In Box - March Madness

Was it just me, or was there the sweetest hint of Spring in the air today. Just around lunch time. It might be enough to get me through the mess that Friday is going to be...

I have a longish post today with three updates:

Ilana Brownstein sent along some news about the Huntington Playwrighting Fellows:

Lydia Diamond has a number of upcoming productions, some already scheduled, and some still in-the-works...

"The Bluest Eye" at Playmakers Rep, North Carolina - March 2007
...and three other theatre companies may have productions in the planning stages.
"Stick Fly" at True Colors Theatre Co. (Kenny Leon's company) - Spring 2007
...and at least one other theatre company is working out details for next season.
"Harriet Jacobs" at the Steppenwolf Theatre Company - Fall 2007

Lydia recently participated in the Old Vic's US/UK playwright exchange program where she spent one week in London at the Old Vic working on "Harriet Jacobs." She's also been invited to the McCarter Theatre's 10-day artistic retreat in June 2007, and just inked a 3-play publication deal with the Dramatic Publishing Company.

Rebekah Maggor continues to perform her popular one-woman play, "Shakespeare's Actresses in America," most recently this last weekend at the Natick Center for the Arts.

Her play "Two Days at Home, Three Days in Prison" (Breaking Ground 2005) will receive a reading at The New York Theatre Workshop on Monday March 5.

And across the street in Studio 210, you can see Rebekah in Leslie Epstein's "King of the Jews" through March 10, in a production mounted by Boston Playwright's Theatre and fellow HPF Kate Snodgrass.


Donna Glick sent the following today:

It's March Madness in Education!

All after-school programs began their second semester. Local Boston playwrights, including Lydia Diamond and Melinda Lopez, are mentoring our Young Voices playwrighting students.

Education staffers Amanda Rota and Naheem Garcia have been gearing up for our "live" performances of KNOW THE LAW to take place in the Wimberly Theatre on Thursday, April 13 and Friday, April 14. We will share our work with over 1500 students from Boston and beyond. We are in the process of burning DVDs for YOU BE THE JUDGE to distribute to schools and after-school programs.

Meanwhile, the Codman Academy program, led by Lynne Johnson and Naheem Garcia, will begin rehearsals for the Spring Showcase. The 9th graders will work on an abridged version of A Raisin in the Sun and 10th graders will create an original performance piece based on their curriculum, Justice and Injustice. The showcase date is Friday, May 25th.

The entire education department is involved with POETRY OUT LOUD. Last year, we had 12 schools participating in this national poetry competition, sponsored by Massachusetts Cultural Council, the NEA and the Poetry Foundation. This year we have 31 schools participating and the competition is state-wide, adding five western MA schools. We will hold semi-final rounds for the 31 schools on Saturday, March 17th; taking place at our Huntington Ave Rehearsal Hall and at Clark University in Worcester.

Finals for POETRY OUT LOUD will be held in the Roberts Theatre on Saturday, March 24th. Times for these events vary, but all three begin at 9:30 am.

Also in March is the YOUNG ARTISTS' SHOWCASE, at the Calderwood Pavilion on Saturday, March 31st. This is the culminating event for all of the after-school programs - The Acting Classes, Scene Study, Young Voices Play writing and Know the Law.

If you would more information about any of these programs click here to send a note to the Education staffers. Have you participated in any of our educational/outreach programs? Tell us about your experience! Click on "Join the conversation" below.

And from Marketing:

There are several special events associated with our production of Well, and all are free with the purchase of a ticket to Well.

Tuesday March 13 - Sneak Preview Presentation by a member of the Huntington's Artistic Staff, featuring contextual background and production related information, 6:30pm at the Theatre.

Tuesday March 13 - Fenway Neighborhood Night (for Fenway area residents)
Friday March 16- Beacon Hill Neighborhood Night (for Beacon Hill residents)
Join your friends and neighbors at a pre-show reception with free refreshments, and get discounted tickets. Order online at huntingtontheatre.org and use code 1132 when you login.

Wednesday March 21 - Out & About Club G.L.B.T. audience members gather for a pre-show reception and a backstage look at the production. Begins at 6pm.

Actors Forum Participating members of the cast take your questions after the 7:30pm performance on March 22 and after the 2pm performance on April 4.

Sunday March 25 - Humanities Forum A lively discussion about the issued and ideas presented in the production. After 2pm show.

One last link: Well star Lisa Kron has a website, with a video. Visit it here.