Lucille Lortel News

New York's OBIE Award-winning Epic Theatre Ensemble (Zak Berkman, Melissa Friedman, Ron Russell, Executive Directors) will present a two-evening event: As The Epic Turns, a benefit to support its esteemed after-school 'Shakespeare Bridge Project' programs. Under the direction of Zak Berkman, the 90-minute evening will feature two-time Emmy Award Winner, Martha Byrne, along with Paolo Seganti, and Tamara Tunie in a series of staged readings plus an exclusive screening of Paul Leyden's film Bye Bye Sally, followed by a reception with the cast and Epic Theater Ensemble artists.

New York's OBIE Award-winning Epic Theatre Ensemble (Zak Berkman, Melissa Friedman, Ron Russell, Executive Directors) will present a two-evening event: As The Epic Turns, a benefit to support its esteemed after-school 'Shakespeare Bridge Project' programs. Under the direction of Zak Berkman, the 90-minute evening will feature two-time Emmy Award Winner, Martha Byrne, along with Paolo Seganti, and Tamara Tunie in a series of staged readings plus an exclusive screening of Paul Leyden's film Bye Bye Sally, followed by a reception with the cast and Epic Theater Ensemble artists. Two performances are scheduled for 8:00 p.m. on Friday, April 17th and Saturday, April 18th at The Peter Sharpe Theater (416 West 42nd Street).

Friends In Deed will present a legendary trio as Charles Busch, Whoopi Goldberg and Lypsinka star in the first-ever New York presentation of the infamous Broadway-play-that-wasn't, LEGENDS!. Written by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winner James Kirkwood (A Chorus Line), the play will be presented in a special One Night Only staged reading benefit on Monday evening, March 23 at 8PM at Town Hall (123 West 43rd Street).

THE QUIET MAN TALES, a riveting new play presented by Smock Alley Theater Co., in conjunction with Mavin Productions II and Pullinsi & D'Angelo Productions, will make its world premiere at The Chicago Theatre Downstairs, 175 N. State Street, previewing March 6 and opening Sunday, March 22 with performances at 2:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., and running through May 24. Susan Felder will direct.

Variety is reporting that Cherry Lane Theater has struck a deal with Westbeth, the artists' community that until recently housed Bank Street Theater in its space. Cherry Lane will expand into the theater, renaming the 90-seat black box venue the Cherry Pit to become its third stage. Not only will the venue give Cherry Lane another base for its mentoring program reports Vairety, but it will also provide an additional revenue stream as homeless New York City theater troupes hunt for affordable performance space to rent.

THE QUIET MAN TALES, a riveting new play presented by Libby Adler Mages (Mavin Productions II), Tony D'Angelo and Smock Alley Theater Company, will make its world premiere at The Chicago Theatre Downstairs, 175 N. State Street, Sunday, March 22. THE QUIET MAN TALES runs through May 24. Susan Felder will direct.

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Jessica R. Jenen, will present THE PROUST PROJECT, a new adaptation series featuring a set of staged readings based on Marcel Proust's Remembrance of Things Past. On four successive Monday evenings beginning March 23, CSC will present staged-readings of works inspired by Proust, giving audiences a unique guided tour through one of the 20th Century's greatest novels. Audiences may enjoy each reading as an independent evening or experience them together as a cycle.

Connecticut's premier outdoor summer theater, Shakespeare on the Sound, has appointed Joanna Settle as its new Artistic Director. Ms. Settle will be responsible for all of the company's artistic endeavors, including its annual summer production of a major Shakespeare play. She succeeds the company's founding artistic director, Ezra Barnes.

Theatre at the Center's Theatre for Young Audiences, 1040 Ridge Road, Munster, Indiana, announces their upcoming production of the energetic and hilarious children's' favorite, Junie B. Jones. This exciting, fun and educational production will open April 21 and run through April 25. This new musical is based on four volumes in Barbara Park's Junie B. Jones series of books, illustrated by Denise Brunkus and published by Random House.

Our special series for Women's History Month continues with a profile of Irish Rep's artistic director and cofounder.

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director; Ellen Richard, Executive Director) will present EVERYDAY RAPTURE, written by Dick Scanlan (Tony nominee for Thoroughly Modern Millie) and Sherie Rene Scott (Tony nominee for Dirty Rotten Scoundrels), with musical supervision by Tom Kitt (Next to Normal, High Fidelity), directed by Michael Mayer (Tony Award winner for Spring Awakening).

THE QUIET MAN TALES, a riveting new play presented by Smock Alley Theater Co., in conjunction with Mavin Productions II and Pullinsi & D'Angelo Productions, will make its world premiere at The Chicago Theatre Downstairs, 175 N. State Street, previewing March 6 and opening Sunday, March 22 with performances at 2:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., and running through May 24. Susan Felder will direct.

Broadway darlings Marcy Heisler and Zina Goldrich are slated to headline Los Angeles? Catalina Jazz Club on March 19, 2009, 8pm it was announced today by their concert promoters, Spot-On Entertainment. Joining Heisler and Goldrich will be a bevy of musical talents including Broadway stars Susan Egan and Adam Hunter along with Dave Barrus, David Goldsmith, Mike Croiter and Sarah O?Brien. Reservations are currently available and can be made by calling (323) 466-2210.

The world-renowned Imagination Workshop was founded 40 years ago by Margaret Ladd, the award-winning actress and Founding Artistic Director, and her husband Lyle Kessler, the critically-acclaimed playwright, and Co-Founder of the organization. Today, the Imagination Workshop, a unique theatre company comprised of professional theatre artists collaborating with patients recovering from mood disorders and other mental illnesses, is one of the longest running Arts and Social Institutions in the country.

Playwrights Horizons, under the leadership of Artistic Director Tim Sanford and Managing Director Leslie Marcus, is proud to announce four World Premieres for its 2009/2010 Season. Presented at the theater company's home at 416 West 42nd Street.

Tony Award-winners Philip Bosco, Jim Norton and Ruben Santiago-Hudson, as well as Cheyenne Jackson, Kate Baldwin, and Jeremy Bobb will star in Finian's Rainbow, the final production of New York City Center's 2008-09 Encores! season, running from March 26 - 29.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) is presenting the New York premiere of Craig Lucas' THE SINGING FOREST. Directed by Mark Wing-Davey, THE SINGING FOREST will begin previews on Tuesday, April 7 and run through Sunday, May 17 with an official press opening on Monday, April 27 at 7 PM.

Bay Street Theatre is thrilled to announce the latest addition of theatrical workshops to their programming line-up. This new initiative represents Bay Street's deep commitment to developing new works, and to providing a home for participating artists to explore and expand their creative inspirations.

The producers of ROCK OF AGES announced the complete, awesome cast for Broadway's new, smash hit musical today. Constantine Maroulis, ('American Idol' Season 4, Broadway's The Wedding Singer, RENT) reprising his critically acclaimed role as 'Drew', is now joined by Broadway's best 1970's & 1980's period actors Amy Spanger (The Wedding Singer, Kiss Me Kate) as 'Sherrie' and James Carpinello (Saturday Night Fever, VH1's 'So NoTORIous') as 'Stacee Jaxx'.

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director; Ellen Richard, Executive Director) has announced the two plays which will be presented as part of the company's seventh annual Second Stage Theatre Uptown Series this summer: Zakiyyah Alexander's 10 Things To Do Before I Die, directed by Jackson Gay, and Lila Rose Kaplan's Wildflower, directed by 2008 Callaway Award winner Giovanna Sardelli.