Parker Esse News

Arena Stage Artistic Director Molly Smith and Executive Director Edgar Dobie announce the 2017/18 season lineup for the company's 68th season. The season reflects Arena Stage's commitment to championing diverse voices and producing work that is politically and socially-relevant.

The 2017 Helen Hayes Award nominations were announced tonight. A line-up of leading theatre artists announced nominations in 47 categories of artistic excellence. Award recipients will be announced at the Helen Hayes Awards gala event to be held at the Lincoln Theatre on Monday, May 15 with an after-party hosted at Washington's legendary 9:30 Club.

Two-time Tony Award-winning Goodspeed Musicals has assembled six exciting teams - three led by prominent women directors - to helm the diverse productions planned this season: a tap-happy musical comedy, a beloved classic, a completely reinvented musical from some of the finest creative minds in musical theatre, two bold new musicals, and a holiday show for all ages.

Goodspeed Musicals wants to help singers and actors to succeed in dance auditions.  In keeping with our mission to educate and support artists, Goodspeed will offer its first Goodspeed Movers Boot Camp January 6 - 8, 2017 at Pearl Studios in NYC. 

CAROUSEL features a superb cast, taut direction, and amazing dancing that packs a wallop..

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater presents Carousel, directed by Artistic Director Molly Smith, with music by Richard Rodgers and book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. Featuring Musical Direction by Paul Sportelli and Choreography by Parker Esse, Carousel runs October 28-December 24 in the iconic in-the-round Fichandler Stage. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the opening night pics below!

There's something about a classic, standard musical that tugs at the heartstrings. Maybe it's the the swelling orchestra, the time-honored songs, or the amazement that an old love story can feel new again. Under the direction of Molly Smith at Arena Stage, Rodgers and Hammerstein's CAROUSEL is all of the above.

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater will present the American Artist Award to Tony and Emmy Award-nominated director and playwright Moises Kaufman. The award will be presented tonight, November 10, 2016 as part of the opening night celebration for the Rodgers & Hammerstein musical Carousel, directed by Artistic Director Molly Smith.

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater presents Carousel, directed by Artistic Director Molly Smith, with music by Richard Rodgers and book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. Featuring Musical Direction by Paul Sportelli and Choreography by Parker Esse, Carousel runs now through December 24 in the iconic in-the-round Fichandler Stage. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater presents Carousel, directed by Artistic Director Molly Smith, with music by Richard Rodgers and book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. Featuring Musical Direction by Paul Sportelli and Choreography by Parker Esse, Carousel runs now through December 24 in the iconic in-the-round Fichandler Stage. Click below to watch a brand-new trailer for the show!

The Shaw Festival proudly announces casting for Artistic Director Tim Carroll's first season. The Shaw's 2017 ensemble is a mix of new faces and Festival favourites - each actor ready to entertain and excite audiences in this season's 11 productions.

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater presents Carousel, directed by Artistic Director Molly Smith, with music by Richard Rodgers and book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II.

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater presents Carousel, directed by Artistic Director Molly Smith, with music by Richard Rodgers and book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. Featuring Musical Direction by Paul Sportelli and Choreography by Parker Esse, Carousel runs October 28-December 24 in the iconic in-the-round Fichandler Stage. BroadwayWorld has highlights of the company in rehearsal below!

The winners of the First Annual Berkshire Theatre Awards have been announced. Seventeen arts journalists voted on 120 nominees in 25 categories chosen from artists in the 75 live theatre productions mounted in Berkshire County and adjacent areas between October 1, 2015 and September 30, 2016.

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater presents Carousel, directed by Artistic Director Molly Smith, with music by Richard Rodgers and book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. Featuring Musical Direction by Paul Sportelli and Choreography by Parker Esse, Carousel runs October 28-December 24 in the iconic in-the-round Fichandler Stage. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the leading couple in costume below!

In the last twelve months, more than 300,000 people attended a live theatre production in or around Berkshire County. With 75 stage productions employing hundreds of professionals, making theatre is an important cog in the area's cultural economy. In fact, many consider the region a hot spot for Broadway bound shows, and a popular summer destination for theatre-goers from around the nation.

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater will present the American Artist Award to Tony and Emmy Award-nominated director and playwright Moises Kaufman. The award will be presented Thursday, November 10, 2016 as part of the opening night celebration for the Rodgers & Hammerstein musical Carousel, directed by Artistic Director Molly Smith.

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater presents Carousel, directed by Artistic Director Molly Smith, with music by Richard Rodgers and book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. Featuring Musical Direction by Paul Sportelli and Choreography by Parker Esse, Carousel runs October 28-December 24 in the iconic in-the-round Fichandler Stage. The company just had their first rehearsal and BroadwayWorld has photos below!

Pull up your boots and hold onto your hats when this all-dancing, all-singing, all-new production of the rip-roarin' musical comedy classic bursts onto the Ogunquit Playhouse stage September 7 to October 1.  BroadwayWorld has a first look at highlights of the show below!

One of the most popular movie musicals adapted for the stage, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers has enjoyed several notable regional productions in the past few seasons, and the Ogunquit Playhouse's current staging demonstrates once again the nostalgic appeal of this sweet and folksy romantic tale set in America's pioneer days. The Kasha/Landay/Mercer/DePaul/Hirschhorn 1954 movie musical based on a Stephen Vincent Benet story, though it proved a disappointment when first adapted for the musical theatre stage in 1982, seems in the turbulent first decades of the 21st century to have struck chords in audiences who may hunger for the innocence and vibrant energy at its core.