Al Pacino News

Looking for a quick roundup of this week's events in the theatre world? Look no further - here are some of the best articles the week had to offer!

The Fall 2012 Broadway revival of DAVID MAMET'S acclaimed Pulitzer Prize-winning drama GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS led by two-time Tony Award winner AL PACINO will also star Emmy Award winner and two-time Tony nominee BOBBY CANNAVALE in the role of Richard "Ricky" Roma.

Premiere Stages, the professional theatre in residence at Kean University presents Kathryn Grant's Handicapped People in Their Formal Attire from July 12 -- 29. This provocative new play takes place in 1968 at a black tie fundraiser for people with disabilities. The honoree is Agnes Sheenan, a quadriplegic, who is escorted by her able-bodied sister, Theresa. The siblings make the most of the celebration until unforeseen events force them to examine how fragile the bond is between them.

Westport Country Playhouse stages the National Book Award-winning memoir, "The Year of Magical Thinking" by Joan Didion, now through June 30, featuring noted actress Maureen Anderman as Didion. Directed by Nicholas Martin, the play is based on the author's actual experience rebuilding her life during the year after her spouse's death and her capacity to emerge strengthened from even the most shattering of life's trials. Watch the video below for behind-the-scenes interviews with Artistic Director Mark Lamos, Director Nicholas Martin and actor Maureen Anderman!

The Public Theater will present an additional free performance of AS YOU LIKE IT, directed by Daniel Sullivan, tonight (Tuesday, June 19) at 8 p.m. AS YOU LIKE IT, the first show of The Public's 50th Anniversary season at the Delacorte, will officially open on Thursday, June 21 and continue through Saturday, June 30.

Last night, June 18, The Public Theater celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the Delacorte Theater, home of Shakespeare in the Park, and honored Al Pacino for his body of work at The Public. The evening included a benefit reading of Romeo and Julie featuring Kevin Kline as Romeo and Meryl Streep as Juliet. On hand to celebrate were the likes of Julia Stiles, Chelsea Clinton, Steve Martin and many more who have both particiated and enjoyed the works at the Delacorte. BroadwayWorld was also on hand and brings you photo coverage below!

The Public Theater today presents Kevin Kline as Romeo and Meryl Streep as Juliet in a one-night-only benefit reading of ROMEO AND JULIET - the 50th Anniversary of the opening of the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. The cast will also feature F. Murray Abraham (Friar Laurence); Christine Baranski (Nurse); John Cullum (Capulet); Raul Esparza (Sampson, Apothecary, Watchman 1); David Harbour (Abraham, Capulet Servant, Paris' Page); Bill Irwin (Montague); Jesse L. Martin (Gregory, Friar John, Watchman 2); Sandra Oh (Lady Montague); Phylicia Rashad (Lady Capulet); Jerry Stiller (Peter); Michael Stuhlbarg (Paris); Christopher Walken (Mercutio); Sharon Washington (Stage Directions); Sam Waterston (Benvolio); and Jeffrey Wright (Tybalt).

Joan Didion will be a guest at a Westport Country Playhouse Sunday Symposium today, June 17, following the 3 p.m. matinee performance of Ms. Didion's play, "The Year of Magical Thinking," based on her 2005 National Book Award-winning memoir. She will converse on the Playhouse stage with David Kennedy, Playhouse associate artistic director. Following the symposium, Ms. Didion will sign copies of her books which will be available for purchase.

Westport Country Playhouse stages the National Book Award-winning memoir, "The Year of Magical Thinking" by Joan Didion, now through June 30, featuring noted actress Maureen Anderman as Didion. Directed by Nicholas Martin, the play is based on the author's actual experience rebuilding her life during the year after her spouse's death and her capacity to emerge strengthened from even the most shattering of life's trials. See below for Anderman playing Didion on stage!

As BroadwayWorld reported earlier this week, David Mamet's 1984 play Glengarry Glen Ross is heading back to Broadway, this time starring Al Pacino as leading man, 'Shelly "The Machine" Levene.' Pacino previously played 'Richard Roma' the the 1992 film adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play. Daniel Sullivan is attached to direct the project. The New York Times has confirmed that the show will begin previews on October 16 at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theater. Opening night is set for November 11.

Westport Country Playhouse stages the National Book Award-winning memoir, "The Year of Magical Thinking" by Joan Didion, now through June 30, featuring noted actress Maureen Anderman as Didion. Directed by Nicholas Martin, the play is based on the author's actual experience rebuilding her life during the year after her spouse's death and her capacity to emerge strengthened from even the most shattering of life's trials.

The Public Theater announced today that Shakespeare in the Park alumni F. Murray Abraham, Christine Baranski, John Cullum, David Harbour, Bill Irwin, Sandra Oh, Phylicia Rashad, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Sharon Washington will join Kevin Kline as Romeo and Meryl Streep as Juliet in a one-night-only benefit reading of ROMEO AND JULIET on Monday, June 18 - the 50th Anniversary of the opening of the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. Over the past five decades, more than five million people have enjoyed over 150 productions of Shakespeare and other classical works and musicals at the Delacorte.

AccordiNg to the New York Times, David Mamet's 1984 play Glengarry Glen Ross is heading back to Broadway, this time starring Al Pacino as leading man, 'Shelly "The Machine" Levene.' Pacino previously played 'Richard Roma' the the 1992 film adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play. Daniel Sullivan is attached to direct the project, which is set to open in the 2012-13 season.

Julia Stiles stars in a new series, BLUE which is premiering now on the YouTube Channel, WIGS (www.youtube.com/wigs). In the series, Stiles stars as the title character, a single mom trying to protect her son from the consequences of her secret career.

In 1966 the Hallmark Hall of Fame presented a television adaptation of Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt's Off Broadway musical THE FANTASTICKS. Ricardo Montalban appeared as El Gallo and Bert Lahr and Stanley Holloway were the two fathers. The young lovers were played by Broadway's favorite ingenue, Susan Watson, and a clean-cut young man named John Davidson who had made a strong impression on Broadway audiences as Lahr's son in the musical FOXY.

Today we are shining a light on one of the most respected and revered stage and screen stars of the last several decades who is known the world over for not only his stirring and commanding dramatic performances and touching and rib-tickling comedies on film, but also for his iconic roles on the stage playing Shakespeare, and, perhaps most of all, for his essaying of Captain Von Trapp in the celebrated Robert Wise film adaptation of Rodgers & Hammerstein's Tony Award-winning THE SOUND OF MUSIC - the elegant, graceful and eminently gifted Christopher Plummer. Looking back at a career spanning nearly seven decades, today we will focus on Plummer's most important and most fondly remembered roles to date - ranging from Sidney Lumet's STAGE STRUCK in 1958 to his Shakespeare stage work, THE SOUND OF MUSIC, THE RETURN OF THE PINK PANTHER, TV's THE THORN BIRDS, and, of course, his Academy Award-winning turn in last year's BEGINNERS - with a look ahead to the exceptionally enticing new Fathom in-cinema presentation of Des McAnuff's Stratford Shakespeare Festival production of THE TEMPEST starring Plummer as Prospero, in movie theaters nationwide on June 14 - what the 83-year-old actor has promised will be his final Shakespeare performance onstage. So, if there were ever a time to take a look back at one of the most remarkable Broadway/Hollywood crossover stars of the last century or the current one as he reaches yet another peek in a career populated with many highs, now is certainly the time! After all, as the oldest Oscar-winner to date, a midsummer night's dream has evidently quite quickly turned to a winter's tale - but with sound and fury signifying much, as we will see.

The American director, screenwriter and producer Michael Mann - a total filmmaker and one of the most influential and representative figures in contemporary American cinema - has been designated to chair the International Jury for the Competition at the 69th Venice International Film Festival (29 August - 8 September 2012), which will award the Golden Lion and other official prizes.

Joan Didion will be a guest at a Westport Country Playhouse Sunday Symposium on June 17, following the 3 p.m. matinee performance of Ms. Didion's play, "The Year of Magical Thinking," based on her 2005 National Book Award-winning memoir. She will converse on the Playhouse stage with David Kennedy, Playhouse associate artistic director. Following the symposium, Ms. Didion will sign copies of her books which will be available for purchase.

The Public Theater announced today that Tony Award winner Denis O'Hare has been cast as The Baker in Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's beloved musical INTO THE WOODS, directed by Timothy Sheader with co-direction by Liam Steel. INTO THE WOODS will be O'Hare's Shakespeare in the Park debut. Previews begin on Monday, July 23 at the Delacorte Theater and continue for five weeks through Saturday, August 25, with an official press opening on Thursday, August 9.

The Public Theater will begin previews on Tuesday, June 5 for AS YOU LIKE IT, the first show of The Public's 50th Anniversary season at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park--home of free Shakespeare in the Park. Directed by Daniel Sullivan, AS YOU LIKE IT will continue for four weeks through Saturday, June 30, with an official press opening on Thursday, June 21.