Arena Stage News

New Line Theatre, 'the bad boy of musical theatre,' has secured the rights to three premieres for its 22nd season of alternative, adult musical theatre -- the outrageous emo rock musical BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON, running Sept. 27-Oct. 20, 2012; the powerhouse Pulitzer Prize-winning rock opera NEXT TO NORMAL, running Feb. 28-March 23, 2013; and the hilariously dark, adult musical comedy BUKOWSICAL, running May 30-June 22, 2013.

The Lower Depth Theatre Ensemble presents the West Coast premiere of ELMINA'S KITCHEN, written by award-winning playwright Kwame Kwei-Armah, directed by Gregg T. Daniel. This gut-wrenching drama is set in the notorious "Murder Mile" section of London's East End. ELMINA'S KITCHEN examines the bitter clash of values between three generations of black men and its effect on their family and community. The play runs tonight, August 11 through September 9. Fridays & Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 4pm. The Lost Studio, 130 S. La Brea, Los Angeles, Calif.

New York Theatre Workshop (NYTW) Artistic Director James C. Nicola and Managing Director William Russo have announced that Red Dog Howls, written by Alexander Dinelaris and directed by Ken Rus Schmoll, will begin performances Wednesday, September 5, 2012, at 7pm at NYTW, 79 East 4 Street, between Bowery and Second Avenue. Opening night is scheduled for Monday, September 24 at 7pm.

Everyman Theatre's 22nd season opener, Time Stands Still by Donald Margulies, is one of the final two shows that will be produced at Everyman's Charles Street home this Fall. In January, 2013, Everyman Theatre will be making an historic move to its brand new theatre located downtown on Fayette Street. Critically acclaimed in New York, Time Stands Still was nominated for a Tony for Best Play in 2010. Everyman Theatre's production marks its Baltimore premiere.

As part of its multi-year process to create a strong operating model, Georgia Shakespeare today announced the key elements of its 2013 artistic programming, which include a more focused approach to its summer productions, as well as further development of 'Shakespeare in the Park' into one of Atlanta's signature cultural events.

The Lower Depth Theatre Ensemble presents the West Coast premiere of ELMINA'S KITCHEN, written by award-winning playwright Kwame Kwei-Armah, directed by Gregg T. Daniel. This gut-wrenching drama is set in the notorious "Murder Mile" section of London's East End. ELMINA'S KITCHEN examines the bitter clash of values between three generations of black men and its effect on their family and community. The play runs August 11 through September 9. Fridays & Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 4pm. The Lost Studio, 130 S. La Brea, Los Angeles. Get a first look at the production in the photos below!

Cape May Stage, South Jersey's premiere Equity theatre, will welcome back two of their favorite performers: husband-and-wife team Michael Tucker and Jill Eikenberry. Well known as the stars for eight seasons of NBC's "L.A. Law," the couple returns to Cape May Stage in "Mike's Shorts": a series of tales weaving the couple's love of food with their love for each other. Join them on their journey at the Robert Shackleton Playhouse on August 27th at 8pm.

The great Cole Porter's Can- Can, hits the Westchester Broadway Theatre stage this Fall. Written by Caleb Porter and Abe Burrows, the story revolves around 'the lovely Pistache, who owns the only café that features the sexy and provocative Can-Can. She spars with Aristide Forestier, a self-righteous judge, determined to close all Parisian dance halls. The show features the provocativly delightful Can-Can, the high-energy and physically demanding music hall dance which is a hybrid of the Polka and The Quadrille. First danced in circa 1822, it was outlawed for a number of years as immoral and prohibited by the police! How times have changed!'

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater's Community Engagement department has been selected to participate in a pilot program with the United States Department of State to set up theater education workshops in cities across India this fall. These workshops are based on theVoices of Now program, a drama program created 10 years ago at Arena Stage that offers young artists the unique opportunity to devise and perform a piece of theater based on their own writing. Four members of Arena Stage's Community Engagement department will leave October 8 for a two-and-a-half-week journey to four cities in India.

Four-time Emmy Award winner and Tony Award nominee Valerie Harper triumphantly returns to Fort Lauderdale in the National Tour of Matthew Lombardo's madcap comedy LOOPED, February 26-March 3, 2013 at The Parker Playhouse.

The Castillo Theatre is presenting four winning scripts from the 2012 Mario Fratti-FrEd Newman Political Play Contest, selected from over 200 entries including submissions by playwrights from around the world. The plays are being directed by distinguished theatre professionals and will be presented on Mondays, beginning tonight, August 6 and continuing August 13, 20 and 27 at 7:00 p.m.

La Jolla Playhouse presents the next production in its acclaimed Without Walls (WoW) series this fall, featuring award-winning actor Luke Macfarlane (ABC's Brothers and Sisters) in Sam Bendrix at the Bon Soir, by Keith Bunin, directed by Mark Rucker.

At BroadwayWorld we pride ourselves in showcasing theater content from all corners of the globe. Our regional contributors do an amazing job each day of bringing you the latest theater news in their cities and countries and to acknowledge this, we are launching a new weekly column called 'Around BWW: Regional Highlights of the Week'. Below you'll find a list of the most-read stories in our over 130 (and counting!) regional markets. Browse over to your favorite far-away city/country to see what's making news, see what productions are playing around the country and overseas and get to know new performers! Enjoy this virtual trek around the globe and stay tuned for next week's recap of regional not-to-be-missed news!

Cole Porter's Can-Can hits the Westchester Broadway Theatre stage this Fall. Written by Caleb Porter and Abe Burrows, the story revolves around t'he lovely Pistache, who owns the only café that features the sexy and provocative Can-Can. She spars with Aristide Forestier, a self-righteous judge, determined to close all Parisian dance halls. The show features the provocativly delightful Can-Can, the high-energy and physically demanding music hall dance which is a hybrid of the Polka and The Quadrille. First danced in circa 1822, it was outlawed for a number of years as immoral and prohibited by the police! How times have changed!'

Handshake Uppercut, created and performed by Jay Dunn and John Leo, is an official selection of the Chicago Fringe Festival (www.chicagofringe.org). It will be performed at Americana Stage located at 600 W Cermak, Basement, Chicago, IL 60616. Tickets are $10 Available at www.handshakeuppercut.com.

Iconic stage and screen actress Kathleen Turner returns to Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater to star in Red Hot Patriot: The Kick-Ass Wit of Molly Ivins, as the feisty, unforgettable political journalist. Written by twin-sister journalists Margaret Engel and Allison Engel and directed by David Esbjornson (Broadway's The Goat, or Who is Sylvia? and Driving Miss Daisy), the D.C. premiere kicks off Arena Stage's 2012/13 season playing August 23 through October 28, 2012 in the Arlene and Robert Kogod Cradle.

Olney Theatre Center continues its 2012 season with the hit musical, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS tonight, August 1 to August 26, 2012.

Hollywood…ROCKIN' WITH THE AGES & THE PINK LADY present the World Premiere production of THE BEAT GOES ON! A Musical Celebration of the Young at Heart, featuring musical direction by David O, and written, choreographed and directed by Ovation Award-winner Cate Caplin. THE BEAT GOES ON! Will begin previews on Thursday, October 4 and will have two Opening nights on Friday, October 12th and Saturday, October 13th and will continue through Sunday, November 11th at the Theatre of Arts Arena Stage, 1625 N. Las Palmas Avenue in Hollywood.