Michael Kramer News

Theater J opens its 2012-2013 season with a solid effort thanks to a very good play and extraordinary cast.

Hartford Stage, under the leadership of Artistic Director Darko Tresnjak and Managing Director Michael Stotts, presents Ibsen's Hedda Gabler, the season opener of the Tony Award-winning theatre's 49th season, on stage now through September 23.

The Old Globe presents the West Coast Premiere of Divine Rivalry. Based on a real-life event, the drama about two of history's most famous artists-and one of history's most infamous statesmen-is written by Michael Kramer with D. S. Moynihan. Directed by Michael Wilson, Divine Rivalry runs now through August 5 on the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage in the Old Globe Theatre, part of the Globe's Conrad Prebys Theatre Center. Preview performances run through July 11. Opening night is Thursday, July 12 at 8:00 p.m. Get a first look at the production in the photos below!

The Old Globe today announced that Sean Lyons will play the role of Niccolò Machiavelli in the West Coast Premiere of Divine Rivalry.

The Old Globe has announced its schedule for now through October 2012. See full details below.

The Old Globe today announced the cast and creative team for the West Coast Premiere of Divine Rivalry by Michael Kramer with D. S. Moynihan.

The Tony Award-winning Hartford Stage, under the leadership of Darko Tresnjak, Artistic Director, and Michael Stotts, Managing Director, presents William Shakespeare's magical masterwork, The Tempest, directed by Darko Tresnjak, playing now through June 10, 2012 (press opening: Wednesday, May 16 at 7:30pm). Tony Award nominee Daniel Davis, best known for his recent NYC roles in Classic Stage's The Cherry Orchard, Lincoln Center's The Invention of Love, and the 2004 Broadway revival of La Cage aux Folles, as well as six seasons as Niles the Butler on TV's "The Nanny, plays Prospero. See photos of Davis and the rest of the cast on stage below!

The Old Globe today announced the complete cast and creative team for the 2012 Shakespeare Festival, performed in repertory in the outdoor Lowell Davies Festival Theatre.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts will host more than 120 outstanding theater students from colleges and universities across the nation as part of the 44th annual Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF), April 16-21, 2012. In January and February of this year, these artists from eight regions presented their outstanding work and were selected to travel to Washington, D.C. for an expense-paid trip to participate in National Festival events taking place at the Kennedy Center.

The Tony Award®-winning Hartford Stage, under the leadership of Darko Tresnjak, Artistic Director, and Michael Stotts, Managing Director, proudly announces the lineup of programming for the theater's 2012-13 season, the first chosen under Darko Tresnjak's artistic leadership.

The Old Globe today announced principal casting for the Globe's 2012 Shakespeare Festival. Craig Noel Award winner Jay Whittaker returns to the Festival for his third consecutive season to appear in the title role of William Shakespeare's Richard III. He will also appear as Oliver in Shakespeare's As You Like It. Also returning to the Festival are Craig Noel Award winner Robert Foxworth and Adrian Sparks, who will take to the courtroom floor as titanic lawyers Henry Drummond and Matthew Harrison Brady, respectively, in the Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee classic Inherit the Wind. Foxworth, an Old Globe Associate Artist, will also play Lord Hastings in Richard III, and Sparks will play Lord Mayor of London in Richard III and Corin in As You Like It. Festival veteran Dana Green will star as Rosalind, and Dan Amboyer, new to the Festival stage, will play Orlando, the object of her affections, in As You Like It. Green will also play Queen Elizabeth in Richard III. Amboyer will also be featured as Bertram Cates in Inherit the Wind and the Earl of Richmond in Richard III. Festival newcomer Jacques C. Smith will play Jacques in As You Like It, the Duke of Buckingham in Richard III and Mr. Meeker in Inherit the Wind. Adrian Noble returns for his third outing as Artistic Director of the Shakespeare Festival and will helm As You Like It and Inherit the Wind. Renowned British director Lindsay Posner makes his debut at the Globe with his production of Richard III. Noble recently directed the World Premiere stage version of The King's Speech, which is currently touring England, and Posner's hit revival of Noises Off is currently playing at London's Old Vic and will transfer to the West End in March. The 2012 Shakespeare Festival, performed in repertory in the outdoor Lowell Davies Festival Theatre, runs June 3 - Sept. 30, 2012.

The Ford's Theatre Society announced that Craig Wallace will take on the role of Frederick Douglass in the world premiere of Necessary Sacrifices by Richard Hellesen.

The Ford's Theatre Society announced that Craig Wallace will take on the role of Frederick Douglass in the world premiere of Necessary Sacrifices by Richard Hellesen.

The Old Globe's 2012 Summer Season will feature the West Coast Premiere of Divine Rivalry by Michael Kramer with D. S. Moynihan and directed by Michael Wilson and the San Diego premiere of Yasmina Reza's Tony Award-winning play God of Carnage directed by Richard Seer.

Hartford Stage's Board of Directors, under the leadership of President Paul Bourdeau and Vice-President and search committee chair Jill Adams, announced today the appointment of Darko Tresnjak as the Tony Award-winning theatre's new Artistic Director, succeeding Michael Wilson.

Hartford Stage will celebrate the artistic partnership among director Michael Wilson, set designer Jeff Cowie, and sound designer John Gromada in Working with Michael, a multi-media exhibit in 'room,' Hartford Stage's new function space. At the same time, the theatre will unveil Part II of Capturing the Moment, a season-long retrospective of the work of company photographer T. Charles Ericson, commemorating his 25 years with Hartford Stage. The Ericson installation will be in the theatre's upper lobby. The exhibits coincide with the run of Divine Rivalry, a world premiere play by noted political journalist Michael Kramer, which is the last MainStage production Wilson will be directing as Hartford Stage Artistic Director. Cowie designed the sets for the production, and Gromada the sound and original music. Official opening of both exhibits is Wednesday, March 2 at 6:00 p.m., directly before the 7:30 performance of Divine Rivalry.

Hartford Stage will celebrate the artistic partnership among director Michael Wilson, set designer Jeff Cowie, and sound designer John Gromada in Working with Michael, a multi-media exhibit in 'room,' Hartford Stage's new function space. At the same time, the theatre will unveil Part II of Capturing the Moment, a season-long retrospective of the work of company photographer T. Charles Ericson, commemorating his 25 years with Hartford Stage. The Ericson installation will be in the theatre's upper lobby. The exhibits coincide with the run of Divine Rivalry, a world premiere play by noted political journalist Michael Kramer, which is the last MainStage production Wilson will be directing as Hartford Stage Artistic Director. Cowie designed the sets for the production, and Gromada the sound and original music. Official opening of both exhibits is Wednesday, March 2 at 6:00 p.m., directly before the 7:30 performance of Divine Rivalry.

Hartford Stage continues its popular Lunchtime FreeView series at noon on Thursday, March 3 with a free look behind the scenes of its current production, the world premiere of Divine Rivalry.

Hartford Stage will celebrate the artistic partnership among director Michael Wilson, set designer Jeff Cowie, and sound designer John Gromada in Working with Michael, a multi-media exhibit in 'room,' Hartford Stage's new function space. At the same time, the theatre will unveil Part II of Capturing the Moment, a season-long retrospective of the work of company photographer T. Charles Ericson, commemorating his 25 years with Hartford Stage. The Ericson installation will be in the theatre's upper lobby. The exhibits coincide with the run of Divine Rivalry, a world premiere play by noted political journalist Michael Kramer, which is the last MainStage production Wilson will be directing as Hartford Stage Artistic Director. Cowie designed the sets for the production, and Gromada the sound and original music. Official opening of both exhibits is Wednesday, March 2 at 6:00 p.m., directly before the 7:30 performance of Divine Rivalry.