Women's Project News

The Dramatists Guild Fund (DGF) is providing more than $40,000 in emergency recovery grants to theaters affected by Superstorm Sandy. Theaters in downtown Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and New Jersey will receive grants to help them rebuild and move on with their seasons.

Emmy® Award winning actress America Ferrera, best known for her fearless portrayal of Betty on ABC's hit comedy Ugly Betty, will star as a financially-strapped woman who discovers just how far she'll go to regain what she has lost in Women's Project Theater's first play of the 2012 - 2013 season, the world premiere dark comedy Bethany by Laura Marks, directed by Gaye Taylor Upchurch, Julie Crosby, Women's Project Theater Producing Artistic Director, announced.

Playwrights Horizons' production THE WHALE, the New York premiere of a new play by Obie Award winner Samuel D. Hunter (A Bright New Boise), is directed by Davis McCallum (February House, A Bright New Boise, the upcoming Water By the Spoonful at Second Stage) and opens tonight, November 5 at 7PM at Playwrights Horizons' Peter Jay Sharp Theater (416 West 42nd Street).

From the Lark Play Development Center's BareBones® workshop program that supported Katori Hall's THE MOUNTAINTOP, Rajiv Joseph's BENGAL TIGER AT THE BAGHDAD ZOO, and Kristoffer Diaz's WELCOME TO ARROYOS, the Lark announces a BareBones® workshop of THE WAY WEST by Mona Mansour, directed by Linsay Firman. The workshop runs at Lark's BareBones® Studio from November 2 - 11 at 311 West 43rd Street in New York City. Tickets are $10, $12, and $15 and are available at www.larktheatre.org.

The New York Times reports today that America Ferrera will headline the season opener, BETHANY. Laura Marks's world premiere dark comedy exploring the limits of morality, Bethany, directed by Gaye Taylor Upchurch, will run January 11 through February 17. Set in an American exurb wiped out by foreclosures, a financially-strapped single mother discovers just how far she'll go to regain what she has lost.

Vineyard Theatre will open its 30th Anniversary season with the world premiere production of Douglas McGrath's play CHECKERS. Opening night is set for tonight, October 28th. The production will be directed by Terry Kinney, it has been announced by The Vineyard's Artistic Director Douglas Aibel and Co-Artistic Director Sarah Stern.

A star is born - porn star that is. Based on the life of porn star Brittany Andrews, this dark comedic solo play follows the metamorphosis of Sensora on a surreal journey from glam porn star to snuff assassinated President to a refugee launched into the galaxy.

Will Act For Food will present the Chicago premiere of THE RECKLESS, RUTHLESS, BRUTAL CHARGE OF IT, or THE TRAIN PLAY, by Liz Duffy Adams, directed by WAFF Artistic Director Andrew Jordan, opening tonight, October 25 and running through November 17 at Oracle Theater.

Rosalind Productions Inc. will present the Off-Broadway premiere of Jennifer Maisel's The Last Seder. This Off-Broadway limited engagement at Theater Three (311 West 43rd Street) begins December 1st and continues through December 20th only. Opening Night is set for Tuesday December 4th (7pm). The show runs 90 minutes without an intermission.

To honor veterans of wars both recent and past and to promote a spirit healing and recovery, NoPassport theatre alliance and press presents a series of free readings in collaboration with multiple venues across the US throughout the month of November. Spark is a play about three sisters living in the US and caught in the mess of a recent war's aftermath. It is about what happens when soldiers come home and when women of little economic means must find a way to make do and carry on. It is also about the strength of family. Spark is many things, but ultimately it is a contemporary story of faith, love, trauma, and healing.

Balancin' Productions presents the world premiere of Follow by Crystal Skillman tonight, October 19 through November 3, 2012 at Fanfare Theatre (100 East 4th Street, between First and Second Ave.). Daniel Talbott (Eightythree Down, Hard Sparks; The Umbrella Plays, the teacup company/FringeNYC - Overall Excellence Award: Outstanding Play and at The Tank) directs.

Dallas Theater Center continues its exciting and conversation-provoking 2012-2013 season with the regional premiere of The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity. This unique experience will transport audience members into the thrilling and aggressive world of professional wrestling, complete with a wrestling ring, while weaving a story of power and class in America. The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity runs at the Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre tonight, October 19 - Sunday, November 11.

The Brown University/Trinity Rep MFA Programs will present one of Shakespeare's most intriguing plays, The Winter's Tale, directed by Taibi Magar (Brown/Trinity Rep MFA Programs '14). With a story that is both epic and intimate, The Winter's Tale is a roller coaster ride from tragedy to romance to redemption, boasting some of Shakespeare's most beautiful poetry.

From the Lark Play Development Center's BareBones® workshop program that supported Katori Hall's THE MOUNTAINTOP, Rajiv Joseph's BENGAL TIGER AT THE BAGHDAD ZOO, and Kristoffer Diaz's WELCOME TO ARROYOS, the Lark announces a BareBones® workshop of THE WAY WEST by Mona Mansour, directed by Linsay Firman. The workshop runs at Lark's BareBones® Studio from November 2 - 11 at 311 West 43rd Street in New York City. Tickets are $10, $12, and $15 and are available at www.larktheatre.org.

New Georges in association with Irondale Center (85 Oxford Street between Lafayette Avenue and Fulton Street, Brooklyn) will present the World Premiere of Kara Lee Corthron's ALICEGRACEANON, tonight, October 18-November 9.

On November 8th, renowned singer-songwriter, composer, musician and poet Alicia Jo Rabins will debut her brand new, full-length performative song cycle A KADDISH FOR BERNIE MADOFF at Joe's Pub in New York City. A second performance follows on November 15th.

Media At Large Productions has announced that it will present a unique revival of Tennessee Williams' IN THE BAR OF A TOKYO HOTEL. The play will run off-Broadway at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street) with previews beginning tonight, October 13th and continue until Sunday, October 28th. The production will have it's official opening on Wednesday, October 17th at 8PM. This distinctive revival, co-directed by Shashi Balooja and Maria Torres will be the first to incorporate live streaming video and dance. Maria Torres will also choreograph.

Lynne Meadow (Artistic Director), Barry Grove (Executive Producer), and Mandy Greenfield (Artistic Producer) just announced the 2012 recipients of the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Initiative commissions for Manhattan Theatre Club. This year's six commissioned writers are April de Angelis (Jumpy), Nick Jones (The Coward), Heidi Schreck (Creature), Melissa Ross (Thinner Than Water), Sarah Treem (A Feminine Ending), and Bess Wohl (Barcelona).

Vineyard Theatre will open its 30th Anniversary season with the world premiere production of Douglas McGrath's play CHECKERS. Preview performances begin tonight, and opening night is set for October 28th. The production will be directed by Terry Kinney, it has been announced by The Vineyard's Artistic Director Douglas Aibel and Co-Artistic Director Sarah Stern.

This October, at Berkeley Repertory Theatre, an ancient tale comes roaring back to life in a compelling new telling filled with contemporary wit and wisdom. The clash of swords and shields, the broken hearts and broken oaths, the bonds of friendship and family - An Iliad arises on a bare stage, told by an old man who's seen too much. Two-time Obie Award-winner Lisa Peterson directs a stunning show that stars Henry Woronicz, who masterfully captures the grief and glory of the battle for Troy.