Marilee Talkington News

I recall a story where a pastor spoke to his congregation about the 10 commandments. To paraphrase, the pastor said, 'About that commandment about not having any false idols--not applicable for today, right? Nobody praying before golden calves today, right?' Then, he held up a football.

The NFL takes Center Stage in X's and O's, a new, ripped-from-the-headlines play about America's love of football and the often traumatic impact the sport has on many of its players and families. X's and O's is the final production at Center Stage before building-wide renovations move the company's last two productions of the season to a temporary residency at Towson University.

BootStrap Theater Foundation is pleased to announce the world premiere of 'Arctic Requiem: The Story of Luke Cole and Kivalina' created by Sharmon J. Hilfinger and Joan McMillen, directed by Tracy Ward. This multifaceted theatrical production will run October 23 - November 15 at San Francisco's Z Below Theater 450 Florida Street with an Opening Night on Sunday, October 25, 5 p.m.

BootStrap Theater Foundation is pleased to announce the world premiere of 'Arctic Requiem: The Story of Luke Cole and Kivalina' created by Sharmon J. Hilfinger and Joan McMillen, directed by Tracy Ward. This multifaceted theatrical production will run October 23 - November 15 at San Francisco's Z Below Theater 450 Florida Street with an Opening Night on Sunday, October 25, 5 p.m.

Crowded Fire Theater (CFT) is pleased to announce the cast and creative team and dates for the American Premiere of TRUCK STOP by Lachlan Philpott, opening Monday October 5, 8 pm running through October 24 at the Thick House in San Francisco's Potrero Hill. Directed by Marilee Talkington, this production marks Lachlan Philpott's first fully produced play in the United States. Philpott is an award-winning playwright in Australia whose plays have been extensively developed at American theaters including San Francisco's ACT, Crowded Fire Theater and the Magic.

Crowded Fire Theater (CFT) is pleased to announce the creative team and dates for the American Premiere of TRUCK STOP by Lachlan Philpott, opening Monday October 5, 8 pm running through October 24 at the Thick House in San Francisco's Potrero Hill. Directed by Marilee Talkington, this production marks Lachlan Philpott's first fully produced play in the United States. Philpott is an award-winning playwright in Australia whose plays have been extensively developed at American theaters including San Francisco's ACT, Crowded Fire Theater and the Magic.

 Today, Marin Theatre Company announced that Dori Jacob will be the new Casting Director and Associate Producer for the 48-year-old LORT-D theater company. For the past 4 seasons, she served as the Director of New Play Development for Magic Theatre in San Francisco and dramaturged the world premieres of Octavio Solis' Se Llama Cristina, Linda McLean's Every Five Minutes, Christina Anderson's pen/man/ship and John Kolvenbach's Sister Play. As the resident producer for Magic Theatre's developmental programming, Jacob's credits include 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 & 2015 Virgin Play Series, the 2012 Asian Explosion Reading Series and the 2013 Costume Shop Festival.

Berkeley Rep is proud to announce that its annual OVATION Gala raised $675,000 for the Theatre's new play development, arts education, and community engagement programs. Held at the glitzy Ritz-Carlton hotel in San Francisco, the event swept guests up in a masquerade fete filled with theatrical spectacle and surprise entertainment. The Gala was one of the most successful in Berkeley Rep's history, welcoming 330 attendees.

Crowded Fire Theater announces On a Wonderverse by Geetha Reddy originally scheduled for an October 1-24 run will be presented in the 2016 season. To close its 2015 Season Crowded Fire Theater will present the American Premiere of TRUCK STOP by Lachlan Philpott directed by Marilee Talkington October 1- 24, 2015.

Berkeley Repertory Theatre is proud to present the world premiere of X's and O's (A Football Love Story), a hard-hitting docudrama that examines our country's passion for a game that is life-giving yet lethal. Our singularly American sport is intricately woven into our culture and rituals, yet its traumatic effect on players and their families has us reexamining its place in our country's story.

Kansas City Repertory Theatre Artistic Director Eric Rosen today announced additions to KC Rep's artistic staff. Jason Chanos has been hired as the new Associate Artistic Director and Marissa Wolf in the newly created position as Director of New Work/Artistic Associate. Chanos will begin January 5, 2015 and Wolf will begin December 10, 2014.

San Francisco Playhouse opens its sixth season of the Sandbox Series of new plays with the world premiere of Rinne Groff's 77% (formerly titled Schooner). Marissa Wolf will direct.

San Francisco Playhouse opens its sixth season of the Sandbox Series of new plays with the world premiere of Rinne Groff's 77% (formerly titled Schooner). Marissa Wolf will direct.

Aurora Theatre Company announces that it will add an additional 7 performances of the Bay Area Premiere of Obie-winning playwright Gina Gionfriddo's (After Ashley, Becky Shaw) unflinching look at modern gender politics. Desdemona Chiang (The Hundred Flowers Project) directs this finalist for the 2013 Pulitzer Prize, featuring Gabriel Marin (This Is How It Goes, Collapse), Rebecca Schweitzer (A Delicate Balance, The First Grade), Marilee Talkington (Salomania), Lilian Bogovich, and Nicole Javier. RAPTURE, BLISTER, BURN plays now through October 5 (added performances: Tuesday, September 30, 7pm; Wednesday, October 1, 8pm; Thursday, October 2, 8pm; Friday, October 3, 8pm; Saturday, October 4, 8pm; Sunday, October 5, 2pm and 7pm) at the Aurora Theatre in Berkeley. For tickets ($32-50) and information the public can call (510) 843-4822 or visit auroratheatre.org.

Aurora Theatre Company opens its 23rd season with the Bay Area Premiere of Obie-winning playwright Gina Gionfriddo's (After Ashley,Becky Shaw) RAPTURE, BLISTER, BURN. Can any woman have it all? After graduate school, Catherine and Gwen chose different paths. Catherine built a career as a rock star academic and media darling, writing books linking Internet pornography with 9/11, while Gwen built a home with her husband and children. Decades later, unfulfilled in polar opposite ways, each woman covets the other's life. When Catherine returns home to look after her ailing mother, a risky game of musical chairs begins as three generations of women struggle with feminism's foibles.

The Playwrights Foundation's 37th Annual Bay Area Playwrights Festival (BAPF) will take place today, July 18-27, 2014 at the Thick House Theater in San Francisco.

The Playwrights Foundation's 37th Annual Bay Area Playwrights Festival (BAPF) will take place July 18-27, 2014 at the Thick House Theater in San Francisco.

Aurora Theatre Company opens its 23rd season with the Bay Area Premiere of RAPTURE, BLISTER, BURN (August 29-September 28). A finalist for the 2013 Pulitzer Prize, this sharp, witty comedy examines the pursuit of happiness in the wake of 20th century feminist ideals. Desdemona Chiang (The Hundred Flowers Project) makes her Aurora directing debut with this unflinching look at modern gender politics, featuring Gabriel Marin (This Is How It Goes), Rebecca Schweitzer (A Delicate Balance, The First Grade), Marilee Talkington (Salomania), Lilian Bogovich, and Nicole Javie.

The Crowded Fire Theater (CFT) 2014 season begins with the World Premiere of Amelia Roper's She Rode Horses Like the Stock Exchange, her first play to be produced in the Americas. She Rode Horses... opens with a press night on Monday March 24 (previews today, March 20-23) running through April 12 at the Thick House in San Francisco's Potrero Hill.

The Crowded Fire Theater (CFT) 2014 season begins with the World Premiere of Amelia Roper's She Rode Horses Like the Stock Exchange, her first play to be produced in the Americas. She Rode Horses… opens with a press night on Monday March 24 (previews March 20-23) running through April 12 at the Thick House in San Francisco's Potrero Hill.