Ben Butler News

Gloucester Stage Company Artistic Director Robert Walsh and Interim Managing Director Christopher Griffith, are proud to announce the 2019 slate for Gloucester Stage's 40th Anniversary Season of professional theater on Boston's Northshore.

A fun, new musical adaptation of an audience favorite comes to First Stage this holiday season. Created by the talented husband/wife team of Jahnna Beecham (Playwright/Lyricist) and Malcolm Hillgartner (Composer/Lyricist) and based on the play by Barbara Robinson, THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER: THE MUSICAL is filled with catchy,'60s-inspired original music and a delightful story that both young and old will enjoy. The horrible Herdmans are the worst kids in the history of the world. The entire town panics when these rowdy six siblings are cast in the church's annual Christmas pageant. It's up to good-hearted Mrs. Bradley to help the Herdmans - and the rest of the town - discover the true meaning of Christmas before it's too late. Silent night? Not a chance, but sometimes a little joyful noise is just right for Christmas. Sponsored by Associated Bank and Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren.

Firehouse Theater Company presents The Christmas Spirit. Performances will be November 24 through December 22, 2018 with shows Friday and Saturday nights at 7:30 PM, plus Sunday matinees at 2:00 PM. Tickets are $23 for adults/$20 for students, seniors and military or $18 for groups of 10 or more.

A fun, new musical adaptation of an audience favorite comes to First Stage this holiday season. Created by the talented husband/wife team of Jahnna Beecham (Playwright/Lyricist) and Malcolm Hillgartner (Composer/Lyricist) and based on the play by Barbara Robinson, THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER: THE MUSICAL is filled with catchy,'60s-inspired original music and a delightful story that both young and old will enjoy. The horrible Herdmans are the worst kids in the history of the world. The entire town panics when these rowdy six siblings are cast in the church's annual Christmas pageant. It's up to good-hearted Mrs. Bradley to help the Herdmans - and the rest of the town - discover the true meaning of Christmas before it's too late. Silent night? Not a chance, but sometimes a little joyful noise is just right for Christmas. Sponsored by Associated Bank and Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren.

Firehouse Theater Company is thrilled to present The Christmas Spirit. Performances will be November 24 through December 22, 2018 with shows Friday and Saturday nights at 7:30 PM, plus Sunday matinees at 2:00 PM. Tickets are $23 for adults/$20 for students, seniors and military or $18 for groups of 10 or more.

Marking its 45th season Portland Stage opened with Richard Strand's 2014 drama about the Union General Benjamin Butler's unintentional, but heartwarming sheltering of fugitive slaves during his command of Fort Monroe, Virginia, at the start of the Civil War. In a well-cast, elegantly produced staging the company offers a quirky, witty, often whimsical look at four characters who cross ideological swords and skirmish for high stakes not on the battleground but with a war of words, cleverly turned logic, solipsisms, and wittybadinage - all of which result in a remarkable turn of events that defies stereotypes, race, and convention.

BEN BUTLER by Richard Strand begins Sep 25 through Oct 21, opens for reviewers Friday September 28, 2018. When a runaway slave demands sanctuary at a Union Army garrison, the General in charge is faced with moral quandary: follow the letter of the law, or make a game-changing move that could alter the course of US history? "…Part comedy, part historical drama and part biography… by turns sarcastic, droll and witty." NY Times

Portland Stage and the Portland Public Library announce that the Page to Stage discussion series will be reimagined for Portland Stage's 45th Anniversary. All participants in the discussions will be entered to win a pair of tickets to an upcoming Mainstage Season Production at Portland Stage.

Updated this week! Check out upcoming Equity Auditions from Sunday, July 1, 2018 for both productions in your area and around the country including what/when/where and how to audition!

Lost and Found Productions is thrilled to present the first show of their third season - Timothy Findley's Elizabeth Rex. Performances will be June 22 through July 14 with shows Friday and Saturday nights at 7:30 PM. Tickets are $15 in advance/$20 at the door. All performances will be at The Bug Theatre at 3654 Navajo Street in Denver.

Tony Award nominee Bryce Pinkham (Holiday Inn, A Gentleman's Guide To Love and Murder) and Drama Desk Award winner Jim Brochu (Character Man, Zero Hour) will join forces as an odd couple of writers in 1931 Hollywood in the new play PAGE COUNT by Kerr Lockhart. An industry reading is scheduled for Monday, May 14 at 1:00 PM and 5:30 PM at 353 Studios (353 West 48th Street, Studio 3).

Portland Stage creates one-of-a-kind productions specifically selected for its community. Each season, Portland Stage Executive & Artistic Director Anita Stewart looks for a means to connect the plays with a thematic thread. For the 2018-2019 Season, audiences may find the plays are connected by the idea of borders, boundaries, and how we embrace, or wish to change them. From a runaway slave seeking to join the Union army, to the photographer striving to help an Arabic speaking boy; from a man searching for his true identity, to a woman looking to connect with spirits, each play in our upcoming season looks at how we celebrate, rebel against or embrace and understand our place in the world.

The Kavinoky Theatre Proudly Presents: A Special Talk-Back Performance/Reception with Playwright Richard Strand Friday, March 16th at 7:30 pm

As a nor'easter surrounded New York City on Friday, March 2nd, the REAL storm was on stage in Midtown's Feinstein's / 54 Below, as Desmond Child hit the stage after an absence of 38 years, playing a gig in New York City.

The Kavinoky Theatre, a professional theatre on the campus of D'Youville College, continues its 38th season with its production of BEN BUTLER by Richard Strand.

Seattle Playwrights Salon kicks off a year of parity (plays by women!) by presenting Unhinged, by Seattle-based playwright, Pamela Hobart Carter at the Conservatory, 5813 South, Seattle, 98108. Admission is free! Beer, wine, cider, and food available for purchase before and after the show, and during intermission.

Every great songwriter needs great interpreters. With the special digital release today of her new single 'Hurry Home' by Ghostlight Records, Melissa Errico returns to her role as interpreter of acclaimed French composer and songwriter, the multiple-Oscar-winning Michel Legrand (films include Yentl, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg and The Thomas Crown Affair). An intimate music video has also been created for this digital release, directed by Gary Gardner (who has shot videos for musical artists like Macklemore, Mos Def and Lenny Kravitz) - check it out below!

Every great songwriter needs great interpreters. With the special digital release of her new single 'Hurry Home' by Ghostlight Records today, December 8th, Melissa Errico returns to her role as an interpreter of acclaimed French composer and songwriter, the multiple-Oscar-winning Michel Legrand (films include Yentl, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg and The Thomas Crown Affair).

Every great songwriter needs great interpreters. With the special digital release of her new single Hurry Home by Ghostlight Records on December 8th, Melissa Errico returns to her role as an interpreter of acclaimed French composer and songwriter, the multiple-Oscar-winning Michel Legrand (films include Yentl, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg and The Thomas Crown Affair).

MIDDLE OF SOMEWHERE will play an album release show at The Bitter End on Monday, Oct. 9th at 8PM.