Naomi Iizuka News

Manhattan Theatre Club announces the lineup for the 2019 Ted Snowdon Reading Series.

Voyage Theater Company/PARTS UNKNOWN Play Reading Series will present a staged reading of Sphinx by British playwright Neil Fleming, directed by Wayne Maugans, at the 53rd Street New York Public Library (18 W 53 Street, across the street from MOMA), Thur February 21 at 7pm. Admission is FREE and open to the public, but reservations are highly encouraged. Please RSVP here. The performance will run approximately 95 minutes with no intermission.

Freed-slave and famed Boston poet, Phillis Wheatley was one of the best-known poets in pre-19th century America. Phillis Wheatley's life and friendship with Obour Tanner comes alive on stage in Jacqui Parker's (Director of 2018's The Agitators at GSC) new play, Wrestling with Freedom. Educated and enslaved in the household of prominent Boston commercialist John Wheatley, paraded in front of the still-young American political leadership and the English empire's aristocracy, Phillis Wheatley was the abolitionists' illustrative testimony that freed slaves were both artistic and intellectual. She was a household name across the world after publishing her poetry in both England and the United States - her achievements a catalyst for the fledgling antislavery movement. 

Building on 40 years of producing powerful contemporary theatre, Studio Theatre is pleased to announce a new class of commissioned playwrights and directors to Studio R&D, its incubator to support the creation of new work from inception to first production. Incoming Studio R&D artists are playwrights James Fritz, James Ijames, Steph Del Rosso, and Emily Schwend, as well as directors Carl Cofield, Lila Neugebauer, and Eric Ruffin. These exciting talents from the US and UK will have Studio's full support in creating aesthetically diverse new work to be presented in future seasons and introduced into the international repertoire. As they create Studio-specific works, commissioned artists will visit Studio to get to know its theatres, programming, and audiences in person.

McCarter Theatre Center has announced three new works as part of its 2019 Spotlight New Play Festival. These intimate play readings showcase the core of the McCarter LAB's mission to support new voices with creative insight from dramaturgs, directors, and actors to help guide and shape their plays. Additionally, real-time reactions of audience members play an active role in the creative development process, assisting playwrights in the elevation of their artistic endeavors.

Victory Gardens Theater announces Tanuja Jagernauth as the 2019 Marcelle McVay Management Fellow for 2019. Victory Gardens Next Generation Fellowships provide comprehensive mentorship, requisite training, and experience for these future leaders of color, preparing them to helm arts institutions or departments on the national and local level. The 2019 Macelle McVay Management Fellowship is made possible by support from the Weiss Grosshandler Charitable Fund.

The 2017 Tony Award nominee for Best Play and the most-produced play of the 2018-2019 season, A Doll's House, Part 2 makes its Boston debut at the Huntington Theatre Company at the Avenue of the Arts / Huntington Avenue Theatre (264 Huntington Avenue, Boston) in a co-production with Berkeley Repertory Theatre. Written by Tony Award nominee Lucas Hnath and directed by Obie Award winner Les Waters, performances will run January 4 through February 3. The press opening will be Wednesday, January 9 at 7pm. 

Victory Gardens Theater announces the extension of the critically-acclaimed hit Rightlynd, written by Ike Holter and directed by Lisa Portes with original music by Charlie Coffeen. With six additional performances, the production now runs through December 30, 2018, at Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue.

BWW REVIEW: OCU's Out of the Box presents GOOD KIDS

Victory Gardens Theater, with Actors Theatre of Louisville, to present the Co-World Premiere of How to Defend Yourself, written by Lily Padilla and directed by Marti Lyons. How to Defend Yourself will be presented at the 2019 Humana Festival of New American Plays (March 21 - April 7, 2019) and as part of the Victory Gardens Theater 2019/2020 Season (January 24 - February 23, 2020).

Victory Gardens Theater continues its 44th season with the World Premiere of Rightlynd, written by Ike Holter and directed by Lisa Portes with original music by Charlie Coffeen. Rightlynd runs November 9 - December 23, 2018, with press performances on Saturday, November 17, 2018 at 7:30pm and Sunday, November 18, 2018 at 3:00pm at Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue.

Anon(ymous) is heartfelt, haunting, and timely, and serves not only as a reminder of the darkness in our world, but also of the kindness and hope we can see even in the worst of times.

A young woman in despair returns to Rome with little more than her suitcase - and a dark secret. Vulnerable and with a past, she encounters several men who push her to edge. Luigi Pirandello and his 'Naked' heroine open up the debate about gender power dynamics amidst the powerful social and cultural mores with which the characters must contend.

Over the past twelve years, The Playwrights Realm, led by Founding Artistic Director Katherine Kovner and Producing Director Roberta Pereira, has continually produced work by brave new voices and expanded its commitment to providing holistic support to playwrights striving to make a life in the arts. With its 2018-2019 Writing Fellowship, The Playwrights Realm is proud to grant a career-propelling honor to four tremendously talented playwrights exhibiting drive and commitment to the form: Bleu Beckford-Burrell (Lyons Pride), Sarah Einspanier (I LOVE SEAN), Keelay Gipson (#NewSlaves), andElse C. Went (Saving Throw).

Berkeley Repertory Theatre presents A Doll's House, Part 2, written by Lucas Hnath and directed by Les Waters, which begins previews on Thursday, September 6 and runs through Sunday, October 21. Individual tickets begin at $30 ($15 if you're under 35) and can be purchased online at berkeleyrep.org or by phone at 510 647-2949 beginning August 12, 2018. Subscription tickets are available now. 

Victory Gardens Theater hosts writer Dan Kois for special discussion and signing of his book The World Only Spins Forward: The Ascent of Angels in America. Kois will be joined on stage by Chicago actors and writers for a reading of excerpts from the book. This one-night-only event will be held on Monday, October 1 at 7:00pm at Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue.

Gloucester Stage Company continues its 39th season of professional theater with the New England premiere of Mat Smart's The Agitators from September 14 through October 7 at Gloucester Stage Company, 267 East Main Street, Gloucester, MA.

Lantern Theater Company kicks off its 2018/19 season with the regional premiere of Hapgood by Tom Stoppard. Longtime Lantern artistic collaborator Peter DeLaurier will direct a cast that includes McKenna Kerrigan as MI5 spymaster Elizabeth Hapgood, with Damon Bonetti, Kirk Wendell Brown, Trevor William Fayle, Christopher Patrick Mullen, Adam Phelan, David Pica, William Zielinski, and young actors Charles LaMonaca and Will Zielinski, who will share the role of Hapgood's son Joe. Theater critics and members of the press are invited to request tickets for opening night on Wednesday, September 12 at 7 p.m. by contacting Anne Shuff at ashuff@lanterntheater.org. Performances run Thursday, September 6 through Sunday, October 14, 2018; a full schedule of performances and related special events is included in the fact sheet below.

Victory Gardens Theater continues its 44th season with the World Premiere of Rightlynd, written by Ike Holter and directed by Lisa Portes. Rightlynd runs November 9 - December 23, 2018, with press performances on Saturday, November 17, 2018 at 7:30pm and Sunday, November 18, 2018 at 3:00pm at Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue.

The Trap Door Theatre presents Naked written by Luigi Pirandello, translated by Nina Da Vinci Nichols, directed by Kay Martinovich.