Frank McGuinness News

DIFFERENT STAGES has announced the titles for its 2018 - 2019 SEASON. See the full lineup below:

THE COLLECTIVE NY announces complete casting for the world premiere production of David Thigpen's THE HURRICANE PARTY, directed by Tony Award Nominee Maria Dizzia (In the Next Room). Previews begin on Wednesday, August 29 at the Studio Stage at the Cherry Lane Theatre. Opening night is set for Tuesday, September 11, with a limited engagement through Sunday, October 7, 2018.

Written by the Oscar nominated Martin McDonagh, The Lonesome West will be the third in-house production from The Everyman this year following on from the success of Kevin Barry's Autumn Royal and the adaptation of Louise O'Neill's Asking For It. Directed by Julie Kelleher, who is also the Artistic Director of The Everyman, The Lonesome West opens on Tuesday, 31st July and continues until Saturday, 25th August.

Seven months ago nine young people were given the exciting news that they had been selected for the Young Playwrights Programme at Graffiti Theatre Company. A project supported by Landmark Productions, the Everyman and Cork Midsummer Festival, the programme would see their work developed for a staged reading alongside the world premiere stage adaptation of Louise O'Neill's 'Asking For It'.

It's the 1980s, 'the Troubles' in Northern Ireland are at their height. But life goes on and some people just want to get some...!

At a meeting of the Abbey Theatre's Board of Directors on 5 June 2018, actor Bosco Hogan was appointed to the Board of the Abbey Theatre for a term of three years. Bosco was appointed to the Board on a recommendation from the Selection Committee [Dr. Frances Ruane (Chair of the Abbey Theatre), Sheila Pratschke (Chair of the Arts Council) and Prof. Chris Morash (Vice-Provost of Trinity College Dublin)] and he will take up his appointment later this month.

Classic Spring is delighted to announce that Fiona Button, Pippa Nixon and Stella Gonet will join the cast of Michael Fentiman's The Importance of Being Earnest.

Boston Court Performing Arts Center presents the West Coast premiere of Her Portmanteau written by Mfoniso Udofia and directed by Gregg T. Daniel, May 24 - June 30, 2018 (press opening June 2).  The production stars Joyce Guy (Abasiama), Omoze Idehenre (Adiaha) and Dele Ogundrian (Iniabasi).

Classic Spring announces Olivier-Award winner Sophie Thompson as Lady Bracknell in The Importance of Being Earnest, from 20 July at the Vaudeville theatre. Directed by Michael Fentiman, the production also stars Jeremy Swift in the role of Reverend Chasuble and Sinead Matthews as Gwendolyn Fairfax.

Assembly Festival (1st - 27th August 2018) announced its FULL programme goes on sale at 10am today (Thu 17 May 2018). This year there are 208 shows - 60 theatre acts, 60 comedy shows and the biggest programme of cabaret Assembly Festival has ever staged.

The UK revival of Beirut by American playwright and author Alan Bowne is set to be performed at Park Theatre from 12th June to 7th July 2018. Written in the 1980s at the height of the AIDS crisis (which the playwright died of at 44 years old), Beirut is a cutting examination of a society ravaged by a nameless disease. Although written at a particular moment in history, the play transcends the issues of its time, and at its heart is a dark love story, questioning how society deals with the 'abnormal' in a society gone mad with fear and ignorance. The issues explored are particularly relevant to 2018, when viruses such as Sars and Zika are prominent, and with an increasing and inevitable resistance to antibiotics.

The UK revival of Beirut by American playwright and author Alan Bowne is set to be performed at Park Theatre from 12th June to 7th July 2018. Written in the 1980s at the height of the AIDS crisis (which the playwright died of at 44 years old), Beirut is a cutting examination of a society ravaged by a nameless disease. Although written at a particular moment in history, the play transcends the issues of its time, and at its heart is a dark love story, questioning how society deals with the 'abnormal' in a society gone mad with fear and ignorance.

Abingdon Theatre Company (Tony Speciale, Artistic Director; Denise Dickens, Producing Director) presents the final main stage production of its 25th Anniversary season, Fruit Trilogy, a new trilogy of plays by Tony Award winner Eve Ensler (The Vagina Monologues, In the Body of the World) and directed by Mark Rosenblatt

Classic Spring is delighted to announce real-life father and son, Edward and Freddie Fox, are to play fictional father and son in Oscar Wilde's An Ideal Husband, from 20 April at the Vaudeville theatre. Also starring, in the role of Mrs. Cheveley, is Frances Barber. Directed by Jonathan Church, An Ideal Husband will play at the Vaudeville Theatre 20 April to 14 July 2018, before opening the Theatre Royal Bath Summer Season on 18 July to 4 August 2018.

Life is sweet. Good job. Pretty wife. A nice house in the suburbs. Shame about the past, creeping up behind you...

Birmingham Hippodrome is delighted to announce the return of Cameron Mackintosh's breathtaking musical phenomenon Les Miserables. The new UK and Ireland tour of Boublil and Schonberg musical masterpiece will open at Curve Leicester for an already sold out season from Saturday 3 - Saturday 24 November 2018 before visiting Birmingham Hippodrome from 2 April - 11 May 2019.

Cameron Mackintosh is delighted to announce that Killian Donnelly will play 'Jean Valjean' in the forthcoming UK and Ireland tour of the Boublil and Schonberg musical 'LES MISERABLES'.

Cameron Mackintosh is delighted to announce that Killian Donnelly will play 'Jean Valjean' in the forthcoming UK and Ireland tour of the Boublil and Schonberg musical "LES MISERABLES".

Boston Court Performing Arts Center presents the West Coast premiere of Her Portmanteau written by Mfoniso Udofia and directed by Gregg T. Daniel, May 24 - June 30, 2018 (press opening June 2).  The production stars Joyce Guy (Abasiama), Omoze Idehenre (Adiaha) and Dele Ogundrian (Iniabasi).

Irish Arts Center (IAC) has reached a critical milestone in its plans to build a new permanent home in New York for the evolving arts and culture of contemporary Ireland and Irish America. In the City on the eve of St. Patrick's Day, Ireland's Prime Minister, Leo Varadkar, today announced $2.5 million in support for the New Irish Arts Center, bringing Irish government funding for the facility to $8.3 million and the Center's Almost Home capital campaign over the $60 million mark (to $60.5 million). The New Irish Arts Center comprises two buildings: a state-of-the-art new facility that will be constructed at 726 11th Avenue, and a renovation of the Center's intimate current home, adjoining the new building, at 553 West 51st Street. Phase I of construction, the new building on 11th Avenue, is now completely funded and ready to begin. IAC continues to raise an additional $15 million for the second phase of the project—transformation of the 51st Street venue—and to create a long-term programming fund and endowment, securing the future of the organization.