Tues, Jan 31@ 6:00 p.m: J. T. Rogers: performance from and signing of Blood and Gifts (FREE) at The Drama Book Shop

The cast of Lincoln Center Theater’s celebrated production of Blood and Gifts perform excerpts from the play, followed by a Q&A with and book signing by playwright J. T. Rogers.

“My God, Russian soldiers being shot by Chinese bullets. Sometimes the world is so beautiful.”

1981. The Soviet army burns its way through Afghanistan, CIA operative Jim Warnock is sent to try and halt its bloody progress, and a secret spy war behind the official Soviet-Afghan war begins. The ground constantly shifts for Jim and his counterparts in the KGB and British and Pakistani secret service as the men wrestle with their shifting personal and political loyalties, and their friendships with—and betrayals of—each other. As the outcome of the entire Cold War comes into play, Jim and a larger-than-life Afghan warlord find the only person they can trust is each other. Spanning a decade and playing out in Washington DC, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, Blood and Gifts is a sweeping, often shockingly funny, epic set against one of the greatest historical events of recent history.

Blood and Gifts: Top Ten Play of the Year from The New York Times, Time Out NY, Bloomberg News

“Superb! Engrossing and illuminating. A first-rate production with the taut grip of a spy novel. J.T. Rogers's knowledge of the hearts and minds of his characters is as deep as his grasp of the geopolitical games being played.”-- New York Times

“A gripping, sensational spy tale!” -- Time Out New York

“A smart, stimulating and just-plain entertaining spy thriller!”-- Entertainment Weekly

“An espionage thriller and dark comedy with fascinating characters.”-- New York Post

“J.T. Rogers asserts a unique voice in this gripping and absorbing drama.”-- Backstage

J. T. Rogers’s plays include Blood and Gifts (National Theater, London; Lincoln Center Theater), The Overwhelming (National Theatre, followed by UK tour with Out of Joint and BBC Radio; Roundabout Theatre); Madagascar (Theatre 503, London; Melbourne Theatre Company) and White People (Off Broadway with Starry Night Productions). As one of the original playwrights for the Tricycle Theatre of London’s Great Game: Afghanistan, he was nominated for 2009 Olivier Award. His works have been staged throughout the United States and in Germany, Canada, and Israel, and are published by Faber and Faber and Dramatists Play Service. Rogers’s essays have appeared in American Theatre and in London’s Independent and The New Statesman. He is a member of New Dramatists and the Dramatist Guild and holds an honorary doctorate from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.

Blood and Gifts: A Play
By J. T. Rogers
Paperback. $14.00

POW! (Play Of The Week)

BE A GOOD LITTLE WIDOW
by Bekah Brunstetter

Bekah Brunstetter’s hilarious yet sad play Be A Good Little Widow is a wonderful depiction of loss, longing, and dealing with the people who suddenly become a large part of your life.

Newlyweds Melody and Craig have just moved into a new home to attempt at becoming proper sophisticated grownups. Though 23 year old Melody loves her husband, she is constantly competing for attention with his blackberry. As if that weren't bad enough, when her mother-in-law, Hope, comes into the picture we get to experience the horrid battle of, "well little girl, you are obviously not good enough for my son."

Because of Craig's Job, Melody is often left alone and only seems to feel relaxed or comfortable around Brad (Craig's assistant) who seems to be just as dazed and confused as she is. When Craig suddenly dies, Melody begins an uncontrollable journey of trying to mourn "properly" because, of course, her mother-in-law is a professional. In fact, she is the leader of the Widows League in town. As the plot grows we learn that Melody and Hope have much to teach each other about the grieving process.

This play was a surprising and wonderful read. You can't help but fall in love with each character. Be A Good Little Widow may seem like a cute play but do not be fooled; it is unexpectedly hilarious, sexy and moving.

If you enjoy Annie Baker or Brooke Berman's work you will not be disappointed.

Great scenes for 2W and for M/F
2M, 2W

Reviewed by Sharone

POW! (Play Of The Week)

POSH
by Laura Wade

What happens when you put ten rich, smart, competitive men in the same room with a case of expensive wine and a ten-bird roast (imagine a turducken times three)? Posh.

Every term, the ten members of the Oxford University’s Riot Club gather together to eat good food, drink expensive wine and trash a dining room with the expectation that they can pay off anyone who complains. This term, a clash over the leadership and the future of the club agitate this already combative group of affluent students. Dressed in tails and up for a night of debauchery, the Riot Club exchange insults, brilliant quips and stories about their crumbling castles that have been turned over to the state. Throw in an overly attentive proprietor, his “tasty” daughter and a “professional” prostitute and the boys of the Riot Club are in for a more memorable night than they bargained for.

Posh premiered at London’s Royal Court in the spring of 2010 on the eve of the general election that brought the Tories to power. Modeled after the Bullingdon Club (which current Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron was a member of), the Riot Club is Wade’s means of exploring England’s ruling class, their attitudes and their origin. Her apt use of the well-bred vernacular simultaneously charms and terrifies the audience as the Riot Club members continuously undercut one another. These are smart young men who have a frightening hatred bubbling beneath the surface. A hatred for poor people, a hatred for unintelligent people, a hatred for the people who have taken their country away from the people who deserve to rule it. What’s even more frightening is how good they are at articulating this hatred and how comfortable they are doing so in the company of one another.

Wade has written a clever, scathing, funny play about the men behind the curtain in politics and how they got there.

12M, 2W
Reviewed by Kate

Thurs, Dec 15 @ 6 P.M: Tony award winning playwright David Henry Hwang reading and book signing at The Drama Book Shop. FREE Admission.

Tony award winning playwright David Henry Hwang reading and book signing at The Drama Book Shop Thursday December 15, 2011, at 6:00 pm. Free admission.

A rare opportunity to hear one of America’s finest playwrights.

David Henry Hwang, with special guests, will read and discuss his current Broadway offering, Chinglish as well as his award-winning plays M. Butterfly and Yellow Face at The Drama Book Shop, 250 West 40th Street on Thursday, December 15th.

David Henry Hwang's works include the Tony Award-winning M. BUTTERFLY, the hit musical AIDA, and his current Broadway comedy, CHINGLISH. He is a three-time Tony Award nominee, a three-time Obie Award winner, and has twice been a Finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in Drama.

Wed, Dec 14 @ 5 P.M: Teresa Rebeck & cast members reading from Broadway show Seminar at The Drama Book Shop

A terrific free event at The Drama Book Shop with Teresa Rebeck and cast members reading from her Broadway show Seminar, now playing at The Golden Theatre to rave reviews.

There will also be a Q&A and she will also sign her plays.

THERESA REBECK
Broadway credits include Seminar (currently running at the Golden Theatre) and Mauritius. Past New York productions include The Scene, The Water’s Edge, Bad Dates, The Butterfly Collection, Spike Heels, Loose Knit, The Family of Mann, View of the Dome and Omnium Gatherum (co-written, Pulitzer finalist). Publications include her Collected Plays Volume I (volumes II and III, fall 2007), Free Fire Zone (fall 2007), all with Smith & Kraus, and her first novel, Three Girls and Their Brother (spring 2008) with Shaye Areheart/Random House. Rebeck has written extensively for film and television as well. She has won the National Theatre Conference Award, the William Inge New Voices Playwriting Award, Boston‘s Elliot Norton and IRNE awards, a Writers Guild Award, an Edgar and a Peabody. She thanks her husband Jess and children, Cooper and Cleo.

Thurs, Dec 15 @ 9 P.M: A FREE night of sketch comedy at The Drama Book Shop

A FREE night of sketch comedy from the New Sketch Group

Sister Act at The Drama Book Shop

POW! (Play Of The Week)

FOUR
by Christopher Shinn

After seeing Picked at the Vineyard Theatre this spring, I was immediately drawn to Shinn’s plays. The festering underbelly in his work is quite engaging, and the actor is forced to acknowledge the haunting subtext. The task is fun, and Shinn allows for complicated, indecisive, twisted characters.

In Four, which was originally produced by the Royal Court Theatre in London and later in New York City by the Worth Street Theater Company, four characters come together under similar, but two different circumstances. One of which is between a sixteen-year-old boy and a closeted, married black man whom he met on the internet. The other is the man’s sixteen-year-old daughter and a twenty-year old drug dealer. The scene work is quite interesting and the power play between charters is lustful and complicated. The two situations are foils for one another, and Shinn keeps us engaged by switching back and forth between each rendez vous.

There are good monologues and scenes for teenage actors. However, I recommend they be in their twenties or extremely mature since the subject matter is quite jarring. The piece is perfect for colleges or audiences open to a profound, heartbreaking exploration of sexuality, secrets, trust, and what happens when obligation is lifted.

When people place themselves in such impersonal situations, we often see them unfolding and exposing themselves in ways otherwise hidden by a socially acceptable guise. We see a “festering underbelly” bubbling to the surface out of sheer ambiguity.

GREAT PLAY! BOLD AND FASCINATING!

Review by Shawn Verrier

Thurs, Nov 10 @ 6pm: Jerry Stiller and Ann Meara: WHERE'S THE WATCH? By "Uncle Leo" Len Lesser at The Drama Book Shop

Jerry Stiller and Ann Meara (and possibly Ben Stiller) celebrate the publication of Where's the Watch?! And Other Tales — a memoir from Seinfeld's Uncle Leo… Len Lesser.

Len Lesser passed away unexpectedly this February before the release of his memoir. Join the Stiller's for an evening talking theater, Hollywood and humor all wrapped up with their fond memories of Len Lesser, a lovable man whose life was a whole lot more than Seinfeld's Uncle Leo.

"Lesser's book is a theater buff's thriller. Once I picked it up, I couldn't put it down. And you'll recognize all the suspects."--Jerry Stiller

"Len was an educated, articulate, hip, thoughtful contemporary man. Uncle Leo was a bit, a put on. It was so brilliant,it is unfathomable that it was a performance.--Jason Alexander

"I loved Len. We had fun every day we got to work together."--Jerry Seinfeld

---

 

You are about to meet the actor Len Lesser. An ordinary man with an extraordinary career. One of the longest in Hollywood.

A quintessential ladies man, Len was a WWII veteran, who held a degree in economics. He was intelligent, driven, and handsome. He could have done anything with his life. But he chose to act. That decision would land him jobs as a factory worker and a dishwasher. He would struggle throughout his life while still sharing the screen with Hollywood legends.

Before his breakout role as Uncle Leo on Seinfeld at age sixty-eight, Len was known for his work in films such as Kelly's Heroes, Birdman of Alcatraz, How to Stuff a Wild Bikini, Papillon, The Outlaw Josie Wales and TV shows like That Girl, The Monkees, and Get Smart.

Told in his own distinctive voice, Where's the Watch will introduce you to a different side of Seinfeld's Uncle leo. It is a poignant, inspiring romp through Hollywood…and life itself.

You will never see Uncle Leo the same way again.

Where's the Watch?! and Other Tales: A Memoir from Seinfeld's Uncle Leo
by Len Lesser and Tama Ryder with a foreword by Ed Asner
Staff Picks Press, November 2011
Paper: $17.50

Len Lesser was an award-winning actor and a longtime member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. His career spanned more than six decades during which time he appeared in hundreds of critically acclaimed stage performances, films, and television shows, most notably on Seinfeld. He worked with Dustin Hoffman, Steve McQueen, Clint Eastwood, Barbra Streisand, Mel Brooks, and Frank Sinatra, among others. He resided in Los Angeles, where he and Ed Asner liked to stir up trouble with the ladies.

Tama Ryder is a Harvard-educated writer who grew up without a television. She wrote and produced an award-winning documentary about the Fresh Air Fund program and most recently worked for Senator Bob Kerrey. She tried to stay clear of the Sunset Strip when she knew Len and Ed were on the prowl. You can read more about her at www.TamaRyder.com

Fri, Nov 4 @ 5 P.M: David Finkle reading from “People Tell Me Things,” his new collection of short stories at The Drama Book Shop

David Finkle will read from the ten-story collection focusing on Manhattan people and theater, publishing, and music, and their often complicated friendships. He’ll read the story “Banana Nose,” which deals with a successful producer and his somewhat well-known private life. Mr. Finkle will sign copies after the reading. David Finkle is the chief drama critic at TheaterMania.com. He writes often about theater, books, and music for The Huffington Post. He also interviews theater personalities for the Drama Book Shop series.

People Tell Me Things (Paperback)
by David Finkle
$15.95

Thurs, Nov 3 @ 6 P.M: Casting Insider Offers Advice on Nailing Your Audition: FREE at The Drama Book Shop

A free audition workshop with Jason Buyer, author of Inside the Audition Room: The Essential Actor's Handbook for Los Angeles.

Inside the Audition Room: The Essential Actor's Handbook for Los Angeles (Paperback)
by Jason Buyer
$12.95

POW! (Play Of The Week)

Sixty Miles to Silver Lake
by Dan LeFranc

Soccer: the quintessential sport to play as a kid. A car ride: a quintessential way to be stuck with someone you’d rather not spend much time with.

Sixty Miles to Silver Lake follows the relationship between one such soccer-playing kid and his father. The kid, Denny, lives with his mother during the week and his dad, Ky, on the weekends. Ky picks Denny up every Saturday after his morning soccer game, and on the sixty mile trip to Ky’s home, the two spend an uniquely uninterrupted period of time together. What appears, initially, to be a play chronically just one of those car rides, LeFranc ingeniously spins into a composite of all of the car rides Ky and Denny have on the way to Silver Lake over dozens of years of their lives. With utmost subtlety, LeFranc reveals the way these two men change and grow during their years of soccer playing and chauffeuring, and the ins and outs of this example of the deep but delicate bond between father and son.

This sparse, beautifully crafted play was co-produced by P73 and Soho Rep., two important organizations for emerging playwriting talent, and it won LeFranc the 2010 New York Times Outstanding Playwright Award. LeFranc is certainly a writer to watch, and Sixty Miles to Silver Lake is a great way to get a look.

Cast: 2M, one spanning tweens to twenties, the other spanning the corresponding ages of his father
Scenes/Monlogues: The entire play is made up of a scene between two men, one younger, one older. Within that, the father goes off on some humorous rants that could make for unique monologues.

Review by Rachel K.

Thurs, Oct 20 @ 6 P:M: Daniel Talbott & Jessica Bauman direct moments from The Amish Project, Milk, Birthday and Nobody at The Drama Book Shop

Inspired! Samuel French Celebrates New Plays by Emily DeVoti, Jessica Dickey, and Crystal Skillman

Daniel Talbott and Jessica Bauman direct moments from The Amish Project, Milk, Birthday and Nobody at the Arthur Seelen Theater

Celebrating Samuel French’s hot-off-the press publications written by three up-and-coming women playwrights who find inspiration in each other’s work. Along with insights from the authors on each other’s pieces, moments will be shared from the plays directed by a director who has also inspired these writers: Rising Phoenix Rep Artistic Director Daniel Talbott (Director of Birthday and Nobody, and author of Slipping, also available for purchase). Book signing party upstairs with wine and refreshments to follow!

"(Dickey's) craft made me weep. The virtuosic writer-performer acts her bonnet off."--Time Out New York

“Birthday is a romantic comedy, sort of; it’s a lovely, sweet play of connection and camaraderie. Skillman picks up details of the trappings of our lives and makes them sing resonantly.” --NYTheatre.com

“There is an engagingly original streak running through her writing… [DeVoti] fills Milk with interesting details (lots of cow knowledge) and unexpected touches.” --The New York Times.

Jessica Dickey is a professional actress and emerging playwright. She is a company member of Rising Phoenix Repertory, an Affiliated Artist of New Georges and a Founding member of the Fire Dept. Her hit one-woman show, THE AMISH PROJECT, examines the aftermath of the notorious Pennsylvania schoolhouse shootings. It premiered at the New York Fringe Festival in 2008, and went on to open at the Rattlestick Playwrights Theatre, where it was greeted with tremendous response from both audiences and critics. For more info, visit www.AmishProject.com

Emily DeVoti is a playwright and founding editor of The Brooklyn Rail. Her play MILK was produced Off-Broadway by New Georges in NYC in 2010 at HERE Arts Center in SoHo.

Crystal Skillman is a Brooklyn based playwright. NOBODY & BIRTHDAY, originally produced by Rising Phoenix Rep in NYC with director Daniel Talbott. She is honored to announce her comedy Action Philosophers! will be returning for a full run at the Brick this fall - Oct. 6th-16th following its sold out debut in the Comic Book Theatre festival this summer. In Spring 2012 he will be the resident playwright at Overturn Theatre Ensemble.

AMISH PROJECT: The Amish Project is a fictional exploration of the Nickel Mines schoolhouse shooting in an Amish community, and the path of forgiveness and compassion forged in its wake.

BIRTHDAY & NOBODY: In Birthday, an anxious young woman slips away from a unwelcoming birthday party in a bar only to discover a stranger sitting in the other room – they find they may have a chance to forgive themselves and each other. In Nobody six people come together, each for their own reasons, at a restaurant on the Lower East Sid and grasp at trying to come to terms with their disjointed lives and their singular, unsettling dream.

MILK: An elegant parable of change set on the cusp of a shifting American landscape. First produced by New Georges and New Feet Productions in New York City.

The Amish Project (Paperback)
By Jessica Dickey
$9.95

Birthday & Nobody: Two Plays (Acting Edition) (Paperback)
By Crystal Skillman
$9.95

Milk (Paperback)
By Emily Devoti
$9.95

Slipping (Paperback)
By Daniel Talbott
$9.50

Thurs, Oct 13 @ 6.00 P:M: Ken Bloom (Broadway Musicals: 101 Greatest Musicals) interviews Peter Filichia about his new book at The Drama Book Shop

Broadway Musical MVPs, 1960-2010: The Most Valuable Players of the Past 50 Seasons

Ken Bloom (Broadway Musicals: 101 Greatest Musicals) interviews Peter Filichia about his new book.

About the Author:
Peter Filichia is a theater critic for the Star-Ledger in Newark. Three times a week, he also writes Peter Filichia's Diary for theatermania, and every Tuesday writes a column for masterworksbroadway.com. He is the author of Let's Put on a Musical, now in its third printing, and Broadway Musicals: The Biggest Hit & The Biggest Flop of the Season: 1959-2009. He is the chairperson and host of the annual Theatre World Awards.

Broadway Musical Mvps: 1960-2010: The Most Valuable Players of the Past 50 Seasons
By Peter Filichia
Paper. $19.99

Thurs, Oct 6 @ 6.00 P.M: Peter Neufeld: For The Good of The Show. at The Drama Book Shop

Peter Neufeld: For The Good of The Show with Victor Garber, Steve Bogardus, Karen Ziemba, Peter Filichia (Moderator) and Seth Weinstein (Piano)

Brooklyn born and raised, Peter Neufeld fell in love at age seven when his mother took him to his first Broadway musical and the curtain rose on the original company of—Oklahoma!. His story takes us through his “maturing years” at the College of William and Mary, where his passion for the theater was reinforced. Here he established enduring friendships and “learned that it was kind of okay for the theater to be important to me.”

When Neufeld returned to New York, he eventually formed a business partnership with R. Tyler Gatchell, Jr. Their firm handled many of the most important shows of the 1970s and ’80s, including No, No, Nanette; Jesus Christ Superstar; Annie; Sweeney Todd; Evita; and Cats, to name a few. As the years unfolded Peter worked with theatrical royalty: from Claudette Colbert and Ruby Keeler to Cherry Jones and Patti LuPone; Mike Nichols and Ed Harris to Janet Leigh and Jack Cassidy; Ethel Merman, Linda Lavin and Alfred Drake to Noël Coward, Lynn Fontanne, and Madeline Kahn, Judith Ivey, Martin Charnin, and many, many more—always with a wry smile and a twinkle in his eye.

Peter’s memoir is also the touching story of a man wrestling with his sexuality while working in the Broadway theater. After Tyler’s death he found his interest in the business side waning. A new path led him closer to “the heart of the Broadway community,” a perfect footnote to the career of a man initially drawn to the stage by its spirit of mutual support. That gift for personal connection—along with integrity, warmth, humor, and an insistence on doing his job right— made him one of the most beloved and respected members of his profession. It also makes his memoir a saga of glamorous stars, laughter, soaring successes and humbling failures, keen insights into the world of theater, even a special Tony award. Peter’s story is the inspirational tale of a man in pursuit of a lifelong passion.

Hard Cover: $28.50
Paper: $19.50

POW! (Play Of The Week)

READY FOR THE RIVER
by Neal Bell

Doris and her teenage daughter, Lorna, are on the run. They witnessed Doris’s ex (Lorna’s father) kill the banker who’d come to foreclose on their farm, and they know they are next in line. The road trip they take to avoid being found is full of places to hide but the trip also brings them hallucinations and the dead banker’s son. They depend on each other as much as they don’t understand each other and with each mishap they continue on. Finally stopping at a small motel, for one night’s sleep behind a real door, and knowing they can’t pay the bill, they confront their would-be killer. Only now he’s dead. So what do they do? And do they do it together?

Wonderfully written tale of two people finding out what it takes to confront who they are. Tragic turns keep us guessing yet reveal two souls who love each other but are at odds with one another. The real people and the illusions add depth and humor. A real gem.

"Bell's story of the women's ghostly escape from realistic pursuit is…staged…with a grave simplicity that was haunting."--American Theatre.

"Part scathing satire and part gut-wrenching melodrama, Bell's script is as mean as yesterday's headlines and driven over the edge with language that beats on the brain with a message of despair and horror at what has happened to the American dream."--Express News.

Cast: 4M, 2W

Great scenes for mother and teenage daughter
Good monologue for a teenage girl and teenage boy

Fri, Sept 23 @ 5:00 p.m.: FREE AUDITION WORKSHOP With Andrew Gerle at The Drama Book Shop

Andrew Gerle gives a musical theatre audition workshop & signs copies of his new book, The Enraged Accompanist’s Guide to the Perfect Audition.

Award-winning composer, musical director, pianist, and accompanist Andrew Gerle shares the secrets from the piano bench in a free master class on musical theater audition technique. Please bring your book of music with you if you would like personalized tips on your technique. Learn how to interact with the accompanist, how to improve your performance, and find out what they're saying about you after you leave the room! In addition to this free workshop, at 5:45pm, Andrew Gerle will come upstairs to sign copies of his book, The Enraged Accompanist’s Guide to the Perfect Audition.

Andrew Gerle has played thousands of auditions for Broadway, off-Broadway, and regional productions, and has served as an accompanist and musical director for major Broadway and recording artists over the past 15 years. He is a recipient of the Jonathan Larson Award, four Richard Rodgers Awards, and the Burton Lane Composer’s Fellowship from the Theatre Hall of Fame. He is the composer of six acclaimed musicals, and his opera “The Beach” was excerpted by the New York City Opera with City Opera singers and an 80-piece orchestra. A sought-after vocal coach, he has worked at NYU’s Tisch Graduate School of Acting and is currently a lecturer at the New York Film Academy and Yale University.

The Enraged Accompanist’s Guide to the Perfect Audition
Award-winning New York theatre composer and pianist Andrew Gerle pulls no punches in this irreverent, fly-on-the-wall guide to everything you've never been taught about auditioning for musical theatre. From the unique perspective of the pianist's bench, he demystifies the audition process, from how to put together your book and speak to an accompanist to the healthiest and savviest ways to approach the audition marketplace and your career. By better understanding the dynamics of professional auditions, you will learn to present yourself in the strongest, most castable way while remaining true to your own special voice – the one that, in the end, will get you the job.

The Enraged Accompanist's Guide to the Perfect Audition
by Andrew Gerle
Paper. $16.99

Thurs, Sept 22 @ 6:00 p.m: DAVID IVES New Playwright Series Hosted by David Finkle at The Drama Book Shop

New Playwright Series: David Ives
Join us for the first of our new monthly playwright series. This month's playwright is David Ives. Selections will be read from Ives upcoming Broadway production of Venus in Fur as well as a Q&A moderated be David Finkle. Book signing to follow.

David Ives is perhaps best known for his evenings of one-act comedies called All In The Timing and Time Flies. All In The Timing won the Outer Critics Circle Playwriting Award and ran for two years Off-Broadway. His full-length plays include Venus In Fur, which recently enjoyed a vast critical and audience success Off-Broadway; New Jerusalem: The Interrogation of Baruch de Spinoza, which won the prestigious Hull-Warriner Award and was presented by Washington’s Theatre J this spring; Is He Dead? (adapted from Mark Twain); Irving Berlin’s White Christmas; Polish Joke; and Ancient History. He has translated Feydeau’s classic farce A Flea In Her Ear as well as Yazmina Reza’s drama A Spanish Play, and has adapted 28 musical for Encores!. He is also the author of three young-adult novels, Monsieur Eek, Scrib, and Voss. A graduate of Yale School of Drama and a former Guggenheim Fellow in playwriting, he lives in New York City.

Tues, Sept 20 @ 5:00 p.m: An Evening with David Lindsay-Abaire at The Drama Book Shop

An Evening with David Lindsay-Abaire
The award winning-winning playwright of Good People and Rabbit Hole discusses his work

Please join us for a special evening with David Lindsay-Abaire, as the author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Rabbit Hole and Good People reads selections from his plays and enters conversation with Manhattan Theatre Club’s Artistic Producer, Mandy Greenfield, about his work. A book signing will follow a brief Q & A.

David Lindsay-Abaire is the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of author Rabbit Hole, which was made into a feature film. He is the author of Fuddy Meers, Wonder of the World, Kimberly Akimbo, A Devil Inside, as well as the librettos for the musicals High Fidelity and Shrek. He has written the screenplays for Rabbit Hole and the upcoming Rise of the Guardians and Oz: The Great and Powerful. Born in South Boston, he now lives in Brooklyn.

Well known for his absurdist comedies Fuddy Meers and Kimberly Akimbo, David Lindsay-Abaire brings his signature humor to Good People, his tough and tender new work that recently concluded its world premiere production at Manhattan Theatre Club’s Samuel J. Friedman Theatre. Set in Bostons’s Southie, the neighborhood the playwright grew up in, Good People follows Margie Walsh who is facing eviction and scrambling to catch a break. When an old flame from the neighborhood – now “lace curtain Irish” – moves back to town, Margie hopes he may be her ticket to a fresh new start. Raising difficult questions with unsentimental observation and appealingly scrappy characters, Good People explores the struggles, shifting loyalties and unshakeable hopes that come with having next to nothing in America.

“Good People is the most substantial new Broadway play since August: Osage County.”-- Time Out

“Good People is poignant, brave and almost subversive in its focus of what it really means to be down on your luck.” --New York Post

“Shot through with aching authenticity, Good People is that rare play that is both timeless and completely keyed into a specific moment in American life – without the need for grasp for topicality.” --Hollywood Reporter

Winner – New York Drama Critics’ Award for Best Play

Nominee – Tony Award® for Best Play

Thurs, Sept 15 @ 6:00 p.m: Young & The Restless Star, Sean Kanan Book Signing…THE MODERN GENTLEMAN at The Drama Book Shop

Actor Sean Kanan will meet and greet book enthusiasts and television fans and sign copies of his book.

Sean Kanan plays the role of bad boy, Deacon Sharpe (the role he originated on The Bold & The Beautiful) on the daytime drama, The Young & The Restless. Sean is also a recurring panel guest on HLN's Showbiz Tonight and on FOX's Red Eye. Sean got his first big break in Hollywood in the role of Mike Barnes in the now iconic film, Karate Kid III. Sean is very involved with the Anti-Defamation League especially in the area of anti-bullying. He has lobbied in Washington, D.C. in an effort to create effective anti-bullying legislation.

About the Book: THE MODERN GENTLEMAN is more than a cookbook of recipes Sean has collected over the years as a self-taught gourmet cook and avid traveler. This book speaks to men about the lost art of being a gentleman. He offers ideas on how to impress someone of the opposite sex including setting a table, arranging flowers, advice on manners, etiquette and more. He hopes his book will be used as a tool for men and he encourages women to share this book with the men in their lives.

"Sean's book gives single clowns like me the courage to step into the kitchen and actually do something besides stand around! With his recipes and advice, we may even be able to impress a girl or two!" --Justin Chon, Actor...The Twilight Saga

"Women will certainly applaud Sean's efforts. His book is just the right nudge that most men need!" --Eva La Rue, Actress, CSI:Miami

Frid, July 22 @ 5:00 P.M: KAREN KOHLHAAS. Free monologue and cold reading clinic w/author

Atlantic Theater Company Co-Founder, Director, Author & Teacher, Karen Kohlhaas will coach monologues performed by attendees; talk about what makes a great monologue audition, and introduce part of her 10-point 'FEARLESS COLD READING' system.

KAREN KOHLHAAS is a founding member of New York's Atlantic Theater Company, where she recently directed the Lucille Lortel Award nominated THE COLLECTION and A KIND OF ALASKA by Harold Pinter which was named a top-10 theater production of 2010 by the New York Times, New York magazine, and the New York Daily News. Other productions for Atlantic include plays by David Mamet, Annie Baker, Keith Reddin, Shel Silverstein, Harold Pinter, Kate Moira Ryan, Kia Corthron, Joe Penhall, and Hilary Bell.. She directed the award-winning "25 QUESTIONS FOR A JEWISH MOTHER" by Kate Moira Ryan with Judy Gold at the Montreal Comedy Festival, Ars Nova, St. Lukes Theatre, and national tour. She has also directed at the New York Shakespeare Festival/Public Theater; Naked Angels, IRT Theatre; and Ensemble Studio Theatre in New York; the Menagerie Theatre in Cambridge, U.K. and the Practical Theatre Company in Sydney, Australia. Her documentaries and short films have played at festivals in the United States and internationally. She is a senior teacher at the Atlantic Acting School, and teaches her own Monologue Workshops, Fearless Cold Reading & Audition Technique classes, and her yearly Directing Class in New York. She also guest teaches in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle. Karen is the director/producer of The Monologue Audition Video (DVD), and author of The Monologue Audition: A Practical Guide for Actors (Foreword by David Mamet), How to Choose a Monologue for Any Audition, and The Monologue Audition Teacher's Manual.

The Monologue Audition: A Practical Guide for Actors
by Karen Kohlhaas
Limelight, 2000
Paper, $16.99

Newly Published

Behanding in Spokane by Martin McDonagh
My Wonderful Day by Alan Ayckbourn
Fox on the Fairway by Ken Ludwig

and call (212) 944-0595 x3 to order the following:

Me, Myself & I by Edward Albee
Black Tie by A.R. Gurney
Graceland by Ellen Fairey
Mr. & Mrs. Fitch by Douglas Carter Beane
After the Revolution by Amy Hertzog

Sun, July 17th @ 3.00 P.M: How to Build and Maintain an Acting Career in NYC with Actress and Career Coach Annie Chadwick at The Drama Book Shop

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND! Whether you are a seasoned professional, a wide-eyed beginner or lost in the actor maze, Annie Chadwick's motivational career building workshop will give you: the vision to create your own unique theatrical career; no nonsense business strategies; innovative self-promotional techniques and the most current industry trends.

• Have you just finished an acting training program and are ready to begin seeking work
• Have you recently moved to NYC and need a plan to introduce your talent to the Big Apple?
• Are you returning to acting or just starting after working in the business world?
• Has your career stalled and you need fresh innovative tools to move to the next level?

In this 2 hour workshop, Annie will meet with you briefly before the workshop to review your picture/resume and help you target an area of concentration for the next 6 months.  In the actual workshop you will get handouts with current marketing tools and a clear, step-by-step path to evolve your acting career in NYC.

The Workshop will cover:

Marketing Tools and Strategies
Are your marketing tools a current representation of your talent?
This is one of the most important parts of building a career and introducing your talent to the industry. Learn the most current trends in effective Pictures, Resumes, Cover Letters and Postcard content, Website, Reels, Email Submissions, Industry Mailings and Personal Appearance. Get specific letter writing skills and tips to make your cover letters, postcards, follow-ups and submissions more targeted. Are emails, faxing, website promotion the way of the future?

Self-Promotion
Learn the most effective ways to introduce yourself to the industry agents, personal managers, casting directors, showcases, seminars.
Film/TV and theatre opportunities are greater than ever in NYC. Learn how a talented actor can get auditions without representation and start developing a legit career. Get information on how to self-submit and get your own Film/TV auditions from Online Casting Opportunities and Trade publications. Learn what TV/Film projects are shooting in NYC and who is doing the casting. For theatre projects you will get specific tips on how to find out six months in advance what's being produced before casting notices go out; the best ways to get auditions, target and identify the roles you are most right for; and how to see the latest NYC Off-Broadway theatre for free.

Classes, Coaches, and Resources
Training for artists never ends. Get recommendation of on-going classes and coaches that will help you get noticed in the very competitive NYC market. We'll also go on a tour of the Drama Book Shop with a list of resources that are essential to keeping-up with the latest projects and acting techniques.

For more information on Up-to-Date Theatricals and Annie Chadwick, visit:
www.utdtheatricalservices.com
www.anniechadwick.com

The cost of this workshop is $50, payable on the day of the workshop. For reservations call 212-265-0260, or the Drama Book Shop at (212) 944-0595 (option 3) during regular business hours.

Annie just worked with director P.J. Hogan on the new Jerry Bruckheimer film, CONFESSIONS OF A SHOPAHOLIC, playing John Lithgow's wife, Mrs. Edgar West.

Workshop Reviews
"I came to Annie's workshop hoping to at least get some decent info for $50. What I came away with was not only worth the price, but much more than I had hoped for. Annie is genuine, goes out of her way to not only make you feel special, but to really give you that extra individualized attention, which is completely unexpected but absolutely appreciated. Her workshop was not only chalked full of relevant and useful information, but she added something that I did not expect to find there...hope and inspiration. What a truly fabulous workshop! I highly recommend it to anyone who is beginning their career or feeling like they are at a stalemate here in New York!"--Krista, NYC actress/singer/musician

"I took your career-building workshop yesterday. I wanted to drop you a line to say how thankful I was for your advice, attention, and for all the wonderful information you gave us. It was so awesome! I was so energized and excited after the meeting that I felt hopeful I could indeed pursue this career on a professional level. I feel like I have a clear-cut focus for how to approach the next six months and I feel awash in relief! Where to put your time, money and energy in your acting career feels so overwhelming, so it was nice to get some solid, practical advice. Thank you again."--Jennifer, NYC actress

Thurs, July 7 @ 6P.M: FREE READING: THE "LOST" GROUP PLAYS Discussion & Book Signing with author at The Drama Book Shop

Join ReGroup members for a reading from the new play collection, The "Lost" Group Theatre Plays. Book signing to follow.

Claire & Paul Sifton wrote many socially relevant plays together during the 1920s & 30s and spent their lives fighting for social causes. John Howard Lawson was one of the premiere playwrights of the early 20th century. His plays were frequent staples on Broadway until he became one of the infamous Hollywood Ten during the McCarthy hearings.

For the first time in over 75 years, three of the famed Group Theatre plays are now back in print! Foreword by Estelle Parsons, Legendary Actress and Oscar Winner Introductions by George Bartenieff, life-long actor and teacher, and Allie Mulholland, Artistic Director of the ReGroup Theatre.

"Let's give thanks to Allie Mulholland and his ambitious ReGroup Theatre, which airs plays that the Group Theatre produced in its decade-long history. ReGroup is quickly becoming one of the town's most valuable troupes." --PETER FILICHIA

"I've been greatly impressed with Allie Mulholland and his ReGroup Theatre and in the ways they've brought forward and give life to the forgotten Group Theatre Plays." --JEFFREY LAWSON

The "Lost" Group Theatre Plays
by Claire Sifton, Paul Sifton, John Howard Lawson
ReGroup Theatre Company, 2011
Paper, $26.99

Call to order (212) 944-0595 x3

POW! (Play Of The Week)

The Long Red Road
by Brett C. Leonard

Sammy drank. Sammy drove. Sammy crashed. Sammy ran. Sammy left everyone else to clean up the mess. In this gritty, gut-wrenching drama, we take a look at two sides of a family torn apart by an alcohol-fueled tragedy: the side that left and the side that stayed behind. Is there any chance of reconciliation? And, if so, what is the cost?

Brett C. Leonard’s The Long Red Road follows the wreckage of Sammy, a man trying to obliterate his past. Seeking refuge on a Lakota reservation, Sammy has submitted to the escape of alcohol. Meanwhile, his brother, Bob, and his girlfriend, Anna, deal with the carnage left in Sammy’s wake. As they struggle to put back the pieces, Sammy continues to self-destruct, and we see the boundaries of unconditional love.

Riding on the foundation of Shepard and Fornes, Leonard pairs harsh, demanding language with a setting that’s just as formidable. By using short, episodic scenes across the span of Sammy’s devastation, we see a panoramic view of the results, and are confronted by the reality of that picture. Not all stories are made to have a happy ending, though that happiness depends entirely on your point of view.

Full of great moments and intense, challenging scenes, The Long Red Road is not for the faint of heart. Think Leaving Las Vegas. Without the pleasant scenes. Great monologue material for a mature 13-year old girl and a good scene for late-20s/early-30s man and woman.

3M, 3W

Reviewed by Ben G.

The 65th Annual TONY Awards

We at the Drama Book Shop were proud to accept the 2011 Tony Honor for Excellence in the Theatre this past weekend. We thank you, our loyal customers, for your continued support. If you are in the neighborhood please stop by to see our beautiful TONY.

Tony Honor
The Drama Book Shop
"For Service to our community as a Storied emporium of play scripts, periodicals, and all manner of theatre books since 1917 "

Shakespeare in the Park Window Lands in Drama Book Shop Window!

Now In Print at The Drama Book Shop

Good People
by David Lindsay-Abaire
$14.95

Stagecraft: Stanislavsky and External Acting Techniques: A Companion to Using the Stanislavsky System
By Robert Blumenfeld
Paper: $19.99

The Sound of Musicals
By Ruth Leon
Paper: $20.95

Memphis: The Complete Book and Lyrics of the Broadway Musical
Paper: $16.99

The Last Five Years: The Complete Book and Lyrics of the Musical
Paper: $12.99

Wed, June 8 @ 6:00 P.M: ACTING LIONS Book Launch & Signing with Penny Templeton at The Drama Book Shop

Join us for refreshments when we celebrate the publication of Acting Lions by Penny Templeton.

Her unique teaching methods and techniques have garnered awareness and recognition from industry peers, including articles in national magazines, and as a finalist Judge for the New York Film Festival, Daytime Emmys and Cable Ace Awards. She started teaching in the early 1990's, and opened the Penny Templeton Studio in Manhattan in 1994. Ms. Templeton was selected by Columbia University's School of the Arts to teach 'Acting for the Camera' to third year MFA students.

Mon, June 6 @ 6:30 P.M: FREE Acting Workshop with director & coach Andrew Frank at The Drama Book Shop

Andrew Frank has an extensive and varied background in the performing arts. He was an associate producer on Broadway with LOMBARDI, a new american play; he's the founding Artistic Director of the Manhattan Theatre Source, a Greenwich Village cultural staple for over a decade; held a senior position at New York City's Department of Cultural Affairs; and serves as a consultant for dozens of non-profit organizations. Mr. Frank is also an accomplished theatre director and playwright, with literally hundreds Off-Off and Off-Broadway credits. In 2008, after earning a certification in Personal Coaching from New York University, Mr. Frank started his highly successful coaching practice, which serves both aspiring and seasoned artists, entrepreneurs, and executives. Additionally, he is currently the Executive Director of Making Books Sing, a non-profit organization dedicated to children's literacy and social development through arts-in-education programs and professional family theatre. These workshops are part of the material developed for his forthcoming book - The Starving Thriving Artist which was born from his abiding personal interest in telling stories about the human condition, and the desire to help artists achieve their artistic and personal potential.

For more info: 

www.frankcoaching.com

 

Thurs, May 19 @ 6 P.M: FREE. Discussion of Stagecraft: Stanislavsky and External Acting Techniques by Robert Blumenfeld at The Drama Book Shop

Robert Blumenfeld: Talk, Reading, Q & A Session, and Book Signing (FREE)

Robert Blumenfeld—actor, dialect coach, and writer—will discuss his new book Stagecraft, read selections from it, and answer questions from the audience. Then, he will go upstairs, autograph copies of his books, and talk with anyone who wishes as he sits at the autograph table. Stagecraft and other Blumenfeld titles will be available for purchase.

About the Author:
Robert Blumenfeld has recorded more than 325 books and acted in regional and New York theater. He is the author of Accents, Acting with the Voice, Tools and Techniques for Character Interpretation, Using the Stanislavsky System, Blumenfeld’s Dictionary of Acting and Show Business, and Blumenfeld’s Dictionary of Musical Theater—all published by Limelight Editions.

Stagecraft: Stanislavsky and External Acting Techniques: A Companion to Using the Stanislavsky System
By Robert Blumenfeld
Paper. $19.99

Wonder and Arcadia Lands in Drama Book Shop Window!

Thurs, May 12 @ 6 P.M: Shorter, Faster Funnier! Readings, Performance and Book Party (FREE) at The Drama Book Shop

Reading performance, wine & cheese reception and book signing celebrating the publication of Shorter, Faster, Funnier: Comic Plays and Monologues, a vintage anthology edited by Eric Lane & Nina Shengold.

Shorter, Faster, Funnier: Comic Plays and Monologues
By Eric Lane, Nina Shengold
Paper. $16.95

POW! (Play Of The Week)

The Pride
By Alexi Kaye Campbell

It is 1958. Philip is married to Sylvia, who is illustrating Oliver’s most recent children’s book. There is a frisson between Philip and Oliver when they first meet as they skirt around what cannot be explicitly said.

It is 2008. Fed up with his inscrutable infidelity, Philip leaves Oliver, alone and drowning his sorrows in role-play and scotch. Oliver enlists Sylvia, who introduced them, to counteract his loneliness.

The Pride is a gorgeously-drawn elliptical play that alternates between two very distinct time periods and the lives of three characters whose fate is written by their eras. As the play continues, we realize that these characters share the same names and are shadows of one another. Philip, Oliver and Sylvia are all fighting for what they hope will be an easier life than the one they have known. The actions that they take in 1958 mirror, affect and illustrate those that take place in 2008. Campbell’s brilliantly funny dialogue and perceptive observations bring the characters to life. As it explores fate, love, fidelity and forgiveness, The Pride asks questions about contemporary life (gay and straight), but doesn’t presume to answer any of them concretely.

Filled with strong scenes and monologues for men and women in their 30s (though equally appropriate for 20s or 40s!), The Pride is a great play for actors and directors looking for material and playwrights looking for some strong contemporary writing to be inspired by.

3M, 1W (doubling)

Recommended by Kate

Tues, May 10 @ 6.00 P.M: FREE READING: MCC Theater presents excerpts from Michael Weller’s trio of plays at The Drama Book Shop

FREE READING: MCC Theater presents excerpts from Michael Weller’s trio of plays about modern marriage, “Do Not Disturb”, “Fifty Words,” and “Side Effects.”

In anticipation of MCC Theater’s world premiere production of Michael Weller’s “Side Effects,” four actors will read scenes from Weller’s three loosely-related plays on modern marriage: “Do Not Disturb,” MCC’s previously produced “Fifty Words,” and the upcoming “Side Effects.” Weller and David Auburn will answer audience questions after the reading, and Weller will sign copies of his plays.

MICHAEL WELLER (Playwright) studied music composition at Brandeis University with Irving Fine, Harold Shapiro and Martin Boykin, then worked as a jazz pianist before taking his graduate degree in theater at the University of Manchester, England. His best known are Moonchildren, Fishing, Loose Ends and Spoils of War. His films include Hair and Ragtime (for Milos Forman) and Lost Angels (for Hugh Hudson) and a teleplay of his Broadway drama “Spoils of War,” starring Kate Nelligan. He co-founded (with Angelina Fiordelissi and Suzanne Brinkley) and serves now as supervising mentor of the Mentor Project of the Cherry Lane Theatre, currently in its tenth season. Dr. Zhivago (from the novel by Boris Pasternak, for which he wrote the book) - Des McAnuff to direct, Lucy Simon music, Amy Powers and Michael Korie lyrics – will open in London’s West End in 2009 prior to its Broadway premiere. He is currently writing the book for a Broadway musical “Rumors” about the making of Fleetwood Mac’s two legendary breakthrough albums, to be directed by Taylor Hackford. His work has received an Academy Award nomination, an N.A.A.C.P. Outstanding Contribution Award, Critics Outer Circle Award, a Rockefeller Foundation Grant and a Kennedy Center Fund for New American Plays Award, and has been honored by The Broken Watch Theatre Company which gave their playhouse his name. He is on the counsel of the Writer’s Guild Fund, and the Dramatists Guild of America.

DAVID AUBURN (Director) Recent directing credits include A Delicate Balance (Berkshire Theatre Festival), Zayd Dohrn's Sick (BTF), and work at The Juilliard School and Lincoln Center Director's Lab. Plays include Proof (MTC/Broadway), An Upset and Amateurs (EST Marathon) and The Journals of Mihail Sebastian (Keen Co.). Films include The Girl in the Park (writer/director).

About the Play:
MCC Theater’s 2008 hit Fifty Words (with acclaimed performances by Norbert Leo Butz and Elizabeth Marvel) culminated in one desperate phone call. Side Effects is the story of what happened on the other end of the line, expertly plotted by playwright Michael Weller, who is noted for Loose Ends and Moonchildren, a seminal work for the American stage. Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning writer-director, David Auburn (Proof, The New York Idea), will direct Joely Richardson ("Nip/Tuck," "The Tudors") and Cotter Smith (Kin, Next Fall) in this harrowing and unique journey.

Hugh and Lindy’s marriage seems picture-perfect, a beacon in their microcosmic Midwestern world of dinner parties and fundraisers. But, behind closed doors - doors they can barely keep shut - they’re falling apart, and Hugh’s rising political star is suddenly imperiled.

Mon, May 9 @ 5.30 P.M: Book signing for award-winning costume designer Carrie Robbins at The Drama Book Shop

Join Ms. Robbins and authors Annie and Barry Cleveland to chat about their new book, The Designs of Carrie Robbins.

Over the course of her career, so far, Carrie Robbins has designed thirty-two Broadway productions and another thirty-eight for Off-Broadway and Off-Off-Broadway. Her regional theatre and opera assignments have taken her coast to coast and border to border to design for many of the hallmark resident companies, including the Guthrie, Arena Stage, Alley Theatre, Mark Taper Forum, Kennedy Center, American Conservatory Theatre, and many more. She survived the whirlwind pace of one of television’s longest running, and quirkiest shows, Saturday Night Live. Her award winning uniform designs were showcased at two of the iconic destination dining experiences in Manhattan, the Rainbow Room and Windows on the World. And, she is now well on her way to leaving her mark as a playwright.

The Designs of Carrie Robbins, which was released March 9, 2011, is published by USITT in cooperation with Broadway Press. It’s the seventh title in USITT”s ongoing series documenting the work of America’s best theatrical designers. Others in the series include Ming Cho Lee, Tharon Musser, Willa Kim, Abe Jacob, and Jules Fisher. In 2010, Late and Great: American Designers 1960–2010 was published to celebrate USITT’s fiftieth anniversary. It’s a collection of essays on twenty-five designers who are no longer with us and were active during USITT’s first fifty years.

“This monograph by the Clevelands thoroughly demonstrates what incredible energy it must take to be Carrie Robbins.” --Laura Crow, in her review, published in Theatre Design & Technology, Spring 2010.

The Designs of Carrie Robbins
By Annie O. Cleveland and M. Barrett Cleveland
Published by USITT in cooperation with Broadway Press, 2011
Paper: $35.00