalt Theatre will be transformed into the rent-controlled apartment of ex-cop Walter 'Pops' Washington in the bold, fresh, and unfiltered work of renowned playwright Stephen Adly Guirgis. Packed with irreverent humor, lightning-quick dialogue, and tremendous heart, Between Riverside and Crazy is the Pulitzer Prize-winning dark comedy about family, pride, and redemption.

Ars Nova has announced an international tour of the critically acclaimed Underground Railroad Game. The provocative production, which premiered in New York last year, was created by Jennifer Kidwell and Scott R. Sheppard with Philadelphia based theater company Lightning Rod Special and directed by Taibi Magar.

The Old Globe today announced the complete cast and creative team of Red Velvet by Lolita Chakrabarti.