David Kelly News

Yesterday, 23 November 2009, Ian Rickson's Royal Court Theatre production of Jez Butterworth's Jerusalem won the Evening Standard Award for Best Play, and Mark Rylance collected the Best Actor Award for his universally celebrated performance as Johnny "Rooster" Byron.

As theatre patrons somberly filed out of Alumnae Theatre's production of 'Palace of the End', it seemed as if the air had been sucked out of the small studio theatre. Not only had we experienced a phenomenal work of playwriting staged by a stellar production, but we had been on the receiving end of a visceral account of atrocities inspired by the Iraq war. This was not a case of art imitating life - this was life, in its undistorted reality.

The Alumnae Theatre Company's 'Palace of the End' is a searing triptych of monologues that present different perspectives on the war in Iraq. A young and pregnant American soldier - in disgrace for her treatment of Iraqi prisoners - tells us about 'My Pyramids'; a disillusioned British weapons inspector invites us to witness his suicide at 'Harrowdown Hill'; and an Iraqi woman shares the heartbreaking story of her family's torture in 'Instruments of Yearning'. The characters are all based on real people and events. The play runs from November 13 to 28.

Mark Rylance and Mackenzie Crook will lead the cast in the West End transfer of the Royal Court Theatre?s sell-out production of Jez Butterworth's Jerusalem, directed by Ian Rickson.

The Oregon Shakespeare Festival will open its summer season with one of Shakespeare's rarely produced history plays, Henry VIII. Last produced at OSF in 1984, the play will be staged with all the spectacle of the Field of the Cloth of Gold. Some tickets remain available for previews and openings. To purchase tickets go to www.osfashland.org or call the Box Office at (541) 482-4331.

The Oregon Shakespeare Festival will open its summer season with one of Shakespeare's rarely produced history plays, Henry VIII. Last produced at OSF in 1984, the play will be staged with all the spectacle of the Field of the Cloth of Gold. Some tickets remain available for previews and openings. To purchase tickets go to www.osfashland.org or call the Box Office at (541) 482-4331.

Tony Award-winner Mark Rylance will be presented with the Samuel H. Scripps Award at Theatre for a New Audience's Spring Gala Celebrating Shakespeare's 445th Birthday. The celebration, Monday, May 11, will be held at The Powerhouse at the American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street.

Tony Award-winner Mark Rylance will be presented with the Samuel H. Scripps Award at Theatre for a New Audience's Spring Gala Celebrating Shakespeare's 445th Birthday. The celebration, Monday, May 11, will be held at The Powerhouse at the American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street.

The acclaimed Epic Theatre Ensemble production of Palace of the End, by award-winning playwright Judith Thompson, concludes its limited engagement this Sunday, July 13, 2008 at Peter Jay Sharp Theatre at Playwrights Horizons.

The acclaimed Epic Theatre Ensemble production of Palace of the End, by award-winning playwright Judith Thompson, concludes its limited engagement this Sunday, July 13, 2008 at Peter Jay Sharp Theatre at Playwrights Horizons.

Epic Theatre Ensemble presents the New York Premiere of 'Palace of the End', a new drama by Judith Thompson.

Epic Theatre Ensemble has announced the schedule for its new post-show talk-back series, 'Epic Forum Discussions.'

Broadway performer Michael Shawn Lewis will once again be featured as Jean Valjean, the desperate yet determined protagonist at the center of this epic story of justice, love, and faith. Lewis was seen on the SMT stage last summer as Guido in Nine. He debuted at SMT as Curly in Oklahoma! and played the Beast in the 2004 production of Disney's Beauty and the Beast.

Epic Theatre Ensemble announced today that Teri Lamm, Heather Raffo and Rocco Sisto will comprise the three-person cast of the New York Premiere of Palace of the End, a new drama by Judith Thompson.

NEW YORK, NY - Epic Theatre Ensemble (formerly Epic Theatre Center) announced today that it will present the New York Premiere of the new drama, Palace of the End by Judith Thompson. It was also announced yesterday that the Thompson play is the 2008 winner of the prestigious Susan Smith Blackburn Prize for playwrighting.

Epic Theatre Ensemble (formerly Epic Theatre Center) announced today that it will present the New York Premiere of the new drama, Palace of the End by Judith Thompson. It was also announced yesterday that the Thompson play is the 2008 winner of the prestigious Susan Smith Blackburn Prize for playwrighting.

Classic Stage Company will present Tony Award-winning actor Richard Easton and Jeremy Strong in the world premiere of New Jerusalem, a new play by David Ives, directed by Tony Award-winner Walter Bobbie, for a limited engagement from Friday, December 28 through Sunday, February 3 at Classic Stage Company; Opening January 13 with Fyvush Finkel, David Garrison, Jenn Harris, Michael Izquierdo and Natalia Payne.