Neil Simon News

As we come to the end of August and make our way on into September (is this weekend REALLY Labor Day Weekend … already?!), I trust you are planning to take in one or more of the wonderful productions playing at some of the many theatre and live performance establishments that make their home and ply their artistic trade here on the California Central Coast! And speaking of WONDERFUL …

Celebrated stage veteran Candy Buckley completes the cast of this fall's highly anticipated new Broadway musical SCANDALOUS: The Life and Trials of Aimee Semple McPherson.

Virginia Stage Company is hosting a progressive open house party and season preview on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2012 beginning at 5:00 pm. The evening will celebrate VSC's new offices and offer a preview of the upcoming season. Guests are invited to follow "The Path to Creating Theater" by visiting the new locations of the VSC Administration offices and the VSC Design Center, as well as the Wells Theatre, all within a 2-block radius.

Surflight Theatre will present the New Jersey premiere of an all-new and entirely original musical comedy Once Upon A Time in New Jersey (described as "The Sopranos" meets "Happy Days") from August 28 through September 15.

The Delaware Theatre Company announced today that Michael Learned, of the 'The Waltons,' will be starring in DTC's October production of The Outgoing Tide. A drama by Barrymore Award-winning playwright Bruce Graham, The Outgoing Tide runs at the Delaware Theatre Company Wednesday, October 10 through Sunday, October 28, 2012 and marks the first show of DTC's 2012-2013 season. Directed by Executive Director Bud Martin, the production will then move to 59E59 Theaters in New York for six weeks: November 8 through December 16, following its three week run in Wilmington, Delaware.

BroadwayWorld.com, the largest theatre site on the Internet, is excited to announce a new feature to its comprehensive regional coverage - the Featured Regional Theater of the Week! Each week, BWW will introduce its readers to a regional theater located in one of our (over 130!) coverage cities. By exploring these different venues, their history and showcasing the production seasons, BWW continues its commitment to expand our presence in communities and cities across the United States. This Week's Featured Regional Theater: Bucks County Playhouse, New Hope, PA!

Charity Hope Valentine, with a shoulder bag and a heart tattooed on her left arm, works as a dancer-for-hire in a Times Square Dance Hall but longs for love.

The award-winning Peccadillo Theater Company will present the New York City premiere of TEN CHIMNEYS, a new comedy by Jeffrey Hatcher, starring Byron Jennings as Alfred Lunt, Carolyn McCormick as Lynn Fontanne, Mariette Hartley as Lunt's mother Hattie and Michael McCarty as Sydney Greenstreet. Rehearsals are set to begin today, August 27th. Performances will begin on September 21st with the Opening on Sunday, September 30th at Theatre at St. Clement's, 423 West 46th Street (between Ninth & Tenth Aves.) The cast of TEN CHIMNEYS also features Charlotte Booker, Julia Bray and John Wernke, under the direction of OBIE Award winner Dan Wackerman.

The Guthrie Theater presents a special In Conversation with Broadway producer Emanuel "Manny" Azenberg. The event will be held tonight, Monday, August 27 at 7:30 p.m. on the Wurtele Thrust Stage at the Guthrie. Artistic Director Joe Dowling will lead the conversation that will be joined by actor Peter Michael Goetz, currently performing as Willie Clark in the Guthrie's production of Neil Simon's The Sunshine Boys.

The Castillo Theatre continues its presentation of four winning scripts from the 2012 Mario Fratti-Fred Newman Political Play Contest, selected from more than 200 entries including submissions by playwrights from around the world. The plays are being directed by distinguished theatre professionals and the final production plays tonight, August 27 at 7:00 p.m.

Sterling's Upstairs at The Federal presents television and Broadway star Ilene Graff in First You Dream tonight, August 26.

TACT/The Actors Company Theatre (Scott Alan Evans, Cynthia Harris and Jenn Thompson, Co-Artistic Directors), the critically-acclaimed and Drama Desk nominated Off-Broadway company "dedicated to presenting neglected or rarely produced plays of literary merit," announces the cast and creative team for Lovers by Brian Friel, the first production of the company's 20th Anniversary Season. Directed by TACT Company Member Drew Barr, performances begin at Theatre Row's Beckett Theatre (410 West 42nd Street - between 9th & 10th Avenues) on Tuesday, September 18th, 2012. Opening night is Thursday, September 27th at 7:30pm. Performances will continue through Saturday, October 20th.

The 2012-13 Concert Season at the Centenary Stage Company will kick off with a "Curtains Up - Opening of the Season Celebration" and a performance by Robert Klein, on Saturday, Sept 22 in the David and Carol Lackland Center in Hackettstown.

Barrington Stage Company, the award-winning theatre in downtown Pittsfield, MA, under the leadership of Julianne Boyd, Artistic Director, and Tristan Wilson, Managing Director, will present a staged reading of The Suicide: A Musical Comedy, Sunday, August 26 and Monday, August 27 at 7pm at the St. Germain Stage (formerly Stage 2) at the Sydelle and Lee Blatt Performing Arts Center, 36 Linden Street, Pittsfield. Tickets are $15 (reserved seating).

The Ziegfield Theater presents a Brian Wood production of THE PRISONER OF SECOND AVENUE, tonight, August 23 - August 25, 2012 at 7:30 PM.

The award-winning Peccadillo Theater Company will present the New York City premiere of TEN CHIMNEYS, a new comedy by Jeffrey Hatcher, starring Byron Jennings as Alfred Lunt, Carolyn McCormick as Lynn Fontanne, Mariette Hartley as Lunt's mother Hattie and Michael McCarty as Sydney Greenstreet.

Fall 2012 will see Chicago continue to produce some of the most exciting theater in the country. Offerings from the city's more than 200 producing theaters includes a range of special fall programming, featuring everything from the latest musicals to highly anticipated world premieres.

As we move toward the latter portion of August and the end of summer (sigh ... some schools are already back at it!), I hope you are making plans to attend a few of the wonderful shows currently (or soon to be) running at any of the numerous live performance and theatre venues so readily found here on the Central Coast of California!