Olympia Dukakis News

FREUD'S LAST SESSION, New York's long-running hit play by Mark St. Germain, is set to open in Los Angeles this winter starring Judd Hirsch as Sigmund Freud and Tom Cavanagh as C. S. Lewis under the direction of Tyler Marchant, who helmed the original New York production. Presented by The Broad Stage and CRC Productions, FREUD'S LAST SESSION will begin performances January 11th for a strictly limited engagement through February 10th at The Broad Stage in Santa Monica. Get a first look at the stars onstage in the photos below!

Producer David Youse and Four Things Productions in association with L.A. Works has announced that celebrated actress Jan Maxwell has joined the cast of a celebrity staged reading in celebration of The 25th Anniversary of Robert Harling's Steel Magnolias to take place next week on Monday, 3 December 2012 at 7pm to benefit The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).

Shakespeare with Benefits (http://shakespearewithbenefits.org/) presents Sandy Relief: A Bard-Based Variety Show, a special performance to benefit Hurricane Sandy victims via New York Cares. This one-time benefit performance will take place at The West End Theatre, Church of St. Paul and St. Andrew, 263 West 86th Street at West End Avenue, 2nd floor on Monday, December 17th at 7:30 pm (Doors open at 7:00).

The Actors Fund presents a very special Musical Monday, an evening with five grand ladies of musical theatre in LADIES OF AN INDETERMINATE AGE on December 10, 2012. Anne Jeffreys, Jane Kean, Pat Marshall, Patricia Morison and Charlotte Rae - join together on the same stage to sing songs from their careers, talk about their co-stars, directors and composers and stray into their wicked (or not-so-wicked) adventures in the great tradition of "No Business Like Show Business."

59E59 Theaters welcomes Front Page Productions with FLIPSIDE: THE PATTI PAGE STORY, written and directed by Greg White, and featuring 28 of Patti Page's hit songs. FLIPSIDE: THE PATTI PAGE STORY begins performances on Tuesday, December 18 for a limited engagement through Sunday, December 30. Press Opening is Friday, December 21 at 8 PM.

Playing now through November 18, 'Elektra's keening, mournful and blood thirst quest for justice is challenging pedagogy but even more so, enthralling theatre.

The Chicago production of FREUD'S LAST SESSION, New York's long-running hit play by Mark St. Germain, will end its run this Sunday, November 11th at the Mercury Theatre. Starring Mike Nussbaum and Coburn Goss, FREUD'S LAST SESSION was extended several times by popular demand after opening on March 26th to unanimous rave reviews. Next up for the international hit play will be this winter's Los Angeles run, starring Judd Hirsch as Sigmund Freud and Tom Cavanagh as C. S. Lewis under the direction of Tyler Marchant, who helmed the New York and Chicago productions. Presented by The Broad Stage and CRC Productions, FREUD'S LAST SESSION will begin performances January 11th for a strictly limited engagement through February 10th at The Broad Stage in Santa Monica.

A Christmas Carol may be a theatre staple throughout the holiday season, but the John W Engeman Theatre of Northport, Long Island, has decided to switch things up a bit. Mark Rampmeyer, director of the Engeman's upcoming production, has taken time out of rehearsals to chat with us to give us a sneak peak.

Playing now through November 18, 'Elektra's keening, mournful and blood thirst quest for justice is challenging pedagogy but even more so, enthralling theatre.

Producer David Youse and Four Things Productions in association with L.A. Works has just announced a celebrity staged reading in celebration of The 25th Anniversary of Robert Harling's Steel Magnolias to take place on Monday, 3 December 2012 at 7pm to benefit The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). This special one night only event will take place at the Lucille Lortel Theater located at 121 Christopher Street in New York City, where the original production performed. Directed by Judith Ivey and starring Blythe Danner, Annie Potts as M'Lynn, the original Truvy, Margo Martindale as Ouiser, Celia Keenan-Bolger as Shelby and Sarah Stiles as Annelle. Additional cast announced soon! Music for this production has been generously donated by Bonnie Raitt and Pat Boone. With support from the 25th Anniversary Honorary Committee including Olympia Dukakis, Sally Field, Daryl Hannah, Shirley MacLaine, Dolly Parton and Julia Roberts and sponsored by Lifetime Television, Magnolia Bakery and Veranda Restaurant. A VIP reception with the cast and crew will follow this special performance.

Shakespeare & Company, Artistic Director Tony Simotes and the Peck School of the Arts are pleased to announce that Dennis Krausnick, Shakespeare & Company Director of Training and star of this summer's acclaimed main stage production of The Tragedy of King Lear, will reprise the role of the aging monarch in a production at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM). This production of The Tragedy of King Lear will also be directed by Rebecca Holderness, a professor at the Peck School, and is part of the university's 'Year of the Arts' celebration, which recognizes the 50th anniversary of the Peck School of the Arts.

The Milwaukee LGBT Film/Video Festival returns today, October 18 through the 21st. This year's series will be the long running Festival's '2nd Annual 25th Anniversary Edition.'

According to The Washington Post, Molly Smith, artistic director of Arena Stage has signed on to direct a production of Eric Coble's THE VELOCITY OF AUTUMN on Broadway in the Spring of 2013, a production that'll mark Broadway debuts for both. Lead producer Larry Kaye has said that signed on to star will be Estelle Parsons and Stephen Spinella.

Anyone who follows the theater scene in New York realizes that hardly a year goes by when actor Darren Pettie isn't appearing on Broadway, Off Broadway or regional theater. He's also been seen on television in "Mad Men", "Pan Am", "Castle", "Gossip Girl", "Brothers and Sisters" and a host of other shows. Not only is he one of New York's busiest actors, he's one of its finest, too. Take, for example, his performance two seasons ago in THE MILK TRAIN DOESN'T STOP HERE ANYMORE. As the enigmatic Christopher Flanders, Pettie was required to utter the single syllable word "Boom" to emulate the crashing of the waves upon the rocks surrounding Italy's Divina Costiera. Other actors in the role have faltered here, but Pettie imbued the line with authority and conviction that were never apparent in previous incarnations of the work. "Thanks," responds the actor via telephone. "There were some nights that I was very self conscious about that line."

For the fourth annual Ft. Lauderdale Gay and Lesbian Film Festival (FLGLFF), today, October 4 through 7, 2012, the schedule of films showcased will expand to nearly 40 films, including a mix of men's and women's interest screenings, short films and documentaries, including a special documentary, 'I Stand Corrected,' on transgender jazz bassist Jennifer Leitham, who has performed with Mel Torme and Doc Severinsen among others. The line-up of special activities will also include opening and closing night parties, an exclusive VIP soiree and a Jazz Brunch featuring a solo performance by Leitham. New for 2012 is a VIP travel package as the Ft. Lauderdale Gay and Lesbian Film Festival expands in popularity beyond the South Florida region.

Danny Aiello and Band played the ScoBar at the Iridium last night, September 28, 2012. BroadwayWorld was there and brings you photos from the concert below!

Chance Theater presents the fourth show of its 2012 season with a biting new world premiere play, OVERLOOKED, written by Brian Nelson (the writer of the acclaimed film "Hard Candy") and directed by Marya Mazor. OVERLOOKED opens tonight, Saturday, September 29 at 8pm and continue through Sunday, October 21 at Chance Theater, 5552 E. La Palma Ave. in Anaheim Hills.

The Eli and Edythe Broad Stage at the Santa Monica College Performing Arts Center today announced FREUD'S LAST SESSION, New York's long-running hit play by Mark St. Germain, is set to open in Los Angeles this winter starring Judd Hirsch as Sigmund Freudand Tom Cavanagh as C. S. Lewis under the direction of Tyler Marchant, who helmed the original New York production. Presented by The Broad Stage and CRC Productions, FREUD'S LAST SESSION will begin preview performances January 11(th) through January 15(th). Opening Night is Wednesday, January 16(th) and will run for a limited engagement through February 10(th) at The Broad Stage.

Presented by 4Hawk Productions and The Neboya Collective, The Austin Pendleton Project: Where The Work Is is a documentary film currently in production.

In association with the West Coast premiere of George C. Wolfe's Tony Award-winning production of The Normal Heart, Larry Kramer's landmark play focusing on the early days of the AIDS crisis in New York City in the 1980s, American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) will offer numerous special events through its InterACT series, designed to give patrons opportunities to get closer to the action while making a whole night out of their evening at the theater.