Irene Ryan News

An upper class African American family wrestles with parental expectations, sibling rivalry, and issues of class and race. Following a two-year hiatus, Joseph Stern's multiple award-winning Matrix Theatre Company returns with the West Coast premiere of Stick Fly by Lydia R. Diamond, an important new play from one of America's freshest and most dynamic voices. Shirley Jo Finney directs Chris Butler, Avery Clyde, Tinashe Kajese, Terrell Tilford, John Wesley and Michole Briana White at The Matrix Theatre, April 4 through May 31, with previews beginning March 26.

Commander Squish Productions invites you to the Off-Broadway Premiere of THE NEW HOPEVILLE COMICS. A hit at the 2002 New York International Fringe Festival, this new musical features music and lyrics by Nate Weida and a book co-written by Weida and Sarah Donnell. Jim Wren directs an ensemble of 20 actors backed by a 5 piece rock band. This strictly limited engagement runs March 10-28 at American Theater of Actors (315 West 54th Street), former home of the Fringe-to-Off-Broadway transfer of Urinetown.

Commander Squish Productions in association with Michael Roderick and Small Pond Entertainment, presents the Off-Broadway premiere of THE NEW HOPEVILLE COMICS beginning previews March 10 at American Theater of Actors. A hit at the 2002 New York International Fringe Festival, this new musical features music and lyrics by Nate Weida and a book co-written by Weida and Sarah Donnell. Jim Wren directs a cast that features an ensemble of 20 actors backed by a 5 piece rock band. Opening night is slated for Saturday, March 14.

South Coast Repertory will revive the musical play Indian Summer, one of the theatre's most popular Educational Touring Productions, for travel to Southland elementary schools Jan. 21 - April 4, 2009. There will be a free public performance at SCR on Jan. 26. Set in the mid-19th century, Indian Summer is based on the true story of a young boy who grows up with a Native American tribe. The play directly supports California K-6 State Frameworks for History-Social Science, English-Language Arts and Visual and Performing Arts. John-David Keller directs the show written by Richard Hellesen with music and lyrics by Michael Silversher. Indian Summer features Matt Bartosch, Daniel Behnke, Eagle Young and Ellen D. Williams. Bartosch and Behnke are recent graduates of SCR's Professional Intensive Program. Sets and costumes are designed by Angela Balogh Calin. Kathleen Allison is stage manager. For over 40 years, SCR's Educational Touring Production has introduced children to theater by commissioning original musical plays which deal with important issues and making them available to Southern California elementary schools during the winter and spring. The tour reaches nearly 35,000 school children each year. Some of them will be experiencing live theater for the first time. Others will discover that their parents (or even their grandparents) saw the show when they were in elementary school.

Commander Squish Productions will present the Off-Broadway premiere of THE NEW HOPEVILLE COMICS beginning previews March 10 at American Theater of Actors. A hit at the 2002 New York International Fringe Festival, this new musical features music and lyrics by Nate Weida and a book co-written by Weida and Sarah Donnell. Jim Wren directs a cast that features an ensemble of 20 actors backed by a 5 piece rock band. Casting will be announced shortly. Opening night is slated for Saturday, March 14. THE NEW HOPEVILLE COMICS is set in an average US town called Hopeville. Here, your average superhero named Perfect Man protects its trusting and oblivious citizens against danger. His good deeds include grabbing a pair of scissors out of the hands of a running boy and rescuing the mayor's baby from falling out of a window. All is swell until Perfect Man's girlfriend rejects him. He loses his confidence and his power. Soon Perfect Man meets his demise in the form of a villainous trio (Sex, Drugs and Rockenroll) who have been gleefully waiting for their opportunity to turn the unsuspecting town to chaos. Can the citizens wise-up, band together to fight villainy and put the hope back into Hopeville?

Turtle Shell Productions presents the world premiere of Martin M. Zuckerman's To Walk in Darkness

Turtle Shell Productions presents the world premiere of Martin M. Zuckerman's To Walk in Darkness

Culture Project (Allan Buchman, Artistic Director) has announced that it will host three special post performance discussions following the Tuesday, September 23rd, Thursday, September 25th and Tuesday, September 30th performances of In Conflict, the Award-winning portrait of Iraq war veterans that begins performances tonight (9/18/08), marking the beginning of Culture Project's fall season.

TSP Artists' Platform presents the world premiere of 'Dreams', Norman Beim's prize-winning comedy-drama.

TSP Artists' Platform presents the world premiere of 'Dreams', Norman Beim's prize-winning comedy-drama.

Tony and Emmy Award-winning actress Nanette Fabray will headline the cast of The Damsel Dialogues, a new musical revue by Dick De Benedictis in which five women (and one guy) bare their souls in song and dance.

Tour dates have been announced for the upcoming national tour of Pippin, which recently played the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, CT

The Goodspeed Opera House's production of the medieval coming-of-age musical Pippin has been extended for 4 performances through September 29th

James Royce Edwards, Mickey Dolenz, Andre Ward and Shannon Lewis are among the complete cast of Pippin, running at the Goodspeed Opera House from July 14 - September 24

Joshua Park will star as the young prince who longs to be extraordinary in the Goodspeed Opera House's upcoming stage of Pippin, running from July 14th through September 24th

Rachel York has been cast as Catherine and David Larsen will play the title role in Pippin, which will run from August 9th to Septembre 4th at the Bay Street Theatre in Long Island

Karen Ziemba has been cast as Fastrada and B.D. Wong as the Leading Player in the Bay Street Theatre's production of Pippin, which will run from August 9th to September 4th