Anton Chekhov News

Lenny Henry is due to return to the West Midlands to headline Birmingham Repertory Theatre's Autumn and Winter 2014 season. The Dudley-born comedian and actor will star in the stage premiere of Rudy's Rare Records from 4-20 September (press night Tue 9 September), his first role at the theatre.

Linchpin Theatre will produce The Nina Variations by Steven Dietz this summer. Linchpin's David Fehr and Kathryn Bartholomew are featured in Dietz's tribute to the characters 'Nina' and 'Treplev' from Anton Chekhov's The Seagull. The Nina Variations explores the synchronicity and dissonance revealed when the two lovers feel compelled to say the things left unsaid.

Adapted from two Anton Chekhov short stories, Man in a Case and About Love, MAN IN A CASE is a pair of haunting love stories - one of an officious, anti-social man and his involvement with an extroverted woman. The second, a tale of moral ambiguity in which the protagonist forgoes his love for a married woman. Though seemingly different, both are tales of fear trumping the pursuit of life's most promising possibilities, with Baryshnikov playing the two very different leading men.

Woodie King Jr's New Federal Theatre continues its 44th season with the second play of 'The Ed Bullins Project' dedicated to the pioneer of the Black Arts Movement and one of America's most important and influential playwrights: The Fabulous Miss Marie, first produced in 1971 at the New Lafayette Theatre in Harlem began performances April 17th and continues through May 18th, with opening night set for tonight, May 1st. Woodie King Jr directs a cast that features Tony and Drama Desk Award winner Tonya Pinkins and Roscoe Orman ('Sesame Street') along with Toccarra Cash, Michael Chenevert, Ugo Chukwu, Aaliyah Habeeb, Beethovan Oden, G. Alverez Reid, Ashley C. Turner, and Brittany N. Williams.

Actor Sharif Atkins ('White Collar,' 'Hawaii,' 'ER') will star as Clay in the co-production of 'Dutchman' by LeRoi Jones (Amiri Baraka) by Dr. Barbara Ann Teer's National Black Theatre (NBT) and The Classical Theatre of Harlem (CTH). The two theater companies are mounting the production 50 years after the March 1964 world premiere of the play at the Cherry Lane Theatre and in tribute to the late theater great Baraka, who died on January 9. Ambien Mitchell stars opposite Atkins as Lula and Lorenzo Scott joins the cast as the Conductor. Previews of the Carl Cofield-directed show begin tonight, April 30 and run through May 2, and performances run from May 3 through May 23 at National Black Theatre in Harlem.

Last month New Brooklyn Theater concluded their seven-week run of Edward Albee's The Death of Bessie Smith at Interfaith Medical Center. Approximately 1800 people saw the show, 22 of 28 performances were sold out, and, thanks in part to renewed public pressure, the hospital has been given a new lease on life: Interfaith is expected to emerge out of Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings on May 14, 2014.

Trinity Rep announced today that Jeffrey Osborne will be honored with the 2014 New England Pell Award for Artistic Excellence, acknowledging his artistic achievements and philanthropic work throughout Rhode Island.

The Long Beach Playhouse continues to grow its reputation for outstanding productions and season offerings that are eclectic in their range and flawless in their execution. The 2014 Studio season exemplifies this focus on play selections that are both intellectually stimulating and entertaining.

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Greg Reiner, announced today that its acclaimed production of David Ives' THE HEIR APPARENT, adapted from the play by Jean-Francois Regnard, will extend through Sunday, May 11 at CSC (136 East 13th Street). Directed by John Rando, THE HEIR APPARENT features Suzanne Bertish (Madame Argante), Carson Elrod (Crispin), Claire Karpen (Lisette), Amelia Pedlow (Isabelle), David Pittu (Scruple), Dave Quay (Eraste) and Paxton Whitehead (Geronte).

The University of Cape Town Drama Department is staging their Autumn Season at the Rosebank Theatre. Three productions, all directed by the prolific Christopher Weare, will be performed between 30 April and 17 May 2014.

Today the Donmar Warehouse announced the full cast of Fathers and Sons, by Brian Friel, after the novel by Ivan Turgenev. Directed by Olivier Award-winner Lyndsey Turner - who returns to the Donmar having previously directed Friel's Philadelphia, Here I Come! in 2012 - Turgenev's masterpiece reveals a new world in conflict with the old, the uneasiness of clashing generations and the difficulty of staying radical as you move through life.

Trinity Rep and WBRU announce their next Under35@TRC WBRU Night, Under35@Veronica Meadows, today, April 17.

PASSAJJ Productions is proud to present Once/Twice, two musical adaptations by veteran composer and lyricist Paul Dick (A For Adultery, Madame Bovary). Once is an adaptation of the short play A Sunny Morning by Serafin and Joaquin Quintero, while Twice is based on The Bear by Anton Chekhov.

Trinity Repertory Company invites the public to remember and celebrate the life of the lateMarion Simon, former executive assistant to Trinity Rep artistic director, Adrian Hall (and later Richard Jenkins), who passed away in December at the age of 90. The memorial celebration -featuring speakers and stories about Trinity Rep's longtime friend - will take place on Friday, May 7, at 2PM in Trinity Repertory Company's Dowling Theater, 201 Washington St. in Providence. The memorial service is free and open to the public - seating reservations are not necessary, but those with special seating needs should call (401) 521-1100, ext. 104.

The Santa Paula Theater Center, 125 So. 7th St. in downtown Santa Paula presents the Anton Chekhov classic masterpiece, THE SEAGULL adapted and directed by Michael Perlmutter, on its MAIN STAGE April 18 through May 25 with Friday and Saturday Performances at 8 p.m. and Sunday Matinees at 2:30 p.m.

Trinity Rep announced today that former artistic director and Academy-award nominated film, stage and TV actor Richard Jenkins and his wife Director/Choreographer Sharon Jenkins will be honored with the 2014 Pell Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Arts. The theater also announced that nationally known dance educator and choreographer Mary Paula Hunter will receive the 2014 Charles Sullivan Award for Distinguished Service in the Arts. The 18th annual Pell Awards will be held on Monday, June 9, 2014 at Trinity Rep with a reception to follow next door at the Providence Public Library.

Trinity Rep and WBRU announce their next Under35@TRC WBRU Night, Under35@Veronica Meadows, Thursday, April 17. Sponsored by WBRU, Under35@TRC is Trinity Rep's membership program for theater goers between 21 and 35. Membership is free and includes $25 tickets to any Trinity Rep performance and invitations to special events. Under35@Veronica Meadows includes a pre-show reception and viewing of the Dowling Theater's art gallery Cover to Cover: The Veronica Meadows Series Imagined, featuring the work of RISD illustration students. The event also provides an exclusive opportunity to meet the artists displayed in the exhibit. The reception begins at 6:00pm, gallery opens at 6:30, followed by a 7:30pm performance of Veronica Meadows. Tickets for the evening are $25 for Under35@TRC members and include the pre-show events and performance. Membership for Under35@TRC is free for those 21-35. To join, email Ted Chylack at tchylack@trinityrep.com or visit www.trinityrep.com. Tickets are available through the box office at 201 Washington St., by calling (401)351-4242 or online at www.trinityrep.com.

The Arden Theatre Company just opened the world premiere of a new translation of THREE SISTERS. Curt Columbus translates this play, originally written by Anton Chekhov. The Arden Theatre calls this new translation, "audacious, alive, and contemporary." I would have to agree with this, THREE SISTERS is a contemporary retelling of Chekhov's beloved play, but it also keeps with the tradition of Chekhov. The Arden's production is bold and honest with a strong cast.