Joe Battista News

Theater for the New City presents the world premiere of Joel Greenhouse's TWISTED, a dark comedy with songs, directed by Joe John Battista, with original music by Peter W. Dizozza, running September 28 - October 15, 2023. Previews begin on September 28 for a September 30 opening.

The little told story of Miller, Marilyn and Elia Kazan, the noted director who had been Miller's friend and Marilyn's lover, is the subject matter for The Unamerican, a new play written by Claude Solnik and directed by Joseph John Battista.

ASCAP Award-winning writer/producer Chip Deffaa's new CD, 'Irving Berlin: Love Songs and Such'--being released December 13th--features such  Broadway and cabaret  notables as  Betty Buckley, Anita Gillette, Karen Mason, Stephen Bogardus, Steve Ross, Jon Peterson.

ASCAP Award-winner Chip Deffaa's 'Say it with Music' cast album--with a cast of 21 led by  Michael Townsend Wright and Jed Peterson, who helped develop the show at New York's 13th Street Theater--is out now!  The album--featuring no less than 40 songs by Irving Berlin---may be ordered now (as either a physical CD or digital download).

ASCAP Award-winner Chip Deffaa's 'Say it with Music' cast album, co-starring Michael Townsend Wright and Jed Peterson, who helped develop the show at New York's 13th Street Theater, will be released on May 23rd. 

ASCAP Award-winning writer/producer Chip Deffaa's new CD 'Irving Berlin: Sweet and Hot' is out now.   

ASCAP Award-winning writer/producer Chip Deffaa's new CD, 'Irving Berlin: Sweet and Hot'--being released January 4th--features such  Broadway and cabaret  notables as Steve Ross ('Private Lives'),   Jerry Dixon ('Once On this Island'),  Seth Sikes ('The Band's Visit'), Analise Scarpaci ('Mrs. Doubtfire'),  Alex Dreier ('Finding Neverland'), Charlie Franklin ('The Book of Mormon'),  Giuseppe Bausilio ('Hamilton'), Matthew Nardozzi ('Dracula'), Jon Peterson ('Cabaret'), and others. 

Stage Rights has just published--and will be licensing--ASCAP award-winner Chip Deffaa's 20th play, 'Say it with Music,' a celebration of  Irving Berlin.  The musical play was developed at Deffaa's base in New York, the 13th Street Repertory Theater (Joe Battista, Producing Artistic Director). 

Are you a fan of politics and the constant tension of these dueling sides - tension that is comparable to that of the Coronavirus? Are you tired of keeping a straight face while watching said politicians duke it out? Do you happen to revel in seeing these people brought to shame by an instigative radio host who [in the meantime] must endure ongoing visits from his deceased mother? Then you're in luck! If the current (and future) state of affairs is enough to drive you slightly bonkers, where else to go for some comic relief than the theater - specifically the 13th Street Repertory Theater, where The Jerry Duncan Show is doling out much needed laughs at the iconic West Village venue for two weeks only.

The cast album for 'Irving Berlin: In Person,' starring Jon Peterson--as produced at New York's 13th Street Theater--is out now! Written and directed by ASCAP Award-winner Chip Deffaa, the show traces the life of America's number-one songwriter. The album features Richard Danley--who's worked on most of Deffaa's shows and albums--as music director/pianist. Jazz violinist Aaron Weinstein--winner of the Bistro Award, the New York Nightlife Award, and the Down Beat Rising Star Award is featured on violin and mandolin. The album--available from CDBaby, Amazon, ITunes, Footlight Records etc.--may be ordered, as either a physical CD or a digital download, here: https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/chipdeffaasirvingberlinin.

The cast album for 'Irving Berlin: In Person,' starring Jon Peterson--as produced at New York's 13th Street Theater--is being released January 21st.

Back by popular demand, the acclaimed revival of James McLure's comedy LONE STAR opens Friday, June 7th at the 13th Street Repertory Theatre (50 W 13th St- between Fifth and Sixth Avenues) for eight performances only including June 8th, June 13th, June 14th and June 15th at 7:30 pm with matinees on June 9th and June 16th at 3:00 pm. The play, which received audience and critical acclaim from its 2017 production highlights rising star Matt de Rogatis as the lead and features the all female band The Chalks with Broadway actor Leenya Rideout.

ASCAP Award-winning writer/producer Chip Deffaa's new CD, 'An Irving Berlin Travelogue,' is being released today. The album is an outgrowth of shows celebrating Berlin that Deffaa has been presenting at his base in New York, the 13th Street Theater. It features Broadway performers singing rare--and in some cases, never-before-recorded--songs by master songwriter Berlin. The album includes such Broadway pros as Jon Peterson ('Cabaret'), Charlie Franklin ('Book of Mormon'), Giuseppe Bausilio ('Hello, Dolly!'), Seth Sikes ('The Band's Visit'), Jackson Demott Hill ('Finding Neverland'), Alex Dreier ('Billy Elliot'), Matthew Nardozzi ('Dracula'), Analise Scarpaci ('Matilda'), and more. Richard Danley is the music director. The album, available from Amazon, CDBaby, iTunes, Footlight Records, etc., may be ordered here now: https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/chipdeffaasanirvingberli

ASCAP Award-winning writer/producer Chip Deffaa's new CD, 'An Irving Berlin Travelogue,' will be released December 3rd.  The album is an outgrowth of shows celebrating Berlin that Deffaa has been presenting at his base in New York, the 13th Street Theater. 

Actor/playwright Nick Albanese has found his stride and wants to take it a step further.

The 13th Street Repertory Theatre, continuing its exploration of unique and experimental performance art and theatre, opens next with 'Lovers, Letters, and Killers,' a new work performed and starring Eva Dorrepaalby. The work is directed by 13th Street Repertory Artistic Director, Joseph Battista, and is produced by Roslyn McKay.

 In April of 2017 at Wild Project in the East Village, a revival of James McLure's Lone Star, by NINE Theatricals, took the stage in New York City for only the second time since it's Broadway debut in 1979. The production was met with tremendous feedback and glowing reviews from New York City critics and audiences who had not before seen this lesser known work. With a demand for more shows, producers moved Lone Star, in May, to The Triad Theatre for a limited Off Broadway contract run.

Israel Horovitz's longest-running play, LINE, draws closer to its 50th anniversary performance at the end of this year. A powerful group of actors have joined the rotating repertory of three full casts. Scroll down for photos!

The 13th Street Repertory Theater presents Perversion, a world premiere allegory of modern America written and directed by Judson Blake.  The cast of eight includes Harry Bainbridge, Daniel Cuff, Tony Del Bono, Dana Jesberger, Irina Kaplan, Robert Lewis, Andrew Nordin and Jenn Susi.  Thirty performances will be staged at the 13th Street Repertory Theater, 50 West 13th Street in NYC 10011 from March 30-April 30, 2017.

Next year will mark 50 years that Israel Horovitz's stunning surreal play, LINE, will have been performing in NYC. Beginning its life at Ellen Stewart's LaMaMa, ETC in 1967, the play moved to the 13th Street Repertory Theater in 1974 and has remained there ever since.