Charles Durning News

Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Angela's Ashes, and bestseller Tis, Frank McCourt, and his brother Malachy, also a successful author, joined talents to write an autobiographical account of their years growing up in poverty in Ireland, A Couple of Blaguards. Though times were tough in Limerick, the tales spun by the brothers McCourt simmer with bittersweet recollections, ferocious humor and a parade of colorful characters from the priest who warns of sinners' eyeballs exploding in hell to the McCourt grandmother who spits on Franks unruly Presbyterian hair to tame it.

Laguna Playhouse will present the return of Rita Rudner who will be performing her award-winning solo comedy, AN EVENING WITH RITA RUDNER and her new dress, for two performances only, Saturday, May 31 and Sunday, June 1 at the Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach.

Rubicon Theatre continues the company's 16th Not Your Typical Season with a special run of Love, Loss, and What I Wore -- a witty and wise celebration of womanhood adapted by Nora and Delia Ephron, creators of such hits as 'When Harry Met Sally,' 'Sleepless in Seattle,' 'You've Got Mail,' 'The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants' and 'Silkwood.'

Broward Center for the Performing Arts and Matthew Lombardo present the Barrington Stage production of Becoming Dr. Ruth with Debra Jo Rupp as Dr. Ruth Westheimer at the Parker Playhouse in Fort Lauderdale from tonight, April 16 through Sunday, April 20. Tickets go on sale Friday, January 31for the acclaimed Mark St. Germain play, which is directed by Julianne Boyd and is part of the WinterStage Series at the Parker Playhouse. The production comes direct from New York and will be produced by Michael Alden, Stefany Bergson and Rodger Hess.

Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Angela's Ashes, and bestseller Tis, Frank McCourt, and his brother Malachy, also a successful author, joined talents to write an autobiographical account of their years growing up in poverty in Ireland, A Couple of Blaguards. Though times were tough in Limerick, the tales spun by the brothers McCourt simmer with bittersweet recollections, ferocious humor and a parade of colorful characters from the priest who warns of sinners' eyeballs exploding in hell to the McCourt grandmother who spits on Franks unruly Presbyterian hair to tame it.

The Laguna Playhouse Executive and Artistic Directors, Karen Wood and Ann E. Wareham are thrilled to present screen legend Leslie Caron, in her first Southern California theatrical performance in over 25 years! SIX DANCE LESSONS IN SIX WEEKS, written by Richard Alfieri, with choreography by Donna McKechnie (A Chorus Line) and directed by Michael Arabian (Waiting for Godot). SIX DANCE LESSONS IN SIX WEEKS will also feature 6-time Ovation Award-winning actor David Engel. "What an honor to have on our stage the incomparable Leslie Caron and the multi-talented David Engel," remarks Wood. "It's a dream cast and a dream come true. With Michael Arabian and Donna McKechnie directing and choreographing, this has to be one of the most anticipated productions in the Playhouse's storied history,' adds Wareham. SIX DANCE LESSONS IN SIX WEEKS will begin previews on Saturday, April 26 and will open on Saturday, May 3 at 7:30pm and run through Sunday, June 8, 2014 at the Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach.

Rubicon Theatre continues the company's 16th Not Your Typical Season with a special run of Love, Loss, and What I Wore -- a witty and wise celebration of womanhood adapted by Nora and Delia Ephron, creators of such hits as 'When Harry Met Sally,' 'Sleepless in Seattle,' 'You've Got Mail,' 'The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants' and 'Silkwood.'

The Laguna Playhouse Executive and Artistic Directors, Karen Wood and Ann E. Wareham are delighted to bring back their favorite Sister in a return offering, SISTER'S EASTER CATECHISM: Will My Bunny Go To Heaven?, written and performed by Maripat Donovan (alternating with Nonie Newton-Breen) and directed by Mark Silvia. "Sister is back and as funny as ever. Our audiences are going to be Heaven-sent at this Easter delight," offers Wood. "Our audiences will be resurrected with laughter. What better way to begin the Spring than with an evening with Sister?," adds Wareham. SISTER'S EASTER CATECHISM will begin performances on Monday, April 7 and run through Monday, April 14, 2014 at the Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach.

The project 'centers on Nick (Stults), a successful, suave ladies man working as a sportscaster for a local Los Angeles TV station whose perfect life gets turned upside down when his mess of a cousin needs a place to stay. Rupp plays Merle, Nick's sweet, no-nonsense, widowed mother who lives nearby. Anders plays Stacey, the smart, tough lead anchor of the local news in L.A. where Nick does the sports.'

Theater for the New City, Crystal Field, Executive Director presents Nicholas Nickleby, A New Musical based on the classic Charles Dickens novel with book by Robert Sickinger, music and lyrics by Alaric Jans. Performances will be staged Off-Broadway at the Joyce and Seward Johnson Theater at Theater for the New City, 155 First Avenue (bet. 9th and 10th Streets), New York, NY 10003 from April 17-May 5, 2014.

The Laguna Playhouse Executive and Artistic Directors, Karen Wood and Ann E. Wareham invite you to take 83 books, with three chameleon-like actors in 98 minutes, and mix it all up into one hilarious evening of ridiculous fun! It's the Reduced Shakespeare Company's production of ALL THE GREAT BOOKS (abridged), written and directed by Reed Martin and Austin Tichenor with additional material by Matthew Croke and Michael Faulkner. ALL THE GREAT BOOKS (abridged) will begin previews today, March 4 and will open on Saturday, March 8 at 7:30pm and run through Sunday, March 30, 2014 at the LagunaPlayhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach.

Broadway legend, Barbara Cook, will be honored with The Julie Harris Award for Artistic Achievement at The Actors Fund's 18th Annual Tony Awards Viewing Party on June 8th, 2014.

The Laguna Playhouse Executive and Artistic Directors, Karen Wood and Ann E. Wareham invite you to take 83 books, with three chameleon-like actors in 98 minutes, and mix it all up into one hilarious evening of ridiculous fun! It's the Reduced Shakespeare Company's production of ALL THE GREAT BOOKS (abridged), written and directed by Reed Martin and Austin Tichenor with additional material by Matthew Croke and Michael Faulkner. ALL THE GREAT BOOKS (abridged) will begin previews on Tuesday, March 4 and will open on Saturday, March 8 at 7:30pm and run through Sunday, March 30, 2014 at the LagunaPlayhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach.

After five and a half years of residence at the Blue Star Arts Complex, Classic Theatre of San Antonio has made a new home in the Black Box of the Woodlawn Theatre! Their debut production in the new space, Death of a Salesman, opened this past weekend and runs thru February 23rd.

Veteran Broadway director and Tony Award nominee John Tillinger will return to Westport Country Playhouse to direct another of Alan Ayckbourn's comedies, 'Things We Do for Love,' August 19 - September 6. Tillinger has directed other Ayckbourn plays for Westport, including 'Relatively Speaking,' 'Time of My Life,' and 'How the Other Half Loves.' He also directed the theater's productions of A. R. Gurney's 'Sylvia' and 'Children,' as well as a Script in Hand playreading of Gurney's 'The Golden Age.'

Broward Center for the Performing Arts and Matthew Lombardo present the Barrington Stage production of Becoming Dr. Ruth with Debra Jo Rupp as Dr. Ruth Westheimer at the Parker Playhouse in Fort Lauderdale from Wednesday, April 16 through Sunday, April 20. Tickets go on sale Friday, January 31for the acclaimed Mark St. Germain play, which is directed by Julianne Boyd and is part of the WinterStage Series at the Parker Playhouse. The production comes direct from New York and will be produced by Michael Alden, Stefany Bergson and Rodger Hess.

Morgan Freeman will present the SAG 50th Life Achievement Award to Rita Moreno at the 20th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards

The Laguna Playhouse Executive and Artistic Directors, Karen Wood and Ann E. Wareham kick off the New Year with the legendary songs of that legendary man in black, RING OF FIRE, The Music of Johnny Cash, with choreography by Paula Hammons Sloan and musical direction and direction by Steve Steiner. 'What better way to begin 2014 than to offer our subscribers and audiences a musical tribute to an American Icon,' offers Wood. 'Who doesn't love such classics as 'I've Been Everywhere,' 'I Walk The Line' and so many more! A fascinating look at a fascinating man.' 'With thirty extraordinary songs performed by a talented cast of 10, this 'Ring' starts our new year off 'On Fire,' adds Wareham. RING OF FIRE will begin previews onToday, January 7 and will open on Saturday, January 11 at 7:30pm and run through Sunday, February 2, 2014 at the Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach.

Today, we remember those within the entertainment industry that we lost in 2013.

The Laguna Playhouse Executive and Artistic Directors, Karen Wood and Ann E. Wareham kick off the New Year with the legendary songs of that legendary man in black, RING OF FIRE, The Music of Johnny Cash, with choreography by Paula Hammons Sloan and musical direction and direction by Steve Steiner. 'What better way to begin 2014 than to offer our subscribers and audiences a musical tribute to an American Icon,' offers Wood. 'Who doesn't love such classics as 'I've Been Everywhere,' 'I Walk The Line' and so many more! A fascinating look at a fascinating man.' 'With thirty extraordinary songs performed by a talented cast of 10, this 'Ring' starts our new year off 'On Fire,' adds Wareham. RING OF FIRE will begin previews onTuesday, January 7 and will open on Saturday, January 11 at 7:30pm and run through Sunday, February 2, 2014 at the Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach.