Young Playwrights Inc News

After the dust settled from a January 2 deadline and the paper-cuts healed from over six hundred plays received from writers aged 18 or younger, eight playwrights have been named winners of the 2014 Young Playwrights Inc. National Playwriting Competition.

Carol Becker, Dean of Faculty of Columbia University School of the Arts, announced today the appointment of two acclaimed playwrights to the faculty of the Arts: David Henry Hwang, Associate Professor of Theatre in Playwriting and director of the Playwriting Concentration, and Lynn Nottage, Associate Professor of Theatre in Playwriting.

Washington National Opera (WNO) presents the world premiere of An American Soldier, June 13-14, 2014 in the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater. An American Soldier features music by composer Huang Ruo and a libretto by David Henry Hwang. This new work, to be performed in English, is the second hourlong opera created under the auspices of the American Opera Initiative, WNO's commissioning program for contemporary American opera. An American Soldier is directed by David Paul and a chamber orchestra is conducted by Steven Jarvi; both are alumni of WNO's Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program.

MadLab Theatre presents Theatre Roulette 2014! In its fifteenth year, Central Ohio's longest running shorts festival presents 3 very distinct nights of new works rotating over 3 weekends culminating in the final day when all 3 nights of programming are performed.

Washington National Opera (WNO) presents the world premiere of An American Soldier, June 13-14, 2014 in the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater. An American Soldier features music by composer Huang Ruo and a libretto by David Henry Hwang. This new work, to be performed in English, is the second hourlong opera created under the auspices of the American Opera Initiative, WNO's commissioning program for contemporary American opera. An American Soldier is directed by David Paul and a chamber orchestra is conducted by Steven Jarvi; both are alumni of WNO's Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program.

NOMADS, written by Julia Jarcho and directed by Alice Reagan, will perform May 30-June 15, 2014 at 8pm, Saturday June 6 at 2pm & 8pm; Sunday June 15 at 5pm & 8pm.

City Theatre's groundbreaking CityWrights Professional Weekend for Playwrights, which takes place June 26 - 29 at EPIC Hotel, Miami, FL, continues to grow as a nationally recognized event that puts South Florida center stage as a cultural destination for playwrights, theatre artists and professionals. This highlight of the annual SUMMER SHORTS FESTIVAL is a lively and comprehensive symposium dedicated to the art, business, development, training, inspiration and mentorship of dramatists and the development of new work.

MadLab Theatre presents Theatre Roulette 2014! In its fifteenth year, Central Ohio's longest running shorts festival presents 3 very distinct nights of new works rotating over 3 weekends culminating in the final day when all 3 nights of programming are performed.

Signature Theatre has announced that the 'World of the Play' series continues with a panel of experts discussing The Practice and Performance of Kung Fu, presented in conjunction with the world premiere of David Henry Hwang's Kung Fu, on Saturday, March 29th from 4:30 to 6 p.m. in The Irene Diamond Stage at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street between 9th and 10th Avenues). The event is free and open to the general public (no reservations required).

Trinity Rep continues its commitment to new plays with the world premiere of Veronica Meadows by Stephen Thorne, directed by Michael Perlman in Trinity Rep's intimate Dowling Theater from April 3 to May 4, 2014. Girl detective Veronica Meadows has been solving small town crimes for as long as anyone can remember. Time and time again, they stop the evil-doers in their tracks and heroically save the day. That is, until the day our plucky girl detective stops following the rules of the game and takes a dangerous turn into the unknown. This world premiere is a darkly comic gem from Stephen Thorne, resident actor and playwright of The Completely Fictional- Utterly True - Final Strange Tale of Edgar Allan Poe. This production of Veronica Meadows is made possible by the generous sponsorship of Alan and Marie Weiss. Tickets are on sale now at www.trinityrep.com, by calling (401) 351-4242, or at the theater's box office at 201 Washington St., Downtown Providence.

Casting has been announced for the world premiere of BREATHING TIME, a new play by "House of Cards" creator Beau Willimon, directed by Aaron Rossini and presented Off-Broadway by Fault Line Theatre. The cast will feature Whitney Conkling, Craig Wesley Divino, Lee Dolson, John Racioppo, Shannon Marie Sullivan and Molly Thomas. Preview performances begin Friday, March 21 prior to an official press opening of Thursday, March 27 at Teatro Iati (64 East 4th Street) in Manhattan.

Ars Nova kicks off 2014 with Game Play, this year's incarnation of Ars Nova's annual Play Group production. An evening of original short plays and live music inspired by classic board game titles, Game Play features Peter Benson, Marcia DeBonis, Dashiell Eaves, Brandon Gill, Ben Graney, Susan Heyward, Jessica Love and Carmen Zilles. This production plays 10 performances, today, January 29 - February 8.

Ars Nova kicks off 2014 with Game Play, this year's incarnation of Ars Nova's annual Play Group production. An evening of original short plays and live music inspired by classic board game titles, Game Play features Peter Benson, Marcia DeBonis, Dashiell Eaves, Brandon Gill, Ben Graney, Susan Heyward, Jessica Love and Carmen Zilles. This production plays 10 performances, January 29 - February 8.

Fault Line Theatre will present two world-premiere's in early 2014 - Crystal Finn's THE FAIRE, about the behind the scenes lives of five Renaissance Faire performers in Northern California from February 7 through March 2 at the 4th Street Theatre (83 East 4th Street) in Manhattan; followed by BREATHING TIME by Beau Willimon ("Farragut North" and Netflix's "House of Cards" with Kevin Spacey) from March 21 through April 13 at Teatro Iati (64 East 4th Street) in Manhattan. Both productions will be directed by Fault Line Theatre co-Artistic Director Aaron Rossini.

Ars Nova kicks off 2014 with Game Play, this year's incarnation of Ars Nova's annual Play Group production. Game Play, set to play 10 performances from January 29 - February 8, features original short plays and live music inspired by classic board game titles.

The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust honors playwrights Annie Baker and Rajiv Joseph at the Sixth Annual Steinberg Playwright 'Mimi' Awards tonight, Monday, November 18, 2013 at the Lincoln Center Theater in New York. The 'Mimi' Awards are presented biennially to honor the accomplishments of some of the most gifted up-and-coming American Playwrights and to recognize the promise they hold for the future of American theater.

The Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation (SDCF) proudly reveals this season's Joe A. Callaway Award winners for Direction and Choreography from more than 200 eligible productions in the 2012 - 2013 New York City theatre season. This year's awards will be presented to Ruben Santiago-Hudson for his direction of The Piano Lesson produced by Signature Theatre and Marlo Hunter for her choreography of Unlock'd produced by Prospect Theater Company. The winners join previous Joe A. Callaway Award Winners including Susan Stroman (1991), Harold Prince (1993), Julie Taymor (1996), Jack O'Brien (2001), Bartlett Sher (2002), Daniel Sullivan (2004), John Tiffany (2012) and Steven Hoggett (2012).

The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust today announced it will honor playwrights Annie Baker and Rajiv Joseph at the Sixth Annual Steinberg Playwright 'Mimi' Awards on Monday, November 18, 2013 at the Lincoln Center Theater in New York. The 'Mimi' Awards are presented biennially to honor the accomplishments of some of the most gifted up-and-coming American playwrights and to recognize the promise they hold for the future of American theater.

Master composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim appeared on this evening's new edition of PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND. Sondheim's interview with PBS' chief correspondent for arts, culture, and society Jeffrey Brown, featured his thoughts on SWEENEY TODD, songwriting, and a BroadwayWorld mention! Check out his entire appearance below!