Charles Dickens News

Chicago's most established resident theater presents a 90th anniversary "season to celebrate," a line-up of new and contemporary works on its two stages-the 856-seat Albert Theatre and 400-seat flexible Owen Theatre. Today, Artistic Director Robert Falls and Executive Director Roche Schulfer announced six plays (of eight)-half of which were developed by commission and/or workshop in the Goodman's new play development programs-that comprise the 2014/2015 Season, plus co-productions with Chicago's off-Loop theaters. Remarked Falls, "We are proud to present this Season in the same spirit that launched the Goodman in 1925: 'an array of dramatic fare, from classics to noteworthy contemporary works, innovative and oft controversial, embracing genres from farces to searing social dramas.' We hope to give our audiences compelling, relevant experiences from a range of culturally and aesthetically diverse artists, from bold new talents to acclaimed local and national voices." For a limited time, Subscriptions start at $90 in honor of the milestone season; call 312.443.3800 or visit GoodmanTheatre.org. Individual tickets go on sale in August. Two Albert plays are TBA.

The Old Globe today announced it will present two Shakespeare-themed events. On Monday, April 28 at 7:00 p.m., Tony Award winner Roger Rees will return to the Globe for a one-night-only engagement of What You Will, his hysterical (and somewhat historical) 90-minute gallop through the world of Shakespeare. On Saturday, May 3 at 11:00 a.m., Old Globe Artistic Director Barry Edelstein will offer an encore of Thinking Shakespeare Live!, his 90-minute exploration of the language of Shakespeare. This fast-paced, funny, and altogether fascinating program based on Edelstein's book, Thinking Shakespeare: A How-To Guide for Student Actors, Directors, and Anyone Else Who Wants to Feel More Comfortable with the Bard, reveals a performer's approach to Shakespearean language so audiences may easily understand the poetry of the Bard.

The Lakewood Playhouse has announced its 76th season of shows! It's a season filled with laughter, mystery, literature, and stories that touch the heart. This year includes three shows from Lakewood's 75 year history and 3 shows never before seen at the theatre. The full season and details are listed below.

Trinity Repertory Company's OLIVER! is one of the finest and most memorable theatrical productions of Rhode Island's 2013-14 season. TRC has a bona fide hit on its hands with its talented song-and-dance performers, atmospheric sets and lighting effects, and smart direction by Richard and Sharon Jenkins.

Artistic Director Blake Robison announced the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park's 2014-15 season today. The Playhouse's 55th season - which is Robison's third as artistic director - boasts a homegrown world premiere, two Tony Award-winning plays, recent New York hits and musical tributes to Johnny Cash and Tri-State native Rosemary Clooney.

Atlanta's nationally acclaimed Alliance Theatre and Jennings Hertz Artistic Director Susan V. Booth just announced the 2014/15 Season for the Alliance Stage, Hertz Stage and Theatre for Youth and Families series. The 46th season includes seven exciting world premieres, including two new American musicals.

Royal & Derngate's Made in Northampton season starts with the world premiere of a new adaptation by Mike Poulton of Charles Dickens' literary masterpiece A Tale Of Two Cities. Directed by the theatre's new Artistic Director James Dacre and with music by the Oscar-winning Rachel Portman, this epic theatrical event takes to Northampton's Royal stage from Friday 21 February to Saturday 15 March. Check out a first look below!

In response to high demand and praise from critics and patrons alike, Trinity Rep announces additional performances of Oliver!. Tickets are now on sale for Saturday, March 29 at 7:30pm and Sunday, March 30 at 2:00pm. Co-directors and choreographers Richard and Sharon Jenkins bring classic Trinity Rep style to this boisterous, high energy tale of the kind-hearted orphan boy. This production is made possible by support from the National Endowment for the Arts and supporting sponsor The Washington Trust Company. During the month of March, Trinity Rep will serve as a drop off point for the Washington Trust Peanut Butter Drive to benefit Rhode Island food banks. Tickets for the added performances of Oliver! are on sale now at the Trinity Rep box office, 201 Washington St.; by phone at (401) 351-4242; and online at www.trinityrep.com.

Bay City Players, Michigan's oldest continuously operating community theatre, will open its 97th season with Stephen Sondheim's Company next autumn, and close with family favorite The Sound of Music in spring 2015. In between, playgoers will be entertained with a unique interpretation of the holiday favorite Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, the classic American comedy You Can't Take It With You, and the 2013 Tony Award winning comedy Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, written originally for David Hyde Pierce and Sigourney Weaver.

Yesterday Artistic Director Mark Clements announced Milwaukee Repertory Theater's 2014/15 Season. 'Next season will offer strong stories that are substantive pieces of theater that are both enlightening and entertaining,' said Clements. 'The season includes two exciting world premieres, after all the terrible things I do and Five Presidents. We will also continue the tradition that I started upon my arrival by including a musical on our main stage - the first production in the Quadracci Powerhouse will be the award-winning musical, The Color Purple. Audiences responded so enthusiastically to last year's production of Ragtime, I believe they are in for another treat with The Color Purple.'

Orlando Shakespeare Theater in Partnership with UCF will hold its 6th Annual Mock Trial tonight, February 25, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. at the John and Rita Lowndes Shakespeare Center in Loch Haven Park.

Great Expectations by Simpich Marionettes of Colorado Springs, Colo., will run at Center for Puppetry Arts, tonight, February 25-March 2, 2014.

Audiences will get to choose their own ending next month at the University of Southern Maine (USM) Department of Theatre and School of Music co-production of "The Mystery of Edwin Drood," a "whodunit" murder mystery musical, in Russell Hall on the USM Gorham campus.

Ovation, America's only arts network, is launching a new programming block for arts and culture lovers.

Today, in the midst of preparations for one of the nation's most influential festivals of new work, the Humana Festival of New American Plays, Artistic Director Les Waters and Managing Director Jennifer Bielstein proudly announce Actors Theatre of Louisville's 2014-2015 Season. The 51st Season lineup will include a world-premiere reimagining of Love's Labour's Lost, the musical The Last Five Years, a production of Nina Raine's emotionally-charged drama Tribes, award-winning playwright Tarell Alvin McCraney's The Brothers Size, and the return of Naomi Iizuka's At the Vanishing Point-a beautifully-observed portrait of Butchertown with an original score by Ben Sollee. From the exhilaration of infatuation to the heart-wrenching tale of lost love, from one person's fight to find a voice to the dreams and voices of an entire community, the lineup features powerful stories and some of the most exciting artists working in theatre today.

Direct from its triumphant 2012 Broadway run, THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD is coming to Riverdale! Riverdale Repertory Company presents the daffy Tony Award-winning musical comedy for six performances only, from today, February 22 to March 2, 2014.

Direct from its triumphant 2012 Broadway run, THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD is coming to Riverdale! Riverdale Repertory Company presents the daffy Tony Award-winning musical comedy for six performances only, from February 22 to March 2, 2014.

The Seagull by Anton Chekhov will play in a new version by Anya Reiss, directed by Chris Honer, and running tonight, 21 February - Saturday 8 March 2014 with the Library Theatre Company. The Seagull, one of Anton Chekhov's masterpieces, in a vibrant and critically acclaimed new version by Anya Reiss, is the final production under The Library Theatre Company banner before it becomes HOME, the new organisation created by its merger with Cornerhouse.

San Jose Rep, the flagship theatre of San Jose, has just announced its full 2014-15 season, which is set to include two world premieres- Wuthering Heights and The 12. They write: 'Our 2014-2015 season is an extraordinary journey around the world and across centuries featuring two world premieres, larger than life characters with sizzling international flair and spectacularly diverse music -brought to life by daring and award-winning actors, directors and designers.' The full season is as follows: