Annapurna Sriram News

THE HAPPIEST SONG PLAYS LAST is the third in a cycle of plays that began with Hudes' Elliot, A Soldier's Fugue, a play about a young Marine coming to terms with his time in Iraq and his father's and grandfather's service in Vietnam and Korea. The second play in the trilogy, the 2012 Pulitzer Prize-winning drama Water by the Spoonful, received its New York premiere at Second Stage Theatre in 2013. Scroll down for a first look at the cast in action!

Second Stage Theatre's production of THE HAPPIEST SONG PLAYS LAST, written by 2012 Pulitzer Prize winner Quiara Alegria Hudes and directed by Tony Award winner Ruben Santiago-Hudson, begins performances tonight, February 11.

LAUREN VELEZ, best known for her role as Captain Maria LaGuerta on the hit Showtime series, "Dexter," will play the role of Yaz in the upcoming Second Stage Theatre production of THE HAPPIEST SONG PLAYS LAST, written by Pulitzer Prize winner Quiara Alegria Hudes and directed by Tony Award winner Ruben Santiago-Hudson. Ms. Velez replaces the previously announced Elizabeth Rodriguez.

Grammy Award-nominated musician Nelson Gonzalez has joined the creative team of the upcoming Second Stage Theatre production of THE HAPPIEST SONG PLAYS LAST, written by 2012 Pulitzer Prize winner Quiara Alegria Hudes and directed by Tony Award winner Ruben Santiago-Hudson. Mr. Gonzalez, who is widely considered the master of the Cuban Tres guitar, will oversee the production's musical elements and will lead a live band during performances.

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director), currently celebrating its 35th Anniversary season, has announced the complete cast for its upcoming production of THE HAPPIEST SONG PLAYS LAST, written by 2012 Pulitzer Prize winnerQuiara Alegria Hudes and directed by Tony Award winner Ruben Santiago-Hudson. The company will feature ANTHONY CHISHOLM (Radio Golf, Jitney), DARIUSH KASHANI (Homebody/Kabul), TONY PLANA (Ugly Betty), ARMANDO RIESCO (2ST's Water by the Spoonful), ELIZABETH RODRIGUEZ (Motherf***er with the Hat, Orange is the New Black), and ANNAPURNA SRIRAM (Pericles at Berkeley Rep).

This spring, at Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Obie Award-winning director Mark Wing-Davey brings the Bard back with a bang. William Shakespeare's Pericles, Prince of Tyre is currently in previews on the intimate Thrust Stage and opens April 17, running through May 26 in a production conceived by Wing-Davey with Jim Calder. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

The Folger Theatre continues its 2012/13 season with the Washington premiere of The Conference of the Birds, a theatrical adventure based on the poignant 12th-century Persian fable by Farid Uddi Attar about the search for the divine and the quest for truth. Beginning performances on October 23, the production is directed by two-time Helen Hayes Award-winner Aaron Posner (Cyrano, Macbeth at Folger) and will feature original music composed and performed by renowned musician and Helen Hayes Award-winner Tom Teasley.

Two River Theater Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director John Dias and Managing Director Michael Hurst, launches its new season with Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, directed by Tony Award nominee Sam Buntrock and starring Obie winner Michael Cumpsty and Tony Award nominee Kathryn Meisle as Benedick and Beatrice. Performances will end on Sunday, October 2.

Two River Theater Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director John Dias and Managing Director Michael Hurst, launches its new season with Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, directed by Tony Award nominee Sam Buntrock and starring Obie winner Michael Cumpsty and Tony Award nominee Kathryn Meisle as Benedick and Beatrice.

Two River Theater Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director John Dias and Managing Director Michael Hurst, launches its new season with Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, directed by Tony Award nominee Sam Buntrock and starring Obie winner Michael Cumpsty and Tony Award nominee Kathryn Meisle as Benedick and Beatrice.