Alabama Shakespeare Festival News

WORKSHOP THEATER COMPANY has announced, as part of its 20th Anniversary Season, their upcoming production of William Shakespeare's THE WINTER'S TALE, directed by Ryan Lee. THE WINTER'S TALE will play a four-week limited engagement at The WorkShop Theater Main Stage (312 West 36th Street, 4th Floor). Performances begin Thursday, February 20 and continue through Saturday March 15. Opening Night is Thursday, February 20 (7 p.m.). Press are invited to all performances.

Manhattan Theatre Club will present its annual Winter Benefit, an evening of cocktails and dinner followed by a special one-night-only cabaret-style show featuring Broadway's brightest stars on Monday, February 3, 2014 at The Allen Room at Jazz at Lincoln Center's Fredrick P. Rose Hall (Broadway & 60th Street).

The Colony Theatre will present Stephanie Zimbalist starring in SEX AND EDUCATION, written by Lissa Levin and directed by Andrew Barnicle. SEX AND EDUCATION will preview on Wednesday, February 12; Thursday, February 13; and Friday, February 14 at 8:00pm and will open on Saturday, February 15 at 8:00pm and continue through Sunday, March 16 at the Colony Theatre, 555 N. Third Street (at Cypress) adjacent to the Burbank Town Center Mall.

Orlando Shakespeare Theater in Partnership with UCF is thrilled to present the epic theatrical event The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, Parts I and II. Written by David Edgar and adapted from the novel by Charles Dickens, the production is produced in Collaboration with Theatre UCF. Co-directed by Artistic Director Jim Helsinger and Theatre UCF Chair/Artistic Director Christopher Niess, The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, Parts I & II is presented in rotating repertory from today, January 22 to March 9, 2014 at the John and Rita Lowndes Shakespeare Center in Loch Haven Park.

From tonight, January 16 through February 16 Performance Network Theatre presents the world premiere of the 2013 National New Play Network Showcase Selection and Edgerton Award-Winning inspiring drama 'County Line' by David Wells, who made his Performance Network debut in last season's audience favorite comedy, 'Brill'. He is a University of Michigan Alumnus and one of Michigan's most popular emerging playwrights. 'County Line', directed by David Wolber, is a coming-of-age story set in rural Kansas and explores the challenges young adults may face in foster homes, the lasting effects these memories can have on a person, and how 17-year-old Lois is able to overcome anything that is thrown her way.by David Wolber, is a coming-of-age story set in rural Kansas and explores the challenges young adults may face in foster homes, the lasting effects these memories can have on a person, and how 17-year-old Lois is able to overcome anything that is thrown her way.

Home. Identity. Secrets and lies. An African-American attorney with a career on the rise is shocked to discover she has an Iraqi half-sister in Wendy Graf's newest play, a hard-hitting drama about family conflict and clashing cultures. Directed by Shirley Jo Finney, the world premiere of Closely Related Keys opens Feb. 22 at the Lounge Theatre in Hollywood.

From January 16 through February 16 Performance Network Theatre presents the world premiere of the 2013 National New Play Network Showcase Selection and Edgerton Award-Winning inspiring drama 'County Line' by David Wells, who made his Performance Network debut in last season's audience favorite comedy, 'Brill'. He is a University of Michigan Alumnus and one of Michigan's most popular emerging playwrights. 'County Line', directed by David Wolber, is a coming-of-age story set in rural Kansas and explores the challenges young adults may face in foster homes, the lasting effects these memories can have on a person, and how 17-year-old Lois is able to overcome anything that is thrown her way.

Burning Coal Theatre Company of Raleigh, NC will present the world premiere of Terry Milner's The Jesus Fund January 30 through February 16, 2014. Performance dates are Thursdays through Saturdays, January 30 - February 1, February 6 - 8 and February 13 - 15 at 7:30 pm and Sundays, February 2, 9 and 16th at 2 pm. Tickets are $25, or $20 for seniors (65+) and $15 for students. All Thursday night tickets are $15. Sunday, February 2 at 2 pm is Pay What You Can day and will be audio described for the sight impaired. Tickets may be purchased by calling 919.834.4001 or by visiting www.burningcoal.org.

Orlando Shakespeare Theater in Partnership with UCF is thrilled to present the epic theatrical event The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, Parts I and II. Written by David Edgar and adapted from the novel by Charles Dickens, the production is produced in Collaboration with Theatre UCF. Co-directed by Artistic Director Jim Helsinger and Theatre UCF Chair/Artistic Director Christopher Niess, The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, Parts I & II is presented in rotating repertory from January 22 to March 9, 2014 at the John and Rita Lowndes Shakespeare Center in Loch Haven Park. Tickets ($17-$40) are available by calling (407) 447-1700, online at http://orlandoshakes.org, or in person at 812 East Rollins St., Orlando, FL 32803. Dinner and hotel packages are also available at http://www.orlandoshakes.org/nickleby.

On Saturday, December 7, TheatreWorks opened the Broadway musical 'Little Women' to an enthusiastic, sold-out crowd in Palo Alto, CA. After the performance, attendees emerged into the courtyard of the Lucie Stern Theatre to find snow - make with theatre magic! - followed by a champagne reception and meet-and-greet with the cast. Check out photos below by David Allen.

Scott D. Miller has announced a change in casting for the special concert presentation of CHESS, the hit Broadway and London musical, today, December 8, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. at Richland Performing Arts Center, on the campus of Richland High School in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.

Tune in tomorrow, Wednesday, December 4, 2013 at 12:35 PM (ET) to join in the celebration with 'Mr. Showbusiness' on Jimmy Ferraro's THEATRE CHAT AND THIS 'N THAT, broadcasting live on WWJB -- regionally and nationally on the world wide web: www.wwjb.com/pages/4395150.php. This week's guests are actress and playwright Terry Burrell and actor, producer, and choreographer Lawrence Leritz.

Casting is complete for the leads of the upcoming 2014 Broadway revival of LES MISERABLES, and Cameron Mackintosh announced today that acclaimed Canadian actor Cliff Saunders (The 39 Steps) and Tony Award-nominee Keala Settle (Hands on a Hardbody), will play the Thenardiers in his new production of Alain Boublil & Claude-Michel Schonberg's Tony Award-winning musical.

Scott D. Miller has announced a change in casting for the special concert presentation of CHESS, the hit Broadway and London musical, on December 8, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. at Richland Performing Arts Center, on the campus of Richland High School in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.

Court Theatre continues its 2013-2014 season with the revival of the OBIE Award-winning play An Iliad by Denis O'Hare and Lisa Peterson, directed by Artistic Director Charles Newell and starring Timothy Edward Kane. An Iliad will run tonight, November 13 - December 8, 2013 at Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis Avenue.

Artistic Director Les Waters and Managing Director Jennifer Bielstein are delighted to announce the 38th Humana Festival of New American Plays at Actors Theatre of Louisville, running February 26-April 6, 2014. This year's Festival program will feature (in order of opening):

Jennifer Barnhart - who made her Broadway debut in 2003 in the original cast of the Tony Award-winning musical AVENUE Q - returns to the long-running hit at New World Stages (340 W. 50 St.) starting with the Monday, November 11 performance at 8 pm. Ms. Barnhart will perform the roles she helped create over 10 years ago: as a Bad Idea Bear, kindergarten school principal Mrs. T, as well as her trademark 'second-hand' work with puppets Nicky and Trekkie Monster.

The Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival (HVSF) announces the three plays that will run in repertory during the Company's 28th season: Othello, directed by Associate Artistic Director Christopher V. Edwards, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, directed by HVSF newcomer Eric Tucker, and David Ives' hilarious adaptation of Pierre Corneille's comedy, The Liar, directed by HVSF veteran Russell Treyz.

This winter The 5th Avenue Theatre presents a singing and dancing spectacular not to be missed: Lionel Bart's beloved classic, Oliver!, the holiday treat that will have audiences saying "Please sir, I want some more." The iconic musical returns to the celebrated 5th Avenue stage for the first time in 20 years, and will feature stunning costumes, dazzling sets, and a massive local cast of 66 (including 36 youngsters), singing and dancing their way through the streets and alleys of Victorian London. Based on the classic Charles Dickens novel, Oliver! is filled with memorable tunes including "Who Will Buy?", "I'd Do Anything," and "As Long As He Needs Me." Oliver! features direction by David Armstrong and will starDavid Pichette as Fagin, Grayson Smith as the Artful Dodger, Hans Altwies as Bill Sikes, and Merideth Kaye Clark as Nancy. Oliver Twist will be played by Jack Fleischmann and Mark Jeffrey James Weber at alternating performances.