Arena Stage News

Alley Theatre Artistic Director Gregory Boyd announces the cast and creative team for Dracula, the Original Vampire Play, the second production in the 'Alley Theatre @ UH' season. Featuring iconic costume and set designs by Edward Gorey, the Alley's production is based on the original 1927 adaptation of the classic thriller that marvelously balances the menace of the horror tale with sophisticated satire.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company, the nation's longest-standing, most distinguished ensemble theater, announced today new leadership and unveiled plans for a future campus expansion. Steppenwolf ensemble member and Tony Award-winning director Anna D. Shapiro will succeed Martha Lavey as artistic director at the conclusion of the current season in fall 2015.

In a bold undertaking as part of the company's involvement with the multi-year, multi-city National Civil War Project, Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater has commissioned Our War, a dynamic new theatrical event and collection of short stories that explores-through diverse perspectives-the historical memory and present-day reverberations of the U.S. Civil War. The company just met the press, and BroadwayWorld has photos below!

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. 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 October 31, 2014-January 4, 2015 in the Fichandler Stage. The company just met the press and BroadwayWorld has photos below!

Berkeley Repertory Theatre announces that the City of Berkeley has proclaimed Tuesday, September 30, 2014 Tony Taccone Day. This day will honor Berkeley Rep's Michael Leibert Artistic Director Tony Taccone as a pioneer in contemporary American theatre. Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates will host a ceremony to present Taccone an official proclamation between 7:00 PM and 7:30 PM in the City Council Chambers at 2134 Martin Luther King Jr. Way. The ceremony will be broadcast on local radio through KPFB Radio 89.3 and on television through Cable B-TV, Channel 33.

Soho Rep. and The Play Company, in association with John Adrian Selzer, announce casting and the creative team for the U.S. premiere of debbie tucker green's generations. The production, today, September 30-October 26, reunites the playwright with director Leah C. Gardiner, who worked together on the OBIE Award-winning 2011 production of born bad. generations features a 12-person community chorus led by music director Bongi Duma (The Lion King). The cast includes Shyko Amos (An Octoroon), Mamoudou Athie, Khail Toi Bryant (The Lion King), Ntombikhona Dlamini (Sarafina!), Thuli Dumakude (The Lion King, Poppie Nongena), Jonathan Peck (The Lion in Winter) and Michael Rogers (born bad, Breakfast With Mugabe).

92Y presents Sandra Tsing Loh: A Work-In-Progress Staged Reading of The Madwoman in the Volvo, a co-production of 92Y and Sundance Institute Theatre Program, with Leslie Kritzer and Mary Beth Peil, directed by Lisa Peterson on Friday, October 10, 8:15 pm.

Rattlestick Playwrights Theater Artistic Director David Van Asselt and Managing Director Brian Long have announced that Pitbulls, written by Keith Josef Adkinsand directed by Leah Gardiner, will begin previews Thursday, November 6, 2014 at 8pm at Rattlestick Playwrights Theater, 224 Waverly Place, west of Seventh Avenue South. Opening night is set for Thursday, November 20 at 8pm. Pitbulls plays through Saturday, December 13.

Bucks County Playhouse Producers Robyn Goodman and Alexander Fraser are thrilled to welcome the addition of Broadway's beloved Marin Mazzie to the cast of GETTING TO KNOW YOU: An Enchanted Evening of Oscar Hammerstein II, the Today night benefit concert of the inaugural Oscar Hammerstein Festival.

Katie Brayben will play the title role in the West End production of Beautiful - The Carole King Musicalopening at the Aldwych Theatre in February next year. Alan Morrissey will play King's husband and song-writing partner Gerry Goffin, with Lorna Want as song-writer Cynthia Weil, Glynis Barber as Genie Klein, King's mother, and Gary Trainor as music publisher and producer Don Kirshner. London previews beginning on 10 February 2015 and with the show currently booking to 13 June 2015. Press night will now take place on 24 February at 7pm. Final casting will be announced shortly.

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: MONEY GRUBBIN' WHORES and GOING ONCE! LAUGHING TWICE!! begin off-Broadway, CARRIE travels to Melbourne, Broadway 'gets confirmed' at 54 Below and more!

Liz Lerman's 'Healing Wars,' the first dance event of Peak Performances 2014/15 season, opens at the Kasser Theater for three days only this weekend, September 25-27, following three weeks of sold-out performances at the Arena Stage in Washington D.C this past June.

Folger Theatre launches its 2014/15 season in Rome with William Shakespeare's enduring political tragedy, Julius Caesar from October 28 - December 7, 2014. Robert Richmond (Richard III and Henry V at Folger) directs the epic portrait of the battle between ambition and honor, conspiracy and loyalty, leading an outstanding ensemble including Anthony Cochrane (Broadway's War Horse and Folger's Henry VIII) as the honorable Marcus Brutus, and Maurice Jones, making his Folger Theatre debut as Caesar's closest ally, Mark Antony.

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater kicks off the 2014/15 season with the world premiere of Morris Panych's The Shoplifters, a biting comedy about society's haves and have-nots and how much they might actually have in common. The Shoplifters runs through October 19, 2014 in the Kreeger Theater. BroadwayWorld brings you highlights of the cast in action below!

The New York Innovative Theatre Awards, the organization dedicated to celebrating Off-Off-Broadway, has announced 2014 recipients of the 2014 Honorary Awards.

'The Shoplifters' is a perfect way to start the 65th Season at Arena Stage off right!

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater kicks off the 2014/15 season with the world premiere of Morris Panych's The Shoplifters, a biting comedy about society's haves and have-nots and how much they might actually have in common. The Shoplifters runs through October 19, 2014 in the Kreeger Theater. BroadwayWorld has photos from the opening night festivities below!

Due to early ticket demand, Court Theatre and American Blues Theater announce an extension to the world premiere of American Blues Ensemble Member Nambi E. Kelley's new adaptation of Richard Wright's classic novel, Native Son, directed by Seret Scott. Native Son will now run September 11 - October 19, 2014 at Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis Avenue.

In June, Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater announced a national call for three-minute monologues held in conjunction with the world premiere of Our War, a dynamic new theatrical event and collection of short stories by 25 esteemed playwrights that explores--through diverse perspectives--the historical memory and present-day reverberations of the U.S. Civil War. The open monologue contest inspired by Our War brought in more than 150 entries from around the world, and the theater is pleased to announce the three winning monologues: Tree by Dave Lankford of New York, NY; Mary/Marcus by Sarah Pitard of London, UK; and The Peacock's War by Lisa Sillaway of Wichita, KS.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company's Chicago-premiere production of The Night Alive by Conor McPherson begins tonight. Henry Wishcamper directs a cast featuring ensemble members Francis Guinan and Tim Hopper with Helen Sadler, Dan Waller and M. Emmet Walsh. The world premiere of The Night Alive was produced at the Donmar Warehouse in 2013.