Alabama Shakespeare Festival News

In a timely production that coincides with the 45th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s assassination, TheatreWorks, the nationally acclaimed theatre of Silicon Valley, presents the regional premiere of THE MOUNTAINTOP by Katori Hall. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Winning a Guthrie Theatre commission, and chosen for development by The Katselas Theatre Company's INKubator program, the West Coast Premiere of SEXSTING is the inaugural production for KTC's 2013 season. Opening at the popular Skylight Theatre Complex tonight, February 23rd, the stellar cast includes Gregory Itzin (Tony, Drama Desk, and Emmy Award nominee), JD Cullum (Stones in His Pockets-Mark Taper Forum, Of Equal Measure-Kirk Douglas Theater), The Cripple of Inishmaan (Geffen Playhouse).

Harper Lee's Pulitzer Prize-winning classic, To Kill a Mockingbird, will be staged at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival March 8-24. Four additional performances will take place May 12, 15, 17 and 18 during ASF's final week of the repertory season. Adapted for the stage by Christopher Sergel, the play is directed by Diana Van Fossen.

Artistic Director Les Waters and Managing Director Jennifer Bielstein have announced the world premiere of Branden Jacobs-Jenkins Appropriate, directed by Gary Griffin, appearing as part of the 37th Humana Festival of New American Plays. Appropriate begins previews on March 5, opens March 7 and runs through April 7.

Philadelphia Theatre Company presents PTC@Play, a two-week festival of new work today, February 18-March 3 at PTC's home at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre (Broad and Lombard Streets). The festival will feature staged readings of four new plays by both established and emerging playwrights, a new play with music in development starring Tony and Barrymore Award winner Forrest McClendon as African American vaudeville legend Bert Williams, and an evening of short plays, FuturePhilly@Play, by seven emerging playwrights. Each playwright will be in-residence at PTC for their reading, and every reading will conclude with a reception where audiences and artists can meet. All events are free with curtain time at 7:30 PM. A highlight of PTC@Play will be the February 18th announcement of the winner of the Terrence McNally New Play Award, a $10,000 cash prize given annually to recognize a new play that celebrates the transformative power of art.

Court Theatre Artistic Director Charles Newell and Executive Director Stephen J. Albert present Proof written by David Auburn, and directed by Charles Newell. Proof will run March 7 - April 7, 2013 at Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis Avenue. Press Opening is Saturday, March 16, 2013 at 8:00PM.

North Coast Repertory Theatre will present Time Stands Still by Donald Margulies. Directed by David Ellenstein, the show runs in previews February 20 - 22, 2013 and continues for a regular run February 23 - March 17, 2013.

New York Theatre Workshop (NYTW) Artistic Director James C. Nicola and Managing Director William Russo have announced that performances begin tonight for the New York premiere of Belleville, written by Amy Herzog and directed by Anne Kauffman, at NYTW, 79 East 4 Street, between Bowery and Second Avenue. Opening night is set for Sunday, March 3 at 7pm. Belleville is scheduled to run through Sunday, March 31.

The American National Theatre (Sean Cullen, Founder/Artistic Director) to present readings of THE IMMIGRANT (4PM), written by Mark Harelik, directed by Randal Myler; and THE LEGACY, or WHAT THE JEWS BELIEVE (7:30PM), written & directed by Mark Harelik, on Monday, February 25, 2013. The ANT readings will take place at Theatre Row's Clurman Theatre (410 West 42 Street). Tickets are FREE to the public.

Mirror Stage continues its popular Feed Your Mind staged reading series with the West Coast premiere of In the Book Of... by award-winning playwright John Walch at the Ethnic Cultural Theatre today, February 9 and the 10th, 2013.

Dallas Theater Center welcomes North Texans into the studio of artist Mark Rothko in the Texas premiere of Tony Award-winning Red, directed by DTC associate artistic director Joel Ferrell. This production turns the 9th floor of the Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre into Rothko's studio and gives audience members an intimate look at the brilliant and volatile artist as he undertakes a new commission. This show also marks the first production-specific collaboration between DTC and the Dallas Museum of Art, which will provide patrons and visitors the opportunity to learn about the world of Rothko by seeing the play at DTC, viewing original works of art by Rothko and his contemporaries at the DMA and engaging in special events about the work with both organizations. Red opens with preview performances tonight, February 7 and runs through Sunday, March 24 and is the first show ever to be performed on the 9th floor of the Wyly Theatre.

Celebrate the State Theatre's 17th rockin' Elvis Birthday Bash with the Ultimate Tribute Show! The Elvis Birthday Bash pays homage to the King of Rock 'N Roll with Scot Bruce as the young heartbreaker and Mike Albert as the seasoned 'Vegas-style' Elvis. Backed by the fantastic Big 'E' Band, they'll leave you screaming for more.

Winning a Guthrie Theatre commission, and chosen for development by The Katselas Theatre Company's INKubator program, the West Coast Premiere of SEXSTING is the inaugural production for KTC's 2013 season. Opening at the popular Skylight Theatre Complex on February 23rd, the stellar cast includes Gregory Itzin (Tony, Drama Desk, and Emmy Award nominee), JD Cullum (Stones in His Pockets-Mark Taper Forum, Of Equal Measure-Kirk Douglas Theater), The Cripple of Inishmaan (Geffen Playhouse).

Yale Repertory Theatre presents Paul Giamatti in HAMLET by William Shakespeare, directed by James Bundy, at the University Theatre (222 York Street), March 15-April 13. Opening Night is Thursday, March 21, at 7:30PM.

Philadelphia Theatre Company presents PTC@Play, a two-week festival of new work on February 18-March 3 at PTC's home at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre (Broad and Lombard Streets). The festival will feature staged readings of four new plays by both established and emerging playwrights, a new play with music in development starring Tony and Barrymore Award winner Forrest McClendon as African American vaudeville legend Bert Williams, and an evening of short plays, FuturePhilly@Play, by seven emerging playwrights. Each playwright will be in-residence at PTC for their reading, and every reading will conclude with a reception where audiences and artists can meet. All events are free with curtain time at 7:30 PM. A highlight of PTC@Play will be the February 18th announcement of the winner of the Terrence McNally New Play Award, a $10,000 cash prize given annually to recognize a new play that celebrates the transformative power of art.

The epic story of King Henry V's battle with the French during the Hundred Years' War comes alive for the first time at the Folger Theatre, in William Shakespeare's historical drama Henry V. The production, directed by Robert Richmond (Othello and Henry VIII at the Folger), stars Zach Appelman (War Horse on Broadway) in his Folger Theatre debut as Henry V, and will run from tonight, January 22 - March 3, 2013.

Dallas Theater Center welcomes North Texans into the studio of artist Mark Rothko in the Texas premiere of Tony Award-winning Red, directed by DTC associate artistic director Joel Ferrell. This production turns the 9th floor of the Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre into Rothko's studio and gives audience members an intimate look at the brilliant and volatile artist as he undertakes a new commission. This show also marks the first production-specific collaboration between DTC and the Dallas Museum of Art, which will provide patrons and visitors the opportunity to learn about the world of Rothko by seeing the play at DTC, viewing original works of art by Rothko and his contemporaries at the DMA and engaging in special events about the work with both organizations. Red opens with preview performances on Thursday, February 7 and runs through Sunday, March 24 and is the first show ever to be performed on the 9th floor of the Wyly Theatre.

Dallas Theater Center will conclude its four-year Shakespeare cycle with one of the playwright's greatest tragedies King Lear, a co-production with Trinity Repertory Company and directed by DTC artistic director Kevin Moriarty. King Lear opens for previews tonight, January 18 and runs through Sunday, February 18.