Al Smith News

Nicholas Hytner can't quite sustain the verve of the first half of a play that says as much about the 21st century as it does the last

Joining Ralph Fiennes (Robert Moses) in the world premiere of David Hare’s Straight Line Crazy are Alisha Bailey (Mariah Heller), Samuel Barnett (Ariel Porter), David Bromley (Stamford Fergus), and more. Directed by Nicholas Hytner at The Bridge, performances are from 16 March – 18 June 2022 with opening night on 23 March 2022.

Joining Ralph Fiennes (Robert Moses) in the world premiere of David Hare's Straight Line Crazy are Alisha Bailey (Mariah Heller), Samuel Barnett (Ariel Porter), David Bromley (Stamford Fergus), Al Coppola (Walter McQuade), Siobhán Cullen (Finnuala Connell), Ian Kirkby (Lewis Mumford), Alana Maria (Shirley Hayes), Dani Moseley (Carol Ames), Guy Paul (Henry Vanderbilt), Helen Schlesinger (Jane Jacobs), Mary Stillwaggon Stewart (Nicole Sawyer) and Danny Webb (Governor Al Smith).

Rare Earth Mettle doesn’t need any more publicity. Headlines started talking about Al Smith’s play before its previews were cold in the grave, and reviews have flocked in agreement of its generally disappointing outcome. An exploding controversy, a hasty statement from the top floors of the Royal Court, and even quicker name-change later, the production remains a cutting critique that unfortunately loses itself in its search for style and forceful sarcasm.

Carlo Albán, Marcello Cruz, Arthur Darvill, Jaye Griffiths, Lesley Lemon, Racheal Ofori, Ian Porter and Genevieve O'Reilly have been cast in the world premiere of Rare Earth Mettle written by Al Smith and directed by Royal Court Associate Director Hamish Pirie. With set design by Moi Tran, lighting design by Lee Curran, composition by Carlos Gutiérrez Quiroga, sound design by Ella Wahlström, movement direction by Yami Löfvenberg, dialect coaching by Carter Bellaimey and assistant direction from Camila Ymay González. 

Since 2001, MTC has awarded a total of 100 commissions through the Sloan Foundation Program. Learn more about this year's commissions here!

The Royal Court Theatre has announced its reopening programme, which will run from 16 June to 18 December 2021.

Queens Public Library launched 'Literary Thursdays,' a series of virtual programs - ranging from author talks to panel discussions to poetry readings - dedicated to examining various aspects of literature and writing process.

Lynne Meadow (Artistic Director) and Barry Grove (Executive Producer) have announced this year's six recipients of the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Initiative commissions. The commissioned writers are Kate Attwell, Mia Chung, Noah Diaz, Julia Izumi, Ife Olujobi, and Stacey Rose.

Carlo Albán, Ashleigh Castro, Marcello Cruz, Arthur Darvill, Lesley Lemon, Giselle Martinez, Racheal Ofori, Genevieve O'Reilly, Golda Rosheuvel and Rick Warden have been cast in the world premiere of Rare Earth Mettle written by Al Smith and directed by Royal Court Associate Director Hamish Pirie. With set design by Moi Tran, lighting design by Lee Curran, composition by Pablo Drexler, sound design by Helen Atkinson, movement direction by Yami Löfvenberg, dialect coach Kara Tsiaperas and assistant direction from Camila Ymay González.

Artisan Children's Theater proudly presents ALICE IN WONDERLAND JR. at its 148 seat Second Stage facility. The theater is located at 444 East Pipeline Road in Hurst. The show runs Friday, February 7, 2020 through Saturday, March 14, 2020. Performances are Fridays at 5:00pm and Saturdays at 10:00am and 12:00pm. Additional 10:00am and 12:00pm performances on February 25, March 3, and March 9-13. No 5pm performance March 13. Reserved seating tickets are $8.00 for children 12 and under and $13.00 for adults. The box office number is 817-284-1200. More information can be found on the website at ArtisanCT.com.

The previously announced Open Court: Climate Emergency scheduled for March 2020 will be a catalyst for complete organisational transition towards net zero.

Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for theatre, announces the recipients of the second round of the 2019 Edgerton Foundation New Play Awards. The awards, totaling $583,000, allow 15 productions extra time for the development and rehearsal of new plays with the entire creative team, hoping to extend the life of the world premiere play after its first run. 

Adam Gillen is utterly compelling in Al Smith's tender tale of astronomy, discovery and space travel. Holding our attention for 85 minutes, he speaks with delicacy and is a delight to watch. Josh Roche directs with expert precision and the pieces simplicity is its greatest strength. This really is storytelling at its finest.

When I was a kid, my dad used to hand my brother and me a pair of binoculars and take us out into the garden at night-time to look at the Moon. He had this stash of lunar maps that he'd brought back from America and he'd point at different bits of the Moon and show us where Apollo 11 landed, Apollo 12, Apollo 14 and so on. I felt bad for the lunar landers they'd left on the surface. I felt they must be so terribly lonely, preserved up there forever next to their abandoned flags.

Williamstown Theatre Festival announces additional casting and full creative teams for productions

Now in its eleventh consecutive year, the multi-award-winning Finborough Theatre presents Vibrant 2019 A Festival of Finborough Playwrights, its annual explosion of new writing, running between 16 June-4 July 2019.

JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT opens at Artisan Center Theater on Friday, May 24, 2019 and runs through Saturday, June 29, 2019. The 196 seat theater-in-the-round is located at 444 East Pipeline Road in Hurst.

The Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts today announced that tickets go on sale today for a major comic addition to its upcoming performance schedule:

The Royal Court Theatre announces A Year Of Work September 2019 - August 2020.