Annie Weisman News

The great fear of realizing that MOTHERHOOD OUT LOUD is a series of vignettes which look at varying phases of motherhood, is that it will turn out to be a Hallmark sentimental mindless experience. Fear not. The eighteen authors of the vignettes avoid making the experience sappy and purely entertaining. Instead, there is a balance of humor, pathos, and social commentary.

La Jolla Playhouse presents the next production in its acclaimed Without Walls (WoW) series this fall, featuring award-winning actor Luke Macfarlane (ABC's Brothers and Sisters) in Sam Bendrix at the Bon Soir, by Keith Bunin, directed by Mark Rucker.

La Jolla Playhouse presents An Iliad, a one-man adaptation of Homer's classic tale, adapted by Denis O'Hare (Tony Award-winning actor in Take Me Out) and Lisa Peterson (director of The Playhouse's Surf Report and Be Aggressive), based on a translation by Robert Fagles, directed by Lisa Peterson. A co-production with Berkeley Repertory Theatre, An Iliad features Henry Woronicz as the "Poet," with Brian Ellingsen as the "Musician" and runs now through September 9 in the Mandell Weiss Forum. Get a first look Woronicz and more on stage below!

THE OJAI PLAYWRIGHTS CONFERENCE (OPC), one of the most prestigious and acclaimed new play development programs in the United States, will celebrate its 15th Anniversary Season with a stellar program of playwrights, new play workshops, special performance events and guest artists during its Summer New Works Festival from tonight, August 8-August 12, 2012 in Ojai.

La Jolla Playhouse presents the next production in its acclaimed Without Walls (WoW) series this fall, featuring award-winning actor Luke Macfarlane (ABC's Brothers and Sisters) in Sam Bendrix at the Bon Soir, by Keith Bunin, directed by Mark Rucker.

THE OJAI PLAYWRIGHTS CONFERENCE (OPC), one of the most prestigious and acclaimed new play development programs in the United States, will celebrate its 15th Anniversary Season with a stellar program of playwrights, new play workshops, special performance events and guest artists during its Summer New Works Festival from August 8-12, 2012 in Ojai.

La Jolla Playhouse has just announced casting for its upcoming production of An Iliad, a one-man adaptation of Homer's classic tale, adapted by Denis O'Hare (Tony Award-winning actor in Take Me Out) and Lisa Peterson (director of the Playhouse's Surf Report and Be Aggressive), based on a translation by Robert Fagles, directed by Lisa Peterson. A co-production with Berkeley Repertory Theatre, An Iliad features Henry Woronicz as the "Poet," with Brian Ellingsen as the "Musician" and runs August 11 - September 9 in the Mandell Weiss Forum.

On the upcoming ABC episode of 'Desperate Housewives' entitled 'Witch's Lament', Gaby, Bree and Lynette must attempt to exhume and move the body of Gaby's murdered stepfather after learning that Ben's real estate development excavation is taking place on that very spot.

Primary Stages (Casey Childs, Founder & Executive Producer; Andrew Leynse, Artistic Director; Elliot Fox, Managing Director) concludes its run of the critically acclaimed new play, Motherhood Out Loud, conceived by Susan R. Rose and Joan Stein

Primary Stages (Casey Childs, Founder & Executive Producer; Andrew Leynse, Artistic Director; Elliot Fox, Managing Director) concludes its run of the critically acclaimed new play, Motherhood Out Loud, conceived by Susan R. Rose and Joan Stein

On the upcoming ABC episode of 'Desperate Housewives' entitled 'Witch's Lament', Gaby, Bree and Lynette must attempt to exhume and move the body of Gaby's murdered stepfather after learning that Ben's real estate development excavation is taking place on that very spot.

The annual Primary Stages November Night to Remember Gala, a fundraiser benefiting the extensive artistic development programs offered by the company, will be held at the Edison Ballroom (240 west 47th Street, between Broadway & 8th Avenue) on Wednesday, November 9, 2011. Cocktail Reception and Silent Auction begin at 6:30 p.m. Broadway producer David Richenthal (Pulitzer winners The Kentucky Cycle, The Young Man from Atlanta, I am my Own Wife) serves as the Event Chair.

When considering the genre of 'girls night out' offerings currently playing Off-Broadway, the selection ranges from initially unintentional (Naked Boys Singing) to 'best when inebriated' (Miss Abigail's Guide...) to 'men really don't get this' (Love, Loss and What I Wore).  But Motherhood Out Loud, though it will absolutely attract a plethora of mother/daughter theatre dates (particularly when the daughter is also a mother), is the kind of sweet, warm - just edgy enough - little ninety-minute theatre collage that can draw a delighted smile from anyone who has been happily on either end of maternal parenthood.  It will also be extremely popular among actresses searching for good monologue material.

The American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) 2011-12 season opens with a new revival of the dazzling George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart 1930 comedy Once in a Lifetime, which has been called 'a delicious Hollywood send up' (The New York Times) and 'a tinseltown satire [with] bite' (Newsday).

Primary Stages (Casey Childs, Founder & Executive Producer; Andrew Leynse, Artistic Director; Elliot Fox, Managing Director) continues its 27th season with the New York premiere of the new play, Motherhood Out Loud, conceived by Susan R. Rose and Joan Stein.