Jessica Kubzansky News

Boston Court Performing Arts Center presents the West Coast premiere of Her Portmanteau written by Mfoniso Udofia and directed by Gregg T. Daniel, May 24 - June 30, 2018 (press opening June 2).  The production stars Joyce Guy (Abasiama), Omoze Idehenre (Adiaha) and Dele Ogundrian (Iniabasi).

Pocket Universe - the company behind last summer's acclaimed Off-Broadway production of Julius Caesar set in an all-girls highschool - has announced casting for the upcoming adaption of Beaumont & Fletcher's THE MAID'S TRAGEDY, set in present day Hollywood.

Casting has been announced for the World Premiere of THE BABY DANCE: MIXED, a new adaptation by Emmy Award-winner JANE ANDERSON ("Olive Kitteridge") of her acclaimed 2004 play The Baby Dance. A drama delicately laced with comic overtones, THE BABY DANCE: MIXED is a compelling and urgent play about race, class, and wanting the perfect child. In the story, Regina and Richard, an affluent mixed-race couple in Los Angeles, have everything except a baby. Wanda and Al, an African-American couple living in an overcrowded trailer in modern-day Louisiana, are too poor to keep their soon-to-be-born child. Through an adoption attorney, the two couples broker a deal. However, circumstances arise that affect their decision and the situation spins out of control. The Wall Street Journal described The Baby Dance as "filled with emotional power and nimble humor." The L.A. Times called it "a stunner…funny as well as perceptive."

Casting has been announced for the World Premiere of THE BABY DANCE: MIXED, a new adaptation by Emmy Award-winner JANE ANDERSON ('Olive Kitteridge') of her acclaimed 2004 play The Baby Dance. A drama delicately laced with comic overtones, THE BABY DANCE: MIXED is a compelling and urgent play about race, class, and wanting the perfect child.

Boston Court Performing Arts Center presents the West Coast premiere of Her Portmanteau written by Mfoniso Udofia and directed by Gregg T. Daniel, May 24 - June 30, 2018 (press opening June 2).  The production stars Joyce Guy (Abasiama), Omoze Idehenre (Adiaha) and Dele Ogundrian (Iniabasi).

Led by co-producing artistic directors Julia Rodriguez-Elliott and Geoff Elliott, A Noise Within (ANW) is excited to announce its 2018-2019 season, themed "Let Me In."

South Coast Repertory concludes the 2017-18 Theatre for Young Audiences series with Amos & Boris, adapted from the classic children's book by William Steig. This theatrical retelling has been adapted for the stage by Sofia Alvarez with music and additional lyrics by Daniel Roland Tierney. The world premiere will be directed by Jessica Kubzansky on the Julianne Argyros Stage, May 19-June 3. Tickets are available now at www.scr.org.

Boston Court Performing Arts Center presents The Harp Twins.  Due to popular demand, a second performance has been added on September 14 at 8:00pm.  As the world's only identical twin professional harpists, the vivacious Camille and Kennerly are classically trained and share a passion for arranging and performing rock, metal, and soundtrack music, all on their exceptionally elegant instruments.

Prejudice and Immigration are teachable moments in Arena Stage's HOLD THESE TRUTHS, a one-man play about a young man who stood alone against the injustice of WWII Japanese American internment camps. This interview features director, Jessica Kubzansky, and actor, Ryun Yu, discussing the parallels between 1940's racial issues and policies and today.

Pocket Universe, producer of last summer's acclaimed Julius Caesar set in an all-girls high school, has announced a new production of Francis Beaumont & John Fletcher's THE MAID'S TRAGEDY, set in present-day Hollywood. Conceived by Alyssa May Gold (Julius Caesar, Brilliant Traces) and directed by Lucy Gram, it will play from June 13-30, 2018 at the Access Theater (380 Broadway) in TriBeCa.  Tickets are on-sale now here.

Boston Court Performing Arts Center announces the extension of their reimagined modern take of Tennessee Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire. Due to audience demand, the production will now play through April 1, 2018. This radical re-envisioning of Streetcarfeatures a multicultural cast and modern setting, pushing on the play's present-day relevance.

Producers Darlene Kaplan, Laura Janik Cronin and Scott Newsome, in association with Alec Seymour, present the Off-Broadway premiere of The Stone Witch, a play by Shem Bitterman (A Death in Colombia, Influence).  Performances begin Monday, March 12, 2018 for an open-ended engagement atThe Westside Theatre - Upstairs (407 West 43rd Street between 9th and 10th Avenues).  Opening Night is Sunday evening, March 25, 2018 at 6:30PM.

Jeanne Sakata's one-man drama Hold These Truths tells the true story of Gordon Hirabayashi, the American son of Japanese immigrants who defied an unjust court order when America placed its own citizens in internment camps during World War II. Midway through Arena Stage's 2017/18 season, Hold These Truths brings an untold story to the stage that represents the diversity of our country and examines what it means to be an American. Under the direction of Jessica Kubzansky, Hold These Truths runs February 23-April 8, 2018 in the Kogod Cradle.

This production is worthy of an audience based on the story alone.

Playwrights' Arena, the only theater created and dedicated to producing bold new works for the stage written exclusively by Los Angeles playwrights, will be celebrating its 26th Anniversary with their annual fundraising gala, HOT NIGHT IN THE CITY. The event will be held at Barnsdall Gallery Theater, 4800 Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles, starting at 7:30 PM (with a VIP reception beginning at 6 PM). For tickets go to www.playwrightsarena.org or call 800-838-3006.

Jeanne Sakata's one-man drama Hold These Truths tells the true story of Gordon Hirabayashi, the American son of Japanese immigrants who defied an unjust court order when America placed its own citizens in internment camps during World War II. Midway through Arena Stage's 2017/18 season, Hold These Truths brings an untold story to the stage that represents the diversity of our country and examines what it means to be an American. Under the direction of Jessica Kubzansky, Hold These Truths runs February 23-April 8, 2018 in the Kogod Cradle.

Boston Court Performing Arts Center presents Joanna Wallfisch: A Musical Portrait on Saturday, February 10 at 8:00pm. This concert will explore two extraordinary musical journeys. Her multimedia musical memoir, The Great Song Cycle Song Cycle is paired with her latest release, Blood and Bone for an intimate concert with the genre-blending singer and composer that the New York Times calls, "Introspective, sensitive and deep."

Boston Court Performing Arts Center presents a reimagined modern take of Tennessee Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire (February 15 - March 25, 2018; press opening, February 24). The community panels and discussions have been announced for this radical re-envisioning of Streetcar which will feature a multicultural cast and modern setting, pushing on the play's present-day relevance. This selection of panel discussions and post-show Illuminations will allow for a deep discussion on A Streetcar Named Desire and its many prevalent themes, especially in regards to this production, which is presented within a contemporary and urban environment, highlighting the pertinence of the play for our divided America.

Producers Darlene Kaplan, Laura Janik Cronin and Scott J. Newsome, have announced, today, the cast and creative team for the Off-Broadway premiere of The Stone Witch, a play by Shem Bitterman (A Death in Colombia, Influence). Performances begin Monday, March 12, 2018 for an open-ended engagement at The Westside Theatre - Upstairs (407 West 43rd Street between 9th and 10th Avenues). Opening Night is set for Sunday evening, March 25, 2018 at 6:30PM.

Boston Court Performing Arts Center will bring a provocative and stimulating season of music events to Southern California for their 2018 Winter season. Artistic Director of Boston Court's music programming, Mark Saltzman has curated an eclectic blend of genre-crossing concerts featuring outstanding local musicians and brilliant musical ensembles from around the globe.