Arena Stage News

New Repertory Theatre proudly announces an encore presentation of Deborah Margolin's Imagining Madoff, today, May 28 through June 1, 2014 at the Boston University Theatre Lane-Comley Studio 210.

Kathy Evans, Founding Executive Director, announced the nine musicals and twenty-six writers selected for the 2014 Rhinebeck Writers Retreat, its fourth year of providing working retreats for musical theatre writers. For nine consecutive weeks beginning June 29th, each writing team will have an individual weeklong residency in Rhinebeck, New York to write their musical. They are provided with a private home, transportation, food, and a stipend. All costs are fully funded by donors including The ASCAP Foundation, The Dramatists Guild Fund, and The Noel Coward Foundation. Writers participating this year include Broadway's Mindi Dickstein (Little Women), this year's Kleban Prize winner Nathan Tysen (Burnt Part Boys), and Peter Mills, past winner of the Kleban, Fred Ebb Award, and Richard Rodgers prize. The musicals' subjects cover 19th century nautical mysteries, 20th century fairy tales, a 1970's gay bar, and modern-day meth addicts. Every score is original and styles include 16th century Renaissance, big band, folk, rock, and electronic music.

The 1980 film Xanadu is known for being a notoriously bad movie. In 2007 it was adapted into a stage musical by Douglas Carter Beane, featuring songs from the film written by Jeff Lynne and John Farrar. This summer, Stages Repertory Theatre is presenting the candy-coated confection as their giddy summer musical. The end product couldn't be more fun, frivolous, and everything audiences would want from the campy, fun show.

Tony Award-winning comedy Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike will feature Resident Actor Jeffrey Bean as Vanya, Sharon Lockwood returning to the Alley as Sonia, Alley Artist Josie de Guzman returning as Masha, and Resident Actor Jay Sullivan as Spike. Rounding out the cast and making their Alley debuts are Rachael Holmes as Cassandra and Sarah Nealis as Nina. Jonathan Moscone, Artistic Director of California Shakespeare Theater, helms the production and returns after having directed the Alley's 2011 production of Amadeus.

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater has been selected by the United States Embassy in Lima, Peru to send two staff members from the theater's community engagement department to Lima June 15-22, 2014 to partner with Arena y Esteras, a local organization comprised of artists, educators and leaders committed to using art as a tool to contribute to human development and social transformation.

A curse lies upon the land of Thebes and its ill-fated rulers that reiterates generation upon generation. Casey Stangl directs the world premiere of The Curse of Oedipus, written by Kenneth Cavander and developed by The Antaeus Company. Opening weekend for the fully double-cast production runs June 19 -22 at the Antaeus Theater in NoHo, with previews beginning June 12.

Smokey Joe's Cafe-The Songs of Leiber and Stoller opened May 8 at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater. The production runs through June 8. Mike Stoller and his wife, renowned jazz harpist, pianist and vocalist Corky Hale attended the opening night performance. Scroll down for a photo of the cast and creative team on opening night!

Unbound Productions, Executive Director Jonathan Josephson, Artistic Director Paul Millet, and Producing Artistic Director Jeff G. Rack have announced details about their World Premiere staged reading of MYSTERY LIT, adapted by Josephson from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories (May 22, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. and May 24, 2014 at 2:00 p.m.) and the World Premiere production of Algernon Blackwood's THE DOLL, adapted by Rack and directed by Millet (July 11-26, 2014; Fridays-Sundays, 7:00 p.m., 8:00 p.m., and 9:00 p.m.).

Penn State Centre Stage will present the regional premiere of Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey's powerful rock musical Next to Normal from June 4 - 14, 2014 in the Penn State Pavilion Theatre. Directed by Cary Libkin and starring Ariela Morgenstern, Asa Somers, Raymond Sage, Tommy Hart, Christina Kidd, and Gregory LaMontagne, Next To Normal tells the story of a mother struggling with worsening Bipolar Disorder and the dramatic effect that her illness has on her family. Previews at 7:30 p.m.: June 4 and 5; Evenings at 7:30 p.m.: June 10, 11, 12; Evenings at 8:00 p.m.: June 6, 7, 13, 14; Matinee at 2 p.m.: June 7. Evenings: $30; Preview/Matinee: $20; Opening Night Reception/Show: $60 (Includes pre-show hors d'ouevres, show, and post-show desserts) Doors open at 6:30 p.m.; show begins at 8:00 p.m. For additional show information, visit www.theatre.psu.edu. Tickets are available at Penn State Tickets Downtown, Eisenhower Box Office, Bryce Jordan Center, or by calling (814) 863-0255 or 1 (800) ARTS-TIX.

Casting has been announced for the National Theatre production of THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME

Word for Word presents '36 Stories by Sam Shepard' arranged for the stage and directed by Amy Kossow opening with a press night on Saturday May 24 8pm, running through June 22 (previews May 21-23) at Z Space's second venue, Z Below, at 470 Florida Street. Last year the Magic Theatre spearheaded a multi-theater celebration of Shepard's 70th birthday when they opened their season with Shepard's Pulitzer Prize-winning 'Buried Child.' Other companies participating in the celebration have been Crowded Fire, American Conservatory Theater in collaboration with Intersection for the Arts/Campo Santo and Word for Word.

Catholic, Fundamentalist, gay, straight, Mormon, Jew, alcoholism, sex, love and mixed marriage are the tangle of dynamics for a pair of married couples in Renee Calarco's comedy of faith, the 2013 Charles MacArthur nominated The Religion Thing, directed by Douglas Hall. The Religion Thing, produced by the award-winning Project Y Theatre Company, will have its New York premiere when it begins previews Wednesday, June 18, at 8:00pm for an opening Tuesday, July 1, at 8:00pm at The Cell Theatre, 338 West 23rd Street. The Religion Thing runs through August 1.

Rattlestick Playwrights Theater's Artistic Director David Van Asselt and Managing Director Brian Long have announced that following strong reviews, the New York premiere of The Few, written by Samuel D. Hunter (Backstage's 2014 Future Broadway Power List) and directed by Davis McCallum, will extend two weeks through Saturday, June 21 at Rattlestick Playwrights Theater, 224 Waverly Place.

Tonight, May 17, 2014 join Raue Center For Thee Arts for An Evening with Groucho Marx at 8:00pm. Award-winning actor/director/playwright Frank Ferrante recreates his PBS, New York and London acclaimed portrayal of legendary comedian Groucho Marx in this fast paced 90 minutes of hilarity.

Voices of Now Festival showcases original devised work by youth ensembles from around DC, Virginia and Maryland. Their work represents more than 100 young artists from the DC area and abroad and is an extension of Arena's community engagement program.

SMOKEY JOE'S CAFE-THE SONGS OF LEIBER AND STOLLER opened on Thursday, May 8 at Arena Stage and runs through June 8, 2014 in the Fichandler Stage. Scroll down to watch highlights from the show!

Virginia's Tony Award-winning Signature Theatre closes out its 2013/2014 season with the world premiere musical Cloak and Dagger, directed by Signature Theatre's Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer (Broadway's Follies, Million Dollar Quartet). From Helen Hayes Award Winner Ed Dixon (Signature's Sunset Boulevard) comes this screwball musical comedy send-up of the 1950s film noir.