Matt Schatz News

Paul Barnes, co-founder and former producing and artistic director of Minnesota's Great River Shakespeare Festival, directs a workshop production of Michael Raver's play, Fire on Babylon at The Wild Project as part of the 2016 Fresh Fruit Festival. The play features Jeffrey Hayenga (Roundabout's The Importance of Being Earnest) and playwright Raver (How We Built the Bomb) Set and Prop Design by Marc Wheeler, Costumes by Edward Ray Kiely and Lighting Design by Mike Billings.

The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center announced today the 2016 summer season of plays, musicals, and other works in development at the National Playwrights Conference, National Music Theater Conference, National Puppetry Conference, and Cabaret & Performance Conference.

Paul Barnes, co-founder and former producing and artistic director of Minnesota's Great River Shakespeare Festival, directs an encore free reading of Michael Raver's new play, RIPTIDE, at Pearl Studios (519, eighth avenue, 12th Floor) on April 18th at 3:30 & 6 pm.

Thanks to the developmental work that occurred during The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis' Ignite! Play Festival in 2014 we now have the opportunity to witness the fruit of their labors; the world premier of a very entertaining new musical called GEORAMA. This play tells a fascinating story that is truly a forgotten piece of history that deserves to be celebrated. This production is staged in the Studio Theatre of the Loretto-Hilton, and that adds additional atmosphere and intimacy that makes the story connect in a uniquely vibrant manner. As an avid film fan, I'd read a bit about the history of 'motion pictures', and found countless early examples of flip books, and the like, but nothing prepared me for the sadly neglected tale of John Banvard, who created a virtual recreation of the wonders of the Mississippi River on a scrolling canvas that stretched for miles. That's quite a feat, and so is this staging. I cannot recommend it highly enough! It's truly a show that deserves an audience both young and old to appreciate, or become aware of, something that was truly as magical as the spectacle this artist created.

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents the world premiere of Georama, book by West Hyler and Matt Schatz, music and lyrics by Schatz and additional music and lyrics by Jack Herrick. Directed by Hyler, this sweeping and celebratory musical runs January 20 - February 7 in the Emerson Studio Theatre of the Loretto-Hilton Center for the Performing Arts. Curtain times are Tuesdays at 7 pm; Wednesdays-Fridays at 8 pm; Saturday matinees at 4 pm; selected Saturday nights at 8 pm; with Sunday performances at 2 and 7 pm.

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis (The Rep) has announced its 2015-2016 season of performances in the Studio Theatre: I and You, October 28-November 15, 2015; Georama, January 20-February 7, 2016; and Molly's Hammer, March 9-27, 2016.

The Ensemble Studio Theatre Marathon of One-Act Plays, the original festival of its kind, returns for its 35th incarnation, tonight, May 13, at 7:00pm at the Ensemble Studio Theatre, 549 West 52nd Street. 

The Ensemble Studio Theatre Marathon of One-Act Plays, the original festival of its kind, returns for its 35th incarnation Wednesday, May 13, at 7:00pm at the Ensemble Studio Theatre, 549 West 52nd Street. 

Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) just announced the fourth annual Roundabout Underground Reading Series, a five-night event that includes nightly readings of new plays written and directed by emerging artists, curtain speeches by Roundabout Underground artist alumni and post-show receptions.

After a year-long hiatus, WRITER'S BLOCK is back at 54 Below on Tuesday August 19th, 2014 at 9:30 pm. WRITER'S BLOCK is the place where NYC's most talented up-and-coming songwriters of contemporary musical theatre and beyond stop by to try new work, revisit older tunes, and maybe even make a friend or two.

Lark Play Development Center has announced that seven plays have been chosen for its 21st Annual Playwrights' Week, which will take place September 22nd - 27th. This year's plays and playwrights are Parachute Men by Mando Alvarado, Lucky Ladies by Dominic Finocchiaro, INC. by Diana Grisanti, No More Sad Things by Hansol Jung, Girl of Glass by Jennifer A. Kokai, Chalk by Walt McGough, and The Tiger Among Us by Lauren Yee.

The Astoria Performing Arts Center (APAC) announced today that Artistic Director Tom Wojtunik will be stepping down from his position as Artistic Director on June 30th, 2014. During Wojtunik's six years as Artistic Director, he successfully raised the company's artistic profile and solidified APAC's place as a respected developer and producer of new works. For his final production, he will direct Rodgers & Hammerstein's rarely seen Allegro, opening May 1st, 2014. (Critics are invited to all performances.)

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis (The Rep) continues the Ignite! Festival of New Plays. Taking place in March, the festival will include commissions of nationally recognized playwrights, culminating with three public readings including Ten Questions to Ask Your Biology Teacher About Evolution by Stephen Massicotte and directed by Tracy Brigden; Every Reason to Hope and Believe by Laura Eason and directed by Seth Gordon; and Georama-A Mostly True Story of the Forgotten John Banvard by West Hyler and Matt Schatz and directed by West Hyler.

The newest piece from playwright, actor and hip hop artist Psalmayene 24 , THE MOST EXCELLENT (AND BUSTED) BATTLE, will be presented in an industry reading on Friday March 7th at Playwrights Horizons. Book and Lyrics are by DC Based Psalmayene 24, Music is by DJ Nick tha 1da and it is directed by Wendy C. Goldberg, the Artistic Director of the National Playwrights Conference at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center.

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis (The Rep) continues the Ignite! Festival of New Plays. Taking place in March, the festival will include commissions of nationally recognized playwrights, culminating with three public readings including Ten Questions to Ask Your Biology Teacher About Evolution by Stephen Massicotte and directed by Tracy Brigden; Every Reason to Hope and Believe by Laura Eason and directed by Seth Gordon; and Georama-A Mostly True Story of the Forgotten John Banvard by West Hyler and Matt Schatz and directed by West Hyler.

Performance Network Theatre's Fireside New Play Festival (FNPF) returns with its latest installment of four of the hottest new plays in the country, performed for the first time on a Michigan stage on Sunday, December 15 through Wednesday, December 18 at 7pm. Audiences can sample works by UM grad and Chicago playwright Steven Simoncic, Louisville playwright Diana Grisanti, Chicago playwright Reina Hardy, and Michigan playwright Linda Ramsay-Detherage (author of the March FNPF hit "Sugarhill.") Admission is Pay-What-You-Can and reservations can be made at performancenetwork.org or over the phone at 734-663-0681. Performances are immediately followed by a facilitated talk back to share feedback on the brand new plays!

On Wednesday, September 25th at 11:30 pm, WRITER'S BLOCK is back at 54 Below (254 West 54th Street). Hosted by Joe Iconis (The Black Suits at Center Theatre Group, Joe Iconis and Family at 54 Below), WRITERS BLOCK features fresh, new work by some of the New York's most talented up-and-coming songwriters of contemporary musical theatre and beyond. The September 25th event features new work by Broadway veteran Annie Golden (Hair, Assassins, Orange is the New Black), Mighty Kate (Kate Pfaffl from War Horse - Broadway), Eli Bolin (Volleygirls, Sesame Street, Found), and more. Want to perform your own original work at 54 Below? Join us on Wednesday for the chance to sign up for one of the open-mic slots!

The results of this year's Block Island One-on-Ones, Make It Snappy: Plays in a New York Minute, will run July 19-21. The evening comprises ten fully realized mini-musicals, each featuring original music by Eric March.

The results of this year's Block Island One-on-Ones, Make It Snappy: Plays in a New York Minute, will run July 19-21. The evening comprises ten fully realized mini-musicals, each featuring original music by Eric March.