Mark Twain News

Resident professional theatre company Festival Stage of Winston-Salem will return to downtown's Hanesbrands Theatre for its fourth season in 2013-14, presenting Neil Simon's Lost in Yonkers Oct. 18-Nov. 3; Driving Miss Daisy Feb. 7-23; and the romantic comedy Talley's Folly May 2-18.

Long Wharf Theatre concludes its 2012-13 season with Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning play Clybourne Park, by Bruce Norris, and directed by Associate Artistic Director Eric Ting. The play will take place on The Claire Tow Stage in the C. Newton Schenck III Mainstage from tonight, May 8, 2013 through June 2, 2013.

'Naked Darrow,' written and performed by Gary L. Anderson, looks at America's most hated and revered attorney, Clarence Darrow, as his great mind slips away. The play, based on the most current and intimate details of Darrow's private life, is a new and revelatory portrait of the man, not the legend. It presents an end-of-life scenario that will bring a shock of recognition to audiences who have, or may have imagined, their own struggle to face aging and to leave a legacy that may endure. River District Theatre presents the play's first full production June 5 to 30 at The Drilling Company Theatre, 236 West 78th Street, 3 fl.

If you haven't had the chance to catch up on your theater news, look no further than today's recap of all things theater - exclusive features, interviews, reviews and more! - around the Broadway World for the week of April 29!

The American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) at Harvard University, under the Artistic Direction of Diane Paulus, has just announced its 2013/14 Season, which includes the previously announced Robert Schenkkan's play All the Way and the world premiere of the musical Witness Uganda.

Five thrilling new works will be showcased in Pride Films and Plays Gay Play Weekend May 17 to 19 at Center on Halsted's Hoover-Leppen Theater. They include:

RosettaBooks, the leading independent eBook publisher, released a compilation of master storyteller Kurt Vonnegut's commencement speeches entitled If This Isn't Nice, What Is?: Advice for the Young.

Kids today face a different world-and a different set of challenges-than did the children of even 15 years ago. Young actors need a highly diversified selection of monologues to choose from when studying, practicing, or auditioning for theatre.

Geva Theatre Center's 2013 Fielding Nextstage Season concludes with Venus in Fur, by David Ives. Directed by Aimee Hayes, the production begins performances on May 16 and runs in the Fielding Nextstage through June 2.

Following three sold-out performances, iconic funny man Bill Cosby brings his signature comedy back to the Treasure Island Theatre May 24 at 8 p.m.

Hal Holbrook performed his well known show, 'Mark Twain Tonight,' at the Mayo Center for Performing Arts in Morristown New Jersey and the audience was captivated.

THE LOWER EAST SIDE FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS (LES) celebrates its 18th year of bringing together -- in one location, over three days -- more than 100 performing arts organizations, local and international celebrities, independent artists, poets, playwrights, musicians, puppeteers, film makers and many others, all of whom reside, work or have their roots in the culturally diverse Lower East Side. Once again this year, New York City's most diverse FREE 3-day, indoor and outdoor cultural celebration will take place on Memorial Day Weekend, from Friday, May 24 through Sunday, May 26, at Theater for the New City (155 1st Avenue, between E. 9th and 10th Sts.) in Manhattan.

Ka-Tet Theatre Company presents the Chicago premiere of SMUDGE by two-time Emmy Award-winning writer Rachel Axler, directed by Allison Shoemaker, playing May 25 - June 23, 2013 at the Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport Ave. in Chicago. SMUDGE features Ka-Tet company members Stevie Chaddock Lambert and Scott Allen Luke with Andrew Marchetti.

Cape May Stage will present the world premiere of New Jersey playwright Shawn Fisher's How to Make a Rope Swing: the inaugural production of the Equity theatre's 25th anniversary season. Directed by Emmy nominee Roy Steinberg, How to Make a Rope Swing, is a dramatic story about long-buried secrets in a Jersey Shore town, and will feature guest performers Lynn Cohen and Barry Phillips along with Ben Rosenblatt. Winner of the Edgerton Foundation New American Plays Award, How to Make a Rope Swing opens Friday, May 17 at 8 p.m. at the Robert Shackleton Playhouse on Bank and Lafayette Streets.

ANN, the new critically acclaimed play written and performed by Emmy Award-winning actress and 2013 Outer Critics Circle Award Nominee Holland Taylor, is launching the Great American Women Talkback Series, which will feature post-show discussions hosted by Tony and Emmy Award winner Lily Tomlin, Tony award winning playwright and activist Eve Ensler, feminist activist and writer Gloria Steinem, and award winning political humorist Kate Clinton. All talkbacks are complimentary with ticket purchase to ANN at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre (150 West 65th Street). ANN is directed by Benjamin Endsley Klein, and has been extended through Sunday, September 1, 2013.

The Fulton Theatre continues its 160th Anniversary Season with the flashy, bold show business musical Dreamgirls, representing the first time the show will be produced or presented in the Lancaster region. Dreamgirls is a co-production with Maine State Music Theatre and is directed and choreographed by the Fulton's Artistic Director, Marc Robin.

Ed Gerhard returns to Concord's Capitol Center for the Arts tonight, April 21st at 7:30pm in support of his highly anticipated new CD 'There and Gone,' a collection of original compositions and covers including a stunning arrangement of 'Imagine/Across the Universe,' 'I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry' and a concert favorite on Weissenborn, 'Killing the Blues.'

Long Beach Opera's new double bill explores creative minds on the border between genius and madness. Former rocker Stewart Copeland delves into the twisted psyche of Edgar Allan Poe's manic murderer in the US premiere of Tell-Tale Heart and Bang on a Can composer, Michael Gordon, observes the anguished spirit of a brilliant artist in the West Coast stage premiere of Van Gogh. Featuring music at the edge of rock, jazz and classical modernism, this double bill of delusion and illusion, paranoia and inspiration begins May 11 and continues on May 18 and 19, 2013 at theEXPO Art Center, 4321 Atlantic Avenue, Long Beach, CA.

Following the overwhelming success of last year's Record Store Day Australia, for the fifth year running, Australia is set to pull the crowds into stores across the nation for this day dedicated to the local Record Store.

To commemorate its sesquicentennial, BAM (Brooklyn Academy Of Music) commissioned BAM150, a feature length documentary conceived by award-winning director Michael Sladek that weaves together the institution's vibrant past, present, and future presenting a rich history that mirrors the evolution of performing arts in 20th century America. This landmark film premiered last year at the Tribeca Film Festival and will air tonight, April 19 at 10pm on THIRTEEN.