Inbox: HPF News

This in from Ilana Brownstein, who's leaving us for a teaching post at BU before the summer ends. We'll miss her energy and enthusiasm, and I hope that we will continue to bring success to the programs she began here at the Huntingon:

Hello All,

It's time for Huntington Playwriting Fellows (HPF) general news, and for another update on the adventures of our very own Huntington Playwriting Fellows. They've been busy!

First, the general news. The creation and leadership of Huntington Playwriting Fellows program was honored in June by Literary Managers & Dramaturgs of the Americas with the Elliott Hayes Award, a national prize for dramaturgical excellence. I was glad to have Huntington Artistic Associate Bevin O'Gara and HPF Kate Snodgrass on hand in San Deigo to help me celebrate, and I am proud to report that the terrific writers who are a part of the HPF program are receiving greater attention than ever.

Now for the writerly adventures...

2007-09 HPFs

Ken Urban’s play, "The Happy Sad," had an extended run at New York’s Flea Theatre this past spring, and on July 14th had a one-night-only reading with the Flea cast as part of Harvard University's summer programming. His short play "Tecmessa (a footnote on envy)" played California's Rude Guerrilla Theater in July. Ken was recently awarded a 2008 MacDowell Colony residency; he'll spend three weeks at the retreat in September. Upcoming productions include "The Secret Lives of Eskimos" at Chicago’s Stage Left Theatre (produced by The Mill) in Jan 09, and "Nibbler" at L.A.’s Theatre of NOTE in Nov 08. Ken is currently working on a commission for the museum at Ellis Island.

Joyce Van Dyke had a reading of her play "The Oil Thief" at New Rep in February; it will be produced by Boston Playwrights’ Theatre this fall with Melinda Lopez and Will Lyman in the leads, Judy Braha directing, and I'll serve as dramaturg. Her play "Aurora" (a working title) will receive a developmental workshop this winter through the B.U. School of Theatre New Play Initiative - Joyce has been creating this piece in collaboration with director Judy Braha and an ensemble of actors over the past year.

Kirsten Greenidge has had a busy summer, with one residency at the Aspen Festival of Ideas to work on a commission from La Jolla Playhouse and Theatre Masters, and another residency at the Sundance Theatre Institute Lab with her play "Bossa Nova." She was also a featured speaker at the Black New England Conference held at the University of New Hampshire, where she delivered a talk called "Lifting the Veil" about how she creates stories and African American characters for the stage.

Jacqui Parker has spent much of her summer so far taking Boston youth up to her Theatre Intensive Camp on Social Justice and Leadership, based at Goddard College in Vermont. She is also currently playing the mother of a Central African dictator (opposite Oscar nominee Lindsay Crouse) in Lee Blessing's "Going to St. Ives" at Gloucester Stage. Catch it until Aug 3, and come September, you can see her singing and dancing in the Lyric's production of "Follies."

2005-07 HPFs

Rebekah Maggor was featured this last week as a guest on WBUR's new show Radio Boston, where she talked about Boston accents (or are they dialects?), and gave a shout-out to fellow HPF John Shea. Listen to the show here: http://www.radioboston.org/?p=901
Rebekah is also a recent recipient of the first Catalyst Collaborative @ MIT commission – she is co-writing a play with Harvard astrophysicist James Battat. It was a lengthy application process, so congrats Rebekah!

Lydia Diamond was invited to The Orchard Project’s annual retreat, run by Ari Edelson (Artistic Director of New York's The Exchange), to work on an adaptation of Roya Hakakian's novel "Journey to the Land of No." "Stick Fly" was part of the Contemporary American Theatre Festival in July (CATF has a history of producing HPF and Breaking Ground plays), and will be published this fall by Northwestern University Press. "Stage Black" was recently published by Dramatic Publishing, and is being produced by MPAACT theatre company in Chicago this winter.

John Shea’s "Claire Silva" (Breaking Ground 2007) was read at Williamstown this summer as part of the Fridays at 3pm series , directed by former HTC Artistic Associate Justin Waldman. John also recently turned in a first draft of his Huntington commission, a play called "Junkie." Stay tuned for more news on that in the coming months, for sure.

Kate Snodgrass’ IRNE Award-winning play "The Glider" was produced this summer in Denver at the And Toto Too Theatre. She is currently working on a commission for the Northwest Theatre Alliance - she and a group of other writers are adapting Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s novel "Herland" (Kate's responsible for chapter 10). Plus, she continues to support her fellow HPFs - in her role as Artistic Director of Boston Playwrights' Theatre, she's producing Joyce Van Dyke's "The Oil Thief" this fall.


2003-05 HPFs

John Kuntz’s hilarious "After School Special" is running at Company One in the BCA through Aug 8. John calls it "Charles Busch meets Irma Vep meets Scooby Doo" - if you go, watch for a guest appearance by Melinda Lopez! This fall, Johnny's "Hotel Nepenthe" will be read in New York by Square Peg Productions. He has recently been commissioned with Rick Park by the Phoenix Theatre (formerly known as Way Theatre Artists) to write "The Superheroine Monologues"; it will be performed at Boston Playwrights’ Theatre in the spring. Boston Playwrights' Theatre has also tentatively scheduled Johnny's new play "The Salt Girl" for the fall of 2009. As for Johnny's acting gigs, watch for him over the next few months in "The Communist Dracula Pageant" by Anne Washburn at ART, "Cabaret" at New Rep, and "Irma Vep" at the Lyric.

Melinda Lopez’s "Alexandros" (Breaking Ground 2007) ran at the Laguna Playhouse in the early summer, and she can be seen in fellow HPF Joyce Van Dyke's play "The Oil Thief" at Boston Playwrights' Theatre this October.

Ronan Noone has been keeping good company this summer. His newest play, "Little Black Dress," will be featured in New York Stage and Film’s Powerhouse Theatre summer readings festival (Aug 1-3), along with new plays by John Patrick Shanley and Alexandra Gersten-Vassilaros, among others. (Powerhouse is also home this summer to "Fault Lines," a new work by HTC alum Stephen Belber!) "The Atheist" enjoyed a run at Williamstown, with Campbell Scott once again in the role of Augustine Early and Justin Waldman directing, and "The Blowin of Baile Gall" ran at L.A.’s Lyric Theatre.

And Sinan Unel is currently resting up after the awesome run of "The Cry of the Reed" earlier this spring. More news from him, anon.

Well, that's the sum total of it for the moment. Congrats to all the HPFs on their fabulous work!

Best,
Ilana

Inbox - The Creative Economy

from my mailbox this morning (below) - looks like the idea of the creative economy has taken root. MA has so much to offer in terms of cultural tourism - glad to see that the politicians are figuring out how valuable that is.

Creative Economy Council Passes in the Mass. House
Proposal to Create Council: First in the Nation

Dear Friends,

This week the Massachusetts House of Representatives passed a bill to create a statewide council on the creative economy. The council will work with the Office of Economic Development to "develop a statewide strategy for the enhancement, encouragement, and growth of the creative economy in the commonwealth, and to promote through public and private means responsive public policies and innovative private sector practices."

MAASH thanks Speaker of the House Sal DiMasi, Chairman Dan Bosley and the entire House chamber for taking the national lead in this economic opportunity for our communities.

Rep. Dan Bosley (D-N. Adams), House Chairman of the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies, proposed the bill and guided it through the House legislative process.

"The creation of the first-in-the-nation statewide creative economy council
is a major milestone in the growth of our creative economy. Through this
council, we will be able to identify strategies, effective practices and
ideas so that the non-profit cultural organizations, the for-profit businesses and creative individuals can thrive. I am proud to be part of an effort that once again makes Massachusetts a national leader." Chairman Bosley said.

The council will consist of 23 members including legislators, the director of MAASH, the director of the Massachusetts Cultural Council, and other leaders in the creative economy movement.

The text of the bill will be posted on the MAASH web site.

The creative economy council bill now moves to the Senate for consideration.

Thank you,

Dan Hunter
Executive Director
Massachusetts Advocates for the Arts, Sciences, & Humanities (MAASH)

This job IS for the birds...

We have a friend who monitors the alley behind the BU Theatre - and keeps the vermin at bay. My office overlooks that alley - and Matthews Arena beyond.

This was the view from my window this afternoon. Please pardon the quality - my window is really really dirty. I would love to know what kind of bird it is - I'm guessing a hawk of some kind. Write in and tell me if you know...



And no - I don't spend my days gazing out the window... our evening custodian, Tony, told us about the view.

Update (July 16): I have had two confirmations that this is a juvenile Red-tail Hawk. Linda Cocca at Mass Audubon went on to say:

"When the young leave the nest they are the same size as the adults, but their coloration is different---the young don’t have the red tail.

There have been a pair of red-tails nesting in the vicinity of BU for 2 or 3 years now and this bird is probably one of the offspring.

PS> She Loves Me closed in Williamstown on Saturday and this morning a truck was unloaded here on Huntington Ave with the props, motion control equipment and stock scenery. It's all back! Yay. Most shows have about a six month life from design through closing. This one I've been working on for at least a year now....

To do list

Why do I keep telling myself that the summer will be nice and relaxed..

We have a lot of planning to get ready for next season - and Artistic Director Peter Dubois is now (officially) here and giving us lots of things to think about. And it is a massive season with large shows in both theatres.

Here are just a few items from my project list:

How Shakespeare Won the West - final scenic designs (by BU almuna Antje Ellerman) are complete - very old West - it will be fun. It's an epic cross country journey and this world premiere will fit in the BU Theatre just fine. We should see Costume prelims soon and the scenic build should be underway this week!

How Shakespeare Won the West has at least 24 scenes. Designer Antje Ellerman took photos of the model to create a story board for the director (and us). The above is page 3 of 8. It's an exciting wooden structure that can become anything from a tavern, a theater, even the plains of the Midwest.

Boleros - Scenic designer Alexander Dodge brought us his prelim designs after several weeks of work with Director Chay Yew. Beautiful work - as usual from Alexander - nailing the feeling of the play while firmly locating us in Puerto Rico for the 1st act and Alabama for the second. We also asked Alexander for some advice on how we might liven up the dowdy lobbies at the BU Theatre. He had a lot of great ideas. And now I've got a lot of organizing to do.

Act I of Bolero takes place in Puerto Rico. The above photo is a rough model photo by Alexander Dodge.

Alexander is also designing our spring production of The Miracle at Naples. This will be the show to see to cure spring fever. It's funny, and it's funny, it's naughty, and oh yeah, it's funny. IMHO anyhoo.

Wishful Drinking - Carrie Fisher will be paying us a visit in October with her show Wishful Drinking... our buddies at Berkely Rep are sending it out on the road after weeks of sold out performances. Yep - Princess Leah. Post AA. Looking forward to that too! My associate Adam gets to load that one is as most of the rest of production will be in tech for Boleros.

Rock n Roll - ACT in San Fran is building this one as they perform it first, but we've been keeping an eye on the design process. It's coming along great.

The above sketches of the scenic design for Rock n Roll are by designer Doug Schmidt.

The Corn is Green - We're ahead of the curve here - we'll be building the same set (by Jim Noone) that some of you saw in Williamstown last summer, so the design process there is all done. And it's our only single set show in the BU Theatre this year - piece of cake. Except for the costumes. It will be nice to spend a few weeks with Nicky come mid season.

The tale of the Pope takes on Galileo plays out in the Two Men of Florence written by Richard Goodwin will get it's American Premiere come March. We hear that Richard and director Edward Hall (yep - Sir Peter's son) have been working on the script for the last few months - resulting in a title change as well as tweaks to the script.

I'm really just getting rolling on this one - but - I have to tell you how strange it was seeing (Richard's wife) Doris Kearns Goodwin on the Today show one morning this spring, and then getting a phone call from her a day later about the scenery from the 2004 UK production. I may be getting into international set shipping. We'll see!

Enuf for now.

Sunday Happy Sunday

It was a good weekend...

We lost our air conditioning on Friday - but we got through the closing weekend. My thanks to the staff who helped deal with the issue, to the cast and our audiences who contributed so much energy to give us four of the best performances of the entire run. And thank goodness for a relatively cool weekend.

I had fun hosting Thursday's post show "Out and About" tour for our GLBT patrons on Thursday after the show, and though I missed the Friday and Sunday Pride events I still got to "Glitter and be Gay" on Saturday.

I've spent a LOT of time hammering out logistics with Williamstown Theatre Festival over the last several months and I am now feeling very good about the work we have done getting it ready for the transfer and am sending great vibes to BU West so that it gets installed, teched, and up and running in time for 1st preview on June 27.

We have no more performances until September and it is extremely unlikely that I will be found at work on a weekend until after Labor day. Cue the Hallelujah chorus.

And around 10PM I remembered that the Tony Awards were tonight. I tuned in just in time to find out that Kevin Adams won for The 39 Steps (Lighting Design - Play). Long time Huntington friend Don Holder won for South Pacific (Lighting Design - Musical). Word is that Don will be back for the newly titled Two Men of Florence (previously announced as The Hinge of the World) by Richard Goodwin. Mic Pool, whom I met in London a year ago last April, won for The 39 Steps (Sound Design - Play).

While I was slightly sad that The 39 Steps did not win Best Play I was thrilled for our sister regional theatre company Steppenwolf for their success with August: Osage County. And we love director Anna Shapiro... who won for Best Director amongst the slew of awards for the production. I'll update you later this week on the rest of the Huntington related Tony successes.

It's bedtime now - and I anticipate a good night's sleep.

Inbox

A few items for you from my Inbox:

Our first Young Patron's Event at the May 29th performance of Ennio. I sent a few friends to see the show last night and they had a great time.

Shop Foreman Brian Sears talks about our new patron lounge in the Boston Globe.

Listen to She Loves Me music here.

Kate Baldwin talks about performing "Will He Like Me" from She Loves Me.



She Loves Me performances begin tomorrow night. It's a hot ticket - select your own seat here.

Eliot and Tony - Huntington wins big!

I took the night off yesterday and I, apparently, missed one helluva time at the Eliot Norton awards. Everyone is talking about it today. This is the news in from Temple Gill:

Hi everyone!

The Huntington had a big night last night at the Elliot Norton Awards, where Present Laughter won best production, Nancy Carroll won Outstanding Actress (for Brendan and Present Laughter), Alexander Dodge won best design (for Present Laughter and Brendan), and Nicky(Martin) was honored with the Norton Award for Sustained Excellence. You can read more about the awards here:

What the article won't tell you is how funny Michael(Maso) was in accepting the awards for Alexander Dodge and Present Laughter, what a tremendous great sport Victor Garber was in getting up to graciously accept Nancy Carroll's award on her behalf, and how delightful Andrea Martin was as the guest of honor and in introducing Nicky. In accepting the award for sustained excellence, Nicky was funny and charming (as usual!), and both he and the tribute video to him were greeted very warmly by the crowd.

Congratulations to all of our winners! And thanks to everyone who came to the awards last evening to support them!

- Temple

Also in my mailbox this from Michael Maso:

The 39 Steps has six Tony Nominations — including best play, best director and all design components.

Best Play - The 39 Steps

Best Director of a Play - Maria Aitken

Best Sets for a Play - Peter McKintosh

Best Costume for a Play - Peter McKintosh

Best Lighting for a Play - Kevin Adams

Best Sound for a Play - Mic Pool

You should all feel very proud of what you have helped accomplish, with special note of our extraordinary production staff for what your expertise has contributed to this recognition.

There are also noms for Andrea Martin and Chris Fitzgerald! View the complete list of nominees here.

M.


Exciting news all around. Congrats everyone!

Nicholas Martin and friends

This video was made for last night's SPOTLIGHT SPECTACULAR in honor of Huntington Artistic Director Nicholas Martin. Enjoy...



The video features comments and memories from Andrea Martin, Victor Garber, Debra Monk, Noah Haidle, Cigdem Onat, Daniel Goldstein, Scott Ellis, Kate Burton, Maureen Anderman, Jerry Kissel, Brooks Ashmanskas, and Will Lebow.

Other highlights of the evening were host Olympia Dukakis, who gave new meaning to the words "Spotlight Spectacular" via her trademark vocal delivery, local actor Will Lebow performing a bit of Noel Coward, and She Loves Me cast members Kate Baldwin and Troy Britton Johnson giving us a preview of what we can look forward to in our upcoming production.

There was a little of the old and new - with incoming Artistic Director Peter Dubois introducing the above video clip, followed by a (typically short yet entertaining) speech by incoming Artist Emeritus Nicky Martin speaking with fondness about the Huntington and his true affection for "the people across the street in the theatre and shops" - our great team of talented production staff - "who don't get thanked nearly as often as they should". I'll second that emotion!

Trustee Carol Deane and her husband Disque were honored with The Wimberly Award (the Huntington's highest honor), for their outstanding support, contributions, and work on behalf of the Huntington.

If you missed the fun but would like to help out - we're happy to take your hard earned cash any hour of the day. Get your credit card ready and login here. "A donation to the Huntington Theatre Company will help us continue to bring our world-class productions, innovative artistic programs, and acclaimed youth, education, and community outreach initiatives to Boston. Your gift will also entitle you to special benefits that are only available to donors."

Huntington Announces 2008-2009 Season

I'm out of the office for a few days - almost missed this press release... I'll add some more links and info another day - Enjoy!

THE HUNTINGTON’S 2008-2009 SEASON, THE FIRST UNDER ARTISTIC DIRECTOR PETER DUBOIS, FEATURES TWO WORLD PREMIERES, STOPPARD’S LATEST, A REIMAGINED “PIRATES OF PENZANCE,” and MORE

(BOSTON) – The Huntington Theatre Company announces today its 2008-2009 Season, the first under new Artistic Director Peter DuBois, who begins his tenure July 1. The season includes two world premiere productions, one American premiere, two reinvigorated classics, playwrights new to Huntington audiences, and the latest critical smash from Tom Stoppard.

THE 2008-2009 SEASON LINEUP

· “HOW SHAKESPEARE WON THE WEST,” a world premiere by Tony Award-winner Richard Nelson, directed by Jonathan Moscone, Sept. 5-Oct. 5, 2008 at the Huntington’s main stage, the Boston University Theatre;

· “Boleros for the Disenchanted” by José Rivera, directed by Chay Yew, Oct. 10-Nov. 15, 2008 at the Huntington’s Stanford Calderwood Pavilion at the Boston Center for the Arts;

· “Rock ‘n’ Roll” by Tom Stoppard, directed by Carey Perloff in a co-production with San Francisco’s American Conservatory Theatre, Nov. 7-Dec. 7, 2008 at the B.U. Theatre;

· Kate Burton in “The Corn is Green” by Emlyn Williams, directed by Huntington Artist Emeritus Nicholas Martin, Jan. 9-Feb. 8, 2009 at the B.U. Theatre;

· “The Hinge of the World” by Richard Goodwin, directed by Edward Hall in an American premiere running March 6-April 5, 2009 at the B.U. Theatre;

· “The Miracle at Naples,” a world premiere by David Grimm, directed by Peter DuBois, April 3-May 9, 2009 at the Calderwood Pavilion; and

· “THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE,” a Caribbean-style adaptation of Gilbert and Sullivan’s classic musical conceived by Gordon Greenberg, Nell Benjamin, and John McDaniel, with additional book and lyrics by Nell Benjamin. Directed by Gordon Greenberg; runs May 15-June 14, 2009 at the B.U. Theatre.

DuBois says his first season is designed to appeal to a wide range of theatregoers looking for great entertainment. “This upcoming season offers some of the best writing, directing and acting from Boston to New York to London. My goal is this: as audiences journey between our homes at the Boston University Theatre, and the Wimberly and Roberts Theatres at the Calderwood Pavilion, they will encounter some of the most exciting work on stage today.”

MORE ON THE SHOWS

“How Shakespeare Won the West” is Richard Nelson’s funny, heartbreaking, and highly theatrical look at a troupe of 19^th century actors who cross the U.S. to perform Shakespeare for entertainment-starved panhandlers caught up in the Gold Rush. It’s based on a true story and DuBois calls it “a celebration of ambition and the human spirit. Richard has written a love letter to the theatre with his latest play.” Nelson’s work has been seen at the Huntington twice before; he wrote and directed an acclaimed adaptation of “James Joyce’s The Dead” in the 2000-2001 season and wrote a translation of “The Cherry Orchard” in 2007. This production will be directed by Jonathan Moscone, who is Artistic Director of the California Shakespeare Theatre.

“Boleros for the Disenchanted” is Academy Award-nominated writer José Rivera’s moving portrait of a loving marriage between Flora and Eusebio, two Puerto Rican immigrants whose youthful, whirlwind romance is tested and strengthened over four decades – from their homeland to rural Alabama. DuBois says “Boleros” is “a groundbreaking play and Rivera’s most exciting dramatic work to date.” He says director Chay Yew “excels in creating simple, elegant, emotionally resonant worlds.” Rivera was Oscar-nominated for his screenplay adaptation of the book, “The Motorcycle Diaries.”

Tom Stoppard’s “Rock ‘n’ Roll” is a sweeping, generation-spanning drama of international dissidents who experience political, personal, and musical revolutions. In 1968, Russian tanks roll into Prague; by 1990, the tanks are out and the Rolling Stones are in. Featuring 20+ years of great rock music, “Rock ‘n’ Roll” was a New York and London hit. “Stoppard’s breathtaking language and searing intellect propel this stunning new work.” DuBois says. Ben Brantley of The New York Times called “Rock ‘n’ Roll” "Stoppard’s finest play! It had me hooked." Produced in association with San Francisco’s American Conservatory Theatre and directed by Carey Perloff.

The sure-fire team of actress Kate Burton and director Nicholas Martin (“Hedda Gabler,” “The Cherry Orchard”) returns to the Huntington with Martin’s critically acclaimed production of Emlyn Williams’ classic, “The Corn is Green.” Burton plays idealistic and hardnosed schoolteacher Miss Moffat, who arrives in a poverty-stricken Welsh coal-mining town to open the community’s first school. She takes illiterate school bully Morgan (played by Burton’s son, Morgan Ritchie) under her wing and points him toward a brighter future in this funny, life-affirming tale. DuBois says “I am thrilled that the Huntington will remain an artistic home for Nicky, and so happy to have Kate and Nicky teamed again for this poignant story.”

“The Hinge of the World” by historian and former JFK speechwriter Richard Goodwin captures the moment 400 years ago when Galileo raised his telescope to the skies and created theories that shook society to its core. As word spreads from Venice to Rome, the scientist becomes a target for Pope Urban VIII and his Catholic brethren. Brought before the Holy Inquisition, Galileo is forced to choose between his religion and his life’s work in this intelligent, thought-provoking epic drama about the struggle between reason and faith. Director Edward Hall is Associate Director of London’s National Theatre and the son of British director Sir Peter Hall. DuBois calls Hall “one of the most theatrically daring directors in England. Ed and Richard proved to be an amazing team when this play was first produced by Ed’s Propeller Theater Company. It is an honor to present the American premiere.”

“The Miracle at Naples” is David Grimm’s hilarious and bawdy comedy, set in Renaissance Italy and focused on the romantic adventures of a band of commedia players who arrive for the Feast of San Gennaro. The beautiful maiden Flaminia falls madly in love with actor Giancarlo, and it’s up to her nurse Francescina to maintain her virtue. Not easy to do when lovers are displaying their affections all over the piazza. This outrageous sex farce is by the author of “Measure for Pleasure,” and “Kit Marlowe.” DuBois says “if Oscar Wilde, Tom Stoppard and Charles Ludlum had a love child, it would be David Grimm. David’s dazzling language skills, romanticism, and bawdy imagination make him a truly singular writer. It’s a play about love, appetite, and the role of theatre in a changing world.”

“THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE” is a raucous and rowdy Caribbean update of the musical comedy classic – complete with swordfights, sex appeal, and all the beloved Gilbert and Sullivan songs. After a hard-of-hearing nurse mistakes the word "pilot" for "pirate," young Frederic is apprenticed to a band of swashbuckling buccaneers. Now a young man with his final days of servitude rapidly approaching, Frederic longs for a respectable life. In true Gilbert and Sullivan fashion, mishaps arise, and it takes a fair maiden, a fair amount of double-crossing, and the very model of a modern Major General to reach a happy ending. DuBois says, “Gilbert and Sullivan were sophisticated political satirists – the Jon Stewarts of their time – and this new re-imagining is a joyous conclusion to our season!”

Huntington Managing Director Michael Maso says “Peter DuBois became the Huntington’s new Artistic Director because he has great vision, enthusiasm, and access to wonderful artistic collaborators in the U.S. and around the world. His first season embraces the traditions of the Huntington’s past quarter-century, and harnesses the best of what’s happening on the American theatre scene right now. This season appeals to the Huntington’s core subscriber base and to individual ticket buyers looking for the best entertainment in the region.”

SUBSCRIPTIONS ON SALE NOW

The Huntington’s 2008-2009 subscriptions, on sale now, are more flexible than ever, available in 4-, 5-, 6-, and 7-play packages. Subscribers save up to 50 percent on full-price tickets to individual shows.

Subscriptions may be purchased online at www.huntingtontheatre.org or by calling the Huntington Box Office at 617-266-0800. Individual tickets for these shows go on sale in August.

MORE TO COME

The Huntington will announce the lineup for its “Huntington Presents” series in a few weeks.

Photo: "Pirates of Penzance" - Goodspeed Musicals

Elliot Norton and Outer Critic Circle Nominations

And the award season excitement continues with the announcement of the Elliot Norton Award Nominations this weekend.

The Huntington earned several nominations in the Large Company categories. Here are the highlights;

Designers Kevin Adams (lighting) and Mic Pool (sound) for The 39 Steps
Director Maria Aitken for The 39 Steps
Designer Alexander Dodge for Present Laughter and Brendan
Victor Garber; Outstanding Actor in Present Laughter
Nancy E. Carroll; Outstanding Actress in Present Laughter and Brendan
Present Laughter for Outstanding Production
Cry of the Reed designer Eugene Lee received a nomination for The Fantasticks at Trinity Rep
Ronan Noone for Outstanding New Script (Brendan)
Huntington Playwriting Fellow Melinda Lopez's Gary for Outstanding New Script (Boston Plawrights' Theatre)
John Judd for Outstanding Actor, Shining City

and Nicholas Martin will receive the Norton Award for Sustained Excellence.

Congrats to all of the winners. The full list can be viewed at StageSource and the awards this year will take place at the Sanders Theatre (45 Quincy Street, Cambridge). Tickets are $10 and can be purchased by calling 617 496-2222 or online here. Rumor has it that Andrea Martin will host.

ADDENDUM: Outer Critics Circle Nominations, April 21
Alfred Hitchcock's The 39 Steps won three Outer Critics nominations for New Broadway Play, and Director - Maria Aitken, and Lighting Design - Kevin Adams. Congrats! Rounding out the Best New Broadway Play nominations are next season's Tom Stoppard hit Rock n Roll, the runaway smash August:Osage County from our friends at Steppenwolf, and the newest by Shining City author Conor McPherson - The Seafarer.

IRNE Award Winners

I attended my first IRNE award ceremony on Monday night (I've been active in the Boston theatre community for 17 years... I need to get out more often). It was great to see so many colleagues and experience the pride and excitement on both sides of the podium. No doubt it was a strong season, and there were great moments onstage around the region... we are indeed making great contributions to the larger "Theatre Nation".

I'm the guy who won't do press interviews - and yet somehow I managed to find myself on stage accepting awards on behalf of designers Alexander Dodge (Scenic Design - Present Laughter) and Mic Pool (Sound Design - The 39 Steps). I was so nervous I forgot to introduce myself the first time up!

I'd like to further my tremulous gratitudes from the podium by appending this from Michael Maso, our boss, who recently emailed the following to the staff; "Each of you has dedicated yourself to an enterprise that serves others, and that brings joy, compassion, hope, empathy and understanding to thousands each week. You make it possible for young artists to follow their dreams, for masters to perfect their craft, for kids to reach far beyond their supposed limitations, for the settled to challenge their beliefs, for the people of a city to come together and share insights into other people's lives and learn about themselves in the process, for a good laugh or a quiet cry."

Thank you.

Brendan won Best New Play and was accepted by Ronan Noone who gave an obviously heartfelt thank you. Congrats Ronan!

Present Laughter garnered awards for (our scenery chewing) Best Ensemble and Costume Design by the talented Marvann Verhoven. Oops - it appears that the IRNE committee does not make use of a proofreader. There were several embarrassing moments at the podium where the presenters read an incorrect name for the winners. The winners certificates, further, listed us as 'The Huntington Repertory Company". Huh? We are hoping the committee will reprint them for us. Needless to say; our good friend and longtime colleague Mariann Verheyen, who has hung the typo on her wall and may actually be considering a legal name change, is the correct identity of our winning Costume Designer.

The "ensemble" from Alfred Hitchcock's The 39 Steps, Arnie Burton and Cliff Saunders - who played about 148 roles between them - also took the Best Supporting Actor award. I am heading to NYC next week where I will visit The 39 Steps company in tech at their new digs at the Cort Theatre on Broadway.

For the full list of IRNE award winner visit StageSource.

Two presenters gave kudos to the press reps and marketing folks at the theatres for helping them get the news out there. This reminded me, sadly, that our Press guy, "sweet little" John Michael Kennedy, recently took a new job with Goodman Media International in Manhattan, and will be leaving us in a few weeks. I would like to thank JMK for the great work he's done here and for being such a great colleague.

It's a Party!

OSCAR WINNER OLYMPIA DUKAKIS HOSTS THE HUNTINGTON’S 2008 “SPOTLIGHT SPECTACULAR!”


(BOSTON) – Academy Award-winning theatre and film star Olympia Dukakis (best known for her work on the films “Moonstruck” and “Steel Magnolias,” the play “Rose,” and the acclaimed TV miniseries “Tales of the City”) will host the Huntington Theatre Company’s 2008 “Spotlight Spectacular!” gala benefit on Monday, May 5, 2008 at the Sheraton Boston Hotel and Towers.


Proceeds from “Spotlight Spectacular!” support the Huntington’s programs, including its award-winning youth, education, and community outreach initiatives. Last year the event raised more than $700,000.


This year’s event honors Huntington Trustee Carol Deane and her husband Disque, who have been loyal patrons and supporters of the company for many years. The Deanes will receive The Wimberly Award, the Huntington’s highest honor -- named for long-time Board Chairman J. David Wimberly and presented to those who have demonstrated outstanding commitment to the company.


Chaired by Huntington Trustee Kristine Scoon and her husband Davey, “Spotlight Spectacular!” features an elegant cocktail reception where guests can bid on unique and interesting silent auction items while enjoying hors d’oeuvres and mingling with high-profile VIPs, including stars of recent and upcoming Huntington productions. A seated dinner, live auction, and entertainment by the Huntington’s special friends follow the reception.


An online auction, now open on www.huntington.cmarket.com, allows Huntington patrons and friends to bid on exciting auction items prior to the event. Among the items are Red Sox/Yankees tickets, the video game “Rock Band,” a tour of the “America's Test Kitchen” set, dinners at Boston’s best restaurants, golf outings, theatre tickets, and much more.


“Spotlight Spectacular!” tickets sold out last year. Table prices range from $7,500 to $25,000. this year and individual tickets are $500 and $1,500. For more information about the event, to sponsor a table, or to purchase tickets, contact Michelle Williams at (617) 273-1536 or MWilliams@huntingtontheatre.bu.edu.

ABOUT OLYMPIA DUKAKIS

Olympia Dukakis became a household name and sought-after film actress when she turned in an Oscar-winning performance as a sardonic mother in the 1987 romantic comedy “Moonstruck.” But she had been a staple on the New York theatre scene since her Broadway debut in 1961. Her virtuosity from cutting-edge comedy to stark tragedy has kept her in high demand for the past 30 years as of one of Hollywood's top character actors.

Born in Lowell, Massachusetts, Dukakis majored in physical therapy at Boston University and graduated with a bachelor’s degree. During her fledgling actor days she supported herself as a physical therapist. She returned to B.U. later and received a Master of Fine Arts degree.

Dukakis made her Broadway debut as an understudy in "The Aspern Papers" at age 30. After marrying Yugoslav-American actor Louis Zorich, the New York-based couple co-founded The Whole Theatre Company in Montclair, New Jersey, and ran it for 15 years. She scored theater triumphs in "A Man's a Man", for which she won an OBIE Award in 1962, and made an impact in productions of "The Cherry Orchard," "Mother Courage," "Six Character in Search of an Author," "The Rose Tattoo," "The Seagull"; "The Marriage of Bette and Boo" (OBIE Award) and many performances of the title role in "Hecuba".


Dukakis’ scene-stealing work in the Broadway comedy "Social Security" (1986) caught director Norman Jewison's eye and earned her the “Moonstruck” role in 1987. In addition to the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress that year, “Moostruck” earned Dukakis awards from the New York Film Critics, Los Angeles Film Critics, and the Golden Globes. Dukakis began landing high-profile roles in “Steel Magnolias” (1989), “The Cemetery Club” (1993), “Mr. Holland's Opus” (1995) and many more. On TV, she broke ground with her portrayal of the sympathetic transgender landlady in the epic miniseries "Tales of the City" (1993) and its sequel, “More Tales of the City” (which earned her an Emmy Award nomination).

In 2007 Dukakis revived her solo turn in the play "Rose" (2000), which earned her an Outer Critics Circle Award and Drama Desk Award nomination.

Select your own seat

I'm not sure why I find this so exciting - but I do. We have been wanting to enhance our online ticket purchasing for quite some time and we are now testing a new web ap that allows buyers to select the exact seats they want - as well as offers up the most often used ticket discounts.

Check it out - go to any of our shows here - pick a date and you're off. We'll continue to refine the look, feel and functionality of it as we move forward.



If you have any feedback for us - send it in here.

Inbox Friday 3/21

a few things out there worth checking out.

The 39 Steps will be moving to a commercial Broadway production at the Cort, starting late April.

Streamers, again directed by Roundabout helmer Scott Ellis, may play the Laura Pels in NYC next season. Click to read the Playbill article.

Brooks Ashmanskas (Present Laughter) and Kate Baldwin (Falsettos) will take the leads in She Loves Me coming to the Huntington in May/June. Read more here.

Read this.... I think it's time for new leadership at the Boston Parks Department. To see Boston.com reader reaction click here

Do you support the notion that creativity and the Arts should be taught in public schools in MA? Click here to read more and be sure to tell House Speaker Dimasi it's time for a vote.

More Breaking Ground 2008 info here.

Breaking Ground 2008

The press release with full details should be out any day - but here are some of the details of this year's 5th Anniversary Breaking Ground Festival at the Calderwood Pavilion at the Boston Center for the Arts - April 3-6, 2008. Hope to see you there!

THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 7:30p

Unknown Soldier

Music and Lyrics by Michael Friedman, Book and Lyrics by Daniel Goldstein

Directed by Will Frears

This epistolary chamber musical’s intimacy beautifully conveys the tale of WWI-era lovers separated by time and space. When a modern-era woman discovers their letters, the past becomes present as she enlists the help of a researcher far away, and their correspondence begins to mirror that of previous generations. Unknown Soldier is the result of a commission from the Huntington’s Stanford Calderwood Fund for New American Plays.

FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 8p

Sense of an Ending

By Ken Urban

Directed by Evan Cabnet

An African-American journalist arrives in the land of his ancestors to uncover dark truths about an act of genocide. The trip becomes something more troubling, however, when he finds he may be part of the story. After he meets a survivor, the journalist struggles to understand the nature of man's inhumanity, and to find the path that returns us to the best versions of ourselves. Ken Urban is a current Huntington Playwriting Fellow.

SATURDAY, APRIL 5, 2p

Thomas Repair

By Mat Smart

Directed by Melia Bensussen

A family crisis ensues when a mysterious girl appears in Jacob Thomas’ quirky repair shop. She’s blue – literally and figuratively – and as she attempts to “come clean,” the relationships around her are thrown into chaos. Things left unsaid begin to fester and rot, and she proves she might be the only one who knows how to fix what’s long been broken. Thomas Repair is the result of a commission from the Huntington’s Stanford Calderwood Fund for New American Plays.

SATURDAY, APRIL 5, 8p

Broke-ology

By Nathan Jackson

Directed by Amanda Charlton

In this family serio-comedy, the sons of an African-American family are torn between familial obligations and the dreams they’ve established for themselves. With dashed hopes for higher education, an ailing patriarch who sees his dead wife, and the mounting expenses of a new baby, the boys help each other face the major decisions of their lives. Together they just may discover a new definition of what it means to be a family.

SUNDAY, APRIL 6, 7p

Caroline in Jersey

By Melinda Lopez

Directed by M. Bevin O’Gara

Things aren’t looking so great for Caroline. Her husband has left her for a younger woman, she’s about to be thrown out of her sublet in New Jersey, her landlady thinks she’s crazy… and the spirit of Arthur Miller’s accountant lives in her refrigerator. Thrown into this mystery, Caroline must discover the truth about her haunting (and herself) to help to heal a broken family across two planes of existence. Melinda Lopez is a 2003-2005 Huntington Playwriting Fellow; Caroline in Jersey is the result of a commission from South Coast Repertory Theatre.

Fellows at work

Ilana sent the following along for posting. Stay tuned for our 2008 BREAKING GROUND FESTIVAL announcement soon.

Hi All,

There are some exciting things afoot for our current and past HPFs.

First off, Joyce Van Dyke's new play THE OIL THIEF was just read at New Rep as part of their New Voices series. Joyce got a great interview and write-up in the Globe last week, too: www.boston.com


Secondly, Melinda Lopez's new play with music, GARY, opens this Thursday at Boston Playwrights' Theatre, with Bevin O'Gara directing and me serving as guest dramaturg. The process has been terrific, and the actors have been really rocking out. Featuring: Adrianne Krstansky, Elise Manning, Nael Nacer, Karl Baker Olson & Molly Schreiber. February 28 - March 16; tickets $25 Gen./$20 Sen./$10 Stu. BPT is offering a special friends and family deal for the first weekend only: $10 tickets through Sunday, March 2. Online or phone, use the promotional code: GARY949
There was a nice write-up on Melinda in the Globe this past weekend:
www.boston.com


Ken Urban's play THE HAPPY SAD will receive its world premiere at New York's Flea Theatre (in a double-bill with a new play by Breaking Ground alum Tommy Smith), March 6 through April 22. Info here: www.theflea.org


Both Ken and Melinda will be represented in the Breaking Ground Festival this year! Stay tuned for more info on that front.


Lydia Diamond's STICK FLY will go up this summer at the Contemporary American Theatre Festival (CATF) in Sheperdstown, West Virginia. (Sonia Flew played there, too!) You can catch a piece on NPR about the play here: www.npr.org
You can hear the play in its entirety (until next weekend) here: www.scpr.org

THE BLUEST EYE is open now at Hartford Stage through March 23, and then runs at the Long Wharf March 28 to April 20.
Lydia's HARRIET JACOBS (recently up at the Steppenwolf) is scheduled for Williamstown this summer, where it will be kept in good company with Ronan Noone's THE ATHEIST, once again featuring Campbell Scott, with Justin Waldman directing.


Kirsten Greenidge's GIBSON GIRL opens at Boston's Company One (where's she's this season's Playwright in Residence) on March 14 and plays through April 5. More info here:
www.companyone.org


And of course, Sinan Unel's THE CRY OF THE REED goes into rehearsal next week, directed by Danny Goldstein.


What a terrific round-up of work for these talented writers!

Cheers,
Ilana

Huntington Theatre Family Features

The past week or so has garnered some nice features for a few members of our extended family. Click on the links below to explore - and as always we would love to hear your thoughts.

The Broadway Production of The 39 Steps has a great review in the NY Times, an audio feature with designer Peter McKintosh (see link on the above review page), a backstage photo feature, and a little history of the evolution of the play.