Meyer Levin News

The Spellbound Development Company will present a reading of a new play THE IDEALIST by Jennifer Strome, directed by Lee Sankowich, at The Times Center (242 W41st Street) in February 2011.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson), Berkeley Repertory Theatre, and Yale Repertory Theatre announced complete casting today for the world premiere production of Rinne Groff's COMPULSION, directed by Public Theater Artistic Director Oskar Eustis.

The Theatre School at DePaul University is delighted to announce that this coming December 31, 2010, will mark the 100th anniversary of the opening of the Merle Reskin Theatre (formerly The Blackstone Theatre). The Beaux-Arts style Blackstone Theatre, which was designed by Chicago architects Marshall and Fox, opened its doors just off of Michigan Avenue in the South Loop on New Years' Eve of 1910. In the course of the past century it has changed owners, names, addresses, audiences, and has stayed a hub of theatrical arts in a changing neighborhood and city. It faced many noteworthy changes in entertainment, including the introduction of the radio, television and film industries.

Even as its shows reach New York and London, Berkeley Repertory Theatre begins another season of fearless theatre here at home: Emmy- and Tony Award-winning actor Mandy Patinkin stars in the world-premiere production of Compulsion on Berkeley Rep's intimate Thrust Stage. Acclaimed director Oskar Eustis returns to the Bay Area with Rinne Groff's latest play, a kaleidoscopic collision of history and culture that combines stellar acting with marvelous marionettes. Compulsion, a world-premiere co-production from Berkeley Rep, The Public Theater, and Yale Repertory Theatre, begins previews on September 13, opens September 16, and closes October 31.

Critically acclaimed novelist Francine Prose, writer of the recently published Anne Frank: The Book, The Life, The Afterlife, will present an author talk and book signing, on Sunday, September 19, 3 p.m., at Westport Country Playhouse. Prose will speak about her book, followed by an interview with David Kennedy, Playhouse associate artistic director, and a Q&A with the audience.

Even as its shows reach New York and London, Berkeley Repertory Theatre begins another season of fearless theatre here at home: Emmy- and Tony Award-winning actor Mandy Patinkin stars in the world-premiere production of Compulsion on Berkeley Rep's intimate Thrust Stage. Acclaimed director Oskar Eustis returns to the Bay Area with Rinne Groff's latest play, a kaleidoscopic collision of history and culture that combines stellar acting with marvelous marionettes. Compulsion, a world-premiere co-production from Berkeley Rep, The Public Theater, and Yale Repertory Theatre, begins previews on September 13, opens September 16, and closes October 31.

Even as its shows reach New York and London, Berkeley Repertory Theatre begins another season of fearless theatre here at home: Emmy- and Tony Award-winning actor Mandy Patinkin stars in the world-premiere production of Compulsion on Berkeley Rep's intimate Thrust Stage. Acclaimed director Oskar Eustis returns to the Bay Area with Rinne Groff's latest play, a kaleidoscopic collision of history and culture that combines stellar acting with marvelous marionettes. Compulsion, a world-premiere co-production from Berkeley Rep, The Public Theater, and Yale Repertory Theatre, begins previews on September 13, opens September 16, and closes October 31.

Even as its shows reach New York and London, Berkeley Repertory Theatre begins another season of fearless theatre here at home: Emmy- and Tony Award-winning actor Mandy Patinkin stars in the world-premiere production of Compulsion on Berkeley Rep's intimate Thrust Stage. Acclaimed director Oskar Eustis returns to the Bay Area with Rinne Groff's latest play, a kaleidoscopic collision of history and culture that combines stellar acting with marvelous marionettes. Compulsion, a world-premiere co-production from Berkeley Rep, The Public Theater, and Yale Repertory Theatre, begins previews on September 13, opens September 16, and closes October 31.

Critically acclaimed novelist Francine Prose, writer of the recently published Anne Frank: The Book, The Life, The Afterlife, will present an author talk and book signing, on Sunday, September 19, 3 p.m., at Westport Country Playhouse. Prose will speak about her book, followed by an interview with David Kennedy, Playhouse associate artistic director, and a Q&A with the audience.

The Public Theater's Artistic Director Oskar Eustis and Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson announced the line-up today for The Public's 55th Anniversary Season beginning in September with the long-awaited New York premiere of Elevator Repair Service's acclaimed GATZ, a literary tour de force where 13 actors and an audience experience every word of The Great Gatsby in a two-part, 6 1/2-hour theatrical event, running September 26-October 31, 2010.

Even as it debuts another world premiere tonight and eagerly awaits previews for its latest Broadway outing, Berkeley Repertory Theatre proudly announces a slate of eight new shows. The Tony Award-winning nonprofit - known for developing exhilarating new plays - introduces a series of stunning scripts and stellar performers for the coming year.

YALE REPERTORY THEATRE (James Bundy, Artistic Director; Victoria Nolan, Managing Director) presents the world premiere of COMPULSION by Rinne Groff, directed by Oskar Eustis, at Yale Repertory Theatre (1120 Chapel Street, New Haven) January 29-February 28.

Yale Repertory Theatre (James Bundy, Artistic Director; Victoria Nolan, Managing Director) presents the world premiere of COMPULSION by Rinne Groff, directed by Oskar Eustis, at Yale Repertory Theatre (1120 Chapel Street, New Haven) running through February 28. Opening Night is Thursday, February 4. COMPULSION is a co-production with The Public Theater and Berkeley Repertory Theatre.

YALE REPERTORY THEATRE (James Bundy, Artistic Director; Victoria Nolan, Managing Director), THE PUBLIC THEATER (Oskar Eustis, Artistic Director; Andrew D. Hamingson, Executive Director), and BERKELEY REPERTORY THEATRE (Tony Taccone, Artistic Director; Susan Medak, Managing Director) present the world premiere of COMPULSION by Rinne Groff, directed by Oskar Eustis, at Yale Repertory Theatre (1120 Chapel Street, New Haven) January 29-February 28. Opening Night is Thursday, February 4.

Frank Rizzo of the The Hartford Courant recently sat down with Mandy Patinkin for a dinner-interview while the actor was between rehearsals for the world premiere of Rinne Groff's 'Compulsion' at Yale Repertory Theatre. During the interview, published in the Arts Section of Sunday's Hartford Courant and in Rizzo's blog, Patinkin discusses what drew him to tackle the role of Sid Silver, a writer who dedicates himself to bringing the writings of Anne Frank to the stage - a dedication which turns to an obsession.

YALE REPERTORY THEATRE (James Bundy, Artistic Director; Victoria Nolan, Managing Director) presents the world premiere of COMPULSION by Rinne Groff, directed by Oskar Eustis, at Yale Repertory Theatre (1120 Chapel Street, New Haven) January 29-February 28. Opening Night is Thursday, February 4.

YALE REPERTORY THEATRE (James Bundy, Artistic Director; Victoria Nolan, Managing Director) presents the world premiere of COMPULSION by Rinne Groff, directed by Oskar Eustis, at Yale Repertory Theatre (1120 Chapel Street, New Haven) January 29-February 28. Opening Night is Thursday, February 4.

As previously reported, Tony and Emmy winner Mandy Patinkin is set to start in Yale Repertory Theatre's COMPULSION, in his Yale Rep debut. (James Bundy, Artistic Director; Victoria Nolan, Managing Director). Today, the theatre has announced the performance schedule for the production, written by Rinne Groff, directed by Oskar Eustis, and co-produced with The Public Theater and Berkeley Repertory Theatre.

The New York Times has confirmed that Broadway vet Mandy Patinkin will star in the new play about a man's obsession with the diary of Anne Frank by Rinne Groff, currently titled Compulsion. The play will make its premiere at Yale Repertory Theater next year. Patinkin will reportedly star as a character inspired by Meyer Levin, the journalist and screenwriter who assisted in publicizing the existence of the diary, and who believed that the opportunity to turn it into a play had been stolen from him.

On September 14, the Museum of Jewish Heritage-A Living Memorial to the Holocaust will co-present with Jennifer Strome Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl, A Radio Play by Meyer Levin.