Jonathan Alper News

Founding Artistic Director Akia, announced today that Rising Sun Performance Company has invited 8 new artists to join its resident ensemble company. These artistic relationships grew from the company’s internal artistic development programs and virtual programming last season. 

New York Stage and Film has committed $100,000 to their new NEXUS Initiative that brings together 20 multihyphenate artists to explore the question “where does story exist at the intersection of stage and film?” Each participant receives $5,000 and will take part in a series of conversations focused on new and expanded forms of storytelling.

Live Source Theatre Group has announced the formation of Live Source FILMS, a new program to support theatre artists in the development and production of short filmmaking during the time of COVID-19.

A STAR IS BORED will be hosting a virtual benefit reading of CUPID'S CORNER, a new play by Parade Stone and directed by Raz Golden.

Rattlestick Playwrights Theater and piece by piece productions, in association with Rising Phoenix Repertory, will present the world premiere of Ren Dara Santiago's The Siblings Play, which marks the professional debut of the Fila-Rican playwright. Directed by Jenna Worsham (Agnes), The Siblings Play gives voice to multicultural New Yorkers, rarely seen on the stage, with breathtaking theatricality, stinging poignancy, biting humor, and deep empathy. The Siblings Play runs March 4-April 5, 2020, at Rattlestick Playwrights Theater (224 Waverly Place) with an opening night of March 18.

On August 30, TheatreSquared (T2) will stage a special workshop production of 10,000 Balconies as the first offering in the Spring Theatre at T2's new home in downtown Fayetteville. This new play, conceived, created and directed by Kholoud Sawaf (director of T2's Vietgone), loosely inspired by Romeo and Juliet, is set in modern Syria. 10,000 Balconies is an intimate window into the oldest continuously-inhabited city in the world, suffused with its poetry, music, dance, and movement, and centered on a story of love in contemporary Damascus. With original music performed live by Hadi Eldebek (Yo-Yo Ma's Silk Road project ensemble) and members of the cast, 10,000 Balconies is an immersive performance experience, offered in Northwest Arkansas from August 30 until September 1. The play's three-year developmenta?"which included a series of artist-driven workshops and retreats in Northwest Arkansas and New Yorka?"and public performances were made possible by a major grant from the Building Bridges Program of the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art.

 "Bronco Billy - The Musical" Book by Dennis Hackin, Music and Lyrics by Chip Rosenbloom and John Torres Additional lyrics by Michele Brourman   8:30pm Fridays and Saturdays, 2:00pm Saturdays and Sundays through July 21, 2019 No 2:00pm matinee on July 6 & 20. Added: 8:00pm performances on Thursdays July 11 & 18  

The Flea Theater is proud to announce the addition of six new Resident Directors to its intensive practicum for early-career directors. Rebecca Aparicio, Jake Beckhard, Daniella Caggiano, Lauren DeLeon, Will Steinberger, and Raz Golden will join the current group of Resident Directors. 

Skylight Theatre Company's first world premiere musical, BRONCO BILLY - THE MUSICAL, will be helmed by director Hunter Bird. Based on the 1980 Warner Bros. film Bronco Billy starring Clint Eastwood, this rousing MUSICAL centering on a travelling Wild West show, circa 1979, has already begun previews. Hunter managed to rest his cowboy booted feet up for a few to answer my inquiring questions.

Skylight Theatre Company (Producing Artistic Director, Gary Grossman and Co-Artistic Director Tony Abatemarco) announced today the world premiere of BRONCO BILLY - THE MUSICAL, It marks the organization's first world premiere musical production. The new musical, based on the Warner Bros. film Bronco Billy, features a book by Dennis Hackin, lyrics and music by Chip Rosenbloom and John Torres, with additional lyrics by Michele Brourman. Hunter Bird will direct. Preview performances begin on May 10, with the official press opening on Saturday, May 18, 2019. The limited engagement plays through June 30 at the Skylight Theatre, located at 1816 ½ North Vermont in Los Feliz, Ca. Tickets are now on sale now at http://www.SkylightTix.com.

The Drama League has announced the twelve stage directors who have been selected as the 2019 Directing Fellows of The Drama League Directors Project: NJ Agwuna, Sharifa Elkady, Raz Golden, Chika Ike, Rebecca Marzalek-Kelly, Ismael Lara, Jr., Amanda McRaven, Lindsey Hope Pearlman, Ben Randle, Tai Thompson, Gabriel Torres, and Sophia Watt. They will be publicly introduced to the professional theatre community during the 85th Annual Drama League Awards, which will be held on Friday, May 17, 2019 at the Marriott Marquis Times Square (1535 Broadway). More information can be found at www.dramaleague.org

Dutch Kills Theater (In Quietness, The Sister, The Providence of Neighboring Bodies) will present the World Premiere of SELKIE by Krista Knight (Hissifit, Primal Play). Directed by Matt Dickson (Disco Pigs, We The People), performances run through December 22 at The Wild Project.

59E59 Theaters (Val Day, Artistic Director; Brian Beirne, Managing Director) presents the NYC premiere of AGNES, written by Catya McMullen and directed by Jenna Worsham. Produced by Lesser America, in association with Hugh Hayes, AGNES begins performances on Saturday, September 8 for a limited engagement through Saturday, September 29. Press Opening is Thursday, September 13 at 7:30 PM. The performance schedule is Tuesday - Friday at 7:30 PM; Saturday at 2:30 PM and 7:30 PM; and Sunday at 2:30 PM. Performances are at 59E59 Theaters (59 East 59th Street, between Park and Madison Avenues). Single tickets are $25 ($20 for 59E59 Members). To purchase tickets, call Ticket Central at (212) 279-4200 or visit www.59e59.org.

Yangtze Repertory Theatre (Chongren Fan, Artistic Director; Sally Shen, Executive Director) announces a new production of Romulus the Great, by Friedrich Durrenmatt, based on the translation by Gerhard Nellhaus, directed by Chongren Fan. With performances beginning on Thursday, June 7th at the TBG Theatre (312 West 36thStreet, 3F), Romulus The Great will celebrate it's opening night on Saturday, June 9, and will play through Saturday, June 23.

An industry reading of the new play BACK by Matt Webster will take place on Tuesday, April 24 at 7:00 PM at the Studios at Manhattan Theatre Club (311 West 43rd Street, 8th Floor). Jenna Worsham (The Parisian Woman, The Heidi Chronicles) directs with Terra Mackintosh as 'Leah' and Matt Webster as 'Derek.'

Pasadena Playhouse, the State Theater of California, announces a new Hitchcock-style drama Belleville by Pulitzer Prize finalist and Obie Award winner Amy Herzog.  Performances run from Wednesday, April 18 to Sunday, May 13; the press opening is April 22. 

As the final production of The New Collectives' 2017 season, The Trojan Women continues the season mission of giving back both artistically and financially. Donations will be collected for UNHCR - The UN Refugee Agency and Bond Street Theatre at the show through the sale of pins featuring text from the play.

As the final production of The New Collectives' 2017 season, The Trojan Women continues the season mission of giving back both artistically and financially. Donations will be collected for UNHCR - The UN Refugee Agency and Bond Street Theatre at the show through the sale of pins featuring text from the play.

Abingdon Theatre Company continues its Ghostlight Reading Series with readings of THE SUBJECT by Chisa Hutchinson and directed by Jade King Carroll on Monday, June 5th at 7pm and CARLO AT THE WEDDING by Bryna Turner and directed by Jenna Worsham on Monday, June 12th at 7pm.