Joe Brancato News

Primary Stages announced today that the Primary Stages 2017 Spring Fling will celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the Einhorn School of Performing Arts (ESPA) on Thursday, May 11, 2017 at 6:00 pm. The event, which will be held at The Highline Ballroom (431 West 16th Street), will honor Jeanine Tesori with the Einhorn Mentorship Award.

Primary Stages has announced a reading of PARADING THE NOOSE, a new play by Connor Sampson, the recipient of the inaugural Jeffry Melnick New Playwright Award, established by Jeffry Melnick and administrated by Primary Stages.

Penguin Rep Theatre, the award-winning professional Equity theatre in Stony Point (Rockland County), New York under the leadership of founding artistic director Joe Brancato and executive director Andrew M. Horn, announces its 40th anniversary season.

In Michael McKeever's compelling new play, Daniel's Husband, we see Daniel and Mitchell enjoying life as the Perfect Couple. Perfect house, perfect friends, even a mother who wants them to wed. What isn't perfect is that Daniel longs to be married and Mitchell does not. 

Mosaic Theater Company of DC announces its most ambitious and theatrically varied lineup to date with its 2017-18 season. Compelled to respond to changing and challenging times in our country, Season Three grapples with our current political climate, celebrating outspoken heroines (of fluid gender and sexuality) in two new musicals, while embracing documentary inspired reportage, sharp political and social satire, and stirring family drama. 

Joe Brancato was a high school English and drama teacher in 1977 when he peered into an abandoned 1880's hay barn in Stony Point, New York, and visualized his future: a theatre of his own.

Primary Stages has announced the launch of OFF CENTER: THE OFF-BROADWAY ORAL HISTORY PROJECT.

Primary Stages has announced its complete 2017/18 Season, which will kick off in Fall 2017 with THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO THOMAS JEFFERSON, CHARLES DICKENS AND COUNT LEO TOLSTOY: DISCORD, written by Scott Carter ('Real Time with Bill Maher') and directed by Kimberly Senior (Disgraced).

Rubicon Theatre Company celebrates Black History Month with THE DEVIL'S MUSIC: THE LIFE AND BLUES OF BESSIE SMITH, starring singer and actress Miche Braden of the original Off-Broadway production (named one of the 10 Best Off-Broadway productions of the year by the N.Y. Daily Times). Described by CBC as a, "bawdy, bluesy, boozy rollicking night out at the theatre," the show follows the life, loves and career of blues and jazz singer Bessie Smith, called the "Empress of the Blues." 

It's been 80 years since Bessie Smith, the celebrated Empress of the Blues, died a lonely death, after an auto accident on a desolate Mississippi road. Contrary to legend, Smith did not bleed to death after being refused admission to a white Southern hospital. That story was related to Down Beat magazine by Columbia Records impresario John Hammond, who later apologized, saying that it was all based on hearsay. But her injuries were severe enough so that when she was taken to the nearest hospital (which happened to be one that accepted blacks), that she was beyond saving, and died at the young age of 43.

Rubicon Theatre Company celebrates Black History Month with THE DEVIL'S MUSIC: THE LIFE AND BLUES OF BESSIE SMITH, starring singer and actress Miche Braden of the original Off-Broadway production (named one of the 10 Best Off-Broadway productions of the year by the N.Y. Daily Times). Described by CBC as a, "bawdy, bluesy, boozy rollicking night out at the theatre," the show follows the life, loves and career of blues and jazz singer Bessie Smith, called the "Empress of the Blues."

Primary Stages presents the New York premiere of FADE, written by Tanya Saracho (Mala Hierba) and directed by Jerry Ruiz (Basilica). The cast of FADE will feature Annie Dow (SONG FOR THE DISAPPEARED) as 'Lucia' and Eddie Martinez ('Sense8') as 'Abel'.

Primary Stages, in association with Ted Snowdon, has announced complete casting for the final production of their 2016/17 season, the New York premiere of DANIEL'S HUSBAND.

Primary Stages presents the New York premiere of FADE, written by Tanya Saracho (Mala Hierba) and directed by Jerry Ruiz (Basilica). The cast of FADE will feature Annie Dow (SONG FOR THE DISAPPEARED) as 'Lucia' and Eddie Martinez ('Sense8') as 'Abel'.

Primary Stages has announced MORNING IN AMERICA, November 9, 9:00 AM - a series of one-minute monologues created by the Primary Stages community of playwrights in response to the 2016 election.

Primary Stages has announced complete casting today for the New York premiere of FADE, written by Tanya Saracho (Mala Hierba) and directed by Jerry Ruiz (Basilica).

Horton Foote's The Roads To Home opened last night at the Cherry Lane Theatre and Broadwayworld was there for the festivities.  The Roads To Home is a Primary Stages production in association with Catherine Adler and Jamie deRoy. It's run has been extended throughSunday, November 27, 2016.

Primary Stages, in association with Catherine Adler and Jamie deRoy, has announced an extension for the first show of the 2016/17 season, THE ROADS TO HOME, written by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Horton Foote (Harrison, TX).

Penguin Rep Theatre, the award-winning theatre in Stony Point, New York, under the leadership of Artistic Director Joe Brancato and Executive Director Andrew M. Horn, closes its 2016 season with the New York premiere of Daniel's Husband by Michael McKeever from September 23 through October 16, 2016. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

PRIMARY STAGES has announced the recipient of the inaugural Jeffry Melnick New Playwright Award, established by Jeffry Melnick and administrated by Primary Stages.