Zak Berkman News

New York's OBIE Award-winning Epic TheatreEnsemble (Zak Berkman, Melissa Friedman, Ron Russell, Founding Executive Directors) has announced its 9 th Anniversary Season of new works: the world premiere of Mahida's Extra Key To Heaven by Russell Davis, and the New York Premiere of Passion Play by Sarah Ruhl. Also scheduled is Shakespeare Remix MacBeth a collaboration with Epic's unrivaled After School Shakespeare Program at Chelsea High School.

New York's OBIE Award-winning Epic Theatre Ensemble (Zak Berkman, Melissa Friedman, Ron Russell, Founding Executive Directors) has announced the lineup for the fifth annual Sunshine Series 2009, a play reading festival nurturing new political plays.

New York's OBIE Award-winning Epic Theatre Ensemble (Zak Berkman, Melissa Friedman, Ron Russell, Founding Executive Directors) has announced the lineup for the fifth annual Sunshine Series 2009, a play reading festival nurturing new political plays. The free staged-readings begin May 28th at the East 13th Street Theatre (136 East 13th Street, between 3rd & 4th Avenues, just southeast of Union Square) where Epic is currently presenting the World Premiere of A More Perfect Union by Vern Thiessen.

Epic Theatre Ensemble's production of A More Perfect Union, Vern Thiessen's serious comedy about two Supreme Court law clerks, will host post-show panels featuring real-life former Supreme Court clerks.

New York's OBIE Award-winning Epic Theatre Ensemble (Zak Berkman, Melissa Friedman, Ron Russell, Founding Executive Directors) has announced that it will present the world premiere of A More Perfect Union, a serious comedy by Vern Thiessen. Under the direction of Ron Russell, the two-character play features Melissa Friedman and Godfrey L. Simmons, Jr. as Supreme Court law clerks.

New York's OBIE Award-winning Epic Theatre Ensemble (Zak Berkman, Melissa Friedman, Ron Russell, Founding Executive Directors) presents the world premiere of A More Perfect Union, a serious comedy by Vern Thiessen. Under the direction of Ron Russell, the two-character play features Melissa Friedman and Godfrey L. Simmons, Jr. as Supreme Court law clerks. Performances begin Tuesday, May 5, 2009 for a limited engagement through June 7, 2009 at the East 13th Street Theater (136 East 13th Street, between 3rd & 4th Aves). Opening night is Tuesday, May 12, 2009 AT 6:30 p.m.

It was announced that soap star Kathleen Widdoes joins the previously announced cast of the Epic Theatre Ensemble (Zak Berkman, Melissa Friedman, Ron Russell, Executive Directors) two-night benefit event: As The Epic Turns, to support its esteemed after-school 'Shakespeare Bridge Project' programs.

New York's OBIE Award-winning Epic Theatre Ensemble (Zak Berkman, Melissa Friedman, Ron Russell, Executive Directors) will present a two-evening event: As The Epic Turns, a benefit to support its esteemed after-school 'Shakespeare Bridge Project' programs. Under the direction of Zak Berkman, the 90-minute evening will feature two-time Emmy Award Winner, Martha Byrne, along with Paolo Seganti, and Tamara Tunie in a series of staged readings plus an exclusive screening of Paul Leyden's film Bye Bye Sally, followed by a reception with the cast and Epic Theater Ensemble artists.

New York's OBIE Award-winning Epic Theatre Ensemble (Zak Berkman, Melissa Friedman, Ron Russell, Executive Directors) will present a two-evening event: As The Epic Turns, a benefit to support its esteemed after-school 'Shakespeare Bridge Project' programs. Under the direction of Zak Berkman, the 90-minute evening will feature two-time Emmy Award Winner, Martha Byrne, along with Paolo Seganti, and Tamara Tunie in a series of staged readings plus an exclusive screening of Paul Leyden's film Bye Bye Sally, followed by a reception with the cast and Epic Theater Ensemble artists. Two performances are scheduled for 8:00 p.m. on Friday, April 17th and Saturday, April 18th at The Peter Sharpe Theater (416 West 42nd Street).

It was announced that soap star Kathleen Widdoes joins the previously announced cast of the Epic Theatre Ensemble (Zak Berkman, Melissa Friedman, Ron Russell, Executive Directors) two-night benefit event: As The Epic Turns, to support its esteemed after-school 'Shakespeare Bridge Project' programs.

New York's OBIE Award-winning Epic Theatre Ensemble (Zak Berkman, Melissa Friedman, Ron Russell, Founding Executive Directors) has announced that it will present the world premiere of A More Perfect Union, a serious comedy by Vern Thiessen. Under the direction of Ron Russell, the two-character play features Melissa Friedman and Godfrey L. Simmons, Jr. as Supreme Court law clerks.

New York's OBIE Award-winning Epic Theatre Ensemble (Zak Berkman, Melissa Friedman, Ron Russell, Executive Directors) will present a two-evening event: As The Epic Turns, a benefit to support its esteemed after-school 'Shakespeare Bridge Project' programs. Under the direction of Zak Berkman, the 90-minute evening will feature two-time Emmy Award Winner, Martha Byrne, along with Paolo Seganti, and Tamara Tunie in a series of staged readings plus an exclusive screening of Paul Leyden's film Bye Bye Sally, followed by a reception with the cast and Epic Theater Ensemble artists.

New York's OBIE Award-winning Epic Theatre Ensemble (Zak Berkman, Melissa Friedman, Ron Russell, Executive Directors) will present a two-evening event: As The Epic Turns, a benefit to support its esteemed after-school 'Shakespeare Bridge Project' programs. Under the direction of Zak Berkman, the 90-minute evening will feature two-time Emmy Award Winner, Martha Byrne, along with Paolo Seganti, and Tamara Tunie in a series of staged readings plus an exclusive screening of Paul Leyden's film Bye Bye Sally, followed by a reception with the cast and Epic Theater Ensemble artists. Two performances are scheduled for 8:00 p.m. on Friday, April 17th and Saturday, April 18th at The Peter Sharpe Theater (416 West 42nd Street).

New York's OBIE Award-winning Epic Theatre Ensemble (Zak Berkman, Melissa Friedman, Ron Russell, Executive Directors) will honor Award-winning playwright John Guare and Golden Globe winner Stanley Tucci at their 8th Annual Winter Gala to be held at Twenty Four Fifth (24 Fifth Avenue) on Monday, March 9, 2009.

New York's OBIE Award-winning Epic Theatre Ensemble (Zak Berkman, Melissa Friedman, Ron Russell, Executive Directors) will honor Award-winning playwright John Guare and Golden Globe winner Stanley Tucci at their 8th Annual Winter Gala to be held at Twenty Four Fifth (24 Fifth Avenue) on Monday, March 9, 2009.

New York's OBIE Award-winning Epic Theatre Ensemble (Zak Berkman, Founding Producer/Executive Director) will offer free staged readings of two new plays by Ari Roth of Washington DC's Theater J: Born Guilty and The Wolf In Peter (Or My Meeting In The Beer Tent With Jorg) both under the direction of Epic's Will Pomerantz and featuring Betsy Aidem, Laura Heisler, Elizabeth Rich, and Rick Roucheux. Performances are Sunday, January 18 at 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. at the Manhattan Theatre Club Studios (311 West 43rd Street). The events are open to the public.

New York's OBIE Award-winning Epic Theatre Ensemble (Zak Berkman, Founding Producer/Executive Director) will offer free staged readings of two new plays by Ari Roth of Washington DC's Theater J: Born Guilty and The Wolf In Peter (Or My Meeting In The Beer Tent With Jorg) both under the direction of Epic's Will Pomerantz and featuring Betsy Aidem, Laura Heisler, Elizabeth Rich, and Rick Roucheux. Performances are Sunday, January 18 at 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. at the Manhattan Theatre Club Studios (311 West 43rd Street). The events are open to the public.

New York's OBIE Award-winning Epic Theatre Ensemble (Zak Berkman, Founding producer/Artistic Director), and Epic's After School Shakespeare Program (Melissa Friedman, Founding Executive Director of Education), in conjunction with Chelsea High School and Automotive High School, will present productions of two classic Shakespeare plays featuring the students from each school: the Automotive High School production of Romeo and Juliet sponsored by Lanc?me for three performances, beginning December 11th; and the Chelsea High School production of The Winter's Tale, made possible by support from the Meringoff Family Foundation, for four performances beginning December 18th. All performances will take place at the East 13th Street Theater (136 East 13th Street).

New York's OBIE Award-winning Epic Theatre Ensemble (Zak Berkman, Founding producer/Artistic Director), and Epic's After School Shakespeare Program (Melissa Friedman, Founding Executive Director of Education), in conjunction with Chelsea High School and Automotive High School, will present productions of two classic Shakespeare plays featuring the students from each school: the Automotive High School production of Romeo and Juliet sponsored by Lanc?me for three performances, beginning December 11th; and the Chelsea High School production of The Winter's Tale, made possible by support from the Meringoff Family Foundation, for four performances beginning December 18th. All performances will take place at the East 13th Street Theater (136 East 13th Street).

On Monday, November 3rd, 2008 Epic Theater Ensemble, in partnership with John Jay College of Criminal Justice, hosted a one-night only special event to benefit Epic's innovative, civic-minded in-school and after-school education programs.