Oscar Wilde News

Seeing plays such as 'The Importance of Being Earnest' by Oscar Wilde reminds modern theater audiences that they can experience excellent drama even when the play is full of silly words and sillier characters. In fact, many plays, both past and present, use humor in order to communicate a possibly greater, deeper meaning than the dramas of lovelorn romantics and war-torn monarchs can graze.

The Meeting* hosted by Justin Sayre, the acclaimed comedy/variety show, will continue its three-month engagement at JOE'S PUB at The Public Theater on Sunday, February 16 at 9:30 PM with a celebration of stage and screen star Bernadette Peters. After a highly-successful run at 54 Below, the show has returned to its downtown roots for an exciting Winter/spring season. The February show will feature special guests to be announced.

Celebrating its 13th season, the Ensemble of the Romantic Century (ERC) presents Tchaikovsky: None But the Lonely Heart at The Fishman Space in the new BAM Fisher. A fully staged theatrical concert blending striking music, powerful language and biography, Tchaikovsky: None But the Lonely Heart delves into the unconventional 16-year long relationship between one of the great composers of the 19th century and his patroness, Madame von Meck. Written by Eve Wolf and directed by Donald T. Sanders, this evening-length production seamlessly interweaves a dramatic script performed by actor Simon Fortin (Tchaikovsky) and actress Ariel Bock (Madame von Meck) of Shakespeare & Company with live chamber and vocal music performed by violinist Rachel Lee Priday, cellist Adrian Daurov, pianist Eve Wolf and tenor Blake Friedman. Featuring some of Tchaikovsky's epic pieces including Piano Trio in A Minor, Tchaikovsky: None But the Lonely Heart represents some of the composer's balletic works through dance both choreographed and performed by American Ballet Theatre dancer Daniel Mantei.

Celebrating its 13th season, the Ensemble of the Romantic Century (ERC) presents Tchaikovsky: None But the Lonely Heart at The Fishman Space in the new BAM Fisher. A fully staged theatrical concert blending striking music, powerful language and biography, Tchaikovsky: None But the Lonely Heart delves into the unconventional 16-year long relationship between one of the great composers of the 19th century and his patroness, Madame von Meck. Written by Eve Wolf and directed by Donald T. Sanders, this evening-length production seamlessly interweaves a dramatic script performed by actor Simon Fortin (Tchaikovsky) and actress Ariel Bock (Madame von Meck) of Shakespeare & Company with live chamber and vocal music performed by violinist Rachel Lee Priday, cellist Adrian Daurov, pianist Eve Wolf and tenor Blake Friedman. Featuring some of Tchaikovsky's epic pieces including Piano Trio in A Minor, Tchaikovsky: None But the Lonely Heart represents some of the composer's balletic works through dance both choreographed and performed by American Ballet Theatre dancer Daniel Mantei.

Oscar Wilde's outlandish first play Vera; Or, The Nihilists, a young assassin's struggle with love, rebellion, and political idealism, receives it's first ever New York revival since its 1883 debut, courtesy queer company Femme Fatale Theater, at downtown's Obie Award-winning HERE beginning Feb. 12.

Salome - James Marsters, Kate Steele and John Vickery head the cast when L.A. Theatre Works presents Oscar Wilde's masterpiece, the story of the exotic and seductive young woman whose obsession with revenge leads this Biblical tale to its inevitable end - the beheading of Jokanaan (John the Baptist), and Salome's infamous dance of the seven veils.

Starting with Seattle Shakespeare Company's production of "Richard II" and continuing on with the company's Spring production of "The Importance of Being Earnest," Seattle Shakespeare Company (SSC) and Shakespeare Walla Walla are embarking on a partnership to bring professional classical theatre productions to Eastern Washington.

The Shakespeare Theatre Company, recipient of the 2012 Regional Theatre Tony Award®, announces the extension of its current production, The Importance of Being Earnest, by Oscar Wilde. The production is directed by Keith Baxter and now plays through March 9, 2014, at the Lansburgh Theatre (450 7th Street NW).

54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents Patrick Page in 'Good to be Bad' tonight, January 28th at 9:30 pm.

Joe's Pub at The Public has announced this week's performances (Jan. 27 - Feb. 3), including LAPHAM'S QUARTERLY, EWALT & WALKER, GRAHAM REYNOLDS & THE GOLDEN ARM TRIOFLOANNE & THE THIRD SET, LAURA CANTRELL, BRIDGET EVERETT RIVER WHYLESS, NEVER SLEEP ALONE, PAULETTA WASHINGTON VINCENT D'ONOFRIO & DANA LYN, BRIDGET BARKAN, PAM ANN DAVID AMRAM WITH THE AMIGOS BAND, CHARLOTTE MARTIN TONY TRISCHKA, and THE CIVILIANS.

Well known figures will either draw or 'write' portraits for the National Portrait Gallery as it hosts a Gala fundraising event onTuesday 11 February, sponsored by the fashion designer Leon Max, it was announced today.

Author Leigh K Cunningham received her seventh accolade with her latest title, 'Being Anti-Social' making a short list of books chosen by IndieReader as their best independently published books for 2013. Maureen Fajt for IndieReader says, 'Being Anti-Social' is sarcastic and witty without being silly or trite. It is a charming story with a toned-down, Bridget Jones's Diary appeal. Readers should be prepared to laugh a lot, cry a little and be very sorry to see the end of this book.' Cunningham says the story is about being true to oneself and resisting pressure to conform to other's expectation of what should make you happy. Although 'Being Anti-Social' is intended to be a light-hearted look at the life of an almost-forty divorced woman who prefers her own company, it does address some deeper issues like death of a loved one and infidelity. 'The main character, Mace Evans consistently attracts men with honesty issues,' says Cunningham, 'and although she makes endless attempts at taking charge of her life, she is easily, and comically distracted. She blames most of her failures on middle-child syndrome, or her mother whenever she can.' Friendships also play a major part in Mace's story as she battles her friends' plans for ending her self-imposed solitude. 'Friends, family, and society often find it difficult to accept that some women prefer to be on their own,' says Cunningham. 'Not everyone enjoys social situations or being in a relationship. A lot of people are perfectly happy staying home on their own, and the many emails from readers indicate this is more common than we might realize.' A highlight of 'Being Anti-Social' is the regular witticisms from Oscar Wilde, the main character's life coach and mentor. 'I really enjoyed finding Oscar quotes to accompany the story,' says Cunningham. 'There were so many that related to the main character's circumstances, it was difficult to settle on the few that made it into Mace's musings.' 'Being Anti-Social' has won two gold medals, from Readers' Favorite (Chick Lit), and from Reader Views Literary Awards in the Humor category. Cunningham's multi-generational family saga, Rain won gold at the Indie Excellence Awards in the literary fiction category, and silver at the Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPYs). Two children's books, The Glass Table and its sequel, Shards, both won silver at the Mom's Choice Awards. Cunningham has hit the #1 spot on Amazon bestseller lists for 'Rain' (Family Saga) and 'Being Anti-Social' (Comic Fiction). Rewritten, Cunningham's next title is due for release later in 2014. About the Author Leigh K Cunningham is a lawyer with a career as a senior executive for a number of public companies in her home country of Australia. She is the founder and executive director for the Association of Independent Authors. Cunningham has master's degrees in law (Master of International Trade & Investment Law) and commerce (Master of Commerce) as well as an MBA (International Management). She also has a law degree with honors. About The Association of Independent Authors The Association of Independent Authors (AiA) is the peak body representing, advancing, promoting and supporting independent (self-published) authors globally. Its membership spans six continents with directors based in the USA, UK, Asia, Australia and South Africa. The AiA published a comprehensive guide to self-publishing with 80+ articles from experts in their field. Self-Publishing. Publish Your Book and Avoid the Pitfalls with Advice from Leading Experts and Experienced Authors is available exclusively in the Kindle Store.

Gingold Theatrical Group's PROJECT SHAW, under the leadership of Founding Artistic Director David Staller, presents George Bernard Shaw's 1893 comedy, The Philanderer, on Monday, February 24 at 7pm, at Symphony Space's Leonard Nimoy Thalia Theatre (2895 Broadway at 95th St.).

Lyric Opera of Chicago General Director Anthony Freud announced today that two major Broadway and TV performers – Jenn Gambatese and Edward Hibbert – have been cast in the new production and company premiere of Rodgers and Hammerstein's iconic The Sound of Music, to be presented at the Civic Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Drive, in Chicago, this spring.

On Friday, February 7 at 5:30pm at The Players (16 Gramercy Park, New York, NY), Elements Theatre Company of Orleans, MA will present an original work, Labyrinth: A Legacy of Language, exploring Shakespeare's influence on playwrights through the past four and a half centuries, from Sheridan to Ibsen to Stoppard. The production will be a springboard for a 7:00pm discussion in the ARTS IN CONVERSATION panel series, on How Shakespeare Humanizes Our Culture: The Transforming Power of His Work. Panelists include George Drance, SJ, Artist in Residence at Fordham University, Louis Colaianni, author of How to Speak Shakespeare and Teacher/Coach, Rob Weinert-Kendt, Associate Editor at American Theatre, and Josh Cabat, Co-founder of the New York City Student Shakespeare Festival. Danielle Dwyer, CJ, Elements Artistic Director, will moderate. Admission is FREE to both the performance and panel discussion. Reservations are recommended; call 508-240-2400.

54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents Patrick Page in 'Good to be Bad' on Tuesday, January 28th at 9:30 pm

The three female leads of Andrew Lloyd Webber, Don Black and Christopher Hampton's new historically-based West End musical STEPHEN WARD discussed their roles in the show and sang some of their signature songs as part of a promotional appearance earlier this week.

Karen Ruch and a talented veteran cast put on a staged reading of Wilde's classic comedy

Philly audiences are treated to the magic of this classic before it rides off on a National Tour.