Royal Court Theatre News

This winter, Barry McCarthy (King Lear, Almeida; Notes on a Scandal; Fox Searchlight) reprises his role as Father Christmas in the Lyric Hammersmith and Pins and Needles sell-out smash hit. This first ever stage adaptation of the festive classic by eminent children's author Raymond Briggs returns to the Lyric studio for an extended run.

With seven premieres on its stages this year, Artists Rep's 2013/14 season reinforces the theatre's longstanding commitment to producing new plays in Portland. With the U.S. premiere of Foxfinder starting tonight, October 29, Artists Rep aims to give this play national recognition and offer West Coast audiences the first look at this up-and-coming playwright.

The cast has been announced for the winner of the Papatango New Writing Prize 2013, in partnership with the Finborough Theatre. The world premiere of UNSCORCHED by Luke Owen will be directed by Justin Audibert. Featuring designs by Georgia Lowe, lighting by Joshua Carr, and sound by Richard Hammarton.

Worst. Thanksgiving. Ever. A family gathering to celebrate the iconic American holiday turns into a scathing indictment of phony liberal values in The Pain and the Itch by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Bruce Norris (Clybourne Park), continuing through Dec. 1 at the Zephyr Theatre.

A Noise Within (ANW), the acclaimed classical repertory theatre company led by Producing Artistic Directors Geoff Elliott and Julia Rodriguez-Elliott, continues its 22nd season and the third season in its new Pasadena home with Endgame by Samuel Beckett, opening tonight, October 26 and closing Saturday, November 23, 2013, with previews starting October 19. Endgame, directed by Geoff Elliott, is performed in repertory with Pericles, Prince of Tyre by William Shakespeare, September 14 through November 24, and The Guardsman by Ferenc Molnar, October 5 through November 30.

Steep Theatre Company's 13th Season began in grand fashion on October 3rd with the North American Premiere of Motortown by Olivier Award-winning playwright Simon Stephens. The show has now been extended through November 23rd.

Full casting is announced today for That Face, the debut play from award-winning playwright Polly Stenham, which will have its first London revival at the Landor Theatre from Tuesday 12 November to Sunday 1 December (press night Thursday 14 November).

Amphibian Stage Productions presents its final main stage production of the 2013 season, Death Tax by Lucas Hnath. Georgia Clinton, Stormi Demerson, John Forkner, and Laurel Whitsett will star in this dark comedy, running tonight, October 17 through Sunday, November 10 at Amphibian's theater at 120 S. Main Street. Rene Moreno will direct the production.

Roundabout Theatre Company presents The Winslow Boy, starring Tony nominee Michael Cumpsty as 'Desmond Curry', Academy & Tony Award nominee Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio as 'Grace Winslow', Alessandro Nivola as 'Sir Robert Morton' and Tony Award winner Roger Rees as 'Arthur Winslow'.

Theater LaB Houston returns with its 21st Season of staging the BEST in contemporary theater. The search for a new and intimate venue that complements TLH's home of twenty years has been found at Obsidian Art Space (OAS) located at 3522 White Oak Blvd. Houston, Texas 77007. The four new season productions will be staged at OAS as well as Cock.

With seven premieres on its stages this year, Artists Rep's 2013/14 season reinforces the theatre's longstanding commitment to producing new plays in Portland. With the U.S. premiere of Foxfinder starting October 29, Artists Rep aims to give this play national recognition and offer West Coast audiences the first look at this up-and-coming playwright.

Actress and director Kathy Burke has come up with a cast for her revamp of playwright Mary O'Malley's 1977 play ONCE A CATHOLIC. Burke will direct the production at the Tricycle Theatre, beginning November 21.

The cast has been announced for the winner of the Papatango New Writing Prize 2013, in partnership with the Finborough Theatre. The world premiere of UNSCORCHED by Luke Owen will be directed by Justin Audibert. Featuring designs by Georgia Lowe, lighting by Joshua Carr, and sound by Richard Hammarton.

As The Winter's Tale opens at Sheffield's Crucible Theatre, Artistic Director Daniel Evans announces the full cast of the world premiere of Robin Hooper's Love Your Soldiers.

Unscorched will star Ronan Raftery (Juno and the Paycock, National Theatre; The Shawshank Redemption, West End; Fresh Meat) and John Hodgkinson (A Walk On Part, National Tour; The Seagull, National Theatre; Skyfall; Peep Show).

Artistic Director Les Waters and Managing Director Jennifer Bielstein are delighted to announce that Lucas Hnath's new play, The Christians, will receive its world premiere at Actors Theatre during the 38th Humana Festival of New American Plays. The Christians, which was commissioned by Actors Theatre of Louisville, will be directed by Les Waters and performed in the Pamela Brown Auditorium. The production will begin previews on March 4, open on March 6 and run through April 6, 2014.

Paines Plough celebrates its 40th year in 2014. Under the artistic leadership of James Grieve and George Perrin, the company today announces a taster of the work to come across its anniversary year - the company's most ambitious programme to date.

Get out your squirt guns and playing cards as The Rocky Horror Show gets a RuPaul's Drag Race facelift at San Antonio's historic Woodlawn Theatre, 1920 Fredericksburg Road in the Deco District. The iconic rock musical, which opens October 10, stars Michelle Visage as Magenta, William as Riff Raff and Alaska as Dr. Frank-N-Furter. Check out a first look below!

The Public Theater and Theatre for a New Audience have announced a two-week extension today for the American premiere of GRASSES OF A THOUSAND COLORS, part of The Wallace Shawn-Andre Gregory Project, written by Wallace Shawn. Directed by Andre Gregory, GRASSES OF A THOUSAND COLORSbegins previews tonight and was originally scheduled to close on Sunday, November 10. It will now run an additional two weeks through Sunday, November 24, with an official press opening on Monday, October 28.