Summer Lee Jack News

No matter how many times audiences have visited the titular setting in Stephen Sondheim's INTO THE WOODS, it's likely they've never seen the woods quite like in Charlottesville Opera's clever and masterful production running through August 5 at the Paramount Theatre.

Award-winning playwright Patricia Loughrey and composer Thomas Hodges announce that five-time NYMF alum Erin Leigh Peck (Motherfreakinghood, Grease! on Broadway) will step into the lead role of Margaret Evans in their original LGBTQ musical Sonata 1962.The production, which will make its Off-Broadway debut this August as part of the 2018 New York Musical Festival's Next Link Project, was originally slated to star Becca Ayers who has had to step out of the show due to booking a Broadway contract.

After a successful run in Central Park, playing to over 4,000 people, performances resume on Wednesday, June 27 in Rockefeller Park/Battery Park City for New York Classical Theatre's critically acclaimed production of Romeo and Juliet, directed by the company's Founding Artistic Director Stephen Burdman. The production will play this week through June 30, before continuing on to The Battery, Carl Schurz Park, and Brooklyn Bridge Park for performances through July 29. There is no ticketing, and all performances are free and open to the public. Performance schedule can be found at newyorkclassical.org.   

Award-winning playwright Patricia Loughrey and composer Thomas Hodges, whose critically acclaimed play Dear Harvey has been making waves across the nation since its debut in 2010, are thrilled to announce their original LGBTQ musical Sonata 1962 will making its Off-Broadway debut this August as part of the 2018 New York Musical Festival's (NYMF) Next Link Project.

American Theater Group (ATG) is now presenting a world premiere musical, 'Small Town Story,' at South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) through Sunday, 610.

Quintessence Theatre Group celebrates its 8th birthday with the second production of its new Family Classics Series: a world premiere of Mark Twain's The Prince and the Pauper. Adapted and directed by Quintessence ensemble member Josh Carpenter, The Prince and the Pauper is one of Mark Twain's best works of young adult fiction - a humorous and poignant tale of class consciousness, mistaken identity and self-discovery set in Tudor England. All performances are at the Sedgwick Theater, 7137 Germantown Ave., Mt. Airy, Philadelphia, 19119. To purchase tickets, visit www.Quintessencetheatre.org or call 215.987.4450.

New York Classical Theatre (Stephen Burdman, Artistic Director), New York City's only all-free professional Off-Broadway theatre company, is pleased to announce a new production of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet to celebrate its 19th Anniversary Season. The production, directed by Mr. Burdman, is the company's first staging of Shakespeare's tale of star-crossed lovers, and will be presented in five New York City parks - Central Park, Rockefeller Park/Battery Park City, The Battery, Carl Schurz Park and Brooklyn Bridge Park - with performances from June 5 through July 29 at 7:00 PM. There is no ticketing, and all performances are free and open to the public. New York Classical Theatre also invites audiences to experience unique behind-the-scenes access to open rehearsals on selected dates for each of the five park stagings. 

Quintessence Theatre Group celebrates its 8th birthday with the second production of its new Family Classics Series: a world premiere of Mark Twain's The Prince and the Pauper. Adapted and directed by Quintessence ensemble member Josh Carpenter, The Prince and the Pauper is one of Mark Twain's best works of young adult fiction - a humorous and poignant tale of class consciousness, mistaken identity and self-discovery set in Tudor England. All performances are at the Sedgwick Theater, 7137 Germantown Ave., Mt. Airy, Philadelphia, 19119. To purchase tickets, visit www.Quintessencetheatre.org or call 215.987.4450.

On March 14, 15 and 18, 2018, the Knickerbocker Chamber Orchestra (KCO) and Jody Oberfelder Projects (JOP) present Kurt Weill's Zaubernacht (Magic Night), a dance and chamber music work that will appeal to children and adults alike. For this production, choreographer Jody Oberfelder will create compelling characters based on the dynamic score, and the Knickerbocker Chamber Orchestra will perform composer Kurt Weill's long-lost orchestrations-the first time the original orchestrations will be heard in New York City since Zaubernacht's American premiere in 1925. A KCO chamber music ensemble will be joined by singer Hai-Ting Chinn, and the intrepid and whimsical veteran JOP members Emily Giovine, Pierre Guilbault, Mary Madsen, Lindsey Mandolini, Ned Malouf (on stilts!), Maya Orchin, Hannah Wendel, Mei Yamanaka, and introducing 11-year-old Lyla Forest Butler! Lighting is by Savannah Bell, video design by Eric Siegel and costumes by Summer Lee Jack.

'A Good Farmer,' by Sharyn Rothstein, is currently on stage at Center SOPAC through Sunday, February 4th. Produced by American Theatre Group and expertly directed by Kel Haney, it is an outstanding production that raises awareness of matters that immigrants and family farmers face in our country. See it and talk about it. This is an important piece of theatre.

Known for pioneering rare and captivating site-specific performances, On Site Opera (OSO) will produce the New York premiere (and the first production since its world premiere) of Ricky Ian Gordon's Morning Star on March 21-22, and 25, 2018, at the Eldridge Street Synagogue, in partnership with the Museum at Eldridge Street.

Despite announcing its closing on June 25, the well reviewed, NY Times Critic's Pick Baghdaddy by Marshall Pailet and A.D. Penedo will continue to perform at St. Luke's Theatre (308 West 46th Street) through September 3, 2017.

The well reviewed, NY Times Critic's Pick Baghdaddy by Marshall Pailet and A.D. Penedo returned to NYC on April 6, opening on Monday, May 1, 2017, will close as planned on June 25, 2017 at St. Luke's Theatre (308 West 46th Street). It will have played 16 previews and 38 regular performances.

The well reviewed, NY Times Critic's Pick by Marshall Pailet and A.D. Penedo, the musical Baghdaddy began performances on  April 6 at St. Luke's Theatre (308 West 46th Street). This Monday, May 22 they will launch a talk-back series, following the show, with more to be announced.

The Jewish Plays Project (David Winitsky, Artistic Director) is thrilled to announce the line-up for the 6th Annual OPEN: Festival of New Jewish Theater.

Here's a follow-up to BAGHDADDY ensemble member Ethan Slater, who will soon star in The SpongeBob Musical on Broadway, singing in the kitchen with his co-stars. Click below to watch Brennan Caldwell - with Slater on guitar and Brandon Espinoza and Claire Neumann on backup - performing an acoustic version of the song 'Das Man' from the musical by Marshall Pailet and A.D. Penedo, currently playing at the Theatre at St. Lukes!

A friendly reminder! The well reviewed, NY Times Critic's  Pick Baghdaddy (formerly known as, Who's Your Baghdaddy?) by Marshall Pailet  and A.D. Penedo has returned to NYC and will open on Monday, May 1, 2017, for an initial run thrugh June 18, 2017 at St. Luke's Theatre (308 West 46th Street). 

Baghdaddy (formerly known as, Who's Your Baghdaddy?) by Marshall Pailet and A.D. Penedo returned to NYC beginning April 6 for an opening on Monday, May 1, 2017 and an initial run through June 18, 2017 at St. Luke's Theatre (308 West 46th Street). Ensemble member Ethan Slater, who will star in The SpongeBob Musical on Broadway, took a moment to sing in the kitchen with co-stars Brandon Espinoza and Claire Neuman. Check it out below!

Ethan Slater will join the cast in the role of Jerry Samuel in the well-reviewed, NY Times Critic's Pick Baghdaddy (formerly known as Who's Your Baghdaddy?) as it returns to Off-Broadway this April.

The well reviewed, NY Times Critic's  Pick Baghdaddy  (formerly known as, Who's Your Baghdaddy?)  by Marshall Pailet  and A.D. Penedo will return to NYC beginning April 6,  opening on Monday, May 1, 2017 and have an initial run thrugh June 18, 2017 at St. Luke's Theatre (308 West 46th Street). Tickets are $39.50, $69.50, $99 (premium) and can be purchased by visiting telecharge.com or or by calling 212-239- 6200. For more information onBaghdaddy visit Baghdaddymusical.com.