David Schweizer News

Odyssey Theatre Ensemble has announced "Circa'69!" an 18-month retrospective beginning in June, 2019 that will celebrate its founding, 50 years ago, by artistic director Ron Sossi, who has remained steadily at the helm since the company's first production in 1969.

On June 7 at 8pm, June 8 at 6pm, and June 9 at 3pm, Utopia Opera presents the New York Premiere of SOME LIGHT EMERGES, a chamber opera by Laura Kaminsky, Mark Campbell, & Kimberly Reed, in a fully-staged production performed with its original orchestration at the Ida K. Lang Recital Hall at Hunter College (695 Park Avenue). Drama Desk Award-nominee David Schweizer directs and Utopia founder and artistic director William Remmers conducts. Q&A sessions with Laura Kaminsky, Kimberly Reed, and members of the cast and crew follow each performance.

The Actors' Gang presents VIOLENCE: The Misadventures of Spike Spangle, Farmer, written by The Actors' Gang Artistic Director Tim Robbins and Adam Simon and directed by Bob Turton, who was most recently seen at The Actors' Gang as "The Maniac" in Accidental Death of an Anarchist. This no-holds barred satire of militarism and media manipulation begins performances May 2nd (Press Opening May 11th at 8:00pm) and will run Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, through June 22nd. 

Ophira Eisenberg (host of NPR's "Ask Me Another") returns to Bucks County Playhouse for a one-night only performance on April 6 at 8 p.m. "Leaving A Mark" will also feature cameo performances from acclaimed storytellers Mike Albo and Michaela Murphy.

The Actors' Gang presents One Act Festival, featuring two contrasting programs performed in repertory. Show one, entitled The Classic, begins performances March 14th (press opening March 23) and features two classic one-act plays -- Jean-Paul Sartre's No Exit, directed by Brian T. Finney, and Samuel Beckett's Krapps's Last Tape, directed by Cynthia Ettinger. Show two, entitled The Original, begins performances March 16 (Press Opening March 29) and features three new one-act plays written, directed, and acted by The Actors Gang ensemble:  Tradition, written by James Edward Bane and directed by Tess Vidal, A Perfect World, written by Lynde Houck and directed by Danielle Powell, and Clean Slate, written by Bob Turton and directed by Zoe Hall. Both programs will run Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, through April 20th.  

BAAD! - The Bronx Academy of Arts & Dance forges forward with the 19th annual BAAD!ASS WOMEN FESTIVAL, celebrating the empowerment of women through art, culture and performance. 

La MaMa presents the premiere of legendary playwright Jean-Claude van Itallie's The Fat Lady Sings at La MaMa's Downstairs Theater (66 East 4th Street). Directed by Drama Desk Award winner David Schweizer, the production is scheduled to begin previews on March 21, 2019, with an opening night on March 25, 2019 (running run through April 7, 2019). The cast will feature New York City Opera sensation, Lauren Flanigan, and actor, Tony Torn, known for his celebrated experimental theater work. They will be joined by Jake Horowitz, Nancy McArthur and Jose Useche.

A "first-rate singer of unusual refinement" with "a voice that traverses genres" (New York Times), Michael Winther, making his Birdland Theater solo debut, joins forces with award-winning jazz pianist, Matt Baker for a unique mix of classic, romantic standards and contemporary love songs as well as some discoveries from the contemporary musical theater - just in time for Valentine's Day!

LA MAMA continues its 57th season this Winter and Spring with a roster of singular artists from around the globe as they present new works, both USA and World Premieres alike, on such topics as social inequality, immigration, racism and homophobia, it has been announced by Mia Yoo, La MaMa's Artistic Director.

The Actors' Gang production of APHRODITE'S HOLIDAY SHOW will begin Thursday, November 29th as part of The Actors' Gang 2018/19 Hellzapoppin' Season. APHRODITE'S HOLIDAY SHOW will perform every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, through December 16th.

The Actors' Gang has announced an extension of 'Johnny Got His Gun' at the Ivy Substation, adding two performances, a matinee performance on November 11th, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I and Veteran's Day and an evening performance on November 14th. The stage adaptation of Academy Award-winning screenwriter Dalton Trumbo's war novel, Johnny Got His Gun, written by Bradley Rand Smith and directed by Tim Robbins, began previews on October 6th and opened October 13th.

The Actors' Gang has announced an extension of 'Johnny Got His Gun' at the Ivy Substation, adding two performances, a matinee performance on November 11th, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I and Veteran's Day and an evening performance on November 14th. The stage adaptation of Academy Award-winning screenwriter Dalton Trumbo's war novel, Johnny Got His Gun, written by Bradley Rand Smith and directed by Tim Robbins, began previews on October 6th and opened October 13th.

Latin Standards is a belly-laugh funny and loving, side-by-side tale of Willy Chevalier and what he did for laughs and love - and about Marga Gomez - the daughter who followed in his comedic footsteps.

The Actors' Gang announced today that the stage adaptation of Academy Award-winning screenwriter Dalton Trumbo's war novel, Johnny Got His Gun, written by Bradley Rand Smith and directed by Tim Robbins, will kick off The Actors' Gang 2018/19 Season from Saturday, October 6th to Saturday, November 10th, 2018. The press opening is Saturday, October 13.

Director, producer and actor Isis Masoud (Bloodline, The Last Goodbye, Rock of Ages, Matter out of Place), and director Roger Ingraham of Sundance fame(Moonshine, As the Dust Settles, Matter Out Of Place), are thrilled to announce a week long screening oftheir newest short film AYITA'S DREAM at the Arena Cinelounge, 6464 Sunset Blvd. Lobby Level, Hollywood, CA 90028, from September 21-27, 2018.

The Actors' Gang will begin performances for the 2018 Free Shakespeare in the Park for Families production of Much Ado About Avengers beginning Saturday, August 4th, continuing a 12-year tradition of free theater in Media Park. Based on William Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing" and inspired by the characters of Marvel's The Avengers, this 45 minute, all?ages production will run every Saturday and Sunday of August at 11am, through August 26th.

After coast to coast critical acclaim, Marga Gomez comes to The Marsh Berkeley with Latin Standards, her 12th and final work in the solo performance genre, named a "Critic's Pick" by The New York Times, which hailed its "winning heart and humor." Gomez explores the loving, funny, and true story of perseverance and creative addiction passed down from immigrant father to lesbian daughter as she describes life as the child of a blustery Cuban showman. Between vivid portrayals of characters from 1960's Manhattan to present day San Francisco, Gomez ponders the ballads penned by her late father Willy Chevalier: a comedian, producer, entrepreneur, and composer of dance tunes steeped in jealously and obsession. Latin Standards will be presented October 5-November 17, 2018 with performances 8:00pm Fridays and 8:30pm Saturdays at The Marsh Berkeley, 2120 Allston Way, Berkeley. For tickets ($25-$35 sliding scale, $55-$100 reserved) or more information, the public may visit www.themarsh.org or call The Marsh Box office at 415-282-3055 (open Monday through Friday, 1pm-4pm).

Peak Performances kicks off its 2018-19 season with the world premiere of Hatuey: Memory of Fire, a rousing Afro-Cuban-Yiddish opera performed in English, Yiddish and Spanish, with music by Frank London, libretto by Elise Thoron, direction by Mary Birnbaum, and choreography by Maija Garcia.

The Broad Stage continues their collaboration with Red Hen Press for Red Hen Press: At the Kitchen Table with Rinde and Ellen on Sunday, July 22 at 2:00pm in the East Wing at The Broad Stage.