John Collins News

'In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice that I've been turning over in my mind ever since. Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone, he told me, just remember that all the people in this world haven't had the advantages that you've had.' Thus famously begins both F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel 'The Great Gatsby' and its stage incarnation 'Gatz' in the Elevator Repair Service (ERS) production currently running at Berkeley Repertory Theatre. Wait, you mean Fitzgerald was addressing the notion of privilege way back in 1925? Yes, indeedy! In fact, so much of his novel resonates so deeply with our current state that it's a perfect time to revisit this classic. Which is exactly and literally what ERS is doing here. The text of 'Gatz' consists of every word in the novel and nothing more. So, yes, that means you're in for roughly six hours (plus 2 intermissions and a welcome dinner break) of Fitzgeraldian theatrical experience. If those last two sentences intrigue you at all, I highly recommend you take the ride.

Berkeley Repertory Theatre today announced that due to demand, Gatz, which enacts the beloved classic novel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald and is directed by John Collins, will have an extension. The show will now run for an extra three performances through Sunday, March 1. Gatz begins on Thursday, February 13, 2020. For ticket information visit berkeleyrep.org or call the box office at 510 647-2949.

The popular New Jersey vocal ensemble Express Male will perform with the Morris Choral Society in two performances of a?oeBaroque Jewels and Songs of the Season' this Saturday December 14 at 8PM and Sunday December 15 at 3PM at the United Methodist Church on the Green in Morristown. Noted conductor and MCS Music Director Jason Tramm opens the concert with the rarely performed a?oeMesse de Minuit pour Noëla?? or 'Midnight Massa?? by Marc-Antoine Charpentier followed by selections from George Frideric Handel's a?oeMessiah.a??

On Tuesday, November 19, LUMBERYARD Center for Film and Performing Arts partnered with Bill T. Jones/New York Live Arts to host an event at the Park Avenue Armory addressing a growing structural challenge facing the city's performing arts presenting field: the need for technical-rehearsal residencies for NYC-based artists to develop new work. The event included a panel conversation moderated by Joe Melillo, Executive Producer Emeritus of the Brooklyn Academy of Music, and featuring five acclaimed New York City-based performing artists:

The Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment, in partnership with SHOW- SCORE.COM, recently launched ALL NEW YORK'S A STAGE, the first-ever campaign dedicated to raising the visibility of our vibrant local theater industry, which is made up of small venues, companies and related organizations throughout the five boroughs.

Berkeley Repertory Theatre is thrilled to announce the highly anticipated special event of this season, Gatz, which enacts the beloved classic novel The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald and is directed by John Collins, to create a once in a lifetime experience and is sure to be the most talked about event of 2019-20 arts season.

LUMBERYARD's Newly Opened Hudson Valley Facility's Technical Residency Program Fills an Urgent Void in the NYC Cultural Landscape, Establishing a Place Where Leading Performing Artists Can Re-Create the Production Design of Their NYC Premiere Location, and Alleviating the Burden of Presenters to Provide Technical Development Time and Space

LUMBERYARD Center for Film and Performing Arts's summer 2019 season will bring some of New York City's most exciting artists to the organization's state-of-the-art Hudson Valley facility, built just 101 miles from Manhattan to provide a crucial lifeline for the performing arts ecosystem. New American work and the institutions built to present it in NYC are more technologically advanced than ever before; however, there is a critical gap in the system, as artists can no longer transition from studio to theater with only a few days of technical rehearsal, and NYC presenters can't afford to close their doors for extended technical rehearsals.

Lecy Goranson will host a star-studded gala, celebrating this year's achievements of the Obie-Award winning theater ensemble, Elevator Repair Service. Under the direction of founding Artistic Director John Collins, ERS has been making original theater for 27 years. They have achieved national and international recognition with their extensive body of work, in particular the award-winning Gatz, a verbatim staging of The Great Gatsby, which enjoyed four engagements this season, from Abu Dhabi to Perth to New York City. The New York Times called Gatz The most remarkable achievement in theater not only of this year but also of this decade (which, gee, means this century too). For more information visit elevator.org.

Villanova Theatre and the American Theatre and Drama Society (ATDS) are thrilled to announce the 13th Annual Philadelphia Theatre Research Symposium (PTRS), featuring a keynote address by John Collins, Artistic Director of the award-winning ensemble theatre company Elevator Repair Service.

Carriageworks today announced a major new co-commission with Manchester International Festival to present a transformative multi-lingual performance-based installation. Studio Creole is curated by award-winning author Adam Thirlwell in collaboration with Hans Ulrich Obrist, designed by world-leading architect Rem Koolhaas, and directed by US theatre director John Collins.

When adapting famous novels into plays, the debate-and often the source of disappointment-is choosing what to cut. Elevator Repair Service has made the boldest, and yet at the same time the most neutral of choices in their adaptation: they have staged a production of F. Scott Fitzgerald's 'The Great Gatsby' that includes every single word of the novel.

NYU Skirball will present Elevator Repair Service's multi award-winning play, Gatz, the critically lauded performance of F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby," for eight performances, January 23 - February 3 at NYU Skirball. Gatz will be presented as a marathon eight-hour event, including two intermissions and a dinner break.

The Brown/Trinity Rep MFA Program presents its December thesis show, tick, tick…BOOM!, directed and choreographed by Ken-Matt Martin, a third year student in the Brown/Trinity Rep MFA Directing program. Written by Jonathan Larson, the Pulitzer Prize- and Tony Award-winning composer of Rent, this rock musical set in 1990 New York City tells the story of an aspiring theater composer, as he is forced to reevaluate his passions and decide whether he should keep pursuing his dream or give it all up for a stable career. Performances run November 29 through December 9 at the Pell Chafee Performance Center, 87 Empire St., Downtown Providence. General admission is $15 with a discounted price of $10 for seniors and $7 for students. Tickets are on sale now at Trinity Rep's box office, by phone (401) 351-4242, or online at www.TrinityRep.com.

The Morris Choral Society under the baton of Music Director Jason Tramm will present the work of three contemporary composers - all New Jersey residents - in their annual Holiday Concert entitled "Songs Earthly and Divine" December 8 and 9 St. Virgil's Church in Morris Plains.  The concert will feature the New Jersey premiere of R. Wayne Walters, Magnificat and contemporary works which will include David Eddleman's Dai Diddle Dai and Michael John Trotta's Veni, Veni Emmanuel.

McCarter Theatre Center will present Elevator Repair Service's multi-award-winning play, Gatz, the critically-lauded performance of F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, for three performances, February 15 - 17 on the Berlind Stage. Gatz will be presented as a marathon eight-hour event, including two intermissions and a dinner break.

NYU Skirball will present Elevator Repair Service's multi award-winning play, Gatz, the critically lauded performance of F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby," for eight performances, January 23 - February 3 at NYU Skirball. Gatz will be presented as a marathon eight-hour event, including two intermissions and a dinner break.

The Brown/Trinity Rep MFA Program presents its December thesis show, tick, tick…BOOM!, directed and choreographed by Ken-Matt Martin, a third year student in the Brown/Trinity Rep MFA Directing program. Written by Jonathan Larson, the Pulitzer Prize- and Tony Award-winning composer of Rent, this rock musical set in 1990 New York City tells the story of an aspiring theater composer, as he is forced to reevaluate his passions and decide whether he should keep pursuing his dream or give it all up for a stable career. Performances run November 29 through December 9 at the Pell Chafee Performance Center, 87 Empire St., Downtown Providence. General admission is $15 with a discounted price of $10 for seniors and $7 for students. Tickets are on sale now at Trinity Rep's box office, by phone (401) 351-4242, or online at www.TrinityRep.com.

The Brown/Trinity Rep MFA Program presents its December thesis show, tick, tick…BOOM!, directed and choreographed by Ken-Matt Martin, a third year student in the Brown/Trinity Rep MFA Directing program. Written by Jonathan Larson, the Pulitzer Prize- and Tony Award-winning composer of Rent, this rock musical set in 1990 New York City tells the story of an aspiring theater composer, as he is forced to reevaluate his passions and decide whether he should keep pursuing his dream or give it all up for a stable career. Performances run November 29 through December 9 at the Pell Chafee Performance Center, 87 Empire St., Downtown Providence. General admission is $15 with a discounted price of $10 for seniors and $7 for students. Tickets are on sale now at Trinity Rep's box office, by phone (401) 351-4242, or online at www.TrinityRep.com.

 Bluprint, NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment's subscription service and premier digital destination for lifestyle learning, today announced a new slate of original content and programming designed for kids, parents and families to learn and create together. Bluprint's family vertical offers series, classes and fresh ideas that inspire families to learn and try new things together. Bluprint is available on-demand via Bluprint streaming subscriptions.