Folger Theatre News

Folger Theatre continues its relationship with Shakespeare's Globe in London with the touring production of KING LEAR, continuing in D.C. for a limited engagement through September 21. Directed by Bill Buckhurst, the acclaimed production has toured for months in the UK, Europe, and Asia. The Folger will be its debut here in the States. Check out a first look at the production below!

Octet of actors makes for memorable evening.

Signature Theatre has announced the cast of Elmer Gantry, a musical version of Sinclair Lewis' best-selling novel, directed by Signature's Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer (Broadway's Follies, Million Dollar Quartet). Schaeffer collaborated on the last production of Elmer Gantry at Marriott's Lincolnshire Theatre in Chicago with authors John Bishop (book), Mel Marvin (music) and Bob Satuloff (lyrics) in 1998; the show has not been produced since then. This will be the 5th production in the show's history. Running in the MAX Theatre October 7 - November 9, Signature's production will include several brand new songs by Mel Marvin and Bob Satuloff and a reimagined script that John Bishop worked on until his death in 2006.

Lexikat Artists and MB Artists in association with the multi-award-winning NoHo Arts Center Ensemble (NoHo ACE) are thrilled to present a world premiere musical, SCARY MUSICAL The Musical, book by Richard Hochberg, music and lyrics by Richard Hochberg and Michael Paternostro, musical direction by Brent Crayon, orchestrations by Kenny Seymour and directed and choreographed by James J. Mellon. SCARY MUSICAL The Musical will begin previews tonight, September 12 at 8pm; will open today, September 19 at 8pm and run for eight weeks through Sunday, November 9, 2014 at the NoHo Arts Center, 11136 Magnolia Blvd. (at Lankershim) in North Hollywood.

Pink House Productions previously announced the New York City premier of YOU, ME AND THAT GUY, a hilarious 80 minute comedy about a recent college grad who uses the magic of a mystical open mic to heal her relationships with her technology saturated family and friends. Written by Stephen Sanow*, YOU, ME AND THAT GUY will open the 2014 Araca Project.

This fall, Signature Theatre continues its commitment to presenting bold new contemporary plays with the DC area premiere of Sex with Strangers by Laura Eason. After its New York premiere at Second Stage Theatre this summer, Signature is proud to introduce this play to DC audiences. Running October 14 - December 7, Sex with Strangers will be presented in Signature's intimate 110-seat ARK Theatre.

Pink House Productions announced today the New York City premier of YOU, ME AND THAT GUY, a hilarious 80 minute comedy about a recent college grad who uses the magic of a mystical open mic to heal her relationships with her technology saturated family and friends. Written by Stephen Sanow*, YOU, ME AND THAT GUY will open the 2014 Araca Project.

Particularly pertinent in an era of heightened politics, TEA FOR THREE: Lady Bird, Pat & Betty humanizes the political scene with a whimsical and deeply moving performance at Pepperdine University's Smothers Theatre at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 9.

For his first directing project since winning the 2014 Tony Award, Artistic Director Darko Tresnjak will helm Shakespeare's masterpiece, Hamlet, playing only four weeks, from October 16 to November 16, at Hartford Stage. Hamlet follows three popular Shakespearean productions in the last two years by Tresnjak: The Tempest, Twelfth Night, and last season's Macbeth.

Olney Theatre Center, a Maryland destination for professional theater performance and education, continues its critically-acclaimed 76thAnniversary season with a starry cast of DC-area veteran award-winners in Clifford Odets' classic family drama AWAKE AND SING! September 24 - October 19, 2014 on the Mainstage. Directed by Studio Theatre Producing Director (and 2013 Helen Hayes Award Winner) Serge Seiden, the cast features2014 Helen Hayes Award Winner Rick Foucheux, 2011 Helen Hayes Award Winner Naomi Jacobson, Rick Foucheux, Olney veteran Paul Morella, and Olney newcomers Laura C. Harris and Alex Mandell.

A free screening of Folger Theatre's 2008 magical production of Macbeth will take place tonight, August 23 at 8:15pm at the Carter Barron Amphitheatre in Rock Creek Park.

American Theater Company (ATC) kicks off its 30th Anniversary season with two Chicago premieres exploring healthcare in America: Anna Deavere Smith's documentary Let Me Down Easy featuring ATC Ensemble Member Usman Ally, and Mercy Strain by Michael Milligan, top prize winner at the 2013 Edinburgh Festival. ATC's production is the first time Let Me Down Easy will be performed by an artist other than Deavere Smith.

A free screening of Folger Theatre's 2008 magical production of Macbeth will take place on Saturday, August 23 at 8:15pm at the Carter Barron Amphitheatre in Rock Creek Park. Directed by Teller (of Penn & Teller) and Aaron Posner and recorded before a rapt audience in the Folger's intimate Elizabethan Theatre, this "supernatural horror thriller" showcases the inventive magic of Teller and provides new insight into Shakespeare's classic tragedy.

The 'Alley Theatre @ UH' season begins with Betty Buckley, Hallie Foote, Annalee Jefferies and Veanne Cox in award-winning Texas playwright Horton Foote's The Old Friends, a Southwestern premiere.

Folger Theatre continues its relationship with Shakespeare's Globe in London with the touring production of KING LEAR, coming to D.C. for a limited engagement of 18 performances, September 5 - 21. Directed by Bill Buckhurst, the acclaimed production has toured for months in the UK, Europe, and Asia. The Folger will be its debut here in the States. Click below to go behind the scenes with the cast and creative team!

Simon & Schuster Audio is proud to announce the publication of fully dramatized audio productions of Shakespeare's classic plays from the Folger Shakespeare Library, the world's leading center for Shakespeare studies.

THE ROAD THEATRE COMPANY and Taylor Gilbert, Founder/Artistic Director together with Sam Anderson, Artistic Director, are thrilled to announce the first show of their 24th season, the West Coast Premiere of MELISSA ARCTIC written by Craig Wright and directed by Scott Alan Smith (Sovereign Body, That Good Night, Lady). MELISSA ARCTIC will preview on Sunday, September 21 at 2pm; Wednesday, September 24 at 8pm and Thursday, September 25 at 8pm and will open on Friday, September 26 at 8pm and run through Saturday, November 15 at The Road On Magnolia 10747 Magnolia Blvd. (inside the NoHo Senior Arts Colony) in North Hollywood.

Theatre for a New Audience Founding Artistic Director Jeffrey Horowitz announces the second season at Polonsky Shakespeare Center, 262 Ashland Place, Brooklyn.

Lexikat Artists and MB Artists in association with the multi-award-winning NoHo Arts Center Ensemble (NoHo ACE) are thrilled to present a world premiere musical, SCARY MUSICAL The Musical, book by Richard Hochberg, music and lyrics by Richard Hochberg and Michael Paternostro, musical direction by Brent Crayon, orchestrations by Kenny Seymour and directed and choreographed by James J. Mellon. SCARY MUSICAL The Musical will begin previews on Friday, September 12 at 8pm; will open on Friday, September 19 at 8pm and run for eight weeks through Sunday, November 9, 2014 at the NoHo Arts Center, 11136 Magnolia Blvd. (at Lankershim) in North Hollywood.

Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company is bringing back the bird and reuniting the entire cast and creative team of Aaron Posner's Stupid f**king Bird after its runaway success in the summer of 2013. Nominated for eight Helen Hayes Awards and winner for Outstanding Resident Play and Outstanding New Play or Musical, Stupid f**king Bird is directed by Woolly Artistic Director Howard Shalwitz and runs for three weeks, beginning tonight, July 28, 2014, and continuing through August 17, 2014.