Zakiyyah Alexander News

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.

The Kilroys, an independent LA-based band of female playwrights and producers, have released THE LIST, the results of the first annual industry survey of excellent new plays by female-identified playwrights.

Joe's Pub at the Public has announced an exciting lineup of performances now through April 27. Check out the full schedule and details below!

Performances begin tonight for Roundabout Theatre Company's third annual Roundabout Underground Reading Series. The actors involved in the series include: Pico Alexander, Fred Applegate, De'Adre Aziza, David Aaron Baker, Cassie Beck, Michael Chernus, Diane Davis, Dashiell Eaves, Ryan Eggold, Lisa Emery, Sue Jean Kim, Chad Kimball, Jessica Love, Lizbeth Mackay, Annie McNamara, Alex Mickiewicz, Aaron Clifton Moten, Olivia Oguma, Tonya Pinkins, Paul Pontrelli, Conrad Ricamora, Reg Rogers, Debra Jo Rupp, Campbell Scott and Max von Essen.

Roundabout Theatre Company has announced the third annual Roundabout Underground Reading Series. The series will celebrate seven critically-acclaimed seasons of Roundabout Underground productions. Roundabout Underground Reading Series is a five night event that will include a nightly reading of a new play written and directed by an emerging artist.

Berkeley Repertory Theatre announces the world premiere of The House that will not Stand, a historical comedic drama commissioned from award-winning poet-playwright and Oakland native Marcus Gardley. Sensuous, witty, heartbreaking, and uplifting - The House that will not Stand unearths a story about free women of color in 1836 New Orleans, where black Creole women entered into common-law marriages with affluent white men. When her wealthy lover mysteriously dies, Beartrice Albans' foundation of security hangs precariously by a thread. She is left to fend for her three unwed daughters in a world where freedom must be carefully negotiated. Told in a rich and lyrical river of words, this new play was developed through The Ground Floor: Berkeley Rep's Center for the Creation and Development of New Work. It's helmed by Patricia McGregor, whose many credits include the celebrated production of Spunk at California Shakespeare Theater. The House that will not Stand begins previews on Berkeley Rep's intimate Thrust Stage today, January 31, opens on Wednesday, February 5 and runs through Sunday, March 16, 2014.

Berkeley Repertory Theatre announces the world premiere of The House that will not Stand, a historical comedic drama commissioned from award-winning poet-playwright and Oakland native Marcus Gardley. Sensuous, witty, heartbreaking, and uplifting - The House that will not Stand unearths a story about free women of color in 1836 New Orleans, where black Creole women entered into common-law marriages with affluent white men. When her wealthy lover mysteriously dies, Beartrice Albans' foundation of security hangs precariously by a thread. She is left to fend for her three unwed daughters in a world where freedom must be carefully negotiated. Told in a rich and lyrical river of words, this new play was developed through The Ground Floor: Berkeley Rep's Center for the Creation and Development of New Work. It's helmed by Patricia McGregor, whose many credits include the celebrated production of Spunk at California Shakespeare Theater. The House that will not Stand begins previews on Berkeley Rep's intimate Thrust Stage on Friday, January 31, opens on Wednesday, February 5 and runs through Sunday, March 16, 2014.

California Shakespeare Theater has announced it will conclude its 2013 season with one of Shakespeare's rarely-performed gems, A Winter's Tale. Directed by Patricia McGregor and choreographed by Paloma McGregor, the sister team responsible for last season's critical and popular hit, Spunk, A Winter's Tale plays at the Bruns Amphitheater from tonight, September 25 through October 20.

In conjunction with the Natural History Museum of L.A. County's 100th Anniversary, Chalk Repertory Theatre will premiere GALLERY SECRETS, four new short plays commissioned by four Los Angeles playwrights performed after hours at NHM. Each play is inspired by an assigned gallery, and set in the time period when that gallery was built, uncovering 100 years of history, architecture and exhibits.

Chalk Repertory Theatre is pleased to announce the cast of GALLERY SECRETS, presented in conjunction with the Natural History Museum of L.A. County's 100th Anniversary. Performances take place at the NHM on September 21, 22, 27, 29 and October 5, 6, 11 and 13 at 7:00pm.

California Shakespeare Theater concludes its 2013 season with one of Shakespeare's rarely-performed gems, A Winter's Tale. It plays at the Bruns Amphitheater from September 25 through October 20.

In conjunction with the Natural History Museum of L.A. County's 100th Anniversary, Chalk Repertory Theatre will premiere GALLERY SECRETS, four new short plays commissioned by four Los Angeles playwrights performed after hours at NHM. Each play is inspired by an assigned gallery, and set in the time period when that gallery was built, uncovering 100 years of history, architecture and exhibits.

Rogue Machine continues with World Premiere of ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI... by Kemp Powers, extending through September 15, 2013, playing 8pm Fridays and Saturdays, 3pm on Sundays at ROGUE MACHINE.

Round House Theatre concludes its 2013 Bethesda season with the area premiere of Becky Shaw, which runs tonight, May 29 thru June 23. Patricia McGregor makes her Round House directing debut with this comedy by Gina Gionfriddo, which was an Off-Broadway smash hit as well as aPulitzer Prize finalist. Opening night is Monday, June 3, 2013.

humRumbleROAR Productions has announced the world premiere production of Chisa Hutchinson's ALONDRA WAS HERE, directed by Jade King Carroll. ALONDRA WAS HERE will play a limited engagement at The Wild Project (195 East 3rd Street, NYC). Performances begin tonight, May 4 and continue through Saturday, May 18. Opening Night is Wednesday, May 8 (7 p.m.).

Round House Theatre concludes its 2013 Bethesda season with the area premiere of Becky Shaw, which runs May 29 thru June 23. Patricia McGregor makes her Round House directing debut with this comedy by Gina Gionfriddo, which was an Off-Broadway smash hit as well as aPulitzer Prize finalist. Opening night is Monday, June 3, 2013.

humRumbleROAR Productions has announced the world premiere production of Chisa Hutchinson's ALONDRA WAS HERE, directed by Jade King Carroll. ALONDRA WAS HERE will play a limited engagement at The Wild Project (195 East 3rd Street, NYC). Performances begin Saturday, May 4 and continue through Saturday, May 18. Opening Night is Wednesday, May 8 (7 p.m.).

Announcing ACT - A Contemporary Theatre's New Play Award: Red Earth, Gold Gate, Shadow Sky by Mark Jenkins is the recipient for 2013. ACT has also committed to producing the play in the 2014 Mainstage season. Jenkins' play is a harrowing tale of a Cambodian family who lives through the American bombing of Southeast Asia, survives the horrors of the killing fields and the brutal Khmer Rouge regime, struggles to adapt as immigrants in modern Seattle, and has to fight for a place in America where incarceration and deportation are a constant threat.

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director) has announced a world premiere play along with a New York premiere new musical which will be presented as part of the company's eleventh annual Second Stage Theatre Uptown Series this summer: Erica Lipez's The Tutors, directed by Thomas Kail and Murder For Two with Book and Music by Joe Kinosian and Book and Lyrics by Kellen Blair.

Center Theatre Group has announced the participants for the 2012-2013 Writers' Workshop. Administered by CTG's Literary Department, the Writers' Workshop consists of eight Los Angeles playwrights who meet once a month over nine months to share their work and assist one another in the creative process of developing a play.