Oscar Wilde News

The Philadelphia Orchestra and Opera Philadelphia will join together in a first-time co-production—a theatrically-inspired production of Richard Strauss's compelling and provocative masterpiece, Salome. Two sold-out performances are set to take place on Thursday, May 8, and Saturday, May 10, 2014, in the Kimmel Center's Verizon Hall, and will be led by Philadelphia Orchestra Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin. Audiences will enjoy a groundbreaking blend of the distinctive sound of The Philadelphia Orchestra, one of the preeminent orchestras in the world, and Opera Philadelphia's dynamic theatrical presentation. These landmark performances are made possible in part by the generous support of The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the Wyncote Foundation, and the Presser Foundation.

New York Theatre Workshop (NYTW) has announced that its 2014/15 season will include the U.S. premiere of Scenes from a Marriage written by Ingmar Bergman, adapted by Emily Mann and directed by Ivo van Hove; the New York premiere of The Invisible Hand, written by Ayad Akhtar and directed by Ken Rus Schmoll; and the New York premiere of Forever, writtenand performed by Dael Orlandersmith and directed by Neel Keller. In the coming weeks NYTW will announce an additional production that will round out the season.

We were recently offered a grisly First Look at Broadway standout and SPIDER-MAN: Turn OFF THE DARK headliner Reeve Carney in his new role playing a classic literary character on Showtime's upcoming horror-themed series Penny Dreadful and a behind the scenes featurette revealing even more about the new horrorshow is now available to view.

Directing a new piece of theatre is always an exciting challenge, whether it be a new play, a new comedy or even a new musical. In my experience as a director, supporting and nurturing the writers is always the most interesting and sometimes the most demanding part of the process.

HUDSON WAREHOUSE, known as 'The Other Free Shakespeare in the Park,' is announcing it's 2014 Summer Season, featuring King John, The Importance of Being Earnest, and The Winter's Tale.

Alley Theatre Artistic Director Gregory Boyd announces the cast and creative team for Alan Ayckbourn's science fiction comedy Communicating Doors. Eleven plays penned by Alan Ayckbourn have been produced by the Alley, including the American premiere of Henceforward, directed by Ayckbourn, in 1987 and House & Garden in 2002. Alan Ayckbourn has been inducted into the American Theatre's Hall of Fame, received the 2010 Critics' Circle Award for Services to the Arts, became the first British playwright to receive both Olivier and Tony Special Lifetime Achievement Awards and was knighted in 1997 for services to the theatre.

The House Theatre of Chicago presents DORIAN, a modern adaptation of Oscar Wilde's novel 'The Picture of Dorian Gray.' This famous thriller of Dorian's ill-fated portrait is performed in promenade style. This original play is intended for mature audiences only, and is written by Company Members Ben Lobpries and Tommy Rapley. Company Member Kevin O'Donnell provides the score. Rapley directs and choreographs. The production previews today, April 4 - 13 and opens on Monday April 14 at 7pm at the Chopin Theatre (1543 W. Division St, Chicago). DORIAN will run through May 18, 2014.

Lifetime has cast Academy Award and Golden Globe winner Martin Landau in the Lifetime Original Movie 'Outlaw Prophet: Warren Jeffs'

The Alumnae Theatre Company presents its season finale Mainstage show of the 2013-2014 season: Rabbit Hole, by David Lindsay-Abaire. The current production is directed by Paul Hardy, who also directed Alumnae's critically acclaimed production of Oscar Wilde's A Woman of No Importance in the 2012-2013 season.

A grisly first look at Broadway standout and SPIDER-MAN: TURN OFF THE DARK headliner Reeve Carney in his new role playing a classic literary character on Showtime's upcoming horror-themed series PENNY DREADFUL is now available to view.

The Meeting* hosted by Justin Sayre, the acclaimed comedy/variety show, will make its premiere performance at THE RRAZZ ROOM on Thursday, April 17 at 8:00 PM. After extended runs at 54 Below and Joe's Pub in New York, the show will make its Pennsylvania debut with this show. The Meeting* has been called 'delicious and delightfully droll' by The New York Post, and 'hilarious and sardonic' by The Village Voice. A recent story for Slate.com called the evening 'so deliciously icy that it left me shivering with fear and delight.' The show will feature special guests Colleen McHugh.

The American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) at Harvard University, under the leadership of Diane Paulus, Artistic Director and William Russo, Managing Director, presents the last production of its 2013/14 Season, THE TEMPEST, adapted and directed by Aaron Posner and Teller from the play by William Shakespeare, with magic by Teller, music by Tom Waits and Kathleen Brennan, and movement by Matt Kent of Pilobolus.

Justin Sayre and The Meeting* - known for a signature blend of outrageous comedy, politics, culture and everything in between - were named among the Top nightclub shows of 2013 by Time Out New York, and received the 2012 Bistro Award for 'Comedy Artistry' and a 2011 MAC Award nomination for Best Male Comedy Performance. Each month, the I.O.S gathers to honor an artist or a cultural work that is iconic to the gay community. Justin Sayre, the show's creator, writer and host, serves as the Chairman of the Board of the International Order of Sodomites and brings his singular wit to essential business of the day through such regular features such as 'Letters to the Chairman' and 'New Rulings from the Board.'

The New York Philharmonic will return to Bravo! Vail in Colorado for the Orchestra's 12th- annual summer residency there, performing six concerts July 18-25, 2014. Music Director Alan Gilbert will conduct three programs, July 18-20, featuring works by composers for whom he has advocated during his tenure, ranging from Nielsen to The Marie-Jose?e Kravis Composer-in- Residence Christopher Rouse. The other Philharmonic concerts will be conducted by Bramwell Tovey (July 23 and 25) and Ted Sperling (July 24), and will feature works by Copland, Gershwin, Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, and Loesser, among others.

Go behind the scenes of the new West End musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Don Black and Christopher Hampton, STEPHEN WARD, via a new behind the scenes featurette highlighting the recording of the Act 2 showstopper 'I'm Hopeless When it Comes To You'.

Danielle Hope, who won BBC1's 'Over The Rainbow', will star as Catherine Hiatt in Jason Robert Brown's award-winning musical, The Last Five Years at Greenwich Theatre, London and The Warren Theatre, Brighton this May. She will appear alongside West End star Jon Robyns, whose credits include Spamalot, Les Miserables and Avenue Q.

Martin Witts and Lesley Ackland for London International Arts Ltd present the World Premiere of a new British musical, winner of Leicester Square Theatre's The New Musical Project, Oscar Wilde's De Profundis, featuring Music & Lyrics by Paul Dale Vickers. The show, starring Alastair Brookshaw, will be directed by Katie Pesskin with musical direction by Michael Riley. Scroll down for a first look at Brookshaw!

Pioneer Theatre Company presents Alabama Story, the third installment of PTC's new play reading series, called Play-By-Play. Alabama Story by Kenneth Jones runs April 4 and 5, 2014. PTC Artistic Director Karen Azenberg directs the production.

Author Jasper-Lee Williams uncovers four stories that will enchant readers in his new publication, 'Gabriel and Other Tales.' With a dose of organic characters and coupled with fantastic elements, this book is an incredible solution to everyday people's problems.

When Seattle Shakespeare Company hits one out of the park they do it with gusto. Such is the case with their current production of Oscar Wilde's battle of witty banter, "The Importance of Being Earnest". They've managed to take Wilde's delightful romp and made it even more delightful by executing it with magnificent precision in all aspects. If I had to find one drawback with the production it's that it ended as I, for one, was having entirely too good a time.