Reasons to Be Pretty - 2011 - West End Articles Page 12

Now in the forefront of play development, with local writers, KTC presents their 11th World Premiere in only two years, Focus Group Play. Chosen from seven new works, this stand-out production is being directed by Eric Hunicutt.

The Confession will receive a staged reading in The Platform Group's Ladder Series: A Staged Reading Series Aimed at Getting New Plays to the Next Rung. Out of more than 100 submissions, ten new plays will receive a staged reading at The Creek and Cave in Long Island City, NY. The Ladder series started in July and continues into early October.

Theater for the New City & Crystal Field (Artistic Director) have announced the cast and creative team for the world premiere of THE EDEN PROJECT, a new play devised by Stable Cable Lab Co., directed by Seth Hamlin, and choreographed by KC Luce as part of the 3rd annual Dream Up Festival. THE EDEN PROJECT will begin performances tonight, August 24, 2012 at Theater for the New City (155 First Ave. - between 10th & 11th Streets). The production is scheduled to run through September 1st.

Artistic Directors Joe Jahraus and Darrell W. Cox have announced Profiles Theatre's 2012 - 2013 Season. They also announced that acclaimed playwright Neil LaBute and Steppenwolf ensemble member Rick Snyder joined Profiles as Resident Artists.

Theater for the New City & Crystal Field (Artistic Director) have announced the cast and creative team for the world premiere of THE EDEN PROJECT, a new play devised by Stable Cable Lab Co., directed by Seth Hamlin, and choreographed by KC Luce as part of the 3rd annual Dream Up Festival. THE EDEN PROJECT will begin performances on Friday, August 24, 2012 at Theater for the New City (155 First Ave. - between 10th & 11th Streets). The production is scheduled to run through September 1st.

When dowdy, painfully shy Adelaide Pinchin (Andrea Maulella) meets dashing, smooth-talking, George Love (Mark Shanahan) it's love at first sight -- for him! Or is it? All is not what it seems in Karoline Leach's play Tryst, a taut, brooding, romance thriller full of creepy twists and turns that make you squirm and keep you on the edge of your seat wondering what will happen next and whether two very sad people can find happiness together.

Following two successful Off-Off Broadway runs this past year (2011), SIREN'S HEART - Norma Jean & Marilyn in Purgatory ~ Norma Jean Sings Songs Marilyn Never Sang, will begin performances today, August 5th at 2pm at Actors Temple Theatre. The producer, ASCOLS, LLC, have set the opening for 7pm, August 5th (that same night), 50 years to the day, that Marilyn Monroe died.

Following two successful Off-Off Broadway runs this past year (2011), SIREN'S HEART - Norma Jean & Marilyn in Purgatory ~ Norma Jean Sings Songs Marilyn Never Sang, will begin performances on Sunday, August 5th at 2pm at Actors Temple Theatre. The producer, ASCOLS, LLC, have set the opening for 7pm, August 5th (that same night), 50 years to the day, that Marilyn Monroe died.

The Platform Group announces The Ladder Series, a staged reading series aimed at getting new plays to the next rung. Out of more than 100 submissions, ten new plays will receive a staged reading at The Creek and Cave in Long Island City, N.Y. The Ladder series is scheduled to begin on July 15th and continue into early October.

Michael Attenborough will direct Jonathan Pryce as William Shakespeare's KING LEAR running at the Almeida Theatre from the 31 August - 3 November 2012.

The Platform Group announces The Ladder Series, a staged reading series aimed at getting new plays to the next rung. Out of more than 100 submissions, ten new plays will receive a staged reading at The Creek and Cave in Long Island City, N.Y. The Ladder series is scheduled to begin on July 15th and continue into early October.

The award-winning Vineyard Theatre will celebrate its 30th anniversary season after its enormously successful 2011-12 season - which included the acclaimed debuts of THE LYONS, OUTSIDE PEOPLE, NOW. HERE. THIS. and the developmental lab of THE LANDING - with new works by Douglas McGrath, Rajiv Joseph and Jenny Schwartz, to be produced during 2012-13, it was announced by Douglas Aibel, Artistic Director, and Sarah Stern, Co-Artistic Director.

Theater Breaking Through Barriers (TBTB), the renowned Off-Broadway company known for its productions that integrate able-bodied actors with artists with disabilities, presents MORE OF OUR PARTS - its second annual festival of short plays about disabilities and the people affected by them, featuring world premieres by Neil LaBute, A.R. Gurney, Bekah Brunstetter, Bruce Graham, Samuel D. Hunter, and Jeffrey Sweet - with performances to run tonight, June 21 through July 1 at Theatre Row's Clurman Theatre (410 West 42nd Street). TBTB artistic director and founder Ike Schambelan, Tony-nominee Pamela Birch, Christopher Burris, TBTB company member Christina Roussos, and Russell Treyz, and direct.

MCC THEATER (Robert LuPone, Bernard Telsey, William Cantler, Artistic Directors; Blake West, Executive Director) today announced that Jon Bernthal (AMC's "The Walking Dead") and actor/playwright John Pollono will star in the New York Premiere of Small Engine Repair, by John Pollono, directed by Jo Bonney (Neil LaBute's The Break of Noon, Some Girl(s), Fat Pig). The production will be the third and final production of MCC's 2012-13 three-play mainstage season, which marks the company's 27th consecutive year producing and developing new work by today's most provocative and vibrant artists. Small Engine Repair will be performed at the Lucille Lortel Theatre (121 Christopher Street, NYC) May 16 - June 23, 2013.

This fall, one of America's most acclaimed theatre ensembles will take on one of the greatest plays of the 20th century when the Steppenwolf Theatre Company production of Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? comes to Broadway to celebrate the play's 50th anniversary.

New York Theatre Workshop world premiere production of Food and Fadwa, written by Lameece Issaq and Jacob Kader, and directed by Shana Gold, opens officially tonight, June 7 at NYTW. Food and Fadwa is a co-production with Noor Theatre, a company-in-residence at New York Theatre Workshop.

Today we are kicking off the 2012 InDepth InterView Tony Awards Series with the director/choreographer of the hottest hit of the 2011-2012 theatrical season, NEWSIES, that was recently awarded with a boatload of Tony Award nominations, in addition to a short-running show that has a very vocal group of advocates and supporters that also received a handful of Tony noms, BONNIE & CLYDE - the passionate and visionary Jeff Calhoun. Discussing all aspects of his mega-hit with Disney's NEWSIES and his success d'estime with Frank Wildhorn's BONNIE & CLYDE, as well as all about his years spent developing both, Calhoun illustrates his process and sheds some light on many aspects of the creation of the wildly different vehicles, as well as his opinions on the theatrical environment of today. Additionally, Calhoun outlines his experiences working with NEWIES and BONNIE & CLYDE breakout stars Jeremy Jordan and Laura Osnes - both Tony nominees - as well as his many years spent as an associate choreographer for legendary Tony-winning master director Tommy Tune creating many remarkable musicals such as GRAND HOTEL and THE WILL ROGERS FOLLIES. Plus, Calhoun conveys his infectious enthusiasm for his craft and discusses what drives him to create while also sharing his humbled appreciation for the recognition of both his new musicals this season by the Tony Award committee and reflecting on his vast multitude of experiences in the theatre so far in his career - everything from starring in SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS and MY ONE & ONLY on Broadway to choreographing THE WILL ROGERS FOLLIES and BUSKER ALLEY with Tommy Tune and transitioning into directing/choreographing with the hit revivals of GREASE, BIG RIVER, PIPPIN, ANNIE GET YOUR GUN (with Graciele Daniele), BELLS ARE RINGING, as well as GREY GARDENS and the rest. All of that and much, much more in this career-spanning conversation with one of Broadway's best!

Reasons to be Pretty by Neil LaBute concludes Philadelphia Theatre Company's 2011-2012 season tonight May 25 through June 24 at PTC's home at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre (Broad and Lombard Streets). Directed byMaria Mileaf, the ensemble cast features Paul Felder, James McMenamin, Genevieve Perrier, and Elizabeth Stanley.

Last night, May 23, Clybourne Park received a special visit from Broadway vets Idina Menzel, husband Taye Diggs, and Steven Pasquale, who visited the company backstage following the show. BroadwayWorld was on hand for the photo op and brings you photo coverage below!

Theater Breaking Through Barriers (TBTB), the renowned Off-Broadway company known for its productions that integrate able-bodied actors with artists with disabilities, presents MORE OF OUR PARTS - its second annual festival of short plays about disabilities and the people affected by them, featuring world premieres by Neil LaBute, A.R. Gurney, Bekah Brunstetter, Bruce Graham, Samuel D. Hunter, and Jeffrey Sweet - with performances to run June 21 through July 1 at Theatre Row's Clurman Theatre (410 West 42nd Street). TBTB artistic director and founder Ike Schambelan, Tony-nominee Pamela Birch, Christopher Burris, TBTB company member Christina Roussos, and Russell Treyz, and direct.

Sutton Foster took time out from her busy filming schedule on the LA set of BUNHEADS to chat about why she made the decision to take on a TV role at this point in her career and her future plans to return to the Broadway stage.

Capital Stage previously announced a change to its 2011-12 schedule. How I Learned to Drive, originally scheduled for a July/August run, opens at the midtown theatre tonight, May 19. The Sacramento premiere of Christopher Shinn's Dying City will move to the summer production dates, July 18 - August 12, 2012. 'We're changing the performance schedule of the these two productions to accommodate a scheduling conflict with one of our key artists,' explains Producing Director, JoNathan Williams.

Today we are talking to one of the stars of the hit revival of HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING - which will be closing this Sunday after a 16-month run, so catch it while you can - who has also carved out an astonishingly accomplished resume on film and TV since her stunning, Emmy-winning small screen debut in a lead role as the young Judy Garland in ME & MY SHADOWS: LIFE WITH JUDY GARLAND - the beautiful and tremendously talented Tammy Blanchard. Touching on many of her most memorable big screen and small screen roles and sharing her experiences of working with many of her impressive co-stars and creative collaborators - Bernadette Peters, Jessica Lange, Stephen Sondheim, Arthur Laurents, Sam Mendes, and her co-star on two films, the late Brittany Murphy - Blanchard eloquently illustrates her rise to stardom and the roles and performances she has given that she is fondest of - GYPSY to BELLA to THE GOOD SHEPHERD and beyond. Additionally, Blanchard clues us in on what we can expect from her multi-episode character arc on Showtime's hit dramedy series THE BIG C and what it was like to play such a unique and unusual character - as well as her feelings on sharing the screen (and the onscreen bedroom) with previous InDepth InterView participants John Benjamin Hickey and Brian d'Arcy James. Plus, Blanchard shares how her new role as a mom has shaped her craft and career as well as future plans post-HOW TO SUCCEED, observations on GLEE and SMASH and much, much more!

New York Theatre Workshop (NYTW) Artistic Director James C. Nicola and Managing Director William Russo and Noor Theatre Artistic Director Lameece Isaaq, Executive Director Maha Chehlaoui, and Producing Director Nancy Vitale have announced that the world premiere of Food and Fadwa, written by Lameece Issaq and Jacob Kader, and directed by Shana Gold, begins performances tonight, Friday, May 18, 2012, at NYTW, 79 East 4 Street, between Bowery and Second Avenue. The opening night is scheduled for Thursday, June 7. Food and Fadwa is a co-production with Noor Theatre, a company-in-residence at New York Theatre Workshop.

Theatre Royal Bath Productions and Chocolate Factory Productions open Mike Leigh's Abigail's Party at Wyndham's Theatre tonight, May 18.