Peter Sarsgaard News

If the blocked sight lines caused by Santo Loquasto's dominating set - the wooden skeleton of a Russian two-story country home - seem at first a bit of an annoyance in Classic Stage Company's engrossing and well-acted production of Chekhov's Uncle Vanya, the wonderful moodiness his work helps create becomes more evident as the evening moves onward. With most of the action taking place on the porch pushed to the forefront, the audience can partially view the unseen business of others through thick structural beams. Or perhaps watch scenes with those not directly involved in the forefront. And while the clarity of your view depends on which of the three sections you're seated in, it seems intentional that nobody can tell exactly what is happening in one key moment.

Today's Broadway Blogs on BroadwayWorld.com from Tuesday, February 17, 2009.

The OBIE, Drama Desk and Lortel Award-winning Classical Theatre of Harlem (CTH) will begin their 10th Anniversary Season with a new production of Anton Chekhov's classic THREE SISTERS, directed by CTH Co-Founder Christopher McElroen (The Cherry Orchard). Performances will be at Harlem Stage Gatehouse, 150 Convent Avenue at West 135th Street, and will begin on Thursday, February 5th. Opening night is scheduled for Wednesday, February 18th and the show will run through Sunday, March 8th.

Classic Stage Company's upcoming new production of Anton Chekhov's UNCLE VANYA, starring Tony Award winner Denis O'Hare as Vanya, Maggie Gyllenhaal as Yelena and Peter Sarsgaard as Astrov, had its official opening night on Thursday, February 12th, 2009. BroadwayWorld's camera caught the starry official first night action.

Classic Stage Company's upcoming new production of Anton Chekhov's UNCLE VANYA, starring Tony Award winner Denis O'Hare as Vanya, Maggie Gyllenhaal as Yelena and Peter Sarsgaard as Astrov, had its official opening night on Thursday, February 12th, 2009. BroadwayWorld's camera caught the starry official first night action.

Classic Stage Company's upcoming new production of Anton Chekhov's UNCLE VANYA, starring Tony Award winner Denis O'Hare as Vanya, Maggie Gyllenhaal as Yelena and Peter Sarsgaard as Astrov, has set its official opening night for Thursday, February 12 at 7 pm, it was announced today by CSC Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Jessica R. Jenen.

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Brian Kulick, Artistic Director and Jessica R. Jenen, Executive Director, will present the fourth year of its popular YOUNG COMPANY, which creates classical works specially tailored for young audiences. This season's production will focus on Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet, and will run from February 23 through March 6 at Classic Stage Company (136 East 13th Street). Columbia M.F.A. student actors will be featured in Shakespeare's most romantic play, in this thrilling interpretation ideal for all ages 12 and up. Directed by Tony Speciale, Romeo & Juliet will be presented in a 90 minute abridged version specifically geared toward student and family audiences. Tickets are $25, and $15 for Students/Seniors. Each child under 12 gets in free with one adult ticket.

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Brian Kulick, Artistic Director and Jessica R. Jenen, Executive Director, will present the fourth year of its popular YOUNG COMPANY, which creates classical works specially tailored for young audiences. This season's production will focus on Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet, and will run from February 23 through March 6 at Classic Stage Company (136 East 13th Street). Columbia M.F.A. student actors will be featured in Shakespeare's most romantic play, in this thrilling interpretation ideal for all ages 12 and up. Directed by Tony Speciale, Romeo & Juliet will be presented in a 90 minute abridged version specifically geared toward student and family audiences. Tickets are $25, and $15 for Students/Seniors. Each child under 12 gets in free with one adult ticket.

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Jessica R. Jenen will present MONDAY NIGHT OTHELLO, an exciting theatrical experience in which acclaimed actors including Michael Cumpsty, John Turturro, Alan Cumming and Michael Potts will work through and explore a different act of Shakespeare's OTHELLO with an acclaimed director in front of an audience on four Monday evenings this winter at Classic Stage Company (136 East 13th Street). The directors are CSC Artistic Director Brian Kulick, former CSC Artistic Director Barry Edelstein and Michael Sexton.

Classic Stage Company's new production of Anton Chekhov's UNCLE VANYA, starring Tony Award winner Denis O'Hare as Vanya, Maggie Gyllenhaal as Yelena and Peter Sarsgaard as Astrov, extended its limited engagement through Sunday, March 8, it was announced today by CSC Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Jessica R. Jenen. Directed by Austin Pendleton, UNCLE VANYA will begin previews on this Saturday, January 17 at Classic Stage Company at 136 East 13th Street, with an official opening set for Thursday, February 12. The cast of UNCLE VANYA also features Mamie Gummer (Sonya), Louis Zorich (Waffles), George Morfogen (Srebryakov), Delphi Harrington (Maria) and Cyrilla Baer (Marina). UNCLE VANYA will feature scenic design by Tony Award winner Santo Loquasto, who received wide acclaim last season at CSC for his design of The Seagull and who has designed numerous Chekhovian productions in his esteemed career including the famed Lincoln Center production of The Cherry Orchard in 1977. Costume design is by Suzy Benzinger, who also designed last season's The Seagull, and lighting design is by Jason Lyons. The play is translated by Carol Rocamora. O'Hare, who last performed at CSC in Yasmina Reza's A Spanish Play, stars as Vanya, the quintessential superfluous man, who wakes up one morning to discover he has wasted his life in the service of others, in Chekhov's tragicomic masterpiece of dashed dreams, thwarted love and eternal longing. The play was first performed at the legendary Moscow Art Theater in 1899, directed by Constantine Stanislavsky.

Due to very strong ticket sales, Classic Stage Company's new production of Anton Chekhov's UNCLE VANYA, starring Tony Award winner Denis O'Hare as Vanya, Maggie Gyllenhaal as Yelena and Peter Sarsgaard as Astrov, has extended its limited engagement through Sunday, March 8, it was announced today by CSC Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Jessica R. Jenen. Directed by Austin Pendleton, UNCLE VANYA will begin previews on this Saturday, January 17 at Classic Stage Company at 136 East 13th Street, with an official opening set for Thursday, February 12. The cast of UNCLE VANYA also features Mamie Gummer (Sonya), Louis Zorich (Waffles), George Morfogen (Srebryakov), Delphi Harrington (Maria) and Cyrilla Baer (Marina). UNCLE VANYA will feature scenic design by Tony Award winner Santo Loquasto, who received wide acclaim last season at CSC for his design of The Seagull and who has designed numerous Chekhovian productions in his esteemed career including the famed Lincoln Center production of The Cherry Orchard in 1977. Costume design is by Suzy Benzinger, who also designed last season's The Seagull, and lighting design is by Jason Lyons. The play is translated by Carol Rocamora. O'Hare, who last performed at CSC in Yasmina Reza's A Spanish Play, stars as Vanya, the quintessential superfluous man, who wakes up one morning to discover he has wasted his life in the service of others, in Chekhov's tragicomic masterpiece of dashed dreams, thwarted love and eternal longing. The play was first performed at the legendary Moscow Art Theater in 1899, directed by Constantine Stanislavsky.

Sundance Institute announced today the lineup of films selected to screen in the U.S. and World Cinema Dramatic and Documentary Competitions for the 25th Sundance Film Festival. In addition to the four Competition categories, the Festival presents films in five out-of-competition sections to be announced tomorrow. The 2009 Sundance Film Festival runs January 15-25 in Park City, Salt Lake City, Ogden, and Sundance, Utah.

The OBIE, Drama Desk and Lortel Award-winning Classical Theatre of Harlem (CTH) will begin their 10th Anniversary Season with a new production of Anton Chekhov's classic THREE SISTERS, directed by CTH Co-Founder Christopher McElroen (The Cherry Orchard). Performances will be at Harlem Stage Gatehouse, 150 Convent Avenue at West 135th Street, and will begin on Thursday, February 5th. Opening night is scheduled for Wednesday, February 18th and the show will run through Sunday, March 8th.

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Jessica R. Jenen will present MONDAY NIGHT OTHELLO, an exciting theatrical experience in which acclaimed actors including Michael Cumpsty, John Turturro, Alan Cumming and Michael Potts will work through and explore a different act of Shakespeare's OTHELLO with an acclaimed director in front of an audience on four Monday evenings this winter at Classic Stage Company (136 East 13th Street). The directors are CSC Artistic Director Brian Kulick, former CSC Artistic Director Barry Edelstein and Michael Sexton.

Classic Stage Company's upcoming new production of Anton Chekhov's UNCLE VANYA, starring Tony Award winner Denis O'Hare as Vanya, Maggie Gyllenhaal as Yelena and Peter Sarsgaard as Astrov, has set its official opening night for Thursday, February 12 at 7 pm, it was announced today by CSC Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Jessica R. Jenen.

Actor Dominic Cooper has been cast in the role of Hippolytus in the National Theatre's upcoming revival of Ph?dre. Co-starring Helen Mirren in the title role and directed by Nicholas Hytner, Artistic Director of the National Theatre, Jean Racine's 1677 classic tragedy is based on a Greek myth about a queen who falls passionately in love with her stepson in her husband's absence.

Acclaimed film and stage actors Maggie Gyllenhaal and Peter Sarsgaard have joined the cast of Classic Stage Company's upcoming new production of Anton Chekhov's UNCLE VANYA, starring Tony Award winner Denis O'Hare as Vanya, and directed by Austin Pendleton, it was announced today by CSC Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Jessica R. Jenen. UNCLE VANYA will begin previews on Saturday, January 17 at Classic Stage Company at 136 East 13th Street. An official press opening date will be announced in the coming weeks. UNCLE VANYA will play a limited engagement through March 1, 2009.

The 20th Annual GYPSY OF THE YEAR COMPETITION announced a total of $3,061,000 had been raised by the 63 participating Broadway, Off-Broadway, and National Tour companies to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. BroadwayWorld.com's cameras had VIP access on all levels to bring you the most complete coverage of this very special event!

The 20th Annual GYPSY OF THE YEAR COMPETITION announced a total of $3,061,000 had been raised by the 63 participating Broadway, Off-Broadway, and National Tour companies to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

The Royal Court Theatre's critically acclaimed production of Anton Chekhov's THE SEAGULL has fully recouped its capitalization costs, officially entering the hit column. THE SEAGULL, in a new version by Christopher Hampton and directed by Ian Rickson, is now in its final two weeks, concluding its limited engagement as scheduled on Sunday, December 21 at the Walter Kerr Theatre (219 West 48th Street).