Christopher Hampton News

This autumn Ken Stott, Anna Friel and Samuel West are united together on stage for the first time in one of Anton Chekhov's undisputed masterpieces, Uncle Vanya. Adapted by Christopher Hampton, Uncle Vanya uniquely blends sparkling wit and earthy humour to brilliant comic effect. Directed by Lindsay Posner with designs by Christopher Oram, this new production opens at the Vaudeville Theatre on 2 November 2012 with previews from tonight, 24 October.

The Film Society of Lincoln Center announces its upcoming film series and events:

Yasmina Reza is not known for creating comedic characters. She is known for creating extremely real and flawed characters that in their truth are incredibly comedic. There is a very nuanced but very real difference there. It is unfortunate that Nickell could not make heads or tails of this…because he had the talent in his cast to deliver it flawlessly.

The Shakespeare Theatre Company, recipient of the 2012 Regional Theatre Tony Award®, kicks off its holiday season with William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. Director Ethan McSweeny (Much Ado About Nothing, The Merchant of Venice) takes a fresh approach to this well-loved play filled with magic and wonder. The production runs at STC's Sidney Harman Hall (610 F Street NW) from November 15-December 30, 2012.

Following REBECCA's cancellation on Broadway and the news that financier and stock broker Mark C. Hotton was arrested yesterday for his role in the show's collapse, Bloomberg reports that REBECCA's producers now have 10 weeks-until Dec. 31-to raise $4.5 million or face returning millions more to their investors.

The twisting tale of REBECCA's cancellation on Broadway made a new turn this morning with multiple news outlets reporting that troubled financier and stock broker Mark C. Hotton was arrested this morning at 6am for his role in the show's collapse.

The Guthrie Theater has announced that its Celebration of the multifaceted writer Christopher Hampton will intensify in the coming weeks. Building on a strongly positive critical reaction to Tales from Hollywood, the Celebration will follow through on its promise of an immersive multi-stage theatrical experience that incorporates a range of works in different venues and opportunities for the community to engage in dialogue and conversation.

Set within 18th century boudoirs and salons, costumed in hand-stitched, embroidered silk, displaying meticulously designed period wigs and artisan-inspired and custom-made furniture, the lush and wicked story of Dangerous Liaisons, written by Christopher Hampton, takes the Lohrey Stage at Theatre Memphis October 12 - 28, 2012. The story portrays French rivals who compete to use sex, humiliation and degradation to achieve their own personal gains through a series of schemes and deceit.

Appomattox, a sprawling political epic by Christopher Hampton taking place in 1865 and 1965 at the close of the American Civil War and the pivotal Civil Rights Era, opened Friday, October 5 at the Guthrie Theater to continue the Hampton Celebration. The play runs until November 11 on the Guthrie's McGuire Proscenium Stage, and is directed by David Esbjornson (Broadway/London: Driving Miss Daisy, A Few Good Men; Broadway: The Goat or Who is Sylvia?, The Ride Down Mt. Morgan; Guthrie: The Great Gatsby, Resurrection Blues). Check out photos from opening night below!

According to the New York Post, Ronald Russo , lawyer for producer Ben Sprecher has now said that 'Sprecher had been led to "Abrams" by shadowy Long Island businessman, Mark Hotton, who told him Abrams died before he could hand over the dough, sources have said. There also were three other investors Hotton told Sprecher about who supposedly promised another combined $2 million for the show, the sources have said. But "following an extensive search over the last week, I can now confirm that there is no evidence whatever that "Paul Abrams" or any of the other three investors brought to this production by Mr. Hotton, ever existed," said Sprecher's lawyer, Ronald Russo. The lawyer said they conducted an investigation in both the US and England.'

The Guthrie Theater has announced that its Celebration of the multifaceted writer Christopher Hampton will intensify in the coming weeks. Building on a strongly positive critical reaction to Tales from Hollywood, the Celebration will follow through on its promise of an immersive multi-stage theatrical experience that incorporates a range of works in different venues and opportunities for the community to engage in dialogue and conversation.

This morning, October 3, the following letter was composed by one of the Principal cast members of REBECCA, Karen Mason, in hopes of clearing up the ongoing speculation of the cancelled Broadway prodution of REBECCA

Now according to the New York Times, the United States attorney's office is investigating whether the investor ever existed in the first place. Sprecher told NYT: "I never made up or fabricated any investor, and I never made up Paul Abrams." He also revealed that a new production of Rebecca is in the works that he 'hoped to mount soon, on Broadway or elsewhere.'

Written from his own experience, Jonathan Lewis's Our Boys is a wonderfully funny yet searingly honest account of the tribulations, tedium and terror that young soldiers face when recovering from injuries incurred in the line of duty. It opens for a limited 12-week season at the Duchess Theatre tonight, 3 October. The cast features Arthur Darvill (Rory in Doctor Who) and Laurence Fox (James in Lewis).

Ben Sprecher and Louise Forlenza, producers for Rebecca, the Musical, announced this afternoon that they were left with no option but to postpone the show. A new timeline has not been announced.

The offstage saga of REBECCA the musical continues to twist and turn with drama of its own. Today, Michael Riedel reports exclusively in the New York Post that, according to his sources, the show 'has been cancelled due to a lack of financing.'

Set within 18th century boudoirs and salons, costumed in hand-stitched, embroidered silk, displaying meticulously designed period wigs and artisan-inspired and custom-made furniture, the lush and wicked story of Dangerous Liaisons, written by Christopher Hampton, takes the Lohrey Stage at Theatre Memphis October 12 - 28, 2012. The story portrays French rivals who compete to use sex, humiliation and degradation to achieve their own personal gains through a series of schemes and deceit.