Charles Dickens News

The Classical Theatre Company (CTC) has announced the lineup for its 2014-2015 Mainstage Season. As the only professional theatre company in the State of Texas that solely produces classical drama on a year-round basis, CTC only produces plays that are 100 or more years old.

Eric Rosen, Artistic Director of Kansas City Repertory Theatre has announced his 2014-15 season, its milestone 50th anniversary.

It only happens once a year! The hit musical comedy adaptation, now celebrating its 40th anniversary! One of the Triangle's most beloved Christmas traditions will once again be featured at the Durham Performing Arts Center this December for five shows only. Ira David Wood III's hit musical comedy adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic will run December 18th through 21st, 2014 in Durham. Last year's shows at DPAC sold out, so plan on getting your tickets early!

True to its core mission of showcasing the talents of Asian-American theater artists, National Asian Artists Project (NAAP), which presented the Broadway musical 'Hello, Dolly!' last year, is now facing the challenge of staging Lionel Bart's beloved Broadway musical OLIVER!, featuring a 65-member all-Asian cast made up of 20 child actors, including Bonale Zon Fambrini, who will play the title role; 25 professional adult actors; and 20 members of the NAAP Broadway Community Chorus.

Grove Theater Center (GTC) presents a staged reading of Rachel Ray, playwright Henry Ong's stage adaptation of Anthony Trollope's 19th century novel, on Thursday, May 22 at 7:30pm, as part of its New Play Initiative. GTC Artistic Director, Kevin Cochran, will direct the reading at the theater, located at 1111-b West Olive Avenue, Burbank, CA91506. There will be a post discussion with the playwright following the reading. Admission is free, but reservations are encouraged and can be made at (818) 528-6622.

Unbound Productions, Executive Director Jonathan Josephson, Artistic Director Paul Millet, and Producing Artistic Director Jeff G. Rack have announced details about their World Premiere staged reading of MYSTERY LIT, adapted by Josephson from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories (May 22, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. and May 24, 2014 at 2:00 p.m.) and the World Premiere production of Algernon Blackwood's THE DOLL, adapted by Rack and directed by Millet (July 11-26, 2014; Fridays-Sundays, 7:00 p.m., 8:00 p.m., and 9:00 p.m.).

The Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts announced the details of its exciting 2014-2015 Season last night. The RHCPA follows up its highly successful 5th anniversary season with a lineup guaranteed to provide something for every taste. Filled with premieres and exclusive GTA appearances the 2014-2015 Season will further solidify the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts as the centre of culture in York Region.

PICT Theatre's Artistic and Executive Director Alan Stanford has selected a bold assortment of classic plays for PICT's 18th season, Something Wicked This Way Comes. Each play contains its own version of wickedness, with the Noel Coward classic Blithe Spirit opening the season tonight, May 3rd (May 1 and 2 previews.)

Robert Cuccioli, Rachel York, Alice Ripley, Karen Mason, Marc Kudisch, Shannon Lewis, Martin Charnin and Shelly Burch will join Marymount Manhattan College in celebrating Frank Wildhorn at Gotham Hall tonight--April 28, 2014 at 6:30pm.

The Clarence Brown Theatre's 2014-2015 Season promises fun, fantasy and thought-providing drama. From the musical tribute "Hank Williams: Lost Highway" to Shakespeare's most enchanting comedy, "A Midsummer Night's Dream," the CBT's 40th Anniversary Season offers something for everyone. Season subscriptions are on sale now starting at just $135. For tickets please call the Box Office at 865-974-5161 or click clarencebrowntheatre.com.

Strawdog Theatre Company and Interim Artistic Director Hank Boland are proud to announce their 2014 - 2015 season, 'Deniable Truths / Undeniable Lies.' The 27th season takes place at the Strawdog Theatre space in the heart of Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood, 3829 N. Broadway St. Subscriptions for the season are available now at Strawdog Theatre's Box Office, 773.528.9696, or go to strawdog.org. Single tickets for each production go on July 1, 2014.

Tanya Barfield's provocative drama The Call completes San Jose Repertory Theatre's 2014-2015 seven-show anniversary season in the sixth show slot (May 14 - June 7). This sensitive drama boldly tackles multi-racial adoption, identity and parenthood with razor sharp honesty and respect. When Annie and Peter decide to adopt a child they look toward Africa. But it isn't long before their anxiety over adoption and identity threaten their fantasies of parenthood in this powerful yet intimate look at the yearnings of motherhood, doubts and good intentions.

A.C.T. kicks off its 2014-15 season with the West Coast premiere of the Signature Theatre production of Old Hats (September 10-October 5, 2014), starring Tony Award winners Bill Irwin and David Shiner. Using music, technology, and movement - plus a few other tricks up their sleeves - Old Hats combines the inimitable magic, slapstick and hilarity of Irwin and Shiner into a wild and remarkable outing of theater for generations old and new. Directed by Tina Landau, Old Hats was the recipient of the 2013 Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Alternative Theatrical Experience and the 2013 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Revue. Old Hats marks the first collaboration for Irwin and Shiner since the smash Broadway hit Fool Moon, which set A.C.T. box office records during its sold-out 1998 run and their return engagement in 2001. Press night for Old Hats will be on Wednesday, September 17, 2014.

Hale Centre Theatre, Utah's Premiere Family Theatre, is celebrating its 30th anniversary year with a stellar 2015 season announced today, bringing big production names and Hale's 13th regional premiere to the theatre in the round.

On Wednesday May 21st, New York's 'Best Story Hour' (The Village Voice Best of NY) attempts to solve history's greatest dilemma, as Naked Girls Reading presents CAKE VS DEATH. It's marzipan versus murder, frosting versus the final rest, and the Grim Reaper versus ganache. Angel food goes head-to-head with the Dark Angel in this, the epic literary battle for the ages!

The Geffen Playhouse has announced four plays for the eight-play 2014-2015 season, including the Co-World Premiere, with the Sydney Theatre Company, of the Geffen commissioned, Switzerland, written by Joanna Murray-Smith (The Female of the Species); the West Coast Premieres of The Night Alive, written by Olivier and Evening Standard Award winner and Tony nominee Conor McPherson (The Weir, The Seafarer) and directed by Geffen Artistic Director Randall Arney; and The Power of Duff, written by Stephen Belber and directed by Peter DuBois (Rapture, Blister, Burn); and The Gospel According to Thomas Jefferson, Charles Dickens and Count Leo Tolstoy: Discord, written by Scott Carter.

According to the Daily Mail, Geoffrey Rush will once again bridge the stage-screen gap by playing OLIVER! composer Lionel Bart in an upcoming biopic, directed by Vadim Jean. Filming is set to begin this fall.

A Noise Within, led by Producing Artistic Directors Geoff Elliott and Julia Rodriguez-Elliott, announces its 23rd season of classic theater in Southern California. Informed by the climate of social and economic upheaval in which we live, the season's theme-reflected in a kaleidoscopic palette of plays-is REVOLUTION.

Gregory Boyd, Artistic Director of the Tony Award-winning Alley Theatre, announces 6 of the 7 plays that will comprise its 2014-2015 season, entitled "Alley Theatre @ UH, " featuring Alley Resident Actors and favorites in stellar roles.