Howard Barker News

It was announced that soap star Kathleen Widdoes joins the previously announced cast of the Epic Theatre Ensemble (Zak Berkman, Melissa Friedman, Ron Russell, Executive Directors) two-night benefit event: As The Epic Turns, to support its esteemed after-school 'Shakespeare Bridge Project' programs.

New York's OBIE Award-winning Epic Theatre Ensemble (Zak Berkman, Melissa Friedman, Ron Russell, Executive Directors) will present a two-evening event: As The Epic Turns, a benefit to support its esteemed after-school 'Shakespeare Bridge Project' programs. Under the direction of Zak Berkman, the 90-minute evening will feature two-time Emmy Award Winner, Martha Byrne, along with Paolo Seganti, and Tamara Tunie in a series of staged readings plus an exclusive screening of Paul Leyden's film Bye Bye Sally, followed by a reception with the cast and Epic Theater Ensemble artists.

New York's OBIE Award-winning Epic Theatre Ensemble (Zak Berkman, Melissa Friedman, Ron Russell, Executive Directors) will present a two-evening event: As The Epic Turns, a benefit to support its esteemed after-school 'Shakespeare Bridge Project' programs. Under the direction of Zak Berkman, the 90-minute evening will feature two-time Emmy Award Winner, Martha Byrne, along with Paolo Seganti, and Tamara Tunie in a series of staged readings plus an exclusive screening of Paul Leyden's film Bye Bye Sally, followed by a reception with the cast and Epic Theater Ensemble artists. Two performances are scheduled for 8:00 p.m. on Friday, April 17th and Saturday, April 18th at The Peter Sharpe Theater (416 West 42nd Street).

Richard Eyre's production of The Last Cigarette, adapted by Hugh Whitemore and Simon Gray from Gray's critically acclaimed The Smoking Diaries, is to transfer to the West End having previously opened the 2009 season at the Chichester Festival Theatre. Starring Felicity Kendal, Nicholas Le Prevost and Jasper Britton, who all perform as Simon Gray, The Last Cigarette will run at Trafalgar Studios from 21 April - 1 August, with opening night 28 April 2009. Designs are by Rob Howell with lighting and projection by John Driscoll and music by George Fenton.

It was announced that soap star Kathleen Widdoes joins the previously announced cast of the Epic Theatre Ensemble (Zak Berkman, Melissa Friedman, Ron Russell, Executive Directors) two-night benefit event: As The Epic Turns, to support its esteemed after-school 'Shakespeare Bridge Project' programs.

Richard Eyre's production of The Last Cigarette, adapted by Hugh Whitemore and Simon Gray from Gray's critically acclaimed The Smoking Diaries, is to transfer to the West End having previously opened the 2009 Season at the Chichester Festival Theatre. Starring Felicity Kendal, Nicholas le Prevost and Jasper Britton, who all perform as Simon Gray, The Last Cigarette will run at Trafalgar Studios from 21 April - 1 August, with opening night 28 April 2009. Designs are by Rob Howell with lighting and projection by John Driscoll and music by George Fenton.

New York's OBIE Award-winning Epic Theatre Ensemble (Zak Berkman, Melissa Friedman, Ron Russell, Executive Directors) will present a two-evening event: As The Epic Turns, a benefit to support its esteemed after-school 'Shakespeare Bridge Project' programs. Under the direction of Zak Berkman, the 90-minute evening will feature two-time Emmy Award Winner, Martha Byrne, along with Paolo Seganti, and Tamara Tunie in a series of staged readings plus an exclusive screening of Paul Leyden's film Bye Bye Sally, followed by a reception with the cast and Epic Theater Ensemble artists.

New York's OBIE Award-winning Epic Theatre Ensemble (Zak Berkman, Melissa Friedman, Ron Russell, Executive Directors) will present a two-evening event: As The Epic Turns, a benefit to support its esteemed after-school 'Shakespeare Bridge Project' programs. Under the direction of Zak Berkman, the 90-minute evening will feature two-time Emmy Award Winner, Martha Byrne, along with Paolo Seganti, and Tamara Tunie in a series of staged readings plus an exclusive screening of Paul Leyden's film Bye Bye Sally, followed by a reception with the cast and Epic Theater Ensemble artists. Two performances are scheduled for 8:00 p.m. on Friday, April 17th and Saturday, April 18th at The Peter Sharpe Theater (416 West 42nd Street).

New York's OBIE Award-winning Epic Theatre Ensemble (Zak Berkman, Melissa Friedman, Ron Russell, Executive Directors) will honor Award-winning playwright John Guare and Golden Globe winner Stanley Tucci at their 8th Annual Winter Gala to be held at Twenty Four Fifth (24 Fifth Avenue) on Monday, March 9, 2009.

New York's OBIE Award-winning Epic Theatre Ensemble (Zak Berkman, Melissa Friedman, Ron Russell, Executive Directors) will honor Award-winning playwright John Guare and Golden Globe winner Stanley Tucci at their 8th Annual Winter Gala to be held at Twenty Four Fifth (24 Fifth Avenue) on Monday, March 9, 2009.

New York's OBIE Award-winning Epic Theatre Ensemble (Zak Berkman, Founding producer/Artistic Director), and Epic's After School Shakespeare Program (Melissa Friedman, Founding Executive Director of Education), in conjunction with Chelsea High School and Automotive High School, will present productions of two classic Shakespeare plays featuring the students from each school: the Automotive High School production of Romeo and Juliet sponsored by Lanc?me for three performances, beginning December 11th; and the Chelsea High School production of The Winter's Tale, made possible by support from the Meringoff Family Foundation, for four performances beginning December 18th. All performances will take place at the East 13th Street Theater (136 East 13th Street).

New York's OBIE Award-winning Epic Theatre Ensemble (Zak Berkman, Founding producer/Artistic Director), and Epic's After School Shakespeare Program (Melissa Friedman, Founding Executive Director of Education), in conjunction with Chelsea High School and Automotive High School, will present productions of two classic Shakespeare plays featuring the students from each school: the Automotive High School production of Romeo and Juliet sponsored by Lanc?me for three performances, beginning December 11th; and the Chelsea High School production of The Winter's Tale, made possible by support from the Meringoff Family Foundation, for four performances beginning December 18th. All performances will take place at the East 13th Street Theater (136 East 13th Street).

It has been announced that MTC's production of TO BE OR NOT TO BE will play its final performance on November 16th, 2008. November 16th, 2008 is the end of Manhattan Theater Club's subscription run. They had previously been offering tickets through November 23rd, 2008, but will now be canceling that week of performances. Patrons who have purchased tickets for performances through November 23rd, 2008 should return to their point of purchase for a refund.

The American Theatre Wing and XM Satellite Radio proudly present an interview with Tony Nominee Jan Maxwell, currently appearing on Broadway's To Be or Not To Be, on their weekly theatrical interview show, 'Downstage Center,' on XM's On Broadway (XM Channel 28).

25 to Life Productions, LLC will present 'FOR FLOW,' AN ALMOST-BECKETT HIP-HOP MUSICAL PLAY, a hip-hop Vladimir-and-Estragon play, at Theater for the New City, 155 First Avenue (at East Tenth Street), Manhattan, from November 6 to 23.

On Monday, November 3rd, 2008 Epic Theater Ensemble, in partnership with John Jay College of Criminal Justice, hosted a one-night only special event to benefit Epic's innovative, civic-minded in-school and after-school education programs.

Epic Theater Ensemble, in partnership with John Jay College of Criminal Justice, will host a one-night only special event to benefit Epic's innovative, civic-minded in-school and after-school education programs. Some of today's top writers and performers will honor a large group of First Time Voters with an evening of satirical, scandalous, and inspiring short plays, songs, sketches, and toasts

Torben Betts' The Unconquered is a fast-moving satirical portrait of patriarchy, political indolence and over-reaction. The laughs begin when the 're-liberation' knocks on the door of your average upper-middle class family after aggressive revolutionaries have overthrown the government. Strange and unsettling, their new found freedom provokes the parents to reminisce about the comfort of life under the previous aristocracy while their spirited daughter criticizes her parent's banal and conforming attitudes with great, yet impotent, ferocity. The piece is a reflection of war's long-reaching effects on the domestic front, demonstrating the encompassing ambiguity of a public out of touch with reality. With great wit, poetics and charm, Betts sketches the self-hypocrisy that materializes during times of opaque identity and societal partition.

When the first act of Warren Manzi's PERFECT CRIME ends, the audience sits in stone cold silence. The silence lasts for a few moments after the houselights are brought up and when the audience does finally react, they are abuzz about the convolutions of the plot that is unraveling before them. According to actor Robert Emmet Lunney it's 'hopefully because the audience is thinking; maybe even perplexed.'

Torben Betts' The Unconquered is a fast-moving satirical portrait of patriarchy, political indolence and over-reaction. The laughs begin when the 're-liberation' knocks on the door of your average upper-middle class family after aggressive revolutionaries have overthrown the government. Strange and unsettling, their new found freedom provokes the parents to reminisce about the comfort of life under the previous aristocracy while their spirited daughter criticizes her parent's banal and conforming attitudes with great, yet impotent, ferocity. The piece is a reflection of war's long-reaching effects on the domestic front, demonstrating the encompassing ambiguity of a public out of touch with reality. With great wit, poetics and charm, Betts sketches the self-hypocrisy that materializes during times of opaque identity and societal partition.