MCC Theater

Congrats to Jeff Talbott on winning the Gassner Award for a new playwright at the Outer Critics...

Tue, 29 May 2012 14:30:14 -0400

Congrats to Jeff Talbott on winning the Gassner Award for a new playwright at the Outer Critics Circle Awards! MCC Theater also won an OCC award for producing his play, The Submission! At the ceremony, Talbott made a lovely speech in which he thanked MCC, Walter Bobbie, the cast and then dedicated the award to “the best literary manager in New York City,” our very own Stephen Willems!

Dear Friends, Over the last two years I had one of the great experiences of my career working with...

Mon, 21 May 2012 15:59:00 -0400

Dear Friends,

Over the last two years I had one of the great experiences of my career working with MCC Theater on the musical Carrie, first in workshop and then in the production which recently concluded MCC’s terrific three-play 2011-12 season, which also featured the award-winning play The Submission, and Wild Animals You Should Know.

Famous for its brief 1988 run, Carrie was a musical that few people had seen but about which everyone seemed to have an opinion. Producing a new version took guts - which, of course, MCC has. They are fearless - courageously pursuing theatrical adventures that spark the imaginations of artists and audiences alike, and always - with your help - giving artists the unwavering support that is the foundation for artistic excellence.

Those of us who love theater know that taking big risks maximizes the potential for exploring new ideas, discovering new talent, and attracting new audiences - all essential to keeping this art form alive.

Carrie was a huge undertaking. Because of MCC, this tale of a misunderstood outcast and the consequences of bullying has been rescued from near oblivion: it was filmed by the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, will get its first-ever cast recording, and will for the first time soon be available for regional and school productions. Also, thanks to MCC’s expanded audience development program, Carrie brought 2,400 young people into the theater, many for the first time. By offering steeply discounted, non-subsidized tickets, MCC invested nearly $95,000 in making theater available to those who will sustain its future. (I can tell you that it was heaven for me and my colleagues to share Carrie with these young people at every show.)

This season - which included expansion of MCC’s literary and education programs and in which MCC announced plans to build a two-theater complex on West 52nd Street to open in 2014 - was a momentous one for MCC. As MCC prepares to announce its 2012-13 season, I’m writing to ask you - as our audience, a vital part of MCC’s present and future - to help keep the momentum going.

Please make a contribution to support MCC Theater’s bold, risk-taking spirit. Your support will be an affirmation of MCC’s dedication to discovering and nurturing artists, to challenging us to our best work, and of the commitment you and I share with MCC - to building and serving the community of audiences and artists that MCC has fostered for a quarter-century. Together we can ensure a bright future for MCC’s inimitable brand of rewarding theater, and for the best of theater in New York that MCC has always exemplified.

Sincerely,

Marin Mazzie
Actor, MCC Theater’s Carrie (Spring 2012)

Posted by Stephen Willems, Literary Manager/Resident Dramaturg —I’m thrilled to welcome...

Sun, 20 May 2012 17:12:00 -0400

Posted by Stephen Willems, Literary Manager/Resident Dramaturg —

I’m thrilled to welcome the newest member of MCC Theater’s Playwrights’ Coalition, Fernanda Coppel, bringing the membership to 33 of New York’s most exciting early and mid-career playwrights. Check out her very funny and shocking new play, CHIMICHANGAS AND ZOLOFT, beginning previews at The Atlantic on May 24.

Joan Rivers on E!’s Fashion Police proclaims our Carrie’s...

Mon, 14 May 2012 15:39:00 -0400

Joan Rivers on E!’s Fashion Police proclaims our Carrie’s bloody prom dress better than Florence Welch’s dress…

Playwright Alex Lewin discusses his play, The Interview, with audience members at the reception...

Mon, 07 May 2012 14:58:17 -0400

Playwright Alex Lewin discusses his play, The Interview, with audience members at the reception after the PlayLabs reading on Mon, April 30.

This year we’ve had the biggest audiences ever for our PlayLabs series! Check out this shot of the crowd!

Don’t miss the last reading of our Spring 2012 series, Frauds by Blair Singer. Click here for more info and to RSVP!

Posted by Playlab Series “My New Best Friend” Director Leigh Silverman Brooke’s...

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 13:32:00 -0400

Posted by Playlab Series “My New Best Friend” Director Leigh Silverman

Brooke’s reading was a blast. Choice moments: All of us lamely trying to help Louisa speak French (none of us know any French and I admitted I cheated my way thru Spanish II in the 10th grade), Laura admitting that she hadn’t slept in three days and still she was on fire all during rehearsal and blew it out of the water in the reading and Jenn Harris slaying the audience with her legendary comedic timing as her character Courtney protested and protested that she wasn’t in love with Louisa’s character.

Photo: Leigh Silverman directing “My New Best Friend” by Brooke Berman.

The free Playlab Reading Series is every Monday night thru May 7 at 7pm. Click here to RSVP.

Photos from yesterday’s Carrie recording session at MSR Studios!Carrie got its long-awaited...

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 14:36:00 -0400

Photos from yesterday’s Carrie recording session at MSR Studios!

Carrie got its long-awaited first-ever official cast recording yesterday when the incredible cast of MCC’s revised production of the legendary (notorious? misunderstood?) musical assembled at MSR Studios in the Broadway district to lay down tracks for the upcoming Ghostlight/Sh-K-Boom release. It was a long day of work (13 hours!), but it was a thrill from start to finish. Lots of bagels, sandwiches, plenty of liquids, and yes, junk food, were consumed, but the driving energy came from the historic event itself. Everyone was on a cloud. And the cast nailed it! Fittingly, the last track laid down was “When There’s No One” and Marin Mazzie TURNED IT OUT! We’ll have to wait a few months for the album release, but trust us: it’s going to be worth it! Stay tuned…

The control panel making sure everything sounds great!

Watching the Carrie cast from the studio monitor.

The Carrie band behind the glass.

Carrie herself, Molly Ranson, prepping to record Carrie.

Jeanna de Waal, Ben Thompson, and Christy Altomare laying down “The World According to Chris”.

Jonathan Groff’s performance of “Anything...

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 16:13:00 -0400

Jonathan Groff’s performance of “Anything Goes” - including the extended tap number! - was the perfect finale for this year’s star-studded Miscast!

Photos from Monday night’s Miscast gala at the Hammerstein Ballroom!Performer Megan Hilty...

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 16:16:00 -0400

Photos from Monday night’s Miscast gala at the Hammerstein Ballroom!

Performer Megan Hilty looking radiant on the red carpet.

The Carrie ensemble performs a medley of songs by the night’s honorees: Michael Gore, Dean Pitchford, and Lawrence D. Cohen.

MCC Theater’s top brass: Artistic Director Will Cantler, Executive Director Blake West, and Artistic Directors Bernie Telsey and Bob LuPone.

Will Cantler, Michael Gore, Bob LuPone, Lawrence D. Cohen, Blake West, Dean Pitchford, and Bernie Telsey.

Host Lewis Black keeping the audience in stitches!

Nicole Parker, Josh Gad, Megan Hilty, and Rory O’Malley, together “For The Better”!

Jonathan Groff as Reno Sweeney…

…featuring an unbelievable tap number that brought down the house!

All of our talented performers take a bow!

Go to our Miscast page for more information about the show, and to place your bid in our online auction for items like visiting the set of hit show “Smash,” meeting Stephen Colbert, and more!

Constantine Maroulis joins Miscast 2012 cast! This American Idol contestant turned Broadway rocker...

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 18:06:35 -0400

Constantine Maroulis joins Miscast 2012 cast!

This American Idol contestant turned Broadway rocker will be performing at the gala. Get ready to rock with Constantine and the rest of the performers on Monday March 26th.

Click here for more information about our Miscast Gala.

MCC marketing staff’s footwear today… Represent!

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 11:18:15 -0400

MCC marketing staff’s footwear today… Represent!

Carrie gets her post-opening marquee facelift! Fun to see all...

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 16:01:00 -0400

Carrie gets her post-opening marquee facelift! Fun to see all the photos and rave reviews. Click here to read more.

Actor Patrick Breen directing MCC Theater Youth Company members...

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 13:44:02 -0400

Actor Patrick Breen directing MCC Theater Youth Company members in a reading of his short play St. Stanislaus Outside The House, first produced by MCC Theater in 1992.

Music mogul Clive Davis and pop icon Lesley Gore, at Carrie opening night, chillin’ to DJ...

Fri, 09 Mar 2012 14:59:47 -0500

Music mogul Clive Davis and pop icon Lesley Gore, at Carrie opening night, chillin’ to DJ Randyhate’s opening night playlist. Click here to listen!

Our video contest winner John Gracey and his friend Clay Cozart hit the red carpet with Carrie...

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 13:48:55 -0500

Our video contest winner John Gracey and his friend Clay Cozart hit the red carpet with Carrie herself, Molly Ranson, at Carrie opening night!

Posted by MCC Theater Marketing Associate Sarah Rushakoff —At the MCC Theater offices, we are...

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 14:14:00 -0500

Posted by MCC Theater Marketing Associate Sarah Rushakoff —

At the MCC Theater offices, we are so excited for tonight’s opening of Carrie. We’ve also gotten the most adorable gifts today from friends and family…

In case it rains… “something”… at opening night :-)

HUGE cupcake that says “Have A Killer Opening!!”

Executive Director Blake West showing just how crazy this cupcake is. Delicious.

If you look closely, they say “Carrie” and “3/1/12”!

Mmm….Miscast

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:25:00 -0500

Posted by MCC Theater Development Associate, Special Events Kathryn Banas -

A lot of planning goes into Miscast, our annual gala. Mailings, décor, production meetings, etc. But my favorite part of the process, so far, was the day we did the tasting to choose the menu for the night.

I’m happy to report –Miscast is gonna be delicious…and not just because of Jonathan Groff.

Click here for more Miscast!

"Carrie" gets her group on!

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 14:40:00 -0500

On Saturday, a group of more than 100 theatergoers planned a trip from Philadelphia to come and see Carrie. After the curtain fell, they joined MCC Theater’s Co-Artistic Director Bernie Telsey and members of the cast after the show for a special reception. A big thanks to Bernie’s brother, Mitch Telsey!

And, on Sunday, Carrie hosted a group of 16 mothers and daughters – followed up by a meet and greet with members of the cast (pictured here with stars Derek Klena and Jeanna de Waal) and director Stafford Arima. While Margaret and Carrie’s mother/daughter relationship is to say - at the very least - complicated, this afternoon provided the perfect platform to keep those all-important “talks” going… We can only imagine the car rides home! A special thanks to MCC Patron Sandy McManus for putting this together.

Group discounts are available to the general public and to students. Contact audienceservices@mcctheater.org for more information.

Why are you excited about Carrie? - John Gracey Click here to...

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 14:12:00 -0500

Why are you excited about Carrie? - John Gracey
Click here to watch additional videos like this and more.

Carrie, past and present (l-r)—Amber White, Stage Manager ‘12Jack Gianino, Stage...

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 13:35:00 -0500

Carrie, past and present (l-r)—
Amber White, Stage Manager ‘12
Jack Gianino, Stage Manager ‘88
Julie Crosby, Assistant to the General Manager ‘88
Jessica Chase, Company Manager/Associate General Manager ‘12
Louis Scheeder, Assistant Director ‘88