Nina Arianda News

Classic Stage Company's upcoming production of Bertolt Brecht's GALILEO (translated by Charles Laughton) starring Academy Award winner F. Murray Abraham, which begins previews Tuesday evening, February 1, will extend by one additional week through Sunday, March 18.

The American Theatre Wing (Theodore S. Chapin, Chairman, Board of Trustees; Heather Hitchens, Executive Director) has relaunched its popular podcast series, Downstage Center, with an all new format.

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick, will next season present new production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's Tony Award-winning musical PASSION, to be directed by John Doyle (the Tony Award-winning revivals of Sondheim's Sweeney Todd and Company). PASSION is slated to begin performances in February, 2013.

The American Theatre Wing (Theodore S. Chapin, Chairman, Board of Trustees; Heather Hitchens, Executive Director) has relaunched its popular podcast series, Downstage Center, with an all new format.

Variety reports that actor Joel Edgerton has officially signed on to join the cast of Kathryn Bigelow's currently untitled Osama Bin Laden movie. It had been rumored that Edgerton, best known as the star of 'The Warrior', was interested in the project, but according to the report negotiations have only now been made official.

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick, will present Academy Award winner F. Murray Abraham in a new production of Bertolt Brecht's GALILEO, translated by Charles Laughton, and directed by Kulick, beginning performances Wednesday, February 1 at CSC (136 East 13th Street) for a limited engagement through Sunday, March 11. The official press opening for GALILEO is Sunday, February 12. Tickets for GALILEO go on sale to the public today, Tuesday, January 3.

Today we are taking a look at the very best theatre-related entities in a variety of different categories - books, music, television, film, and, of course, theatre - as we look back on 2011 and all of the many marvelous moments of excitement, passion, joy and exultation that only theatre and theatre-related projects can possibly hope to provide. From Stephen Sondheim's LOOK, I MADE A HAT on the bookshelves of every Broadway baby worth their weight in sequins to Neil Patrick Harris and Patti LuPone in Sondheim's COMPANY on the big screen courtesy of Fathom to the stunning Broadway revival of FOLLIES starring Bernadette Peters and its tremendous new cast album, all the way to the thrills and chills of Andrew Lloyd Webber's PHANTOM OF THE OPERA LIVE AT THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL on the big screen and Blu-ray to the BOOK OF MORMON breaking Broadway records and even TV's best drama and comedy, both from mastermind Ryan Murphy - GLEE and AMERICAN HORROR STORY. Plus, we also have top film picks in the categories of Drama and Comedy, as well as the best of the best of them all, with Lars Von Trier's apocalyptic masterpiece MELANCHOLIA, George Clooney's play adaptation THE IDES OF MARCH and the 80s music video stylized thriller/drama DRIVE topping the list. All of that and a whole lot more awaits in this all-encompassing look back at the theatrical highlights in all entertainment realms in 2011, as well as a look ahead to what we cannot wait for in 2012!

2012 is just around the corner, and there are a plethora of shows in store for this new Broadway season. From brand new musicals to vintage plays and West End transfers to American classics, 2012's upcoming shows should surely lead to a stellar awards season this spring. Check out a preview of all 21 announced productions below!

Classic Stage Company's new production of Anton Chekhov's tragicomic masterpiece THE CHERRY ORCHARD, featuring John Turturro (Lopakhin), Dianne Wiest (Ranevskaya), Ken Cheeseman (Pischick), Daniel Davis (Gaev), Alvin Epstein (Fiers), Josh Hamilton (Trofimov), Slate Holmgren (Yasha), Roberta Maxwell (Charlotta), Juliet Rylance (Varya), Michael Urie (Yepikhodov), Elisabeth Waterston (Dunyasha) and Katherine Waterston (Anya), has extended its upcoming engagement through Friday, December 30. Previews begin Wednesday, November 16 at CSC (136 East 13th Street). THE CHERRY ORCHARD is directed by Andrei Belgrader, with a translation by John Christopher Jones. The official press opening is scheduled for Sunday, December 4 at 7pm.

2011 was nothing if not fruitful for Broadway's famous females. Sutton Foster won her second Tony. Brooke Shields, Kim Cattrall, Tyne Daly and more found their way back to the Great White Way after being gone too long. UK's First Lady of Musical Theatre, Elaine Paige, graced Broadway for only the second time in her career as the fearless 'Carlotta Campion' in Follies. And, music icon Alicia Keyes fully initiated herself as the newest A-lister on the block.

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick, has announced that acclaimed actress Christina Ricci will join two-time Tony Award winner Bebe Neuwirth in the company's upcoming production of William Shakespeare's A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM. Directed by Tony Speciale, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM will begin performances Wednesday, March 28 and play a limited engagement through Sunday, May 6. Neuwirth will play the role of Titania and Ricci the role of Hermia. Additional casting will be announced early in the new year. Tickets will go on sale to the general public February 6. CSC is currently presenting the highly-acclaimed, sold-out production of Anton Chekhov's THE CHERRY ORCHARD (through January 8 only) and will next present Academy Award winner F. Murray Abraham in Bertolt Brecht's GALILEO, directed by Brian Kulick, beginning performances Wednesday, February 1.

VENUS IN FUR is currently playing at MTC's Samuel J. Friedman Theatre. The production will end its limited engagement at the Friedman on Sunday, December 18 and resume performances at the Lyceum Theatre on Tuesday, February 7. Tickets for the transfer of VENUS IN FUR went on sale yesterday and the production is a limited engagement through Sunday, June 17.

Classic Stage Company's acclaimed, sold-out production of Anton Chekhov's tragicomic masterpiece THE CHERRY ORCHARD, featuring John Turturro and Dianne Wiest, among an esteemed cast, will extend by one additional week through Sunday, January 8. THE CHERRY ORCHARD is directed by Andrei Belgrader, with a translation by John Christopher Jones.

Tickets are on sale now for the upcoming Lyceum Theatre engagement of VENUS IN FUR, the acclaimed new play by David Ives, directed by Tony Award winner Walter Bobbie starring Tony Award nominee Nina Arianda and Emmy Award nominee Hugh Dancy. Tickets can be purchased by calling Telecharge.com at 212-239-6200 or online at www.telecharge.com. The Lyceum Theatre box office (149 West 45th Street) will open Monday, January 23.

Following sold out runs on Broadway at Manhattan Theatre Club and Off-Broadway at Classic Stage Company, VENUS IN FUR, the acclaimed new play by David Ives, directed by Tony Award winner Walter Bobbie, will transfer to Broadway's Lyceum Theatre starring Tony Award nominee Nina Arianda and Emmy Award nominee Hugh Dancy.

Yesterday, December 5, The not-for-profit Clive Barnes Foundation announced Rent's MJ Rodriguez the winner of the 2011 award, which celebrates the work of young dancers and actors. The ceremony was held at The Walter Reade Theater at Lincoln Center.

MJ Rodriguez, who plays Angel in the current revival of Rent, has won the prestigious 2011 Clive Barnes Award, which celebrates the work of young actors and dancers. The award was presented today by 2010 Barnes Award winner Nina Arianda (Venus in Fur) at Lincoln Center's Walter Reade Theatre.

VENUS IN FUR stars Nina Arianda and Hugh Dancy will appear on tomorrow's edition of "The Leonard Lopate Show." The interview with Lopate will air live tomorrow, December 1 at 12:40 PM on WNYC (93.9-FM, 820-AM).