John Gromada News

The Public Theater began previews yesterday, June 6 for the 2011 Shakespeare in the Park summer season featuring MEASURE FOR MEASURE, directed by David Esbjornson, and ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL, directed by Daniel Sullivan. The two shows will run in repertory with the same company of actors through Saturday, July 30 at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. Check out the new photos from All's Well That Ends Well below!

The Public Theater began previews June 6 for the 2011 Shakespeare in the Park summer season featuring MEASURE FOR MEASURE, directed by David Esbjornson, and ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL, directed by Daniel Sullivan. The two shows will run in repertory with the same company of actors through Saturday, July 30 at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. Check out the full batch of photos from Measure for Measure below!

The Public Theater began previews yesterday, June 6 for the 2011 Shakespeare in the Park summer season featuring MEASURE FOR MEASURE, directed by David Esbjornson, and ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL, directed by Daniel Sullivan. The two shows will run in repertory with the same company of actors through Saturday, July 30 at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. Check out the new photos from Measure for Measure below!

Directing the Broadway premieres of entities as diverse as Edward Albee's blisteringly brilliant modern tragedy THE GOAT, OR WHO IS SYLVIA? - as well as Albee's THE PLAY ABOUT THE BABY Off-Broadway; in addition to other notable Off-Broadway credits including the recent revival of Larry Kramer's Pulitzer-prize-winning THE NORMAL HEART starring Raul Esparza - to Arthur Miller's THE RIDE DOWN MT. MORGAN starring Patrick Stewart, Farah Fawcett's troubled star vehicle BOBBI BOLAND, up to this season's hit revival of Alfred Uhry'ss DRIVING MISS DAISY starring James Earl Jones and Vanessa Redgrave and the brand new Shakespeare-In-The-Park production of MEASURE FOR MEASURE - beginning previews at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park this week - director David Esbjornson's work is always vivid, human and compelling. Taking on one of Shakespeare's most problematic plays is merely one of the many challenges for Esbjornson and that has been even further compounded by the intense and sporadic rehearsal nature of playing two new productions simultaneously in repertory, as the Public is doing this season with MEASURE FOR MEASURE along with Daniel Sullivan's ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL - which was featured in this very column last week. Talking about all aspects of this revolutionary new take on MEASURE FOR MEASURE as well as his past work, Esbjornson and I shine a light on the sensitive and moving productions that he has provided the theatre community with in his tenure, foremost of all being this new MEASURE FOR MEASURE.

The Public Theater will begin previews on Monday, June 6 for the 2011 Shakespeare in the Park summer season featuring MEASURE FOR MEASURE, directed by David Esbjornson, and ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL, directed by Daniel Sullivan. The two shows will run in repertory with the same company of actors through Saturday, July 30 at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park.

The Public Theater will begin previews on Monday, June 6 for the 2011 Shakespeare in the Park summer season featuring MEASURE FOR MEASURE, directed by David Esbjornson, and ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL, directed by Daniel Sullivan. The two shows will run in repertory with the same company of actors through Saturday, July 30 at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Interim Executive Director Joey Parnes) announced complete casting today for the 2011 Shakespeare in the Park summer season featuring MEASURE FOR MEASURE, directed by David Esbjornson, and ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL, directed by Daniel Sullivan, running in repertory June 6 - July 30 at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. MEASURE FOR MEASURE begins performances on Monday, June 6 and officially opens on Thursday, June 30. ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL begins performances on Saturday, June 11 and officially opens on Saturday, June 25. Tickets to both shows running in repertory are free and distributed the day of the performance. All performances are at 8:00 p.m. For ticket information and performance schedule, visit www.shakespeareinthepark.org.

THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS, the provocative and wickedly funny theatrical adaptation of the C.S. Lewis novel about spiritual warfare from a demon's point of view, will be presented in a limited engagement at Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, adjacent to University of California Irvine, from July 21 through July 24.

La Jolla Playhouse presents A Dram of Drummhicit, by Arthur Kopit and Anton Dudley, directed by Playhouse Artistic Director Christopher Ashley, running in the Mandell Weiss Theatre May 17 - June 12 (media night: Sunday, May 22 at 7:00 pm). Tickets for A Dram of Drummhicit are available at the Playhouse Box Office: (858) 550-1010 or online at LaJollaPlayhouse.org.

David Kennedy, Westport Country Playhouse associate artistic director, has been named to direct the 2011 season opening production, "Beyond Therapy" by Christopher Durang, announced Mark Lamos, Playhouse artistic director.

Lynn Nottage's world premiere comedy, BY THE WAY, MEET VERA STARK, already extended one week through May 29 at Second Stage Theatre, and opened last night, May 9. Directed by Jo Bonney, BY THE WAY, MEET VERA STARK is Ms. Nottage's first play to be produced in New York since she won the Pulitzer Prize for Ruined in 2009. For ticket information, please call the Second Stage Box Office at 212-246-4422 or visit the company's website, www.2ST.com.

Lynn Nottage's world premiere comedy, BY THE WAY, MEET VERA STARK, already extended one week through May 29 at Second Stage Theatre, opens tonight, May 9. Directed by Jo Bonney, BY THE WAY, MEET VERA STARK is Ms. Nottage's first play to be produced in New York since she won the Pulitzer Prize for Ruined in 2009. For ticket information, please call the Second Stage Box Office at 212-246-4422 or visit the company's website, www.2ST.com.

THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS, the provocative and wickedly funny theatrical adaptation of the C.S. Lewis novel about spiritual warfare from a demon's point of view, will be presented in a limited engagement at Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, adjacent to University of California Irvine, from July 21 through July 24. The production returns to Southern California after selling out in Los Angeles and San Diego earlier this year.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Interim Executive Director Joey Parnes) is currently rehearsing the Shakespeare in the Park summer season featuring MEASURE FOR MEASURE, directed by David Esbjornson, and ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL, directed by Daniel Sullivan, running in repertory June 6 - July 30 at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. Bank of America returns as lead sponsor of Shakespeare in the Park 2011, supporting The Public's mission to keep Shakespeare in the Park free.

Opening its 2011 season and its 80th birthday year, Westport Country Playhouse will stage comic master Christopher Durang's 'Beyond Therapy,' directed by David Kennedy, Playhouse associate artistic director, April 26 through May 14.

Although still in previews, Lynn Nottage's world premiere comedy, BY THE WAY, MEET VERA STARK, has extended one week through May 29 at Second Stage Theatre (305 West 43rd street). Directed by Jo Bonney, BY THE WAY, MEET VERA STARK is Ms. Nottage's first play to be produced in New York since she won the Pulitzer Prize for Ruined in 2009. The production will officially open on Monday, May 9. For ticket information, please call the Second Stage Box Office at 212-246-4422 or visit the company's website, www.2ST.com.

Opening its 2011 season and its 80th birthday year, Westport Country Playhouse will stage comic master Christopher Durang's "Beyond Therapy," directed by David Kennedy, Playhouse associate artistic director, April 26 through May 14.

La Jolla Playhouse presents A Dram of Drummhicit, by Arthur Kopit and Anton Dudley, directed by Playhouse Artistic Director Christopher Ashley, running in the Mandell Weiss Theatre May 17 - June 12 (media night: Sunday, May 22 at 7:00 pm). Tickets for A Dram of Drummhicit are available at the Playhouse Box Office: (858) 550-1010 or online at LaJollaPlayhouse.org.

Huntington Theatre Company kicks off its spring of comedy with Educating Rita by Willy Russell (Shirley Valentine, Blood Brothers), welcoming back celebrated British director Maria Aitken.

THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS, the provocative and wickedly funny theatrical adaptation of the C.S. Lewis novel about spiritual warfare from a demon's point of view, will be presented in a limited engagement in Cincinnati and Columbus this spring. The production will be at the Procter and Gamble Hall at the Aronoff Center for the Arts, 650 Walnut Street, in Cincinnati on Saturday, April 9th at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Columbus' Palace Theatre, 34 W. Broad Street, on Saturday, May 21st at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.