Arena Stage News

Columbia Stages is proud to present FESTEN, a dark comedy by British playwright David Eldridge. Adapted from the 1998 Danish film of the same name, FESTEN depicts the story of a family ravaged by secrets, twisted accusations, and unbearable wounds.

Producing Artistic Director Carolyn Griffin has announced that the award-winning musical by Thomas W. Jones II Bessie's Blues will be on stage at MetroStage beginning Jan. 22, 2015. Thomas W. Jones II will direct and choreograph, and William Knowles will music direct. A musical odyssey of African American people in the 20th century, it was ground-breaking in 1994 and is a perfect production for our stage as we celebrate our first 30 years.

Following a sold-out and critically acclaimed start to their 18th season, Theatre Exile returns to present the Philadelphia premiere of The Whale by Samuel D. Hunter from February 5 to March 1, 2015 at Theatre Exile's Studio X, 1340 S. 13th Street (13th and Reed Street)

Today, McClure and O'Malley speak exclusively with BWW about these well-intentioned characters who are thrust into the most extraordinary circumstances, yet still find a way to make true love prevail.

New York City-based production company The Wild Root Company announced today that it will launch an interactive workshop experience for ticketed audiences who attend the company's first look presentations of Rocco Natale's new play ROOM AT THE END OF THE HALL, part of Arena Stage's Kogod Cradle Series.

The play's afoot! Sherlock Holmes battles one of his greatest mysteries to date at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater in Ken Ludwig's Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery, a world-premiere adaptation from Tony Award-winning playwright Ludwig (Broadway's Lend Me a Tenor). Adapted from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's beloved The Hound of the Baskervilles, this fast-paced comedic tale of murder, intrigue and a wild hound is directed by Amanda Dehnert (Arena Stage's The Fantasticks) as part of Arena Stage's 65th anniversary season. A co-production with McCarter Theatre Center, Ken Ludwig's Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery runs tonight, January 16, through February 22, 2015 in the Kreeger Theater.

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? This weekend's big news: GIGI kicks off in D.C., BEAUTIFUL is on the hunt for its next Carole King, James McAvoy leads THE RULING CLASS revival in the West End and more!

Honeymoon in Vegas, the eagerly anticipated new musical comedy with book by Blazing Saddles and Fletch writer Andrew Bergman and score by three-time Tony Award-winner Jason Robert Brown, opens tonight, January 15, at Broadway's Nederlander Theatre (208 West 41st Street). Scroll down to learn more about the cast and watch interviews with the stars!

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater presents August Wilson's classic drama King Hedley II. Set in the 1980s Hill District of Pittsburgh, the ninth installment of Pulitzer Prize winner Wilson's acclaimed play cycle examining Black America follows a scarred ex-convict who struggles to turn his life around and lock away his past. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the company in rehearsal below!

Poetic Theater Productions has announced the world premiere production of PARADOX OF THE URBAN CLICHE, written by Craig 'muMs' Grant and directed by Reginald L. Douglas, part of POETIC LICENSE 2015: subconscious.

BroadwayWorld.com, the most visited theatre site on the net, presents its newest, exclusive TV series - BROADWAY QUICK CHANGE. This newly minted series follows Broadway phenom Robert Hartwell on inspirational shopping outings, then into the dressing rooms of Broadway's hottest stars, where wielding his interior design chops, and extraordinary taste, transforms their home away from home, from the Drab to the Fab, the Blah to the Ahhhh! In this latest episode, watch Robert as he stops by HONEYMOON IN VEGAS to help out Tony Danza!

Barrington Stage Company (BSC), the award-winning theatre in Downtown Pittsfield, MA, under the leadership of Artistic Director Julianne Boyd and Managing Director Tristan Wilson, has announced casting for the 10-minute plays for the 4th Annual 10X10 New Play Festival, with performances February 12 through March 1, as part of the 2015 10X10 Upstreet Arts Festival.

Hard to believe I am beginning my 9th year as a writer for Broadwayworld.com. This has been a remarkable year in theater. This season I reviewed 37 plays and wrote nine other articles, classical reviews and promotion pieces for a total of 46. My visits included the following theaters: Everyman (7), Center Stage (6), Signature (5), Kennedy Center (4), Olney Theatre Center (3), Round House (2), Arena Stage (2), Chesapeake Shakespeare Company (2), Folger (1), Red Branch (1), and Ford's (1). There were two Baltimore Symphony events and the honoring of Jonathan Tunick with the Sondheim Award at the Signature Theatre. I enjoyed interviewing actors Michael Winther, Brynn O'Malley, and Choreographer Janet Rothermel.

EgoPo Classic Theater's 2014-15 American Giants Festival continues with the Philadelphia premiere of Tennessee Williams' rarely-seen early play, Stairs to the Roof, running February 11-March 1 at the Latvian Society, with press opening on Friday, February 13.

Kansas City Repertory Theatre continues its 50th anniversary celebration with An Iliad, directed by Kansas City Repertory Theatre's Producing Director Jerry Genochio and starring the return of former Kansas City Repertory Theatre's Resident Director Kyle Hatley.

TACT/The Actors Company Theatre is pleased to announce the cast and creative team for Abundance, the 1990 play by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Beth Henley (Crimes of the Heart). An epic tale of friendship set against the backdrop of the sweeping American West, Abundance will be directed by TACT Co-Artistic Director Jenn Thompson, who directed last season's production of William Inge's Natural Affection. Performances begin at Theatre Row's Beckett Theatre (410 West 42nd Street - between 9th & 10th Avenues) on Tuesday, February 17, 2015. Opening night is set forSunday, March 1 at 6:00pm. Performances will continue through March 28, 2015.

The Drama Desk and Obie Award-winning Keen Company today announced that Conor Ryan (most recently seen in the Broadway production of Cinderella) would join Kate Baldwin would star in a rare revival of John & Jen, the musical with music by Andrew Lippa, lyrics by Tom Greenwald, and a book by Greenwald and Lippa. This production will include the premiere of a new song, 'Trouble with Men.'

Screen Actors Guild Foundation and Broadway World have partnered for an inaugural filmed Conversations Q&A series to recognize and celebrate the vibrant theatre community in New York City and the actors who aspire to have a career on the stage and screen. We are thrilled to present this event in partnership with the New School for Drama. Please join us for a Conversations with the cast of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, Alex Sharp,Taylor Trensch, Francesca Faridany, Ian Barford, Enid Graham, and Helen Carey, and moderated by Broadway World's Richard Ridge of 'Backstage with Richard Ridge!'

No Rules Theatre Co. offers a cure to the winter blues with a witty modern day love story. In Love And Warcraft, written by Madhuri Shekar and directed by NRTC Artistic Director Joshua Morgan, chronicles the hilarious happenings when the two worlds of online gaming and in person relationships collide on a college campus. Performances are tonight, January 7 to 25 in the The Ark at Signature Theatre, Arlington