What's Happening? The Shortlist

photo from Richard Maxwell's "Isolde"
by Simon Hallström

April 2: Dominic Chianese at The Café Carlyle

April 3- May 4: "The International" plays at the cell

April 10-26: "Isolde" (US premiere) at the Abrons Arts Center (466 Grand Street)

April 15 through 19: Lucie Arnaz at The Café Carlyle

April 23 through May 18: "Peddling" part of Brits Off Bway at 59E59

May 30 through July 5: Summerworks Festival at The Wild Project                                             

April 2: Dominic Chianese at The Café Carlyle

He may always be "Uncle Junior" to some of us, but Dominic Chianese has long been a man of many talents. He is a singer and guitarist, who has released two albums and performed in cabaret, as well as on stages on and off-Broadway. In his Café Carlyle debut, An Evening with Dominic Chianese, he will perform songs running the gambit of American music, from country to the Great American Songbook, as well as standards in Italian and Spanish. 

www.thecarlyle.com

April 3- May 4: "The International" plays at the cell

"The International" is inspired by events in the Bosnian War of 1992-95. Tim Ruddy’s award-winning and probing three-character play looks at the same events taking place during an ethnic-incited conflict through the eyes of three different people in three different parts of the world. Origin Theatre Company’s production is directed by Christopher Randolph and stars Timothy Carter, Carey Van Driest and Ted Schneider. 

www.origintheatre.org (Running time 80 minutes)

April 10-26: "Isolde" (US premiere) at the Abrons Arts Center (466 Grand Street)

Based on the legend of Tristan and Isolde, Richard Maxwell's "Isolde" is about Patrick, the owner of a successful construction company and his wife, Isolde,  a successful star.

Patrick and Isolde appear to be happly married. But Isolde finds herself increasingly unable to remember her lines. To occupy herself, she decides to build her dream house and her husband is eager to help. The project is jeopardized by Massimo, an award-winning architect that Isolde hires.

Written and directed by Maxwell for his company, New York City Players,  "Isolde" marks 15 years of new plays by Maxwell in New York. The production features Jim Fletcher, Brian Mendes, Tory Vazquez and Gary Wilmes.

www.abronsartscenter.org, (Runs 90 minutes without intermission)

 April 15 through 19: Lucie Arnaz at The Café Carlyle

"Spring is Here" is  Lucie Arnaz's new show. The talented daughter of one of show business’ most prominent couples, Lucie Arnaz has forged a distinct career of her own,  starring in roles on Broadway, television and film, and has won awards including an Emmy, a Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award and an Outer Critics Circle Award. 

www.thecarlyle.com

April 23 through May 18: "Peddling" part of Brits Off Bway at 59E59

Henry Melling, known as Dudley Dursley from the Harry Potter franchise, has written a fascinating new play featured in the 10th annual Brits off Bway Festival. In "Peddling." a peddler wakes up in a field, somewhere in London, surrounded by the burnt and empty remnants of the night before. With no memory of how he has come to be there, he knows he must go back to ‘the very start of it all'. His attempts to retrace events from the previous day lead him on a haunting journey where everything comes into question: his life, his world, his future.

Harry Melling’s remarkable debut play follows the day in the life of a man on the fringes of society as he battles difficult questions and attempts to come to terms with the answers. 

www.59e59.org

May 30 through July 5: Summerworks Festival at The Wild Project

The 2014 fest features plays by Jenny Schwartz, Ariel Stess, Peggy Stafford. Summerworks 2014 features "41-derful", written and directed by Jenny Schwartz; "I’m Pretty Fucked Up" by Ariel Stess, directed by Kip Fagan; and "16 Words Or Less" by Peggy Stafford, directed by Portia Krieger. 

Summerworks 2014 will also feature various free events, including a collaborative piece and individual readings written by Clubbed Thumb’s Early-Career Writers’ Group: Jaclyn Backhaus, Adam Blodgett, Tasha M Gordon-Solmon, Ken Greller, MJ Kaufman, Dan Regelski, and Ariel Stess. Further details on these events will be announced soon.

www.clubbedthumb.org