McCarter Theatre News

Victory Gardens Theater continues its season with the World Premiere of The Gospel of Lovingkindness by Victory Gardens Ensemble Playwright Marcus Gardley, directed by Artistic Director Chay Yew. The Gospel of Lovingkindness runs February 28 - March 30, 2014 at Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue.

The Los Angeles Premiere of the critically acclaimed DERBY DAY written and directed by Samuel Brett Williams opens Saturday, February 22nd at 8 PM. There will be two previews on February 20th and February 21st. at 8 PM. The show runs Thursday's, Friday's and Saturday's through March 22nd at the Elephant Theatre (6322 Santa Monica Blvd. Hollywood, 90038). Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at www.plays411.com/derbyday or by calling 323.960.7779.

Wee Man Productions presents Hounds of War, a gripping new play written by Bill Holland about the a family struggling to hold on as a unit and which asks us to consider the wars we wage within ourselves. Mark Cirnigliaro directs a cast of five, including Christopher LaPanta, Margaret Curry*, Tony Head, Justin Hofstad, and Patrick Massey. Performances will be staged at the Dorothy Strelsin Theatre, 312 West 36th Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10036 from March 21-April 5, 2014. *Member, Actors' Equity Association. AEA Showcase.

Rubicon Theatre continues the company's 16th Not Your Typical Season with sardines and lingerie in NOISES OFF, a comic romp by Michael Frayn about the outrageous exploits of a company of actors which opens tonight, February 1, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. at Rubicon Theatre, 1006 E. Main Street in Ventura's Downtown Cultural District. The production continues Wednesdays through Sundays through February 23, with low-priced previews on Wednesday, January 29 at 7 p.m., Thursday, January 30 at 8 p.m. and Friday, January 31 at 8 p.m.

Master of Absurd Comedy Christopher Durang blends the characters and themes from Anton Chekhov's dramas in the hilarious Tony Award-winner Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike running March 21 - April 20 at Philadelphia Theatre Company's Suzanne Roberts Theatre (Broad and Lombard Streets). Directed by James J. Christy, the ensemble features Grace Gonglewski, Deirdre Madigan, Kianne Muschett , Clare O'Malley, Alex Shaw, and Kraig Swartz.

Shining East Productions presents The Sun Shines East, based on a true story written by Corinne Chateau* about an adoptive mother's struggle to break through deep personal barriers and international politics to bring home her daughter. Pat Golden directs a cast of 5 including Karen Christie-Ward*, Tara Gadomski*, Mary Francina Golden*, Bristol Pomeroy, and Amy Staats*. Fourteen performances will be held at the Marjorie S. Deane Little Theatre, 10 West 64th Street, in New York City from tonight, January 31-February 16, 2014.

Yale Repertory Theatre presents THE FAIRYTALE LIVES OF RUSSIAN GIRLS by Meg Miroshnik, directed by Rachel Chavkin, tonight, January 31-February 22 at Yale Repertory Theatre (1120 Chapel Street). Opening Night is Thursday, February 6.

Laughter is coming from the stage floor when Bristol Riverside Theatre presents Neil Simon's sidesplitting comedy Laughter on the 23rd Floor on March 18-April 13. Directed by Keith Baker, the ensemble cast features K.O. Delmarcelle, David Edwards, Bruce Graham, Benjamin Lloyd, Megan McDermott, Jason Silverman, and Carl N. Wallnau.

The Broadway Cast - led by Hannah Yelland and Tristan Sturrock - will appear in the internationally celebrated Kneehigh production of Noel Coward's Brief Encounter, which will have a 43-performance limited engagement at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts February 15 to March 23, 2014 (press opening February 19). Yelland and Sturrock are joined by fellow New York cast members Joe Alessi, Dorothy Atkinson, Damon Daunno, and Annette Laughlin. Musician David Brown appeared in the show in the UK and musician James Gow joins the company for The Wallis engagement.

YALE REPERTORY THEATRE presents the world premiere of THESE PAPER BULLETS!, a modish ripoff of William Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, adapted by Rolin Jones, with songs by Billie Joe Armstrong, and directed by Jackson Gay, March 14-April 5 at the University Theatre (222 York Street). Opening Night is Thursday, March 20.

Due to critical praise and strong ticket sales, Page 73 Productions will add a 3pm matinee performance on Saturday, February 1 to the New York premiere of George Brant's gripping new play GROUNDED, Page 73 Productions' Executive Directors Liz Jones and Asher Richelli have announced.

The Cleveland POPS Orchestra with Carl Topilow pays tribute to the musical genius of Marvin Hamlisch in a special concert at 8:00 p.m. on Friday, February 21st in Severance Hall. The concert will feature three of the performers who worked with Hamlisch and knew him well. Broadway legends Donna McKechnie, Jodi Benson, Doug LaBrecque, along with POPS conductor Topilow, will share behind-the-scenes experiences and personal conversations they had with Marvin.

SCR announced that it will produce Five Mile Lake by Rachel Bonds on the Julianne Argyros Stage. The new work is an intimate look at life in a small town and is the final world premiere work for the company's 50th Season. The show runs April 13-May 4 and is an anchor production for the 17th annual Pacific Playwrights Festival. It will be directed by Daniella Topol. Tickets are available online: www.scr.org.

Philadelphia Theatre Company rings in the New Year with the 2012 Drama Desk Award winner Tribes by Nina Raine today, January 24 - February 23 at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre (Broad and Lombard Streets).

American Repertory Ballet will present revivals and world premieres at venues across the state - from Mahwah to Princeton - February through May, 2014. The spring season features two performances of Artistic Director Douglas Martin's acclaimed Romeo and Juliet, the world premiere of Douglas Martin's Firebird and the company premiere of Kirk Peterson's Afternoon of a Faun at McCarter Theatre, a world premiere choreographed by former Joffrey Ballet star Trinette Singleton, and American Repertory Ballet's Diamond Gala - celebrating 60 years since the founding of the organization in 1954.

Page 73 Productions, now in its 16th year premiering the next generation of American Playwrights - who have included Pulitzer Prize winner Quiara Alegria Hudes, Drama Desk Award winner Sam Hunter, New York Times Outstanding Playwright Award recipient Dan LeFranc, and more - announces a post-show discussion panel on America's drone wars following tonight's January 23rd performance of the New York premiere of George Brant's gripping new play GROUNDED, directed by two-time Obie Award-winning director Ken Rus Schmoll (TELEPHONE, A MAP OF VIRTUE) and starring Hannah Cabell (3C, A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS opposite Frank Langella).

Lynne Meadow (Artistic Director), Barry Grove (Executive Producer), and Mandy Greenfield (Artistic Producer) are pleased to announce complete casting for the upcoming world premiere production of TALES FROM RED VIENNA, the new play by David Grimm (Measure for Pleasure), directed by Kate Whoriskey (Ruined at MTC).

Orlando Shakespeare Theater in Partnership with UCF is thrilled to present the epic theatrical event The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, Parts I and II. Written by David Edgar and adapted from the novel by Charles Dickens, the production is produced in Collaboration with Theatre UCF. Co-directed by Artistic Director Jim Helsinger and Theatre UCF Chair/Artistic Director Christopher Niess, The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, Parts I & II is presented in rotating repertory from today, January 22 to March 9, 2014 at the John and Rita Lowndes Shakespeare Center in Loch Haven Park.