Arena Stage News

Tonight, October 17, {YOUR NAME HERE} presents a one-night only staged reading of "Love Poems for Dead Bodies" by Martha Jane Kaufman as part of their RADICAL ACTS series. The show will be held at TADA! Theater, 15 West 28th Street at 7 pm with a talkback immediately following moderated by Pulitzer finalist Sarah Ruhl (The Clean House, In the Next Room).

Dynamic producing duo Executive Producer, Mr. Voza Rivers' New Heritage Theater and Ms. Debra Ann Byrd's Take Wing and Soar will team up to bring Pauletta Pearson Washington and Roscoe Orman to the New York stage for a revival production of Lorey Hayes' POWER PLAY, a story about politics, passion and the power of God.

MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL, based on the life of legendary Motown founder Berry Gordy, will open on Broadway at The Lunt-Fontanne Theatre (205 West 46 Street) on April 14, 2013. Preview performances will begin March 11, 2013. A couple of weeks ago, the show held a launch event for the anticipated world premiere at Lunt Fontanne Theatre, and you can check out photos from inside the event below!

Now running at Arena Stage through November 4, ONE NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN is a living, breathing collage of musical theatre, time capsule, and reunion concert with the late Janis Joplin. Performer Mary Bridget Davies was born to play Janis Joplin and Johnson has given her the perfect vehicle for her talents.

The Washington Stage Guild kicks off its 27th season with one of the most beloved plays of the past century, an indelible hit by the Stage Guild's 'playwright in residence' - George Bernard Shaw. PYGMALION was written in 1912, and the story of Cockney flower girl Eliza Doolittle, her speech lessons at the hands of the temperamental Henry Higgins, and the sparks that fly between them, has rarely left the stage since its premiere. Directed by Stage Guild Artistic Director, Bill Largess, Shaw's comedy is sharp and insightful, asking questions as valid today as a century ago. Exactly what 'makes' a lady a lady? The way she behaves, or the way she is treated?

Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? opens this evening, Saturday, October 13, 2012, at the Booth Theatre (222 West 45th Street), exactly 50 years to the day of the play's original Broadway opening on Saturday, October 13, 1962.

This October, at Berkeley Repertory Theatre, an ancient tale comes roaring back to life in a compelling new telling filled with contemporary wit and wisdom. The clash of swords and shields, the broken hearts and broken oaths, the bonds of friendship and family - An Iliad arises on a bare stage, told by an old man who's seen too much. Two-time Obie Award-winner Lisa Peterson directs a stunning show that stars Henry Woronicz, who masterfully captures the grief and glory of the battle for Troy.

According to The Washington Post, Molly Smith, artistic director of Arena Stage has signed on to direct a production of Eric Coble's THE VELOCITY OF AUTUMN on Broadway in the Spring of 2013, a production that'll mark Broadway debuts for both. Lead producer Larry Kaye has said that signed on to star will be Estelle Parsons and Stephen Spinella.

Lookingglass Theatre Company announces a four week extension of Metamorphoses, based on the myths of Ovid from a translation by David Slavitt, written and directed by Ensemble Member Mary Zimmerman. The revival production, coinciding with the 10th Anniversary of the Broadway production, is now playing through December 16, 2012, at Lookingglass Theatre Company, located inside Chicago's historic Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave. at Pearson.

Lookingglass Theatre Company announces a four week extension of Metamorphoses, based on the myths of Ovid from a translation by David Slavitt, written and directed by Ensemble Member Mary Zimmerman. The revival production, coinciding with the 10th Anniversary of the Broadway production, is now playing through December 16, 2012, at Lookingglass Theatre Company, located inside Chicago's historic Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave. at Pearson.

There's gold at the end of the rainbow - and a leprechaun, of course - in Finian's Rainbow, the fall musical of the Benjamin T. Rome School of Music at Catholic University. Performances are set for Friday, Oct. 26, and Saturday, Oct. 27, at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Oct. 28, at 2 p.m. at Hartke Theatre.

Fresh off its acclaimed run at the Cleveland Play House, One Night with Janis Joplin will take D.C. audiences on a musical journey into the life and inspirations of one of rock 'n' roll's greatest legends. The production is led by Cleveland native Mary Bridget Davies, who performs with Joplin's original band Big Brother and the Holding Company, and also features Sabrina Elayne Carten as the Blues Singer who pays homage to the artists that influenced Joplin's incomparable blues-rock blend. Created, written and directed by Randy Johnson, the production is produced in partnership with Cleveland Play House in association with Todd Gershwin and Daniel Chilewich of Premiere Media, with support from The Estate of Janis Joplin and Jeff Jampol of JAM, Inc. One Night with Janis Joplin runs September 28 - November 4, 2012 in the Kreeger Theater. Check out photos from the show's opening night party below!

Take a first look at the talented cast of My Fair Lady, featuring Manna Nichols and Nicholas Rodriguez, in rehearsal at Arena Stage below!

On Wednesday, October 17, {YOUR NAME HERE} presents a one-night only staged reading of "Love Poems for Dead Bodies" by Martha Jane Kaufman as part of their RADICAL ACTS series. The show will be held at TADA! Theater, 15 West 28th Street at 7 pm with a talkback immediately following moderated by Pulitzer finalist Sarah Ruhl (The Clean House, In the Next Room).

Artistic Director Les Waters and Managing Director Jennifer Bielstein have announced that Waters will stage his inaugural production as Artistic Director with Long Day's Journey into Night by Eugene O'Neill. O'Neill's epic drama will play a limited engagement of 24 performances in the Pamela Brown Auditorium at Actors Theatre of Louisville as part of the Brown-Forman Series. It opens tonight, October 11 and runs through October 28.

Based on George Bernard Shaw's classic play Pygmalion, Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe's musical My Fair Lady follows the transformation of Cockney flower girl Eliza Doolittle into an aristocratic lady through lessons in manners, language and dress. After directing the production at the 2011 Shaw Festival, Arena Stage Artistic Director Molly Smith reunites with members of her original design team, along with noted Canadian actor Benedict Campbell who reprises his role as Henry Higgins, to bring a completely fresh interpretation to audiences in D.C. As previously announced, Manna Nichols makes her Arena debut as Eliza Doolittle, and Nicholas Rodriguez returns as Freddy Eynsford-Hill, leading a cast that features many D.C.-area actors. My Fair Lady became the best-selling production in the Shaw Festival's 50-year history and runs at Arena Stage November 2, 2012-January 6, 2013 in the Fichandler Stage.

Olney Theatre Center, the award-winning, year-round arts and entertainment destination, announces the cast of their upcoming production of the Rodgers and Hammerstein's classic musical Cinderella. With memorable songs such as "In My Own Little Corner," "Impossible," and "Ten Minutes Ago" Cinderella runs on Olney Theatre Center's Mainstage from November 14 to December 30, 2012.

Few people know the real story of football's most legendary coach, Vince Lombardi. Through his inspirations and passions, he had an ability to drive people to achieve more than they ever thought possible. Arizona Theatre Company's "Lombardi" centers on the iconic Green Bay Packers coach during a pivotal week in 1965. This Southwest premiere production of the Broadway hit plays at the Temple of Music and Art and runs from October 20 - November 10, 2012. It continues its run in Phoenix at the Herberger Theater Center from November 15 - December 2, 2012. "Lombardi" is supported by Opening Night Sponsor, Kate Garner. Arizona Theatre Company Season Sponsors are I. Michael and Beth Kasser.