Charles Spencer News

HighTide Festival, internationally renowned for discovering some of the UK's best new playwrights and producing new plays, has today announced the full ancillary programme for the 2016 Festival (8-18 September) - its 10th anniversary. Spanning performance, music, visual arts, literature and talks, it also includes world premiere productions from new and established HighTide writers. For the full festival programme, visit www.hightide.org.uk

"Bloodshot" makes its U.S. debut at the Greenhouse Theater Center (2257 N. Lincoln Ave.) Aug. 10 - Sept. 10 as part of Greenhouse's "Solo Celebration!" series. Starring acclaimed international actor, the multi-talented Simon Slater, written by award winning Chicago playwright Douglas Post and directed byPatrick Sandford, "Bloodshot," is a one-man murder mystery following the character Derek Eveleigh, a photographer in 1957 London. The thriller is co-produced by Ingenious Purpose Ltd. 

Following the critically acclaimed, sold out productions of The Dazzle and Bug at Found111, Emily Dobbs Productions is thrilled to present the London premiere of Unfaithful, a blackly comic new play starring Sean Campion (The Borgias, Stones in his Pockets), Niamh Cusack (Heartbeat, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time), Ruta Gedmintas (The Strain, The Tudors) and Matthew Lewis (Harry Potter film series, The Syndicate).

Princess Diana's family will allow public visitors to spend the weekend with them at the Althorp estate where she grew up and stay in the room where she slept, the family exclusively told NBC News's Cynthia McFadden for a story airing during ON ASSIGNMENT Sunday night at 7 p.m. ET/ 6 p.m. CT.

The story line of Blithe Spirit could be anyone's fantasy: return to life as a ghost and haunt your former spouse and newly betrothed partner. Such is the premise of Noel Coward's comedy opening May 4 at the Alhambra Theater & Dining for a four-week run. Blithe Spirit has been heralded as one of three jewels in Coward's crown. It's most recent Broadway and touring revival from starred Angela Lansbury received rave reviews around the country. The Alhambra performances will feature Lisa Valdini-Booth in the lead role of medium, Madame Arcati, who leads the seance that brings back the ghost of Charles Condomine's wife.

On the heals of its hit production of Pocatello, Griffin Theatre Company is pleased to continue its 2015-16 season with the Midwest premiere of John Van Druten's romantic drama LONDON WALL, directed by ensemble member Robin Witt, who helmed Griffin's 2014 Jeff Award-winning drama Men Should Weep.

St. Ann's Warehouse, having just opened its "stunning" (New York Magazine) new theater on the waterfront in Brooklyn Bridge Park, is pleased to announce another major triumph: the organization has already generated greater ticket sales, three months into its 2015-16 season, than it has in any entire season in its previous 36 years.

On the heals of its hit production of Pocatello, Griffin Theatre Company is pleased to continue its 2015-16 season with the Midwest premiere of John Van Druten's romantic drama LONDON WALL, directed by ensemble member Robin Witt, who helmed Griffin's 2014 Jeff Award-winning drama Men Should Weep. LONDON WALL will play tonight, January 9, through February 14, 2016 at The Den Theatre, 1333 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago.

On the heals of its hit production of Pocatello, Griffin Theatre Company is pleased to continue its 2015-16 season with the Midwest premiere of John Van Druten's romantic drama LONDON WALL, directed by ensemble member Robin Witt, who helmed Griffin's 2014 Jeff Award-winning drama Men Should Weep. LONDON WALL will play January 9 - February 14, 2016 at The Den Theatre, 1333 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago.

El Portal Theatre presents Cash On Delivery! directed by and featuring Ray Cooney as Uncle George, written by Michael Cooney, tonight, December 3 - December 20, 2015, at the historic El Portal Theatre Mainstage in the NOHO Arts District, North Hollywood, CA.

World renown British actor/playwright Ray Cooney will be performing the zany farce Cash on Delivery, written by his son Michael Cooney, on the mainstage of the El Portal in Noho December 3-20.  Cooney performed Out of Order at the El Portal in 2001, and was a tremendous hit. In our conversation Cooney, who was bestowed the honor of OBE (Order of the British Empire) by the Queen, and wife Linda talk about the play, and among other topics, theatre and its importance in our world right now. Linda is a landscape painter and former actress, and her work will be exhibited in the El Portal lobby during the run of the play and on to January 1, 2016.

El Portal Theatre proudly presents Cash On Delivery directed by Ray Cooney, written by Michael Cooney, December 3 - December 20, 2015, at the historic El Portal Theatre Mainstage in the NOHO Arts District, North Hollywood, CA. 15 performances only!

Just before its first preview tomorrow night, November 10, THE COLOR PURPLE has announced its rush ticket policy.

In honor of the production making the move to Broadway, BWW brings you a look back at highlights and onstage shots below!

 El Portal Theatre presents Cash On Delivery! directed by and featuring Ray Cooney as Uncle George, written by Michael Cooney, December 3 - December 20, 2015, at the historic El Portal Theatre Mainstage in the NOHO Arts District, North Hollywood, CA.

Jonathan Church will succeed Andrew Upton as Artistic Director of Sydney Theatre Company (STC), it was announced today, 25 August 2015. The British artist has been Artistic Director of Chichester Festival Theatre since 2006 and is credited with completely transforming the much-loved UK institution.

 Griffin Theatre Company has announced its 28th Season, kicking off this fall with the Midwest premiere of Samuel D. Hunter's heartbreaking comedy POCATELLO, directed by ensemble member Jonathan Berry (Punk Rock, Balm in Gilead). Next winter, Griffin presents the Midwest premiere of British playwright John Van Druten's romantic drama LONDON WALL, directed by recent Jeff Award-winner and ensemble member Robin Witt (Men Should Weep, Flare Path). The season concludes next summer with the Chicago debut of the off-Broadway hit BAT BOY: THE MUSICAL with book by Keythe Farley and Brian Flemming, music and lyrics by Laurence O'Keefe, direction by Scott Weinstein, who helmed Griffin's hit musical Titanic, and music direction by Ethan Deppe.

Produced by Scott Sanders, Roy Furman, Oprah Winfrey, David Babani, and Tom Siracusa, The Color Purple will return to Broadway this fall in the acclaimed Menier Chocolate Factory production directed by Two-time Tony Award winner John Doyle. The highly anticipated staging will feature Grammy, Academy Award, and Golden Globe award winner JENNIFER HUDSON; CYNTHIA ERIVO, the breakout star from the London production; and Orange is the New Black's DANIELLE BROOKS. All three women will be making their Broadway debuts. Tickets are now available! Can't wait until the show returns to Broadway this fall? Get your Color Purple fix today with a free download of 'Too Beautiful for Words,' performed by Jennifer Hudson. CLICK HERE to download the song now!

Tickets for THE COLOR PURPLE will be available Monday, June 22, 2015, exclusively for Audience Rewards members, who get first access to tickets by visiting www.AudienceRewards.com. Single tickets go on-sale to the general public beginning Tuesday, June 30, 2015.