Philip Seymour Hoffman News

In his lengthy notes discussing the thought process behind his LAByrinth Theater Company/Public Theater mounting of Othello, director Peter Sellars explains how our view of Shakespeare's drama of an outsider Moor put into a position of power in an otherwise white society, must change in an era where Barack Obama can become President of the United States. His is an interracial Othello, with Latino John Ortiz (LAByrinth Theater co-founder) as the Moor, white actor (and longtime LAByrinth associate) Philip Seymour Hoffman as the underling Iago who tries to bring him down and an assortment of white, black and Latinos rounding out the company.

Liza Colon-Zayas, Sol Frieder and Elaine Kussack will join Sam Waterston in the world premiere of Athol Fugard's Have You Seen Us?, taking place at Long Wharf Theatre from Nov. 24 to Dec. 20.

Goodman Theatre's Education and Community Programs received Award of Honor from the Illinois Theatre Association (ITA) at its 2009 Awards of Excellence.

InViolet Repertory Theater will present the World Premiere of KISS ME ON THE MOUTH by Melanie Angelina Maras. This new romantic tragicomedy will be directed by Stephen Adly Guirgis at Center Stage (where several of Guirgis' plays were originally staged by LAByrinth Theater Company). Performances of this limited engagement begin previews on November 3rd with opening night slated for Thursday, November 5th.

As previously reported, My Girl's Anna Chlumsky and Kristen Johnston are set to headline the Mint Theater Company's SO HELP ME GOD! The Off-Broadway run, which will begin previews November 18th, opens officially at the Lucile Lortel Theatre Dec. 7 and runs through Dec. 20. Today, the full cast and creative team have been announced.

RUNT OF THE LITTER, play by former NFL player Bo Eason, opens in the final hour of Jack Henry's lifelong dream, only one thing stands in his way - his brother.

Goodman Theatre is proud to present the world premiere of Alan Gross's High Holidays directed by Steven Robman, October 31 - November 29, 2009 in the Goodman's 400-seat flexible Owen Bruner Theatre.

It was announced this weekend by the American Film Institute's Board of Trustees Chair, Sir Howard Stringer, that Nichols will receive the 38th AFI Life Achievement Award at a gala tribute to be held in Los Angeles next summer.

Goodman Theatre is proud to present the Chicago premiere of Dael Orlandersmith's Stoop Stories, September 12 - October 11, 2009 the Goodman's 400-seat flexible Owen Bruner Theatre. Tickets are $10 - $40 and go on sale Friday, August 7 at GoodmanTheatre.org.

Today Goodman Theatre announced a change in its upcoming 2009/2010 season lineup. Artistic Director Robert Falls has canceled the previously scheduled Joan D'Arc, directed by Aida Karic, and in its place selected Stoop Stories, an explosive solo piece by Dael Orlandersmith. A Chicago premiere, Stoop Stories will run September 11 - October 11 in the Goodman's 400-seat flexible Owen Bruner Theatre.

Native Chicago playwright Alan Gross teams up with director Steven Robman to bring his newest work, High Holidays, to Goodman Theatre. At the center of this four-character drama-inspired by Gross' own life and family experience-is young Billy Roman (Max Zuppa) and the anxiety-riddled preparations for his Bar Mitzvah in 1963 north suburban Chicago.

Actress Anna Chlumsky will join the cast of Mint Theater Company's SO HELP ME GOD! Chlumsky joins Kristen Johnston for the Off-Broadway run, which will begin performances November 18th.

InViolet Repertory Theater will present the World Premiere of KISS ME ON THE MOUTH by Melanie Angelina Maras. This new romantic tragicomedy will be directed by Stephen Adly Guirgis at Center Stage (where several of Guirgis' plays were originally staged by LAByrinth Theater Company). Performances of this limited engagement begin previews on November 3rd with opening night slated for Thursday, November 5th.

Brand-new plays from six contemporary, diverse voices of the American theater come together for two weekends in Goodman Theatre's 2009 New Stages Series, December 11 - 20, 2009. The series of script-in-hand staged readings takes place in the Goodman's Owen Theatre and is open to the public.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) and LAByrinth Theater Company will present a FREE discussion series tied to its current production of OTHELLO running through Sunday, October 4 the NYU Skirball Center.

Orange County's Chance Theater presents the West Coast Premiere of Richard Nelson's adaptation of THE SEAGULL by Anton Chekov, which continues through October 25. The production is directed by Tony Vezner, Assistant Professor of Theatre at Irvine's Concordia University and director of the Chance's 2008 critically-acclaimed production of Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol. As one of the great works in the history of the theatre, THE SEAGULL is one of the most prolifically-produced plays in the world. From the original, famed production at Konstantin Stanislavski's Moscow Art Theatre in 1898 to the recent landmark revival in New York's Central Park, THE SEAGULL has enchanted and engaged audiences from across the world for the last 100 years.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) and LAByrinth Theater Company will present a FREE discussion before the final performance of OTHELLO on Sunday, October 4.

Animal Crackers runs through October 25, 2009 in the Goodman's Albert Theatre. Tickets are currently available by season subscription - www.ExploreTheGoodman.org or call 312.443.3800. Individual tickets ($25 - $83) are on sale now.

Today's Broadway Blogs on BroadwayWorld.com from Monday, September 28, 2009.

Artistic Directors Andrew Upton and Cate Blanchett today unveiled their 2010 program for Sydney Theatre Company offering audiences fresh explorations of classic texts, new works and adaptations, an accent on international collaborations and introductions to new artists and companies from around Australia.