Arena Stage News

Tarragon Theatre proudly presents the world premiere of Sextet, written and directed by the prolific, award-winning Morris Panych, one of Canada's most celebrated playwrights and directors. Chock-full of Panych's trademark wit, this hilarious comic drama about six sexually entangled musicians on an ill-fated winter tour opens tonight, November 12 and runs to December 14 (previewed from November 5) in Tarragon's Mainspace.

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Today's big news: BILLY ELLIOT dances onto the big screen, GRAND CONCOURSE opens off-Broadway and more!

As part of the opening night celebration for Fiddler on the Roof, the iconic musical that has captured the hearts of audiences worldwide for the past 50 years, Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater will present the American Artist Award to lyricist Sheldon Harnick and the American Voice Award to Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) tonight, November 12, 2014.

Olney Theatre Center, a Mid-Atlantic destination for professional theater performance and education, concludes its critically-acclaimed 76thAnniversary season with the area professional premiere of the 'Under the Sea' musical, Disney's The Little Mermaid, tonight, November 12 - December 28, 2014 on the Mainstage.

Artistic Director Kenny Leon and True Colors Theatre Company have announced its production of the 2014 Kennedy Award Winner for Drama, Dominique Morisseau's Detroit '67 directed by Hi-ARTS Artistic Director Kamilah Forbes. The music of Motown fuels this riveting new play about family and friendship set in America's Motor City at a tumultuous time in American history.

The Flea presents the World Premiere of I SEE YOU by Kate Robin. This romantic comedy will be directed by Flea Artistic Director Jim Simpson. Previews of this limited run Off-Broadway engagement begin tonight, November 7 with opening slated for Sunday, November 16.

Northlight Theatre, under the direction of Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans, presents The Mousetrap by Agatha Christie, directed by Jonathan Berry. The production will run at Northlight Theatre, 9501 Skokie Blvd in Skokie, from tonight, November 7 - December 14, 2014. The press opening is Friday, November 14, 2014 at 7:30 pm.

Wetrock Entertainment presented performer/writer/jazz vocalist Andrea Frierson in 'me & ella,' at 54 Below last night. "me & ella," is a musical journey back to the beginnings of a young singer enamored with Ella Fitzgerald, set against a backdrop of New York City in the 1960's. Part memory play and part tribute, 'me & ella' is both a singer's coming of age story, as well as a valentine to the First Lady of Song. Written and performed by Ms. Frierson with musical arrangements and musical supervision by Ron Abel and direction by Murphy Cross and Paul Kreppel, 'me & ella'

The monologues will be read at a public reading tonight, November 6, 2014 following the 8:00 p.m. performance. The writers will also receive a session with American Voices New Play Institute Dramaturg Jocelyn Clarke, a listing in the Our War program and an award certificate. The finished monologues along with video clips of the performed monologues will be posted on Arena Stage's website and shared via social media. Directed by Anita Maynard-Losh, Our War runs October 21 - November 9, 2014 in the Arlene and Robert Kogod Cradle.

Cleveland Play House (CPH) will host their 18th Hall of Fame Luncheon today, November 6th in downtown Cleveland. The 2014 honorees have impacted the success of CPH through their wide-ranging achievements. This year's recipients include Joe Garry, George Gund II, Maeve McGuire, and June Squibb. Receiving the Heritage Award for his contributions to CPH will be Nelson Isekeit. Honorary Co-Chairs for the event are long-time CPH supporters Bob Blattner and Betty Fredman.

MCC THEATER has announced initial casting for the New York premiere of Jennifer Haley's The Nether directed by Anne Kaufman.

These clues lead Angela on a quest from her New York apartment to a cave in Moscow in search of someone missing. Inspired by the magical realism of Jorge Luis Borges, Bureau of Missing Persons explores what it takes to come back to life when you've been smothered by grief.

Wetrock Entertainment is pleased to present performer/writer/jazz vocalist Andrea Frierson in 'me & ella,' a musical journey back to the beginnings of a young singer enamored with Ella Fitzgerald, set against a backdrop of New York City in the 1960's.

The Pasadena Playhouse presents STOP KISS, the second production of its 2014-2015 Season. Written by Diana Son and directed by Pasadena Playhouse Associate Artistic Director Seema Sueko, STOP KISS stars Sharon Leal (Bill Condon's Dreamgirls, Fox's 'Boston Public,' and Lionsgate's Addicted), Angela Lin (Broadway's Chinglish), John Sloan (Fox's 'Happy Hour'), Brandon Scott (ABC's 'Grey's Anatomy'), Amanda Carlin (Liar Liar), and Jeff De Serrano (A&E's 'Longmire'). The production is performed tonight, November 4 - 30, 2014 with the official press night on Wednesday, November 9, 2014.

The Washington Stage Guild begins its 2014-15 Season of Love and/or Marriage with the Washington area premiere of PEN by David Marshall Grant, playing October 30 through November 23. In the production directed by Kasi Campbell, a divorced couple wrangle over their college-bound son's future, and while the boy's life is about to change, he and his mother undergo perplexing changes themselves. It's 1969, the end of a turbulent decade, and the turmoil in the country is only one factor as Matt and his parents struggle to stay connected. The bonds of a family some would call broken, expressed in Grant's sharp and pointed dialogue, made this funny, touching play an off-Broadway hit.

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater announces three projects that have been selected for the 2014/15 Kogod Cradle Series as part of the American Voices New Play Institute. Focused on the development of new and emerging work by artists from throughout Greater Washington and around the country, this series of readings and workshops invites artists and audiences to actively explore the development process.

The Welders-Washington's only playwrights' collective devoted exclusively to developing and producing new work-have launched their second production. Not Enuf Lifetimes, a new play by Caleen Sinnette Jennings, opens tonight, November 1, 2014 at the Atlas Performing Arts Center. Psalmayene 24 will direct.

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Broadway production this fall, Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater mounts a new staging of Fiddler on the Roof, the iconic musical that has captured the hearts of audiences worldwide. Helmed by Artistic Director Molly Smith, the production features choreography by Arena favorite Parker Esse, who adapts the original Jerome Robbins choreography for an in-the-round staging, and a 10-piece orchestra led by Musical Director Paul Sportelli (Arena's My Fair Lady, Light in the Piazza). The theatrical masterpiece, which garnered nine Tony Awards for its 1964 debut, weaves together a portrait of family, community and life's unexpected miracles, large and small, and showcases a jubilant and beloved score, including 'If I Were a Rich Man,' 'Sunrise, Sunset,' 'Matchmaker, Matchmaker' and 'Tradition.' Featuring a book by Joseph Stein, music by Jerry Bock and lyrics by Sheldon Harnick and based on Sholem Aleichem stories, Fiddler on the Roof runs tonight, October 31, 2014-January 4, 2015 in the Fichandler Stage.

The National Theatre production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, the acclaimed new play by Simon Stephens, adapted from Mark Haddon's best-selling novel, directed by Tony Award-winner Marianne Elliott, officially opened on Broadway on October 5 at the Barrymore Theatre (243 West 47th Street). Scroll down to learn more about the full cast and watch interviews with the company below!