Joel Zwick News

The Archives of La MaMa just launched La MaMa's Digital Collections Website (catalog.lamama.org). Its development was made possible by a generous 'hidden archival collections' grant from the Council on Library and Information Resources. The site, which premieres on June 27, 2016 as part of La MaMa's 55th anniversary season, is freely available for use by artists, scholars, educators, and the interested public. Scroll down for a sneak peek at the collection!

?Cock Tales: Shame on Me! From award-winning solo artist and writer of the internationally acclaimed Jamaica Farewell, comes Debra Ehrhardt's new play, Cock Tales: Shame on Me!  The 80-minute show is based on true stories of up close and personal encounters with those very complicated members of the opposite sex. Ms Ehrhardt's colorful history of a lifetime of encounters with a world full of testosterone-fueled gentlemen--and not-so-gentle-men-has given her plenty of "source material" from which to create a memorable evening of theater.  From her early years as a young girl raised in a religious family, through her sexual awakening as a young adult, she takes us on a bumpy ride over a funny, sexy and emotionally rocky road.

59E59 Theaters has announced the lineup of shows for the 2016 Summer Season. Ticket prices range from $12 - $70 ($10 - $49 for 59E59 Members). Tickets for the summer season go on sale to 59E59 Members on June 2 at Noon, and to the general public on June 6 at Noon. Shows in the previously announced 5A Season are on sale now. Tickets are available by calling Ticket Central at 212-279-4200 or by visiting www.59e59.org.

Clever workshop presentation of the world premiere of playwrights Victor Bardack & Edward Michael Bell's HILLARY & MONICA. Though HILLARY & MONICA contains lots of witty elements still to be tweaked and fleshed out, the winning and steady component that needs no changing or improving's the central, charismatic performance of Barry Pearl as playwright Ben Rose. 

San Diego Repertory Theatre (San Diego REP) hosts the 23rd Annual Lipinsky Family San Diego Jewish Arts Festival from May 27 through July 17, 2016.

LA MaMa presents COFFEEHOUSE CHRONICLES #132 'TALKING BAND' -- tonight, March 12, 2016 at 3 to 5 p.m. -- Located at, La MaMa, Downstairs (66 East 4th Street, NYC).

Two Colombian theater artists -- Bernard Rey and Nube Sandoval -- are the recipients of the first-ever Ellen Stewart International Award, it has been announced by La MaMa, the world-renowned experimental theater company founded by the late Ellen Stewart and now in its 54th season on East 4th Street in New York City. 

59E59 Theaters has announced the lineup of shows for the 2016/2017 5A Season. A 5A Season Subscription is available for $175 (during previews) or $245(post-opening) and includes a ticket to each show in the season as well as a 59E59 Membership (a $59.59 value). Subscriptions to the 5A Season go on sale on Monday, March 7 at Noon. Single tickets are $70 ($49 for 59E59 Members). Single tickets for the 5A Season are available to 59E59 Members during a special Member Pre-Sale beginning on Monday, May 2 at Noon. Single tickets go on sale to the general public on Monday, May 9 at Noon. Tickets and subscriptions are available by calling Ticket Central at 212-279-4200 or by visiting www.59e59.org.

The extraordinary performing artist Hershey Felder will make his debut at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts with his critically-acclaimed production of Hershey Felder as Leonard Bernstein in MAESTRO for a special Los Angeles engagement from August 10 - 28, 2016. Directed by Joel Zwick, MAESTRO features only 22 performances prior to transferring to New York in fall of 2016. MAESTRO bows at The Wallis on August 10 with a special Opening Night Celebration. Single tickets and subscription series are now available for purchase.

LA MaMa presents COFFEEHOUSE CHRONICLES #132 'TALKING BAND' -- Saturday March 12, 2016 at 3 to 5 p.m. -- Located at, La MaMa, Downstairs (66 East 4th Street, NYC).

San Diego audience favorite Hershey Felder ("George Gershwin Alone," "Monsieur Chopin," "Beethoven," "Liszt," "An American Story," "Irving Berlin") returns to San Diego Repertory Theatre in a pre-New York engagement of "Hershey Felder as Leonard Bernstein in MAESTRO." Fresh from a sold out run of "Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin" at the La Jolla Playhouse, Felder will now perform this signature work about America's finest conductor and composer, Leonard Bernstein, which had its premiere in 2011 at San Diego's Old Globe Theatre. Directed by Joel Zwick, "MAESTRO" plays a limited engagement from Wednesday, July 6 to Sunday, July 17, 2016. Details for the New York presentation will be announced in April.

Theatre enthusiasts packed the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts tonight to hear Founding Artistic Director Robert Kelley and Managing Director Phil Santora of TheatreWorks Silicon Valley unveil the line-up for the company's 47th season.

La MaMa will honor film producer Joy Tomchin for her activism on behalf of the LGBTQ communities; Donn Russell for his commitment to and support of nontraditional theatre; and Roberta Uno for her leadership in philanthropy and cultural diversity at the annual La MaMa Gala tonight, November 2nd at La MaMa's Ellen Stewart Theatre (66 E. 4 St.), it has been announced by Mia Yoo, the theater company's Artistic Director.

La MaMa will honor film producer Joy Tomchin for her activism on behalf of the LGBTQ communities; Donn Russell for his commitment to and support of nontraditional theatre; and Roberta Uno for her leadership in philanthropy and cultural diversity at the annual La MaMa Gala on Monday, November 2nd at La MaMa's Ellen Stewart Theatre (66 E. 4 St.), it has been announced by Mia Yoo, the theater company's Artistic Director.

Film and Stage producers/writers Victor Bardack (The Great New Wonderful) and Edward Michael Bell (The Jesse Owens Games) have written and produced a tragi-comedy for the stage titled HILLARY & MONICA: MORE THAN JUST HE BJ. It will be directed by award winning Joel Zwick (My Big Fat Greek Wedding).  Bardack and Bell head the motion picture and stage production company under their banner Argus Entertainment located in Beverly Hills.

Film and Stage producers/writers Victor Bardack (The Great New Wonderful) and Edward Michael Bell (The Jesse Owens Games) have written and produced a tragi-comedy for the stage titled HILLARY & MONICA: MORE THAN JUST HE BJ. It will be directed by award winning Joel Zwick (My Big Fat Greek Wedding).  Bardack and Bell head the motion picture and stage production company under their banner Argus Entertainment located in Beverly Hills.

Continuing to bring exciting stories and new productions to beloved Chicago audiences, 'Hershey Felder Presents' (George Gershwin Alone, Maestro Bernstein, The Pianist of Willesden Lane, Louis and Keely 'Live' at the Sahara) now brings a brand new production of the award-winning and internationally acclaimed play JAMAICA FAREWELL, written and performed by Debra Ehrhardt and directed by Joel Zwick, to Chicago's Royal George Theatre. Based on her true life story, writer-performer Ehrhardt's JAMAICA FAREWELL chronicles her escape from revolution-torn Jamaica in the 1970's to fulfill her lifelong dream of coming to America. Performances began at Chicago's Royal George Theatre 1641 North Halsted, 60614, on September 8 and continue through Sunday October 11th in a strictly limited engagement. Scroll down for photos from the opening night festivities!

Continuing to bring exciting stories and new productions to beloved Chicago audiences, 'Hershey Felder Presents' (George Gershwin Alone, Maestro Bernstein, The Pianist of Willesden Lane, Louis and Keely 'Live' at the Sahara) now brings a brand new production of the award-winning and internationally acclaimed play JAMAICA FAREWELL, written and performed by Debra Ehrhardt and directed by Joel Zwick, to Chicago's Royal George Theatre. Based on her true life story, writer-performer Ehrhardt's JAMAICA FAREWELL chronicles her escape from revolution-torn Jamaica in the 1970's to fulfill her lifelong dream of coming to America. Performances began at Chicago's Royal George Theatre 1641 North Halsted, 60614, last night September 8, and continue through Sunday October 11th in a strictly limited engagement. BroadwayWorld has a first look at Ehrhardt onstage below!

Hershey Felder is setting up camp on Royal George Theatre's mainstage for a full season of shows starting September 8. The season includes the record-breaking production of Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin; a new production of the award-winning, internationally-acclaimed play Jamaica, Farewell, and the Midwest premieres of London import I Found My Horn and audience favorite Baritones Unbound.

Continuing to bring exciting stories and new productions to beloved Chicago audiences, 'Hershey Felder Presents' (George Gershwin Alone, Maestro Bernstein, The Pianist of Willesden Lane, Louis and Keely 'Live' at the Sahara) now brings a brand new production of the award-winning and internationally acclaimed play JAMAICA FAREWELL, written and performed by Debra Ehrhardt and directed by Joel Zwick, to Chicago's Royal George Theatre. Based on her true life story, writer-performer Ehrhardt's JAMAICA FAREWELL chronicles her escape from revolution-torn Jamaica in the 1970's to fulfill her lifelong dream of coming to America. Performances begin at Chicago's Royal George Theatre 1641 North Halsted, 60614, on Tuesday September 8, and continue through Sunday October 11th in a strictly limited engagement. All tickets are $50 for all performances.