Judi Dench News

STAGE ONE launches ONE STAGE - A season of work produced by emerging producers at St. James Theatre in Autumn 2014

Chicago area and North Shore audiences -- for the third consecutive year -- will have the opportunity to experience the best of British theatre in December, when the Theatre and Interpretation Center (TIC) at Northwestern University presents the National Theatre Live (NT Live) broadcast series.

Today we are talking to a familiar face to theatre fans who has appeared in a number of memorable roles on Broadway and elsewhere, in roles ranging from LES MISERABLES to THE FIX to A TALE OF TWO CITIES and beyond - the passionate and thoughtful Natalie Toro. Discussing many of the details in the painstaking process in bringing her spectacular new holiday-themed album to life, song selection to overall style and sound, Toro shares stories from the studio as well as from her own life, having spent the better part of the last year preparing, recording, mastering and now finally releasing the album to the world - along with a few music videos, too. Speaking of which, Toro shines a light on the talented guest stars and collaborators that appear on the release, including Jon Secada and Ryan Kelly, with whom she stars in the new music video for "Baby, It's Cold Outside". Additionally, Toro also casts a look back at some of her most celebrated roles to date and tells colorful tales from participating in the national tour of CATS, the American premiere of Dana Rowe and John Dempsey's THE FIX and the original Off-Broadway production of ZOMBIE PROM as well as LES MISERABLES on Broadway, A TALE OF TWO CITIES and more as well as illuminates her involvement with the recent workshop of the new musical by Dana Rowe and Michal Aman, FRIDA. Plus, Toro looks ahead to her holiday-themed Birdland show in promotion of JUST IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS and much, much more!

A newly commissioned portrait of barrister, politician and broadcaster Baroness Helena Kennedy by light artist Chris Levine has been unveiled at the National Portrait Gallery, London, it was announced today (Thursday 28 November 2013). The portrait was commissioned by the Gallery with the support of J.P. Morgan through the Fund for New Commissions.

Returning to the London stage for the first time in nearly 40 years the inimitable Angela Lansbury reunites with acclaimed director Michael Blakemore to reprise her Tony award-winning Broadway performance as Madame Arcati in Blithe Spirit. Opening at the Gielgud Theatre on 18 March 2014, with previews from 1 March, this new production of Noel Coward's sharp comedy of social mores will also star Janie Dee and Charles Edwards.

Move over Grinch; Santa Claus is coming to town and taking up residence at Rubicon Theatre in Ventura! Rubicon's November/ December HOLIDAY CENTRAL calendar offers a sparkling array of more than 35 shows and events for all ages. The festivities begin with the return of a holiday revue with six Broadway singers and a local children's chorus; followed by a late-night adult comedy presented in a cabaret setting; a poetic reading of wartime love letters; and culminating with an enchanting new musical from the Tony and Olivier Award-winning director of Les Miserables and Nicholas Nickleby and the creators of Jane Eyre and Daddy Long Legs, who will have a five-week residency at Rubicon during the holidays.

Michelle Williams will make her Broadway debut next season as 'Sally Bowles' in Cabaret (set to open at Studio 54 on April 24, 2014)!

The Laguna Playhouse is thrilled to present film great Leslie Caron (An American In Paris, Gigi, Fanny) in a comic and heartfelt valentine to the human condition, SIX DANCE LESSONS IN SIX WEEKS, written by Richard Alfieri and directed by Michael Arabian (Waiting for Godot). Additional exciting casting news to be announced shortly! SIX DANCE LESSONS IN SIX WEEKS will begin previews tonight, November 26 and will open on Saturday, December 7 at 7:30pm and run through Sunday, December 29, 2013 at the Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach.

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) is delighted to announce that Stephen Fry will again host the EE British Academy Film Awards on 16 February 2014 at the Royal Opera House in London's Covent Garden

Move over Grinch; Santa Claus is coming to town and taking up residence at Rubicon Theatre in Ventura! Rubicon's November/ December HOLIDAY CENTRAL calendar offers a sparkling array of more than 35 shows and events for all ages. The festivities begin with the return of a holiday revue with six Broadway singers and a local children's chorus; followed by a late-night adult comedy presented in a cabaret setting; a poetic reading of wartime love letters; and culminating with an enchanting new musical from the Tony and Olivier Award-winning director of Les Miserables and Nicholas Nickleby and the creators of Jane Eyre and Daddy Long Legs, who will have a five-week residency at Rubicon during the holidays.

Chicago area and North Shore audiences -- for the third consecutive year -- will have the opportunity to experience the best of British theatre in December, when the Theatre and Interpretation Center (TIC) at Northwestern University presents the National Theatre Live (NT Live) broadcast series.

On Opening Night, tonight, November 13, the Napa Valley Film Festival will present August: Osage County, based on the award winning play, and directed by John Wells, one of the most prolific writers, directors and producers for television, film and stage. The film stars the legendary Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts, as part of a dysfunctional family returning to their home in Oklahoma.

Celebrating its 50th anniversary, The National Theatre first opened its doors in 1963 at the Old Vic, under Laurence Olivier. 800 productions later, they are marking their half-century with a short season celebrating the remarkable people and plays that have made the NT one of the most cherished and creative of great British institutions. last night, a private reception, panel discussion, and screening was held for Live From The National Theatre: 50 Years On Stage. BroadwayWorld was there for the special event and you can check out photos below!

The nominations for this year's British Independent Film Awards were announced today by Ewan McGregor,. Leading the pack is David Mackenzie's Starred Up with eight nods including Best British Independent Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay for Jonathan Asser, and Best Actor for Jack O'Connell.

Today we are all more alert to dangers (real and imaginary) and to abuses of surveillance. But what if "suspicious activity" is seen in neighbors who are close friends? Who do you "Say Something" to? And if the authorities asked you to help spy on those friends secretly, how would you feel?

This November the Royal Shakespeare Company launches two new free public exhibitions, open from 10am daily at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon.

TWELFTH NIGHT and RICHARD III, starring the Tony-winning, incomparable Mark Rylance, have adopted a creative leniency with the characters' gender - though Shakespeare's staple to command his characters to don the garb of a member of the opposite sex, for reasons interwoven in love and lust, greed and vengeance, is a common thread running throughout his romantic repertoire.

From Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead to The History Boys, from The Mysteries to Angels in America, from Guys and Dolls to London Road - join us for a thrilling evening of live performance and rare glimpses from the archive, featuring many of the most celebrated actors who have performed on our stages over the past five decades and directed by Nicholas Hytner.