Hitting a New York Stage Soon - Part II

Hitting a New York Stage Soon - Part II

Here's a look ahead at this fall and beyond to what you'll find on stage in New York City, from new works and débuts to rumours of what may come.

Part II - Off Broadway & Down the Road:
Off Broadway:

Gatz
This 6 1/2 hour theatrical extravaganza delivers F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby - word for word - as spoken by a group of low level office denizens in the middle of their workday. The cast of 13 features Scott Shepherd, and it's directed by John Collins. Bring a cushion - the play will be presented as a marathon with two intermissions and a dinner break. A production of Elevator Repair Service at the Public Theater, opening in previews September 13.

The Language Archive
Julia Cho's new play about a man consumed with preserving and documenting the dying languages of far-flung cultures, oblivious to the emotions of those close to him. A Roundabout Theatre Company production, in previews at the Laura Pels Theatre September 24, opening October 17. Directed by Mark Brokaw.

Middletown
Golden Globe nominee Linus Roache and Heather Burns star in this World Premiere of Will Eno's play about life in a small American town, and the friendship that develops between a longtime resident and a new arrival. Directed by Ken Rus Schmoll, it opens in previews October 6 at the Vineyard Theatre.

The Break of Noon
Ex-X-Files star David Duchovny will make his New York stage début in the world premiere production of Neil LaBute’s The Break of Noon at the Lucille Lortel Theatre from 28 Oct 2010. Produced by MCC Theater, in a co-production with the Geffen Playhouse. Playwright LaBute takes George Bernard Shaw’s quote: “All truths begin as blasphemies” as a starting point for this story about a man who hears the voice of God during a horrific office shooting. After its New York run the production will play at the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles from Jan 25, 2011 featuring a different cast. (Image of David Duchovny from October 2007, courtesy of Ford Motor Products)

The Coward
A production of LCT3, the Lincoln Centre Theater's programming initiative, this brand new play - a period comedy set in the 18th century - was written by Nick Jones and will be directed by Sam Gold. Limited run from November 8 to December 4, 2010, (opening night November 22) at The Duke on 42nd Street.

Rosmersholm
The Pearl Theatre Company presents the American Premiere of a new version of Henrik Ibsen's play, adapted by Mike Poulton. Directed by Elinor Renfield, its limited run goes from November 12 to December 19, 2010, (opening night yet to be announced) at New York City Center Stage II.

The Great Game: Afghanistan
UK's Tricycle Theatre Company and The Public Theater at the NYU Skirball Center present this New York premiere that comes in three parts, in the form of plays that examine the culture and history of Afghanistan since the beginning of Western involvement in 1842 right up to the present day. "The Great Game" was a term first popularized by Rudyard Kipling, and refers to the strategic tussles between the Russian and British Empires for supremacy in the Middle East. Directed by Nicolas Kent and Indhu Rubasingham, previews begin November 30, 2010.
 
Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake
Oct 13 - Nov 7, 2010
New York City Center plays host to this revamped version of the classic ballet that took the theater and dance worlds by storm when it arrived on Broadway in 1998 and went on to win three Tony Awards®. It's become the longest running ballet on Broadway, as well as in London's West End, turning the beloved fairytale on its head.

Of Special Note - BAM's Next Wave Fest
There's much more to this Festival's programme of arts from around the world, so be sure to check out the links and their website, but these piqued my interest from the first glance:

Laurie Anderson's Delusion
This new work opens the Next Wave Fest with short mystery plays that create a "phantasmagoric" world to music performed by Laurie along with other musicians and inspired by the haunting music of Tibetan temple horns and Arabic strings. September 23 - October 3 (Image of Laurie Anderson from a benefit in her honour, 2007)

Vollmond (Full Moon)
This piece by the late legendary dance-theatre icon Pina Bausch is performed by Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch in this mesmerizing work that includes running  water, rain, drenched dancers and Bausch's trademark sensual athleticism. An American premiere. September 29 - October 9

The Deer House
This US premiere of a piece by Flemish Belgian Jan Lauwers & Needcompany features a family of deer breeders who clash with the ravages of war. The multimedia piece features text, dance, music and visuals in a kind of surrealistic fairytale. October 5 - 9

Julia Stiles in Persephone
Composer Ben Neill, singer/actor Mimi Goese, Tony Award-winning playwright Warren Leight and Ridge Theater retool the classic myth of the beauteous Persephone, her capture by a lovestruck Hades and her mother's quest to bring her back to the world of the living. It features Julia Stiles, along with rock, electronica and stunning visual effects. Octber 26 - 30.

Marriage of Maria Braun
This adaptation of Rainer Werner Fassbinder's film, directed by Thomas Ostermeier, brings the sexually manipulative title character to life in a modern setting, cast with only one woman and four men in multiple roles. A US Premiere. November 17 - 20

Metamorphoses, with music by Nick Cage
Adapted and directed by David Farr and Gísli Örn Gardarsson from Kafka's iconic novel about a man who wakes up one morning to discover he's been turned into a giant bug. A production of Icelands's Vesturport Theatre in a US Premiere.

Down the Road - News and Rumours:

Good People
Tate Donovan and Frances McDormand will star in the World Premiere of David Lindsay-Abaire's play Good People, directed by Daniel Sullivan, at the Friedman Theatre, opening in previews February 8, 2011.

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Harry Potter's Daniel Radcliffe stars in this revival of the 1961 musical, opening in previews February 26, 2011 at the Al Hirschfeld Theater. Directed by Rob Ashford.

Beauty
This new version of Tina Landau's Beauty, an adaptation of the Sleeping Beauty legend that's definitely not for kids, features music by Regina Spektor. Directed by Tina Landau, the production is said to be hitting Broadway for the 2011-2012 season.

Spider-Man, Turn Off The Dark
With Tony Award winning director Julie Taymor, a book by Glen Berger and music and lyrics by Bono and the Edge, this family friendly musical about Peter Parker and his arachnid-ish transformations was set to open in previews at the Hilton Theater in February 2010 - but the dates are still yet to be announced, and critics and rumour mongers hint at a colossal flop. Hot off the presses - the Rolling Stone says rehearsals are set to start in August, although an opening date has yet to be announced.....

If you missed him last season in A Steady Rain, Hugh Jackman may be returning to Broadway in 2011 to star in Stories About McAlary, a new play by Nora Ephron that's based on the life of the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Mike McAlary. The story goes that he's already read for the role. Details yet to come! (Image of Hugh Jackman by Franz Richter, 2009) 

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