Brooke Berman News

Primary Stages has announced that Richard Topol (Broadway's The Normal Heart, The Merchant of Venice) will assume the role of Yogi Berra in their World Premiere production of Bronx Bombers, written and directed by Tony Award nominee Eric Simonson (Broadway's Lombardi). Due to artistic differences, Joe Pantoliano, initially announced to play the role of Yogi Berra, will not continue with the production. The production has delayed its first performance to tonight, September 20. Opening night remains scheduled for October 8 at 7pm. Bronx Bombers runs through October 19 at Primary Stages at The Duke on 42nd Street.

Primary Stages has announced that Richard Topol (Broadway's The Normal Heart, The Merchant of Venice) will assume the role of Yogi Berra in their World Premiere production of Bronx Bombers, written and directed by Tony Award nominee Eric Simonson (Broadway's Lombardi). Due to artistic differences, Joe Pantoliano, initially announced to play the role of Yogi Berra, will not continue with the production. The production has delayed its first performance to Friday, September 20. Opening night remains scheduled for October 8 at 7pm. Bronx Bombers runs through October 19 at Primary Stages at The Duke on 42nd Street.

Motherhood Out Loud is a collection of short theatrical works by award-winning American playwrights, television writers and novelists. It received a triumphant World Premiere at Hartford Stage, a West Coast premiere at the Geffen Playhouse (as In Mother Words) and had a successful New York run at Primary Stages. The show is now being licensed for professional and non-professional productions throughout the U.S. and Canada and has opened to rave reviews in many markets. The show features an unprecedented number of pieces by women....reflecting upon the diversity of the parenting experience in America today, yet at the same time, the universality of it.

Primary Stages continues its 29th season with a new production of their acclaimed 1995 OBIE Award winner, The Model Apartment, by Pulitzer Prize winner Donald Margulies (Shipwrecked!, Time Stands Still, Dinner with Friends, Sight Unseen). Directed by Evan Cabnet (A Kid Like Jake at Lincoln Center Theater, The Performers on Broadway), the production will feature Mark Blum (The Assembled Parties and Gore Vidal's The Best Man on Broadway), Diane Davis (Old Acquaintance on Broadway, Regrets Only at MTC), two-time Obie Award-winner Kathryn Grody (The Marriage of Bette & Boo, Top Girls, A Mom's Life), and Hubert Point-Du Jour (Angels in America andThe Brother/Sister Plays Off-Broadway). The Model Apartment runs September 24 - November 1 at Primary Stages at 59E59 Theaters. Opening night is Tuesday, October 15 at 7PM.

Primary Stages ESPA has announced casting for the ESPA*Drills Reading Series this August. ESPA*Drills is an annual new play development program providing professionally staged readings to four ESPA playwrights. The plays are workshopped at Primary Stages under the guidance of the ESPA staff and presented before an audience of industry peers at Off-Broadway's 59E59 Theaters. ESPA*Drills provides an exclusive opportunity for students to receive professional attention through the resources and support of Primary Stages.

MCC THEATER has announced the line-up for their upcoming PlayLabs reading series, featuring new plays by members of the company's Playwrights' Coalition. Traditionally held in the Spring, MCC'sPlayLab will now shift to the autumn months, launching this year on four consecutive Mondays throughout September (beginning September 9th) at the Lucille Lortel Theatre (121 Christopher Street). All readings are at 7pm. New York actors currently scheduled to appear in the readings include: Tony Award nomineeJeremy Shamos, Patch Darragh, Brett Donaldson, Maxwell Hamilton, Rachel Lee, Christopher McLinden, Deirdre O'Connell, and Shannon Sullivan. The series is offered free of charge, but reservations are recommended. For reservations and more info, please visit www.mcctheater.org.

Primary Stages Einhorn School of Performing Arts (ESPA), the company's professional training school, is pleased to announce a rare collection of Master Classes featuring Tony Award-winning director Pam MacKinnon (Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?), Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright David Lindsay-Abaire (Rabbit Hole), and Tony Award-winning actress Alice Ripley (Next to Normal).

Primary Stages Einhorn School of Performing Arts (ESPA), the company's professional training school, is pleased to announce a rare collection of Master Classes featuring Tony Award-winning director Pam MacKinnon (Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?), Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright David Lindsay-Abaire (Rabbit Hole), and Tony Award-winning actress Alice Ripley (Next to Normal).

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director) extends its New York premiere musical comedy Murder For Two, with book and music by Joe Kinosian, book and lyrics by Kellen Blair and directed by Scott Schwartz yet another week through August 25. Murder for Twofeatures Jeff Blumenkrantz (How to Succeed...) and Brett Ryback (The History Boys at Ahmanson). Previews began on July 10 and opening night was Thursday, July 25.

Primary Stages launches their 29th season with the New York premiere of Harbor by Tony-nominated writer Chad Beguelin (Elf, The Wedding Singer). Directed by Tony-nominated director Mark Lamos (Seascape, The Rivals, The Deep Blue Sea), the production features Erin Cummings (Starz's 'Spartacus: Blood and Sand', CBS' 'Made In Jersey'), Randy Harrison (Showtime's 'Queer As Folk', Broadway's Wicked), Alexis Molnar (world premiere of Harbor at Westport Playhouse), and Paul Anthony Stewart (Broadway's Fiddler on the Roof, The People in the Picture). Harbor runs tonight, July 23 - September 8 at Primary Stages at 59E59 Theaters. Opening night is August 6.

Performance Network Theatre's Fireside New Play Festival is the perfect opportunity to for audiences to share their opinions about four of the hottest new plays that no one has ever seen today, July 21 through Wednesday, July 24 at 7pm with works by Martyna Majok, Kirsten Knisely, Sean Christopher Lewis, and Brooke Berman.

Juilliard's Drama Division announces the 2013-2014 season of fully-staged productions featuring Juilliard's 43rd group of acting students in their fourth and final year in the drama program at Juilliard. This season's plays include Jeffrey Hatcher's Smash, directed by Victor Pappas; Amy Herzog's The Great God Pan, directed by Maria Mileaf; and Sam Shepard's Buried Child, directed by Daniel Fish. All performances take place in the Stephanie P. McClelland Drama Theater at Juilliard.

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director) extends its New York premiere musical comedy Murder For Two, with book and music by Joe Kinosian, book and lyrics by Kellen Blair and directed by Scott Schwartz prior to opening through August 17. Murder for Two features Jeff Blumenkrantz (How to Succeed…) and Brett Ryback (The History Boys at Ahmanson). Previews began on July 10 and opening night is Thursday, July 25.

Performance Network Theatre's Fireside New Play Festival is the perfect opportunity to for audiences to share their opinions about four of the hottest new plays that no one has ever seen on Sunday, July 21 through Wednesday, July 24 at 7pm with works by Martyna Majok, Kirsten Knisely, Sean Christopher Lewis, and Brooke Berman. Tickets are 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!

The Old Globe today announced the cast and creative team for the Globe's revival of N. Richard Nash's classic romantic comedyThe Rainmaker. Directed by Maria Mileaf, The Rainmaker will run July 13 - August 11, 2013 on the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage in the Old Globe Theatre, part of the Globe's Conrad Prebys Theatre Center. Preview performances run July 13 - July 17. Opening night is Thursday, July 18 at 8:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at www.TheOldGlobe.org, by phone at (619) 23-GLOBE or by visiting the Box Office at 1363 Old Globe Way in Balboa Park.

Primary Stages launches their 29th season with the New York premiere of Harbor by Tony-nominated writer Chad Beguelin (Elf, The Wedding Singer). Directed by Tony-nominated director Mark Lamos (Seascape, The Rivals, The Deep Blue Sea), the production features Erin Cummings (Starz's 'Spartacus: Blood and Sand', CBS' 'Made In Jersey'), Randy Harrison (Showtime's 'Queer As Folk', Broadway's Wicked), Alexis Molnar (world premiere of Harbor at Westport Playhouse), and Paul Anthony Stewart (Broadway's Fiddler on the Roof, The People in the Picture). Harbor runs July 23 - September 8 at Primary Stages at 59E59 Theaters. Opening night is August 6.

Artistic Director David Winitsky and Producer Jenny Levison, of the Jewish Plays Project have announced the plays that have been chosen for OPEN: The Festival of New Jewish Theater at the 14th Street Y. The performances and readings of these plays will be held today, June 10-30, 2013 at the Theater at 14th Street Y, 344 East 14th Street (between 1st and 2nd Ave), New York, NY.

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director) extends the world premiere of The Tutors, written by Erica Lipez and directed byThomas Kail through June 23rd. The Tutors opened on Wednesday, June 5 and is presented at Second Stage Theatre's uptown home, the McGinn/Cazale Theatre on Broadway at 76th Street. Tickets are $30-$35 and can be purchased by calling the Second Stage Theatre Box Office at 212-246-4422 or online at www.2ST.com.

JEFF BLUMENKRANTZ and BRETT RYBACK to Co-Star in Second Stage Uptown's MURDER FOR TWO

Artistic Director David Winitsky and Producer Jenny Levison, of the Jewish Plays Project have announced the plays that have been chosen for OPEN: The Festival of New Jewish Theater at the 14th Street Y. The performances and readings of these plays will be held June 10-30, 2013 at the Theater at 14th Street Y, 344 East 14th Street (between 1st and 2nd Ave), New York, NY.