There’s also some nice stuff in there about Adam’s process in working on his just-closed run in We Are Here, so check it out.

*See Pages 12-13.

Adam’s latest theatrical venture, the world premiere of Tracy Thorne’s We Are Here, has its opening night tonight as the Mainstage production in Vassar’s Powerhouse Theater summer season. The show runs through July 11th. Tickets are $35.

Excerpt from “At Vassar College, Summer Is for the Stage: Tony Winners of Tomorrow Begin New Season at Poughkeepsie Company” by Pia Catton, Wall Street Journal, June 28, 2010:

Powerhouse kicks off its new season Tuesday with a new play, “We Are Here,” written by Tracy Thorne. Though the work is not a musical, the characters have a penchant for breaking into song. “It’s about a family that has a tradition of singing to each other,” Ms. Thorne said. “I wanted them to sing standards. I have chosen the songs carefully to show this is how I feel.’”

Among the selections are Cole Porter’s “I Concentrate on You” and Van Morrison’s “Moondance.”

Director Sheryl Kaller—who earned a Tony nomination this year for her direction of “Next Fall”—emphasized that the signing is about the emotional need to communicate, and is not meant to be judged on the quality of the performance. “It celebrates what people sing, not how they sing,” she said. “We didn’t even ask people if they could sing in the auditions.”

And we didn’t know until our mom told us. Yes, Adam appeared in last night’s new installment of the Law & Order: Criminal Intent saga, “The Mobster Will See You Now.” Definitely worth catching for the Adam faithful since he’s got a fairly large guest-starring role in this one and goes toe-to-toe with fellow student of Sanford Meisner Jeff Goldblum.

It’ll be airing again on Monday, June 28th at 5:00 PM on USA and can be purchased at Amazon Video on Demand for $1.99 iTunes for $1.99 ($2.99 for high-def).

THE MOBSTER WILL SEE YOU NOW (#CI9013)
EPISODE PREMIERE: June 22, 2010

Several years ago, two doctors struggled to realize their dream of owning a hospital. In order to secure financing, DR. JOEL SILVERSTEIN and DR. SHELTON SPRING were forced to turn to a friend – HENRY DI PIANO, entrepreneur and son of a renowned mob boss. Henry, in his own desire to become an honest businessman, convinced a group of retired mobsters to invest in the endeavor.

The plan worked beautifully, until one day LES TARNEY, a mid-level government official with the Department of Health and Human Resources, came to pay doctors Silverstein and Spring a visit. As it turns out, the doctors had been overcharging their patients for routine procedures. Instead of turning them in, Tarney has decided to blackmail the doctors. They complied, terrified at what will happen should their mob financiers discover the scandal. Just when all seems lost for the doctors, a miracle occurs. Les Tarney chokes on his own dinner. Unfortunately for them all, Nichols and Stevens see Tarney’s death for what it really is – murder. Before their investigation is over, more than one innocent will pay the price for their crimes.

For those of you in the Poughkeepsie area (you know who you are), Adam will once again be appearing in the world premiere of a new play as part of Vassar’s Powerhouse Mainstage series. According to playwright Tracy Thorne, We Are Here “comes from that eternal question of how we’re meant to cope with unimaginable loss and how do we get on from there.”

June 29 – July 11
We Are Here

Written by Tracy Thorne
Directed by Sheryl Kaller
Set design by Scott Bradley
Costume design by Toni-Leslie James
Lighting design by Russell H. Champa
Sound design by John Gromada

WE ARE HERE (June 29 – July 11) by actor and playwright Tracy Thorne (Be careful what you wish for, you might just get it, Building Big Buildings, Miss St. Hilda’s Junior Kindergarten), directed by Tony nominee Sheryl Kaller (Next Fall, Adrift in Macao, Dangerous Beauty), will offer a glimpse at three generations of a family possessing wit, endurance, and compassion in the face of unimaginable loss. As the joyful past and devastated present are braided together with song, young parents Billie (de’Adra Aziza) and Hal (Adam Rothenberg), together with Billie’s sister Shawn (Uzo Aduba) and their parents Everett (Larry Pine) and Vera (Adriane Lenox), search for the strength to live on.

Mainstage in the Powerhouse Theater. Tickets are $35.

Performance dates and times: June 29, 30, July 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 at 8:00pm; July 3, 10, 11, at 2:00pm. There will be a post-show discussion on Tuesday, July 6, and after the matinee on Saturday, July 10.

Powerhouse Theater, now beginning its 26th season, continues its mission to offer a haven for world-class artists to gather and explore new material in an atmosphere that is both protected and challenging. Each season Powerhouse offers its audience debuts by Pulitzer, Oscar, and Tony-winning writers, directors, and actors, and introduces its patrons to exciting emerging artists, all at affordable ticket prices.

Above: Larry Pine, Adriane Lenox, de’Adre Aziza, Uzo Aduba and Adam Rothenberg; photo by Krissie Fullerton.

Updated (May 26, 2010): Boston Legal has apparently not been picked up. So, pouty face.

We’ve been remiss lately in keeping up with Adam news at the Apple and there’s certainly been a fair amount of Adam news to report, so let’s get to it.

The DVD release of Tennessee has been pushed back to January 26, 2010. Which makes us sad.

The opening night of Adam’s play, The Retributionists, is this Tuesday, September 15th. The limited run of the play ends on September 27th, so Adam fans will want to make sure to catch it before it goes. We’re keeping an eye out for any reviews, but, if you just can’t wait for some words of praise for our boy, check out the latest installment of the podcast, Playwrights Horizons on Demand. Playwright Daniel Goldfarb talks about Adam’s work around the 5:15 mark.

There are more publicity stills of shirtless Adam after the jump, so be sure check those out and check back later in the week for more news.

With Margaret Levieva in The Retributionists (Photos: Joan Marcus).

The Apple is thrilled to report that Adam will be returning to the New York stage later this month in the New York premiere of Daniel Goldfarb’s The Retributionists at Playwrights Horizons. Tickets are available now for this limited run and we know all Adam fans will want to observe our man in his natural habitat once again, so check it out.

The Retributionists
August 21 – September 27, 2009
Mainstage Theater

The New York Premiere of a new play by Daniel Goldfarb
Directed by Leigh Silverman

Cast: Hamilton Clancy, Adam Driver, Rebecca Henderson, Margarita Levieva, Cristin Milioti, Adam Rothenberg, Lusia Strus
Scenic Design: Derek McLane
Costume Design: Susan Hilferty
Lighting Design: Peter Kaczorowski
Sound Design: Jill BC DuBoff
Original Music: Tom Kitt
Production Stage Manager: Bess Marie Glorioso

Spring 1946. The plan was simple: a German for every Jew. Its execution would be swift, clean, its impact undeniable. In this daring new romantic thriller inspired by actual events, a band of Jewish freedom fighters attempts to avenge a society’s wrongs – if they can keep from tearing each other apart.

While we at the Apple are disappointed at the lackluster reception this film released, we’re thrilled that Adam fans everywhere will finally get to see his nuanced and compelling performance soon. It’s been a long ride.   

Thanks to MCODB Mariah Carey for the heads up.

The long-anticipated theatrical debut of Tennessee, Adam’s star turn, is finally upon us. As noted below, the film’s website has a list of venues, so check it out and check the film out. It’s a must-see for all Adam fans.

Adam fans will also want to check out this new interview in the Jewish Exponent, where he talks, all too briefly, about his recent projects, his past projects and even the Apple. The writer notes of Adam’s work in Tennessee that “Carter’s complexity is crafted so elegantly by the actor that no seams show,” and we heartily agree.

Tennessee

Two brothers. Three paths. One destination.

Carter (Adam Rothenberg) and his younger brother Ellis (Ethan Peck) embark on a journey from New Mexico to Tennessee to find their estranged father — a trip which might hold Ellis’s life in the balance. Along the way they meet Krystal (Mariah Carey), an aspiring singer who flees her controlling husband (Lance Reddick) to join them on their journey.

Cast: Mariah Carey, Ethan Peck, Adam Rothenberg, Lance Reddick, Bill Sage
Director: Aaron Woodley
Producer: Lee Daniels
Writer: Russell Schaumberg

“… you utterly believe the bond between the siblings, and Rothenberg excels in his role of a protective older bro who also happens to be a haunted binge drinker.”
– Clark Collis, Entertainment Weekly

“Rothenberg gives a touching and perfectly nuanced performance as a man who clearly knows he gave up a future for the sake of family, only to have deep regrets about the road not taken.”
– Pete Hammond, Hollywood.com

“… the naked pain of (Rothenberg is) quite affecting.”
– Carrie Rickey, The Philadelphia Inquirer

We’re totally the bestest Adam Rothenberg fansite ever! (Click on the “Links” menu option on the official Tennessee website.)