Cincinnati Playhouse News

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater is delighted to present The Arabian Nights, written and directed by Tony Award winner Mary Zimmerman (Metamorphoses). The production, presented in association with Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Kansas City Repertory Theatre and Lookingglass Theatre Company, has been recognized as 'Zimmerman's most theatrically complete and perfect creation' (Chicago Tribune). The Arabian Nights explores the humanity that people across all cultures share, as told through a whimsical, imaginative and compelling story. The Arabian Nights runs January 14-February 20, 2011 in the Fichandler Stage.

A Noise Within (ANW), the acclaimed classical repertory theatre company, revisits CHARLES DICKENS' thrilling GREAT EXPECTATIONS with the West Coast premiere of a powerful stage adaptation by Neil Bartlett opening Saturday, October 30 and closing Sunday, December 19, 2010 (previews begin Saturday, October 23). ANW Co-Founders and Co-Artistic Directors Julia Rodriguez-Elliott and Geoff Elliott co-direct this production - which features original music by noted composer Doug Newell - based on Dickens' masterful novel. Bartlett was also the adaptor of A Noise Within's 2008-09 season favorite Oliver Twist. This marks the second time Rodriguez-Elliott and Elliott have co-directed Great Expectations at A Noise Within, the first produced during the 1995-96 season, winning numerous awards.

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater is delighted to present The Arabian Nights, written and directed by Tony Award winner Mary Zimmerman (Metamorphoses). The production, presented in association with Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Kansas City Repertory Theatre and Lookingglass Theatre Company, has been recognized as "Zimmerman's most theatrically complete and perfect creation" (Chicago Tribune).

A Noise Within (ANW), the acclaimed classical repertory theatre company, presents Noel Coward's timeless comedic gem Blithe Spirit, directed by Damaso Rodriguez, which opens Saturday, October 9 and closes Friday, December 17, 2010 (previews begin Saturday, October 2).

Executive Producer Lou Spisto today announced the complete cast and creative team for Jane Austen's Emma - A Musical Romantic Comedy. The musical, with book, music and lyrics by Tony Award nominee Paul Gordon and direction by Tony Award nominee Jeff Calhoun, will run in the Old Globe Theatre Jan. 15 - Feb. 27. Preview performances run Jan. 15 - Jan. 22. Opening night is Jan. 23 at 7:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at www.TheOldGlobe.org, by phone at (619) 23-GLOBE or by visiting the Box Office at 1363 Old Globe Way in Balboa Park.

The National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) is accepting submissions for its 23rd Annual Festival of New Musicals taking place in New York in fall 2011. Submission information and the online application are available at www.namt.org.

Honoring the 50-year anniversary of Harper Lee's landmark book, 'TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD' inaugurates The Production Company's new The Lex Theatre

In Orange County, several local theaters big and small are presenting a plethora of yuletide-themed shows designed to put you in an even more festive mood-certainly a welcome break from all the parties and all that shopping you'll surely be busy with, of course. There are also many non-Holiday related presentations debuting or playing this month that will make great holiday gifts for the theater lovers in your midst. Whether you're looking for traditional fare or something a bit more quirky and off the beaten path, you will likely find something that will suit your tastes.

Due to overwhelming demand, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park has extended its run of THE SECOND CITY DOES CINCINNATI: PRIDE AND PORKOPOLIS for the second time through Sunday, January 16.

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis (The Rep) presents The Fall of Heaven by Walter Mosley.

Atlantic Theater Company (Neil Pepe, Artistic Director; Jeffory Lawson, Managing Director) is proud to announce that Patricia Conolly, Michael Countryman, Francesca Faridany, Mikaela Feely-Lehmann, Rick Holmes, John Keating, Peter Maloney, Jaime Ray Newman, Patricia O'Connell, Jeremy Shamos, Joey Slotnick and Tom Patrick Stephens will star in the world premiere adaptation of THE NEW YORK IDEA by Tony Award® winner David Auburn from the original play by Langdon Mitchell and directed by Mark Brokaw.

Producer Ellen Berman (Enchanted April) presents a reading of the new play, Operation Epsilon by Alan Brody (The Housewives of Manheim) with direction by Tony Award-winning director/producer Andy Sandberg (Hair, The Last Smoker in America).

Producer Ellen Berman (Enchanted April) will present a reading of the new play, Operation Epsilon by Alan Brody (The Housewives of Manheim) with direction by Tony Award-winning director/producer Andy Sandberg (Hair, The Last Smoker in America).

In Orange County, several local theaters big and small are presenting a plethora of yuletide-themed shows designed to put you in an even more festive mood-certainly a welcome break from all the parties and all that shopping you'll surely be busy with, of course. There are also many non-Holiday related presentations debuting or playing this month that will make great holiday gifts for the theater lovers in your midst. Whether you're looking for traditional fare or something a bit more quirky and off the beaten path, you will likely find something that will suit your tastes.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson), Berkeley Repertory Theatre, and Yale Repertory Theatre announced complete casting today for the world premiere production of Rinne Groff's COMPULSION, directed by Public Theater Artistic Director Oskar Eustis.

A Noise Within (ANW), the acclaimed repertory theatre company, launches 2010-11 season, its 19th, with Shakespeare's stirring classic Measure for Measure directed by Michael Murray, which opens Saturday, September 25 and closes Sunday, December 5, 2010 (previews begin Saturday, September 18).

Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park will celebrate 20 years of a favorite holiday tradition as KeyBank presents Charles Dickens' classic A CHRISTMAS CAROL.

San Diego Musical Theatre is thrilled to present its second production of its 2010-2011 season, the San Diego Premiere of the Broadway musical, THE STORY OF MY LIFE with music and lyrics by Neil Bartram, book by Brian Hill, musical direction by Don LeMaster and directed by Ovation Award-winner Nick DeGruccio.

Berkeley's acclaimed Aurora Theatre Company announces the four plays chosen as finalists by a committee of local directors for the sixth annual Global Age Project (GAP), the company's new works initiative that promotes the creation of forward-looking theater: Fire Work by Lauren Gunderson; Silent Disco by Lachlan Philpott; Bird in the Hand by Jorge Ignacio Cortiñas; and Our Practical Heaven by Anthony Clarvoe. The selected plays will be presented as staged readings in a four-week festival at the Aurora Theatre, Mondays, February 7-28, 7:30pm, coinciding with the company's fully-staged World Premiere of Allison Moore's Collapse (January 28-March 6). Collapse originated as one of last season's GAP finalists and is the second main stage production to develop from the GAP. Each GAP reading will be followed by an audience discussion of the contemporary issues raised in each work. For information on GAP events (free and open to the public) and Collapse, the public may call (510) 843-4822 or visit auroratheatre.org.

In Orange County, several local theaters big and small are presenting a plethora of yuletide-themed shows designed to put you in an even more festive mood-certainly a welcome break from all the parties and all that shopping you'll surely be busy with, of course. There are also many non-Holiday related presentations debuting or playing this month that will make great holiday gifts for the theater lovers in your midst. Whether you're looking for traditional fare or something a bit more quirky and off the beaten path, you will likely find something that will suit your tastes.