Austin Pendleton News

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Greg Reiner, presents Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet, starring Elizabeth Olsen as Juliet and Julian Cihi as Romeo, directed by Tea Alagic, and beginning previews today, September 28 at 3 pm, one day later than originally scheduled. The official press opening is set for Wednesday, October 16.

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Greg Reiner, announced today that its upcoming production of Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet, starring Elizabeth Olsen as Juliet and Julian Cihi as Romeo, directed by Tea Alagi?, will now begin previews Saturday, September 28 at 3 pm, one day later than originally scheduled. The shift is due to a scenic element modification that will require additional technical rehearsal later this week. The official press opening remains Wednesday, October 16.

Starring and co-written by Eyal Sherf, How Jerry Herman Got Me Through Analysis, a real-time therapy session infused by the music and lyrics of legendary songwriter Jerry Herman, premieres today, September 23 at Don't Tell Mama in Manhattan.

When Lynnea Benson stages 'Hamlet' with Frog and Peach Theatre Company, it'll be as a face-off between Scandinavian cultures. Bloodthirsty old Scandinavia confronts sleek, modern Scandinavia in a beautifully costumed, paranoid thriller that lets 'Hamlet' live up to its reputation as Shakespeare's most suspenseful play. The production will be October 17 to November 10 at West End Theater, 263 West 86th Street.

Obie- Award winning and Tony nominated director Austin Pendleton directs Tennessee Williams' Cat on A Hot Tin Roof in a new Indie theatre production with the Mississippi Mud. This is the play that Ben Brantley described as Williams' 'most impassioned and articulate statement on human isolation, the wrenching problems of communication between people and the ways in which death defines life.' It is brought to life in a new intimate bold raw space production that unfolds in 'real time' and places center stage the lush language of this modern classic fable.

Starring and co-written by Eyal Sherf, How Jerry Herman Got Me Through Analysis, a real-time therapy session infused by the music and lyrics of legendary songwriter Jerry Herman, premieres September 23 at Don't Tell Mama in Manhattan.

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Greg Reiner, announced today that its upcoming production of Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet starring Elizabeth Olsen as Juliet and Julian Cihi as Romeo, directed by Tea Alagi? will extend for one additional week through Sunday, November 10. Previews begin Friday, September 27 prior to an official press opening Wednesday, October 16. The cast also features McKinley Belcher III (Benvolio), Daniel Davis (Friar Laurence), Stan Demidoff (Paris/Sampson), Harry Ford (Gregory, Friar John, Watchman), David Garrison(Capulet), T. R. Knight (Mercutio), Anthony Michael Martinez (Prince), Kathryn Meisle (Lady Capulet), Dion Mucciacito (Tybalt), John Rothman(Montague/Apothecary) and Daphne Rubin-Vega (Nurse). Set design is by Marsha Ginsberg; costumes by Clint Ramos, lighting by Jason Lyons, and original music and sound by Ryan Rumery.

The opening night reception of the highly anticipated U.S. premiere of the Royal Ballet's production of The Metamorphosis at The Joyce Theater, starring acclaimed Royal Ballet principal dancer Edward Watson, directed/choreographed by Arthur Pita, is set for Tuesday, September 17 at 9:15pm at the Chelsea restaurant (address given upon RSVP).

Rachel Reiner Productions presents the World Premiere of Victor L. Cahn's A Dish For The Gods, directed by Adam Fitzgerald. A Dish for the Gods began performances on Saturday September 14, and opens tonight, Monday, September 16 and will run through October 5, 2013 at Theatre Row's Lion Theatre (410 West 42 Street). Tickets are $19.25 (including a $1.25 theatre restoration charge) and can be purchased at www.Telecharge.com or by calling (212) 239-6200.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company announces the addition of John McGinty to the cast of the upcoming Chicago-premiere production of Tribes by Nina Raine. Ensemble member Austin Pendleton directs, also featuring ensemble members Alana Arenas, Francis Guinan and Molly Regan with Steve Haggard and Helen Sadler. The American premiere of Tribes was Off-Broadway at Barrow Street Theater in 2012, featuring ensemble member Jeff Perry. McGinty joins the cast as Billy, after playing the role at Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis. Russell Harvard, previously announced in the role, withdrew due to a schedule conflict. Tribes begins previews December 5, 2013 (opening night is December 15; press performances are December 14 at 3pm and December 17 at 7:30pm) and runs through February 9, 2014 in Steppenwolf's Downstairs Theatre (1650 N Halsted St). Tickets ($20 - $82) go on sale Friday, October 4 at 11am.

In 'Playing Sinatra' by Bernard Kops, grown up siblings in Streatham, London, resist their lonely future by idolizing ol' Blue Eyes. Norman can't leave their family nest; his sister, Sandra, knows she must try. Her new friend, Philip, is drawn into their trap to escape his painful past. Theater for the New City will present the play's American premiere tonight, September 12 to October 6, performed by Austin Pendleton, Katharine Cullison and Richard McElvain. Kelly Morgan directs.

59E59 Theaters (Elysabeth Kleinhans, Artistic Director; Peter Tear, Executive Producer) welcomes the return of The Directors Company with the New York premiere of JERICHO, written by Jack Canfora and directed by Evan Bergman. JERICHO begins performances on Friday, October 4 for a limited engagement through Sunday, November 3. Press opening is Thursday, October 10 at 7:15 PM. The performance schedule is Tuesday - Thursday at 7:15 PM; Friday at 8:15 PM; Saturday at 2:15 PM & 8:15 PM; and Sunday at 3:15 PM. Please note, there are no performances on Thursday, October 17 and Friday, October 18. Performances are at 59E59 Theaters (59 East 59th Street, between Park and Madison Avenues). Tickets are $35 ($24.50 for 59E59 Members). To purchase tickets, call Ticket Central at (212) 279-4200 or go to www.59e59.org.

Patrons will have the opportunity to ask these and other questions on Friday, September 27, after seeing 'The Late Christopher Bean' written by Sidney Howard, who received the Oscar for Best Screen Play for 'Gone with the Wind.'

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Greg Reiner, announced complete casting today for its upcoming production of Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet starring Elizabeth Olsen as Juliet. Julian Cihi has been cast as Romeo. Daniel Davis replacesWilliam Hurt as Friar Laurence. Hurt has withdrawn from the production for personal reasons. Previously announced Emmy Award nominee T.R. Knight(Mercutio) and Tony Award nominee Daphne Rubin-Vega (Nurse) will be joined by McKinley Belcher III (Benvolio), Stan Demidoff (Paris/Sampson),Harry Ford (Gregory, Friar John, Watchman), David Garrison (Capulet), Anthony Michael Martinez (Prince), Kathryn Meisle (Lady Capulet), Dion Mucciacito (Tybalt) and John Rothman (Montague/Apothecary). CSC's Romeo & Juliet, which begins performances Friday, September 27, will be directed byTea Alagi? (Jackie). Set design is by Marsha Ginsberg; costumes by Clint Ramos, lighting by Jason Lyons and sound by Ryan Rumery. The official opening night is Wednesday, October 16. Romeo & Juliet will play a limited engagement through Sunday, November 3. Tickets will go on sale Wednesday, September 4 at 12pm.

Rachel Reiner Productions will present the World Premiere of Victor L. Cahn's A Dish For The Gods, directed by Adam Fitzgerald. A Dish for the Gods will begin performances on Saturday September 14, and will open Monday, September 16 and will run through October 5, 2013 at Theatre Row's Lion Theatre (410 West 42 Street).

The award-winning Equity professional East Lynne Theater Company, after a successful summer, continues its exciting 33rd season into the fall with 'The Late Christopher Bean,' a comedy, with a cast of nine, under the direction of ELTC's artistic director, Gayle Stahlhuth.

Artists Rep's 2013/14 season kicks off with The Big Meal by Dan LeFranc in its West Coast premiere, directed by new Artistic Director Damaso Rodriguez. Set in a quintessential American restaurant, entire lives whiz by for a modern family whose stage and age are short-order fare. From birth to that inevitable last course - and every corndog, calamari and Cadillac margarita in between - a multi-generational potluck of characters live life's major and minor moments around the dinner table.

Paul Rudd's 2nd Annual All-Star Bowling Benefit is set for Monday, October 21st, 2013 with a 7pm Cocktail Reception, followed by bowling, billiards, an open bar, dinner, and a special performance at Lucky Strike Lanes, 624-660 W. 42nd St. & 12th Ave, NYC. Among the Broadway names in attendance are veteran songstress Kristin Chenoweth, ANNIE's Katie Finneran, CINDERELLA's Ann Harada, ONCE's Steve Kazee, FIRST DATE's Zachary Levi, KINKY BOOTS' Billy Porter and many more!