Arena Stage News

The Shakespeare Theatre Company welcomes former STC Associate Director PJ Paparelli who will direct and put a new twist on Shakespeare's earliest romantic comedy, The Two Gentlemen of Verona.

New Repertory Theatre, in residence at the Arsenal Center for the Arts, has announced 'ART,' from the Tony Award-winning playwright of God of Carnage.

American Theater Company (ATC) announces the World Premiere of Disgraced by Ayad Akhtar, directed by Kimberly Senior. Disgraced is produced by special arrangement with The Araca Group (Broadway's Urinetown, A View From The Bridge and co-producers of Wicked). The production will run January 27 - February 26, 2012 at American Theater Company, 1909 W Byron, Chicago, IL. Press opening is Monday, January 30, 2012 at 7:00PM.

Act II Playhouse will present the Philadelphia-area premiere of the Broadway drama Time Stands Still by Donald Margulies, directed by Act II Producing Artistic Director Bud Martin.

Alley Theatre Artistic Director Gregory Boyd announces the cast and creative team for the "hysterically funny" (New York Post) new musical The Toxic Avenger.

Pioneer Theatre Company will present the next production in its New Plays Initiative, the world premiere of Find and Sign by Wendy MacLeod.

Anna Deavere Smith's latest production, Let Me Down Easy airs on THIRTEEN's Great Performances Friday, January 13 at 9 p.m. on PBS (check local listings).

Northlight Theatre, under the direction of Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans, will present Black Pearl Sings! by Frank Higgins, directed by Steve Scott.

During an all-day casting call at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater in December, 120 young hopefuls from the D.C.-metro area turned up to audition for Meredith Willson's The Music Man, which runs May 11-July 22, 2012 in the Fichandler Stage, directed by Molly Smith. From the open auditions, 19 talented young actors were invited back by Smith, Choreographer Parker Esse, Musical Director Lawrence Goldberg and Arena Stage Casting Director Daniel Pruksarnukul to vie for the roles of Winthrop Paroo and Amaryllis. As a result, Arena Stage cast five local youth, filling not only the roles of Winthrop and Amaryllis but also three other roles.

Court Theatre Artistic Director Charles Newell and Executive Director Stephen J. Albert present the World Premiere of Invisible Man, adapted from Ralph Ellison's novel by Oren Jacoby, and directed by Christopher McElroen.

According to the New York Times, Broadway producer Daryl Roth is currently working on bringing a handful of shows to the Great White Way. Roth revealed in a newletter that she's currently casting for a stage adaptation of John Grisham's 'A Time to Kill, ' and is working on bringing David Hyde Pierce's 'It Shoulda Been You' to a Broadway stage.

Florida Studio Theatre (FST) will present the Florida premiere of Geoffrey Nauffts' contemporary drama Next Fall in FST's Keating Theatre (1241 N. Palm Avenue) on Wednesday, January 25 at 8:00pm.

The Shakespeare Theatre Company announces the Winter/Spring 2012 schedule for Happenings at the Harman, a free programming series offered Wednesdays at noon held in the Forum in Sidney Harman Hall (610 F St. NW).

The producers of STICK FLY just announced that the on sale period has been extended by popular demand and tickets are now available through April 8, 2012, with special Spring Break Wednesday matinees in March through April 4. Grammy® Award-winning singer/songwriter Alicia Keys is proud to present and write original music for the Broadway premiere of Lydia R. Diamond's critically-acclaimed new play STICK FLY, directed by Kenny Leon. The production is now in performances at the Cort Theatre (138 W. 48th Street).

Upcoming Theatre Communication Group Member Shows - 1/08 for Washington, DC

HERE proudly presents Chimera, a HERE Artist Residency Program (HARP) production, as part of the 2012 Under The Radar Festival. Created by Suli Holum (co-creator, performer) and Deborah Stein (co-creator, writer), Chimera is a multimedia theatrical work integrating sophisticated video into a dramatic story. This production plays January 5 - 28 in the Dorothy B. Williams Theatre at HERE (145 Sixth Avenue) as a featured presentation within HERE's 2011-12 Season. Official Opening Night is set for Sunday, January 8 at 7:00pm.

Tomorrow's talkback, following the 8 PM performance, will be hosted by VH1 reality star La La Anthony ('La La's Full Court Life').