Laurence Olivier News

Soho Rep announces staged readings of four new plays by contemporary Black-British Playwrights to run in conjunction with the U.S. Premiere of debbie tucker green's BORN BAD, set to open at Soho Rep on April 7, 2011.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) showcases yet another of the world's renowned theater companies this spring for its World's Stage Series, bringing Chicago audiences two productions from Ireland's celebrated Druid Theatre Company. Druid's The Cripple of Inishmaan by award-winning playwright Martin McDonagh closes at CST's Courtyard Theater, March 27, 2011, complemented by a special engagement of Give Me Your Hand Upstairs at Chicago Shakespeare on March 27.

The Homecoming closes March 27, 2011, at the American Conservatory Theater (415 Geary Street, San Francisco).

Soho Rep announces staged readings of four new plays by contemporary Black-British Playwrights to run in conjunction with the U.S. Premiere of debbie tucker green's BORN BAD, set to open at Soho Rep on April 7, 2011.

Academy Award-winner (Amadeus) F. Murray Abraham stars as Shylock in Theatre for a New Audience's widely acclaimed 2007 production of The Merchant of Venice, directed by Darko Tresnjak.

The Rochester return of Disney's THE LION KING opens tonight, Thursday, March 24 at 7:30 p.m. at the Auditorium Theatre for a limited engagement of four weeks through Sunday, April 17.

Executive Producer Lou Spisto today announced the complete cast and creative team for Ayub Khan-Din's Olivier Award-winning comedy, Rafta, Rafta..., based on All in Good Time by Bill Naughton. Directed by Jonathan Silverstein, Rafta, Rafta... will run in the Old Globe Theatre March 19 - April 24. Preview performances run March 19 - March 23. Opening night is March 24 at 8:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at www.TheOldGlobe.org, by phone at (619) 23-GLOBE or by visiting the Box Office at 1363 Old Globe Way in Balboa Park.

Disney's THE LION KING continues to reign across North America with a sold-out four-week premiere engagement in Schenectady, NY which concluded on Sunday, March 20. The engagement, which the Albany Times Union enthused, 'offers all of the spectacle one would expect and then some,' grossed over $5.2 million at the box office and entertained more than 77,000 patrons during 32 performances at Proctors Theatre.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) Artistic Director Barbara Gaines and Executive Director Criss Henderson announced today CST's 25th Anniversary Season, marking a quarter-century of world-class performance and broad-based educational and family programming.

From 26 April 2011 Natalie Casey will join the west end cast of the Olivier award-wining Legally Blonde The Musical to play ditzy beautician Paulette Buonofonté. She joins Susan McFadden as Elle Woods, Carley Stenson as Margot, Nicola Brazil as Serena, Siobhan Dillon as Vivienne and Peter Davison as Professor Callahan. Natalie Casey takes over the role from Denise Van Outen, whose last performance will be Saturday 23 April. From mid-June Lee Mead will join the west end cast to play Emmett Forrest.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, stage veterans Nicholas Hoult, John Kassir, Ewan McGregor, Ian McShane, Bill Nighy, and Stanley Tucci are on board for New Line/Legendary's 'Jack the Giant Killer.' The movie will be written by Darren Lemke and directed by Bryan Singer.

Marquee Productions presents the Broadway sizzler, Chicago at the Montgomery Theater in downtown San Jose, April 15 - 23, 2011. Winner of six Tony Awards, five prestigious Drama Desk and two Laurence Olivier Awards, including 'Best Musical Revival,' this tantalizing tale of treachery, murder, fame and fortune is electrified with exhilarating dance numbers and show-stopping tunes

Directed by Jonathan Silverstein, Rafta, Rafta... will run in the Old Globe Theatre, part of The Old Globe's Conrad Prebys Theatre Center, March 22 - April 24. Preview performances run March 22 - March 27. Opening night is Sunday, March 27 at 7:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at www.TheOldGlobe.org, by phone at (619) 23-GLOBE or by visiting the Box Office at 1363 Old Globe Way in Balboa Park.

George Street Playhouse is set to present AN EVENING WITH STILLER AND MEARA on April 4 at 7:30. The intimate evening with the comic duo, hosted by GSP Artistic Director David Saint will include the couple's reminiscences about their incredible life and career, spanning decades and including working with such noted personalities as Ed Sullivan, Sir Laurence Olivier and their son, Ben Stiller, as well as their unique take on everyday life and current events. The delightful evening promises backstage stories and anecdotes sure to be unforgettable - and funny.

Award-winning actor/director/playwright Frank Ferrante recreates his acclaimed portrayal of legendary comedian Groucho Marx in the fast paced An Evening with Groucho.

Digital Theatre today (21 March 2011) announces the sell out West End production of Arthur Miller's All My Sons is now available for pre-order from www.digitaltheatre.com, and will be released on Thursday 14 April 2011 at 10am.

Disney's THE LION KING, presented by Marina Bay Sands and Disney Theatrical Productions, together with BASE Entertainment, opened at The Sands Theatre in Singapore's Marina Bay Sands March 9 and the reviews are now in.

The Schenectady premiere of Disney's THE LION KING will close at Proctors on Sunday, March 20, 2011.

Trickery and deceit take over in Anthony Shaffer's SLEUTH, which kicks off Theatre at the Center's 2011 season. This edge-of-your-seat mystery closes March 20 at 1040 Ridge Road, Munster, Indiana. The production, directed by William Pullinsi, stars Larry Yando and Lance Baker.

Priscilla Queen Of The Desert The Musical, written by Stephan Elliott and Allan Scott and directed by Simon Phillips, will open on Broadway on Sunday, March 20, 2011 at the Palace Theatre (1564 Broadway). Previews will begin on Monday, February 28, 2011.