Wilma Theater News

Theatre Philadelphia has announced the nominees for the 2016 Barrymore Awards for Excellence in Theatre.

Ars Nova, New York's incubator for boundary-pushing theater, is pleased to present Underground Railroad Game (September 13-October 15), created by Jennifer Kidwell and Scott Sheppard with Philadelphia based theater company Lightning Rod Special and directed by Taibi Magar.

On August 16th 2016, opening night of a six-day run at the Joyce, BalletX did not disappoint dancegoers anticipating a taste of the quirky fare for which the troupe has become known. Billing itself as 'Philadelphia's premier contemporary ballet', the company has from its inception in 2005 been what the founders have called a 'playground' that has allowed choreographers the freedom to experiment and explore as they strive to create exciting new works.

Victory Gardens Theater announces casting for each of the 2016 IGNITION Festival of New Plays selected works, including The Wayward Bunny by Greg Kotis; BREACH: a manifesto on race in America through the eyes of a black girl recovering from self-hate by Antoinette Nwandu; EOM (end of message) by Laura Jacqmin; Kill Move Paradise by James Ijames; Gaza Rehearsal by Karen Hartman; and Girls In Cars Underwater by Tegan McLeod.

La Jolla Playhouse announces the cast and creative team for its production of Tiger Style!, by La Jolla native Mike Lew, directed by Playhouse Associate Artistic Director Jaime Castañeda, running September 6 - October 2 (press opening: Wed, September 14 at 7:00pm) in the Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre.

Atlantic Theater Company just announced casting for the world premiere musical The Band's Visit, directed by Lortel and Obie Award winner David Cromer and featuring a book by Drama Desk Award nominee Itamar Moses, an original score by three-time Tony Award nominee David Yazbekand choreography by Lee Sher.

Theatre Communications Group (TCG) has announced that its 2016 gala will honor Tony-nominated and OBIE-winning playwright and acclaimed 'The Walking Dead' actress Danai Gurira.

Victory Gardens Theater announces casting for each of the 2016 IGNITION Festival of New Plays selected works, including The Wayward Bunny by Greg Kotis; BREACH: a manifesto on race in America through the eyes of a black girl recovering from self-hate by Antoinette Nwandu; EOM (end of message) by Laura Jacqmin; Kill Move Paradise by James Ijames; Gaza Rehearsal by Karen Hartman; and Girls In Cars Underwater by Tegan McLeod.

Amid the current fractured national landscape - where political and cultural tensions have many people deeply angered, saddened, and retreating to their own ideological camps - the grassroots reading and discussion series, Community Matters at People's Light aims to spark conversation about relevant issues in our community with a diverse array of perspectives and voices. Performed readings of new plays are the centerpiece of each evening, followed by a discussion with community partners, special guests, artists, and audiences. The fifth season of Community Matters features the reading and discussion of plays focused on the American work-force, mental illness, and the representation of race, gender, and sexuality in art.

'Puppet Up! - Uncensored,' which is set to debut in its new home inside The Sands Showroom at The Venetian Las Vegas on July 21, has just unveiled its lineup of expert puppeteers ready to bring their irreverent and unpredictable style of comedy to the Las Vegas Strip.

Shattered Globe Theatre is pleased to announce the first two productions of its 2016-17 Season, kicking off this fall with a revival of Pulitzer Prize winner Sam Shepard's quintessential American drama TRUE WEST, directed by James Yost. The production will feature Shattered Globe Ensemble Members Joseph Wiens, Kevin Viol and Rebecca Jordan with Rob Frankel.  

Red Bull Theater's annual festival of 10-minute plays of heightened language and classic themes features two brand new commissions from Lisa D'Amour and Amy Freed alongside 6 brand new plays chosen from hundreds of submissions from playwrights across the country, inspired by this year's theme 'SCANDAL'.

On June 14, 2016, owners and representatives from some of the Philadelphia's most popular LGBTQ bars and clubs along with the William Way Community Center, announced a huge historic fundraiser, PHILLY4PULSE, to support victims of the recent attacks at Orlando's Pulse Nightclub. The community is producing a one night massive event for the victims and families of Pulse Nightclub on July 21, 2016. The William Way LGBT Community Center has released additional details about their portion of PHILLY4PULSE, as well as additional community partners.

Sitting through BalletX's 10th anniversary season performance at Philadelphia's Wilma Theater on July 6, 2016, I was struck with some deep pangs of disappointment. It wasn't that the new works presented that evening were bad, quite the contrary. But how does one say that something more was expected, especially when reviewing a new Matthew Neenan production?

Red Bull Theater today announced that their Twelfth Season will conclude with Red Bull Theater's annual festival of 10-minute plays of heightened language and classic themes features two brand new commissions from Lisa D'Amour and Amy Freed alongside 6 brand new plays chosen from hundreds of submissions from playwrights across the country. The 2016 Short New Play Festival will be Monday July 25th (7:30pm) at Lucille Lortel Theatre. This year's plays will be Motley Fool by Kate Abbruzzese, Swan Song by Emily Taplin Boyd, Malaprop by Lisa D'amour, The Ghoul Of Amherst by Amy Freed, Warp And Weft by Anchuli Felicia King, Her Father's Daughter by Dakin Matthews, The Eighth Circle by Bridgette Dutta Portman, and The Opulent Complex by Lynn Rosen. Tickets may be purchased online at www.redbulltheater.com or by phone at (212) 352-3101.

'Puppet Up! - Uncensored,' which is set to debut in its new home inside The Sands Showroom at The Venetian Las Vegas on July 21, has just unveiled its lineup of expert puppeteers ready to bring their irreverent and unpredictable style of comedy to the Las Vegas Strip.

Victory Gardens Theater announces the lineup for the 2016 IGNITION Festival of New Plays, including The Wayward Bunny by Greg Kotis; BREACH: a manifesto on race in America through the eyes of a black girl recovering from self-hate by Antoinette Nwandu; EOM (end of message) by Laura Jacqmin; Kill Move Paradise by James Ijames; Gaza Rehearsal by Karen Hartman; and Girls In Cars Underwater by Tegan McLeod. The 2016 Festival runs August 5-7, 2016 at Victory Gardens Theater, located at 2433 N Lincoln Avenue.

Connecticut Repertory Theatre (CRT) presents PETER AND THE STARCATCHER, the play by Rick Elice, based on the novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, with music by Wayne Barker. Directed by CRT Artistic Director Vincent J. Cardinal, PETER AND THE STARCATCHER is the second show of the 2016 Nutmeg Sumer Series featuring Tony Award-nomineeForrest McClendon as Slank/King Prawn alongside Barrymore Award-winner Michael Doherty as Black Stache. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

MEN ON BOATS, the critically-acclaimed comedy which premiered at Clubbed Thumb's 2015 Summerworks Festival, announced today casting for its return this summer in a co-production by Clubbed Thumb and Playwrights Horizons.

The Wilma Theater has announced its final production of the 2016/17 Season, the world premiere of Blanka Zizka's Adapt!. Launching off of Wilma Artistic Director Blanka Zizka's recent receipt of the Vilcek Prize in Theatre-which recognizes immigrants who have made lasting artistic contributions to American society-this world premiere project examines the process of assimilation and adaptation. It also showcases artists from the recently launched Wilma HotHouse resident acting company, who have been developing the piece with Zizka during their weekly training sessions, alongside an exciting collection of international artists including composer Mariana Sadovska, Czech actor Aneta Kernova, and Greek actor and singer Aneza Papadopoulou. The creative team includes Set Designer Matt Saunders, Costume Designer Oana Botez, Lighting Designer Thom Weaver, and Sound Designer Daniel Perelstein. Major Support for Adapt! has been provided by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage.