Downstairs 2017 - Articles Page 4

Hampstead Theatre has announced its first live productions for 2021.  Alfred Fagon's darkly compelling, The Death of a Black Man will run from 28 May until 10 July having originally premiered at the theatre in 1975.  46 years on, this rare revival from the Black British playwriting canon, raises many of the same questions we face today surrounding identity, capitalism and sexual politics. 

New York Stage and Film has committed $100,000 to their new NEXUS Initiative that brings together 20 multihyphenate artists to explore the question “where does story exist at the intersection of stage and film?” Each participant receives $5,000 and will take part in a series of conversations focused on new and expanded forms of storytelling.

Onassis USA announces the Eureka Commissions, an initiative catalyzing forward-looking, exploratory, interrogative work within a new cultural landscape irrevocably changed by COVID-19 and a society grappling with social and racial injustice.

Audible has announced  its latest Emerging Playwrights Fund class.

Will the recycling be put out on the right day? Who is going to smooth over the top of the margarine? How many lights are on upstairs when everybody is downstairs? Watch Jon Richardson pretend that these aren't his foremost concerns as he leaves home on his first tour since the last one.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company announced complete casting for two productions today: The Most Spectacularly Lamentable Trial of Miz Martha Washington by James Ijames, directed by Whitney White (April 2 a?" May 17, 2020); and Catch as Catch Can by Mia Chung, which also announced ensemble member Amy Morton as director (June 4 a?" July 26, 2020).

Rubicon Theatre Company of Ventura begins the new year with the West Coast Premiere of NEVER NOT ONCE, a powerful, compelling and timely new drama by CAREY CRIM. The production premiered earlier this season at JEFF DANIELS' Purple Rose Theatre. NEVER NOT ONCE previews February 5-7 and opens February 8 at Rubicon's home, 1006 E. Main Street in Ventura's Downtown Cultural District, continuing Wednesdays through Sundays through February 23. A thought-provoking response to the #MeToo movement, NEVER NOT ONCE is about the families we choose, and the secrets that can pull them apart. The production is helmed by Brit KATHARINE FARMER, who has directed acclaimed Rubicon productions of Gulf View Drive (Ovation Award, Best Production of a Play, Larger Theatre), Incognito (West Coast Premiere), Heisenberg with Faline England and Joe Spano, and South Pacific (all Critic's Choices in the L.A. Times). For tickets, call 805.667.2900 or go to www.rubicontheatre.org. 

La MaMa's 58th Season continues to celebrate the centennial of La MaMa's celebrated founder, the late Ellen Stewart with the announcement of its Winter/Spring lineup in its 58th season. The season features dozens of artists, playwrights, choreographers, directors, and award-winning theater companies and composers, including Elizabeth Swados, Anne Bogart, Noche Flamencia, Culture Hub, Hideki Noda/Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre, Nick Payne, En Garde Arts, Split Britches, and more.

Two more chances to see the pop/jazz vocal group THOSE GIRLS in 'Those Girls Sing the Boys (vol.1)', their newest show, on November 22nd & December 2nd at 7pm. This time around, the Girls bring their mix of harmony and humor to celebrate music from five decades of male artists (with their own spin on them, of course, and a killer band.) From Elvis to The Rat Pack to Bruno Mars and then some! Performances will be at The Laurie Beechman Theatre, downstairs at the West Bank Cafe, 407 West 42nd St. NYC - doors open 6:30pm. For tickets: https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pr/956296 Directed by Lennie Watts, Musical Direction by Steven Ray Watkins. www.thosegirlssing.com

It used to be young Broadway performers rarely did their own shows, at least not in NYC. Some of them found a place-and there are examples to be cited for sure-but it wasn't all that common. The Laurie Beechman Theatre, downstairs at the West Bank, likely hosted the most. The more established music venues, such as Birdland, were for more established performers. While Joe's Pub was established for 'young artists' in 1998, it often didn't recruit from the Broadway stable. Some theater companies would host a pop-up night or series, but it usually wasn't more than that unless the performer would automatically attract a big crowd.

KIT-Kairos Italy Theater turns 20 in 2020 but the celebration starts now. 'It's going to be a very special season - says Laura Caparrotti, the founder and artistic director - as in 2020 KIT is turning 20 and Franca Valeri, the Italian playwright we all love so much, is turning 100.

Sunanda's debut solo show, How Gay am I? is a comedic multimedia exploration of her own queerness. The journey begins with an earnest story detailing her coming out to her conservative Indian parents, and ends with everyone in the audience going home gay. Think that's absurd? Wait till you meet all the other queerdos she could've been! The list of characters includes a traditional Indian girl who is likely a poon-jabbing Punjabi, a delinquent dyke with a TED Talk on a?oeWhy Everyone Should be a Lesbian, Todaya??, and a lieutenant of the a?oeBeef-Policea??. If that's not gay enough for you, be serenaded by some sing-song stand-up, and mesmerized by Mustachio, a genderless cruise ship crooner.

Downstairs Cabaret Theatre is pleased to announce a limited 2-weekend only engagement of The Boss: Broadway & Beyond, an acoustic tribute to Bruce Springsteen's life and music.

Ahead of its 60th Birthday, Hampstead Theatre announces Roxana Silbert's inaugural season as Artistic Director.

Dorset Theatre Festival, under the leadership of Artistic Director Dina Janis and Producing Director Will Rucker, will open DIG, the first World Premiere production of the 42nd Season, on July 11. The play is written and directed by the Festival's Resident Playwright, Theresa Rebeck.

Drummer Dave Schoepke will be releasing his first solo drum album titled “Drums On Low” on July 15, 2019. Schoepke is an accomplished North American drummer, who has had the pleasure of working with the legendary Jethro Tull guitarist Martin Barre. Dave toured with Martin's band in 2017 and in 2018 for the “Cruise To The Edge” Tour. He's also been the primary drummer for The Willy Porter Band since 2002, and has loved every second of his time with the band. Dave has toured with Willy Porter on a number of occasions over the years, and has numerous television and radio appearances on his record. The amazing part is that Dave is able to do all of this, and still has time to devote to his own band Tweed. Tweed has been a mainstay touring in Europe for the last few years along with a number of other blues and soul groups. 

Corkscrew Theater Festival, which runs July 10-August 3, inaugurates its Corkscrew Downstairs series of workshop productions this summer in the lower level theater at the Paradise Factory (64 East 4th Street, Manhattan). The four projects all take classic texts as a starting point, including A Doll's House, Twelfth Night, the poetry of Walt Whitman, and Leslie Feinberg's 1993 novel Stone Butch Blues. The Downstairs series shares one team of designers -Dan Daly (sets), Christina Tang (lights), and Cinthia Chen (props)-and one flexible repertory set, deepening the festival's focus on exploring collaboration in different forms.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company presents a unique discussion celebrating the historic and contemporary importance of True West to Steppenwolf.

Corkscrew Theater Festival is pleased to announce the mainstage casts for its third annual festival, which runs July 10-August 3 at the Paradise Factory (64 East 4th Street, Manhattan). The festival features four world premieres, four workshop productions, and four readings performed in repertory over four weeks, with 80 performances in all. As in past years, special attention has been given to theater makers who are developing work through tight-knit collaborations. Tickets are now on sale.

Now in its eleventh consecutive year, the multi-award-winning Finborough Theatre presents Vibrant 2019 A Festival of Finborough Playwrights, its annual explosion of new writing, running between 16 June-4 July 2019.

Dorset Theatre Festival, under the leadership of Artistic Director Dina Janis, will mount two world premiere productions during the 42nd Season. DIG, written and directed by Theresa Rebeck (July 11-27, 2019), and MRS. CHRISTIE by Heidi Armbruster (August 1-17, 2019) fall between the Festival's previously announced runs of Noel Coward's PRIVATE LIVES (June 20-July 6, 2019) and SLOW FOOD by Wendy MacLeod (August 22-31, 2019) at the Dorset Playhouse (104 Cheney Road, Dorset, VT 05251).

The Soho Playhouse announced today that THE DAY I BECAME BLACK, created, written and performed by Bill Posley (CBS's "The Neighborhood," Netflix's "Glow") and directed by Bente Engelstoft ("The Ellen DeGeneres Show"), will move to the mainstage and open on April 25, extending its run through May 26. The audience-favorite and acclaimed Off-Broadway show began performances on March 8 in the theater's downstairs space.

The acclaimed Steppenwolf ensemble and Board of Trustees host Gala 2019, an extraordinary evening celebrating over four decades of powerful and thought-provoking storytelling. Emceed by one of Hollywood's most in-demand actors, Armie Hammer (Sorry to Bother You, Call Me By Your Name), the party takes place on Saturday, May 11, 2019 at 6:30pm at a new location not far from the theater, Rockwell on the River (3057 N. Rockwell Ave). Golden Globe Winner James Franco (The Disaster Artist, 127 Hours) will be the guest auctioneer. Proceeds from the night generate essential resources to support the innovative new work on Steppenwolf's spaces and expansive education and community programs.

Today The Drums release its fifth album Brutalism, out now via ANTI-. The follow-up to 2017's 'Abysmal Thoughts,' which marked the band's first release as a solo project from frontman Jonny Pierce, Brutalism is quite possibly the best collection of songs in the band's ten-year career.