Tra-la! It’s May! The lusty month of May! That lovely month where everyone goes blissfully astray… And straight into Off-Broadway theatres where several new shows are beginning performances this month (in alphabetical order):

There are few theatre companies in New York (or the world, for that matter) like the Lark Play Development Center. Singular in its purpose to take playwrights under its wing and to help their work take flight, the troupe has nurtured thousands of developing artists and their projects over the past 15 years. And on Sunday, May 3rd, they will receive an honorary 2009 Lortel Award for Outstanding Body of Work.

Anyone who cares about musicals should know about Ira Weitzman, the creator and first Director of the Musical Theater Program at Playwrights Horizons and Lincoln Center Theater, later named the Associate Producer of Musical Theater at both institutions. Sunday in the Park with George, Once On This Island, Parade, Contact, and The Light in the Piazza are just a few of the shows he has had a hand in developing, and the American musical theatre is richer for his contributions. Next Sunday, May 3rd, he will receive the Edith Oliver Award for Sustained Excellence at the 2009 Lucille Lortel Awards.

April in New York...    The rain falls over Central Park, the Yankees and Mets begin playing, and the theatrical awards season continues to heat up!

Lynn Nottage's Ruined is the 2009 Pultizer Prize-winner for Drama. Currently playing Off-Broadway in an extended engagement at Manhattan Theatre Club, the show chronicles the the resilience of the human spirit during times of war. Other shows short-listed for the Prize include Becky Shaw, recently seen at Second Stage, and In the Heights, the Tony Award-winning musical which premiered Off-Broadway at 37 Arts.

In addition, today the Outer Critics Circle announced their 2008-2009 nominees for New York City productions, and Off-Broadway shows were very well-represented.   Ruined racked up five nods, tying for the most of any non-musical production, on or off Broadway!    In addition, Off-Broadway productions completely dominated the Outstanding Solo Performance category, as well as the John Gassner Award, which is presented for an American play, preferably by a new playwright.   The Broadway transfers of Off-Broadway hits reasons to be pretty, Rock of Ages and Irena's Vow were also among the honorees.

They say the only sure things in life are death and taxes. Add the Off-Broadway stalwart Perfect Crime to the list. On Saturday, April 18, New York City’s longest-running play EVER celebrates its historic 22nd Anniversary and 9000th performance. And Catherine Russell, the show’s leading lady since its premiere in 1987, will receive a citation from The Guinness Book of World Records as “The Most Performances by a Theater Actor in a Role,” far surpassing such legends as Carol Channing (over 5000 performances in Hello, Dolly!) and Yul Brenner (4626 times in The King and I).

Step aside, Wicked…  move over, Shrek…   The Toxic Avenger is here!   New York’s got another misunderstood musical theatre hero with a song in his heart, and he should be a neighbor of Manhattan’s other greenies for some time to come.

Eight times a week, ROOMS a rock romance threatens to blow the roof off of New World Stages.   If you could harness the energy generated by the talented cast, killer band, and fantastic songs, you could keep New York’s rock clubs lit for a year.

Nominations in 14 categories and 2 special awards are announced by the Off-Broadway League for the Lucille Lortel Awards recognizing Outstanding Achievement Off-Broadway.  This year’s ceremony will benefit The Actors Fund.  A list of nominees follows below.

Happy April, Off-Broadway watchers! Spring has sprung, and a bumper crop of new shows is blooming this month. Highlights include (in alphabetical order):

March Off-Broadway News

March may have come in like a lion, but things are heating up Off-Broadway. Check out one of the TWELVE shows making their debut before March goes out like a lamb (we hope!).

The Widowing of Mrs. Holroyd. Mint Theater Company. Opening March 1.

The Savannah Disputation. Playwrights Horizons. Opening March 3.