Lauren Gunderson News

In this issue, we explore the efforts being made to sustain theater scenes in various cities, the evolution of Chicago's theater landscape, and the exciting announcement of a new Broadway musical adaptation. We also take a look at strategies to keep the curtain from falling on Seattle's theater scene.

Last week, I looked at support for independent producers. And there is more to be written about that—for example, the Creative & Independent Producer Alliance’s National New Work Development Network is likely to become even more important as we move forward. But this week is about World Premiere Wisconsin, a statewide new work festival that ran from March 1 through June 30, 2023.

Discover the nominations for the 55th Anniversary Jeff Awards for Equity Theater! Find out who made the cut and get ready for the highly anticipated awards ceremony.

What did our critic think of EXIT, PURSUED BY A BEAR at Convergence-continuum? Perhaps one of the most famous, or infamous of Shakespeare’s stage directions, ‘Exit, pursued by a bear’ in Act III of THE WINTER’S TALE, sees Antigonus meet death in the most unlikely of ways: at the hands – or rather the claws – of a bear.

Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28) recently commended the Sierra Madre Playhouse as a leading 'Non-Profit of the Year' in the San Gabriel Valley, as community leaders gathered at 2023 Congressional Leadership of the Year Awards. This event recognizes the diverse leadership and volunteerism in the cities making up California's 28th Congressional District. Each of the honorees were selected from nominations submitted by members of their community.

 The ​Reading Theater Project​ has announced the next season of new and locally inspired theater and performance, all centered around the theme of “Wonder.” 

Unlike any other name in literature, the words and works of William Shakespeare have stood the test of time, so try to imagine a period in history when his plays—as he wrote them—were on the brink of obscurity.

Ford's Theatre Director Paul R. Tetreault today announced the cast and creative team for the world premiere of Pearl Cleage's Something Moving: A Meditation on Maynard, directed by Seema Sueko (Silent Sky).

William Shakespeare is dead. Bad Hamlet knock-offs and children’s acting troupes litter the stages of Elizabethan London. And the King’s Men are running out of time. Rooted in real events, The Book of Will is the witty and wonderful battle of how the Bard’s legacy came to be.

Head back to a time when quills ruled supreme and iambic pentameter was all the rage at The Contemporary Theater Company’s production of The Book of Will by Lauren Gunderson, running from July 28th through August 20th. See photos from the production!

Get all the details about the upcoming production of THE MOUSETRAP at Citadel Theatre. Discover the talented cast and crew, the opening date, and immerse yourself in Agatha Christie's thrilling murder mystery. Don't miss this exciting premiere at Citadel Theatre in September.

The Arts Bridge Charity presents PlayFest 2023. PlayFest 2023 will consist of six new play readings presented over two weekends, October 27-29 and November 3-4, 2023. Learn more about the lineup here!

Playwrights Foundation, the West Coast's premier launchpad for exceptional new plays and playwrights, has announced the playwright cohort for the 46th Bay Area Playwrights Festival (BAPF46) which will be presented in a hybrid festival with in-person readings April 12 - 21, 2024 in San Francisco and on-demand recordings released post festival.

Head back to a time when quills ruled supreme and iambic pentameter was all the rage at The Contemporary Theater Company’s production of The Book of Will by Lauren Gunderson, running from July 28th through August 20th.

Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winner Robert Schenkkan is among four prolific playwrights to be commissioned as part of the Alabama Shakespeare Festival's (ASF) ambitious New Southern Canon, a multi-year commitment to developing 22 new plays about transformative moments in the South.

Essential Theatre was awarded a Bridge Grant by Georgia Council for the Arts (GCA), a strategic arm of the Georgia Department of Economic Development. This first-round grant funding for fiscal year 2024 includes a total of 269 grants across 47 counties in three funding categories, which range from COVID-19 recovery support to specific projects to educational programming.

Get a glimpse into the future of theater as Berkeley Rep announces the talented participants joining The Ground Floor program for 2023. From emerging artists to rising stars, explore the innovative works and fresh voices shaping the industry.

Discover the powerful plays by emerging teen writers that tackle the issue of gun violence. ENOUGH! announces the premiere of six winning works at The Kennedy Center and nationwide, showcasing young voices advocating for change. Don't miss this impactful event.

Shakespeare North Playhouse, a world-class cultural landmark situated in the heart of Prescot, is celebrating its first birthday. 

Last month, Signature Theatre announced three pretty exciting offerings for its 2023-2024 season. What slipped a little under the radar was that it was a complete season announcement—the off-Broadway company will only be producing three shows this season. The constriction is another sign of a theater world in crisis.