Modern American Theatre News

BroadwayWorld has a first look at Paper Mill Playhouse's The Color Purple, directed by Tony Award-winner John Doyle. The Color Purple is the Tony Award-winning musical revival based upon the novel written by Alice Walker and the Warner Bros./Amblin Entertainment motion picture with a book by Marsha Norman and music and lyrics by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis, and Stephen Bray.

Paper Mill Playhouse is opening their 80th Anniversary season with a stirring musical production of The Color Purple that features brilliant direction and musical staging by Tony Award winner John Doyle with wonderful musical direction by Darryl Archibald. The show has a remarkable, stellar cast whose acting and vocal talents will take your breath away.

HISTORY MATTERS/BACK TO THE FUTURE presents an evening of scenes from women's plays of the past, performed by renowned actors April Matthis (Lear; The Sound and the Fury; April Seventh, 1928), Maryann Plunkett (Blue Valentine, The Apple Family Plays) and Jay O. Sanders (Blindspot, The Apple Family Plays) directed by Joan Vail Thorne, founder of History Matters/Back to the Future.

HISTORY MATTERS/BACK TO THE FUTURE presents an evening of scenes from women's plays of the past, performed by renowned actors April Matthis (Lear; The Sound and the Fury; April Seventh, 1928), Maryann Plunkett (Blue Valentine, The Apple Family Plays) and Jay O. Sanders (Blindspot, The Apple Family Plays) directed by Joan Vail Thorne, founder of History Matters/Back to the Future.

Center Theatre Group has announced the launch of the inaugural L.A. Writers' Workshop Festival: New Plays Forged In L.A., to celebrate some of the freshest and most exciting voices in modern American theatre coming out of Los Angeles and Center Theatre Group's long-standing L.A. Writers' Workshop. To be held annually at the Kirk Douglas Theatre, the festival will feature readings of three new plays by three L.A. Writers' Workshop participants from throughout the program's thirteen year history. The inaugural festival will be on June 23 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. with readings of "A Kind of Weather" by Sylvan Oswald, "New Life" by Dan O'Brien and "How To Raise A Freeman" by Zakiyyah Alexander.

Center Theatre Group has announced casting for the inaugural L.A. Writers' Workshop Festival: New Plays Forged In L.A., a one day event at the Kirk Douglas Theatre celebrating some of the freshest and most exciting voices in modern American theatre. The festival will take place on June 23 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. with readings of three new plays by three L.A. Writers' Workshop participants from throughout the program's 13-year history. The readings include "A Kind of Weather" by Sylvan Oswald, "New Life" by Dan O'Brien and "How To Raise A Freeman" by Zakiyyah Alexander.

Center Theatre Group has announced the launch of the inaugural L.A. Writers' Workshop Festival: New Plays Forged In L.A., to celebrate some of the freshest and most exciting voices in modern American theatre coming out of Los Angeles and Center Theatre Group's long-standing L.A. Writers' Workshop. To be held annually at the Kirk Douglas Theatre, the festival will feature readings of three new plays by three L.A. Writers' Workshop participants from throughout the program's thirteen year history. The inaugural festival will be on June 23 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. with readings of "A Kind of Weather" by Sylvan Oswald, "New Life" by Dan O'Brien and "How To Raise A Freeman" by Zakiyyah Alexander.

American Repertory Ballet returns to McCarter Theatre Center on Friday, April 20 at 8 p.m. with "Generations: Influences from the Modern Age," a triple bill of critically acclaimed works by Jose Limon, Gerald Arpino and Artistic Director Douglas Martin.

Robert Harling's STEEL MAGNOLIAS is a 1987 comedy drama about the bond amongst a group of Southern women in northwest Louisiana and is based on his experience with his sister's death. The title suggests that while women may be as delicate as magnolias they are also as tough as steel. The magnolia also specifically refers to a magnolia tree they are arguing about as the play begins.

The City Theatre is excited to announce a special summer theatre event presentation of Larry Kramer's The Normal Heart. Described as "riveting theatre," this moving, funny, raw, and thought-provoking examination of the fight during the AIDS epidemic, is one of the most successful plays in modern American theatre and deserving of production in every community that believes in the power in and equality of all its citizens. The production runs June 30 - July 16.

Ending one of the longest tenures in American theatre, TheatreWorks Silicon Valley announced today that Founding Artistic Director Robert Kelley will retire at the conclusion of the company's 50th season, 2019/2020.

Adding to the 2017 season, The City Theatre is very excited to announce a special stage presentation of Edward Albee's Pulitzer Prize-winning play Three Tall Women.

Adding to the 2017 season, The City Theatre is very excited to announce a special stage presentation of Edward Albee's Pulitzer Prize-winning play Three Tall Women.

International stage and screen star Demian Bichir posed in costume as the iconic character El Pachuco during a promotional photo shoot for the Mark Taper Forum's upcoming revival of "Zoot Suit," opening February 12, 2017 (previews begin January 31). BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at him in character below!

International stage and screen star Demian Bichir posed in costume as the iconic character El Pachuco during a promotional photo shoot for the Mark Taper Forum's upcoming revival of "Zoot Suit," opening February 12, 2017 (previews begin January 31). BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at him in character below!

The South Bend Civic Theatre is pleased to announce its exciting 2017 Season, celebrating their 60th anniversary and 10th year in their new home.

International stage and screen star Demian Bichir (Tarantino's 'The Hateful Eight,' FX's 'The Bridge,' Showtime's 'Weeds' and Soderbergh's 'Che') is set to play the indelible role of El Pachuco in Center Theatre Group's production of 'Zoot Suit' at the Mark Taper Forum, with previews beginning January 31, opening set for February 12 and performances continuing through March 12, 2017.

The Provincetown Tennessee Williams Theater Festival (TWP Fest) announced that the outstanding multi-award-winning actor Brian Dennehy, recognized for his interpretation of many of Eugene O'Neill's complex characters, will be the guest of honor at their annual dinner on June 4. The gala is to support this fall's 11th festival, Eugene O'Neill and Tennessee Williams: Beyond Success with performances from theaters around the world throughout the charming seaside town from Sept 22 - 25, 2016.

After a highly successful 30th birthday year, which included productions of Athol Fugard's MASTER HAROLD' ... AND THE BOYS, as well as the Australian premieres of John Logan's PETER AND ALICE and Alexi Kaye Campbell's BRACKEN MOOR, Independent Theatre kicks off its 2015 season with one of the world's greatest plays - Eugene O'Neill's LONG DAY'S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT.

The Shakespeare Theatre Company has announced that three renowned actors will join STC Artistic Director Michael Kahn for separate installments of the Classic Conversations series. Tony Award-winning actresses Patti LuPone and Phylicia Rashad as well as Emmy Award-winning actor Richard Thomas will sit down with Kahn to discuss all aspects of classical theatre, from its influence on their past to its role in the present.