Arena Stage News

Connecticut Repertory Theatre (CRT) presents Gilbert & Sullivan's comic operetta THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE, directed by Broadway veteran Terrence Mann, starring Sean Martin Hingston as the Pirate King, Steven Hayes as the Major-General and Connecticut native Diane Phelan as Mabel.

Producers Carole Black and Pat Mitchell announced today that EMOTIONAL CREATURE, the new play written by Tony Award®-winning playwright, performer, activist, and The Vagina Monologues author Eve Ensler, will get a New York premiere this fall.

The Amoralists are currently presenting the World Premiere of The Bad and the Better, written by Derek Ahonen, directed by Obie Award winner Daniel Aukin and featuring The Amoralists acting ensemble. The acclaimed downtown theater company moved uptown for this six-week Off-Broadway run that began on June 14, and continues through July 21 at The Peter Jay Sharp Theater, located at 416 West 42 Street between 9 and 10 Avenues in New York City. The show officially opened on June 19. Check out photos from opening night below!

Original Broadway cast member Jared Gertner will star as Elder Cunningham in the First National Tour of THE BOOK OF MORMON, launching in Denver from August 14-September 2 at The Ellie Caulkins Opera House. Gertner will join previously announced Gavin Creel as Elder Price. Samantha Marie Ware joins as Nabulungi, as well as Grey Henson as Elder McKinley and Kevin Mambo as Mafala Hatimbi.

BroadwayWorld rounds up yesterday evening's 'Saturday Intermission Pics' below! The cast of Godspell and regular participants Nick Adams and Ellyn Marsh from Priscilla, Queen of the Desert take their farewell SIPs. Both shows close on Broadway today, June 24 (check out BWW's Priscilla and Godspell flashbacks). We wish them well!

Kathleen Turner, an iconic film and stage star and chair of Planned Parenthood's Board of Advocates, will speak about reproductive rights and the state of women's health during a National Press Club luncheon on Thursday, Sept. 6.

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater's Artistic Director Molly Smith and Executive Director Edgar Dobie announce thatnationally renowned arts marketer Chad Bauman will return to Arena Stage in July 2012 in the new role of Associate Executive Director. Bauman was most recently Director of Marketing and Membership for The Smithsonian Associates, and before that he led the communication and audience services efforts for Arena Stage for nearly five seasons. Khady Kamara, who was named Interim Director of Communications after Bauman's departure, has recently been appointedSenior Director of Marketing and Communications.

Imagination Stage, in a collaboration with The Washington Ballet, presents THE LION, THE WITCH & THE WARDROBE. In this fusion of theater, dance, and puppetry, based on the novel by C.S. Lewis, the roles of the four children are played jointly by an actor and a dancer, and the courageous lion Aslan is portrayed by a life-size puppet operated by three actor/puppeteers, similar to the puppets used in the Broadway production War Horse.

Barrington Stage Company features Tony nominee Brad Oscar in the role of the beloved dairyman Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof, running through July 14, kicking off the theater's 18th season in the Berkshires. Joanna Glushak (Sweet Smell of Success) plays Golde. The production is directed and choreographed by Gary John LaRosa, with music direction by Darren R. Cohen. BroadwayWorld brings you photos from opening night below!

See the four-time Tony Award winner and you won't miss a beat.

Jay Russell and Adam Fitzgerald announced two staged readings of ON THE TREETOP (by Jay Russell) today, June 18th at 3:30 PM and 6:30 PM at the Alvin Ailey Studios. The facility is located at 405 West 55th Street (at 9th Avenue). The reading is an invited presentation.

This is a Music Man not to be missed. It's filled with great music, superb acting, lovely voices, and superb dancing.

The Amoralists present the World Premiere of The Bad and the Better, written by Derek Ahonen, directed by Obie Award winner Daniel Aukin and featuring The Amoralists acting ensemble. The acclaimed downtown theater company moves uptown for a 6-week Off-Broadway run from June 14 - July 21, 2012 at The Peter Jay Sharp Theater, located at 416 West 42 Street between 9 and 10 Avenues in New York City. Previews began June 14 for a June 19 opening. Check out photos from the production below!

Lookingglass Theatre Company presents the world premiere of EASTLAND: A NEW MUSICAL, written by Artistic Director Andrew White with music by Ben Sussman and Artistic Associate Andre Pluess and directed by Amanda Dehnert. The production runs June 6 - July 29, 2012 at Lookingglass Theatre Company, located inside Chicago's historic Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave. at Pearson. The Press Opening is tonight, June 16, 2012 at 7:30 p.m.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK: ONCE scores big at the Tonys, ROCK OF AGES hits the big screen, HARVEY returns to Broadway, and so much more!