David Schweizer News

The Paul Dresher Ensemble, in co-production with Fort Mason Center Presents and Behavioral Intervention for Autism, proudly announces the World Premiere of Sound Maze for Max, a new sound installation that features ten newly invented musical instruments that have been collaboratively designed and built by Paul Dresher, Alex Vittum and Daniel Schmidt. Sound Maze for Max will be open daily in the Firehouse at Fort Mason Center now through May 3rd, 2015.

HOUSE OF TARDS has once again extended, and will now be performed on Thursday evenings at 8 pm through April 23rd.

Laugh, making its world premiere at Studio Theatre, is the latest from Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Beth Henley. With its designations of "slapstick" and as an homage to silent movies we expect movement and pace to be at the forefront, yet Laugh is far more rooted in language. But why box Laugh into a genre? There is little else like it. It is with her heightened language and quirkiness that playwright Beth Henley is at her best. Though flawed and in need of a trim from its current 2:15 running time, the comedy has some fine moments particularly in the final scenes that highlight Henley's unique style and unexpected choices.

The Paul Dresher Ensemble, in co-production with Fort Mason Center Presents and Behavioral Intervention for Autism, proudly announces the World Premiere of Sound Maze for Max, a new sound installation that features ten newly invented musical instruments that have been collaboratively designed and built by Paul Dresher, Alex Vittum and Daniel Schmidt. Sound Maze for Max will be open daily in the Firehouse at Fort Mason Center from April 4th through May 3rd, 2015.

Acclaimed comedy trio Unitard returns to New York City with HOUSE OF TARDS. Made up of the combined talents of Mike Albo (former New York Times columnist and author of The Underminer as well as established solo performer), Nora Burns (of the comedy group The Nellie Olesons), and David Ilku (member of the Dueling Bankheads), UNITARD brings HOUSE OF TARDS, its first new show in over two years, back to the Stonewall Inn, where it premiered last October (the sold out series of performances were extended through December 2014). HOUSE OF TARDS will once again be performed at the Stonewall Inn (53 Christopher Street in Greenwich Village) for four weekly performances beginning tonight, March 19th (March 19th and 26th; April 2nd and 9th at 8 pm).

The Paul Dresher Ensemble, in co-production with Fort Mason Center Presents and Behavioral Intervention for Autism, announces the World Premiere of Nancy Carlin and Michael Rasbury's new musical MAX UNDERSTOOD for a two-week limited engagement, April 16 - 26, 2015 in the Cowell Theater at Fort Mason Center, San Francisco. The production will have a press opening on Thursday, April 16, 8 pm and previews on Wednesday April 15, 8 pm.

Lawrence Edelson, Artistic and General Director of Opera Saratoga, announced today that the company has received two important new grants to help support the world premiere of The Long Walk, a new opera by composer Jeremy Howard Beck and librettist Stephanie Fleischmann, based on the critically acclaimed memoir of war and homecoming by Brian Castner.

Acclaimed comedy trio Unitard returns to New York City with HOUSE OF TARDS. Made up of the combined talents of Mike Albo (former New York Times columnist and author of The Underminer as well as established solo performer), Nora Burns (of the comedy group The Nellie Olesons), and David Ilku (member of the Dueling Bankheads), UNITARD brings HOUSE OF TARDS, its first new show in over two years, back to the Stonewall Inn, where it premiered last October (the sold out series of performances were extended through December 2014). HOUSE OF TARDS will once again be performed at the Stonewall Inn (53 Christopher Street in Greenwich Village) for four weekly performances beginning Thursday, March 19th (March 19th and 26th; April 2nd and 9th at 8 pm).

Geva Theatre Center's 2015 Fielding Studio Series begins with the world premiere of Katherine's Colored Lieutenant by Nora Cole and is directed by David Schweizer. The production begins performances on February 5 and runs in the Fielding Nextstage through February 22.

Segerstrom Center for the Arts has expanded its 2015 Off Center Festival to include two Parties-on-the-Plaza (POP) tonight, January 24 and Friday, January 30.

Segerstrom Center for the Arts has expanded its 2015 Off Center Festival to include two Parties-on-the-Plaza (POP) Saturday, January 24 and Friday, January 30. The first POP will feature Orange County rocker Nick Waterhouse. On January 30, the party continues with the cumbia, afrobeat, trad funk fusion of Jungle Fire and the cold-blooded blend of deep soul, rare funk, and afro- disco (with a raw rock star edge!) of Orgone.

The magic continues when one of L.A.'s most beloved and longest running shows, Smoke and Mirrors moves to the Odyssey Theatre on Jan. 17 through March 15. Created by and starring noted actor and lifetime member of the Magic Castle, Albie Selznick and co-produced with Ron Sossi, artistic director of the Odyssey Theatre Ensemble, the L.A. Times Critic's Choice smash hit directed by David Schweizer makes its debut in West L.A.

Kathleen Chalfant, Tony Crane and Jim Thalman will star in The Private Theatre's staged reading of GENOA by Michael Sargent. Directed by David Schweizer, the reading is set for next Monday, December 15th at 7:00 pm at the LAByrinth Theater Company, 155 Bank Street.

The Private Theatre, anchored in the core concept of delivering work '...that affects its audiences deeply, engaging them in encounters that make a profound and enduring impression,' The Private Theatre presents: The Winter Reading Series from today, December 9 - January 7, 2015 which will feature three new works including Kishinev by Max Sparber, Genoa by Michael Sargent, and The Shotgun Message by A. Rey Pamatmat.

The Private Theatre, anchored in the core concept of delivering work "…that affects its audiences deeply, engaging them in encounters that make a profound and enduring impression," The Private Theatre presents: The Winter Reading Series from December 9 - January 7, 2015 which will feature three new works including Kishinev by Max Sparber, Genoa by Michael Sargent, and The Shotgun Message by A. Rey Pamatmat. The reading series is FREE of charge and open to the public, each reading will be followed by a talk back with the creative team. R.S.V.P: rsvp@theprivatetheatre.org

(Saratoga Springs, NY) -- Opera Saratoga announces subscriptions are now on sale for the 2015 Summer Festival, which will include three operas featuring guest artists from around the globe, and a wide-range of additional live performances and arts experiences. The three operas will take place over a three-and-a-half week period, from July 2nd to the 26th.

The Playwrights Realm will present the world premiere of City Of by Anton Dudley, directed by Stephen Brackett (Buyer & Cellar). The production runs January 26 through February 21, 2015 with a February 5 opening at the Peter Jay Sharp Theater (416 W. 42nd Street, NYC). Tickets will go on sale to the public beginning December 29th, 2014.

I have to admit that I was very excited when I read that veteran actor Michael Winther would be returning to Center Stage to star in the Pulitzer Prize winning musical NEXT TO NORMAL. It was Director David Schweizer who asked Winther to come to Center Stage for the role of Dan. Schweizer also directed Winther back in 2007 when he played the role of Dromio in BOYS FROM SYRACUSE along with Manu Narayan and Paolo Montalban. Winther became friends with Narayan when the two both worked on Broadway at the same time, Narayan was the star of BOMBAY DREAMS at the Broadway Theater and Winther was down the street at the Winter Garden in MAMMA MIA! Winther related it was Narayan who called him up last year to take Narayan's place in San Paolo, Brazil to perform in the KIezmer musical THE NIGHT IN THE OLD MARKET PLACE. So Winther spent ten days in Brazil along with another actress from the BOYS FROM SYRACUSE, Charlotte Cohn.

Center Stage presents the rock musical Next to Normal, the second show of its music-filled 2014-15 Season.

Director David Schweizer returns to Center Stage and directs a sublime musical.