John Fleming News

Playwright Christopher Durang, who recently won the Tony Award for Best Play, and celebrated playwright John Augustine have been announced as Playwrights in Residence at Texas State University for the 2013-14 season as part of the Bowman Guest Artist Series.

Columbia University School of the Arts Film Program graduate Ayad Akhtar ('02) has won the 2013 Pulitzer Prize in Drama for his play Disgraced.

Mark Hollmann, the Tony and Obie award-winning composer and lyricist of Urinetown, was recently named the 2013 Composer-in-Residence at Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas, according to Kaitlin Hopkins, the head of the Musical Theatre program at Texas State.

The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe is a tour through the galaxy guided by a self-proclaimed crazy person, Trudy, who collects data about life on earth with the help of her 'space chums.' Trudy uses her umbrella hat (her own invention) to place herself in the minds and bodies of her hosts, transmitting snatches of their lives and then sharing them with the audience.

In the 2011-12 season, Ellen Taaffe Zwilich premiered three new works-Shadows for piano and orchestra, Commedia dell'Arte for violin and orchestra, and a Quintet inspired by Schubert's "Trout" Quintet that was performed across the country.

In celebration of the bicentenary of Charles Dickens, PNPF Associates Ltd. in association with Ovation present the new musical A TALE OF TWO CITIES at The Charing Cross Theatre. Directed by Paul Nicholas, A TALE OF TWO CITIES has music by multi platinum award-winner David Pomeranz, book by Emmy winner Steven David Horwick and David Soames, lyrics by Steven David Horwich, musical arrangements by John Cameron, and choreography/assistant direction by Racky Plews. This production runs from 5 April until 12 May with press night on 18 April 2012.

On Tuesday, November 29, Carnegie Hall will present the New York premiere of a new Quintet by Ellen Taaffe Zwilich, a composer whose music is among the most-performed of that of any of her American colleagues, and who was the first person named to the Carnegie Hall Composer's Chair in 1995.

The final performance of Ping Chong's ANGELS OF SWEDENBORG -- his 1985 dance theatre piece being performed by La MaMa's Great Jones Repertory Company-- will be live-streamed on Sunday, November 13 starting at 2:30 p.m., it has been announced by La MaMa's Artistic Director Mia Yoo.

The final performance of Ping Chong's ANGELS OF SWEDENBORG -- his 1985 dance theatre piece being performed by La MaMa's Great Jones Repertory Company-- will be live-streamed on Sunday, November 13 starting at 2:30 p.m., it has been announced by La MaMa's Artistic Director Mia Yoo.

On Tuesday, November 29, Carnegie Hall will present the New York premiere of a new Quintet by Ellen Taaffe Zwilich, a composer whose music is among the most-performed of that of any of her American colleagues, and who was the first person named to the Carnegie Hall Composer's Chair in 1995.

ANGELS OF SWEDENBORG -- Ping Chong's 1985 dance theatre work will be the opening production of the 50th anniversary season at La MaMa with performances starting October 27 prior to an official press opening Sunday, October 30 at the Ellen Stewart Theatre (66 E. 4 St.) in Manhattan.

ANGELS OF SWEDENBORG -- Ping Chong's 1985 dance theatre work will be the opening production of the 50th anniversary season at La MaMa with performances starting October 27 prior to an official press opening Sunday, October 30 at the Ellen Stewart Theatre (66 E. 4 St.) in Manhattan.

ANGELS OF SWEDENBORG -- Ping Chong's 1985 dance theatre work will be the opening production of the 50th anniversary season at La MaMa with performances starting October 27 prior to an official press opening Sunday, October 30 at the Ellen Stewart Theatre (66 E. 4 St.) in Manhattan.

ANGELS OF SWEDENBORG -- Ping Chong's 1985 dance theatre work will be the opening production of the 50th anniversary season at La MaMa with performances starting October 27 prior to an official press opening Sunday, October 30 at the Ellen Stewart Theatre (66 E. 4 St.) in Manhattan.

Tampa Bay's professional theaters announce the winners of the first annual Jeff Norton Theater Awards, held Monday, August 22 at The Palladium Theater at St. Petersburg College.

Tampa Bay's professional theaters announce the winners of the first annual Jeff Norton Theater Awards, held Monday, August 22 at The Palladium Theater at St. Petersburg College. The event was hosted by four theaters: American Stage, Gorilla Theatre, Jobsite Theater, and Stageworks Theatre.

American composer Ellen Taaffe Zwilich will have three major new works premiered in 2011-2012 which will have performances throughout the season presented by the national and international commissioners (full schedule below)

St. Petersburg Opera Co. is presenting Puccini's beloved Madama Butterfly on June 10, 12, and 14 at the Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg.