Sam Mendes News

Reprise Theatre Company's production of the classic American musical 'Cabaret,' which opens the 2011-2012 Reprise season and plays September 13 to 25 (press opening September 14, 2011) at UCLA's Freud Playhouse, includes a cast of new talents as well as Broadway and West End veterans - Zach Bandler as Ernst Ludwig, Lisa O'Hare as Sally Bowles, Jeff McLean as Cliff Bradshaw, Katrina Lenk as Fräulein Kost, Mary Gordon Murray as Fräulein Schneider, Robert Picardo as Herr Schultz and Bryce Ryness as the Master of Ceremonies.

Barry Meyer, Chairman & CEO, Warner Bros., today announced a reorganization of Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures, with Mark Kaufman and Raymond Wu sharing the position of Executive Vice President, Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures, the Studio's live theater production operation. Kaufman, who will be based in New York, and Wu, who will be based in Burbank, will both report to Alan Horn, who is overseeing the division in his consulting role for the Studio, reporting to Meyer.

Music Theatre of Connecticut MainStage, Fairfield County's Professional Theatre Company, is pleased to announce the 25th Anniversary MainStage Season. Between November 2011 and May 2012, MTC MainStage will present three fully-staged professional productions, each running for three weeks: 'Cabaret,' 'Almost, Maine' and 'I Left My Heart: A Salute to the Music of Tony Bennett.' Performances will take place in the one-of-a-kind Off-Broadway-style 50-seat studio, providing the audience with an intimate theatregoing experience. MTC MainStage is located at 246 Post Road East in Colonial Green (Lower Level) in Westport, CT.

In her smart comedy The Book Club Play, D.C.-area playwright Karen Zacarías examines the intricacies of book clubs, with their unspoken rules, high-spirited debates and strong bonds formed when least expected. With an ensemble cast featuring Fred Arsenault, Ashlie Atkinson, Rachael Holmes, Eric Messner, Kate Eastwood Norris and Tom Story, this is Zacarías' second collaboration with Director Molly Smith at Arena Stage and is the first work of a Resident Playwright to be produced as part of their three-year residencies through the American Voices New Play Institute. The Book Club Play runs October 7-November 6, 2011 in the Arlene and Robert Kogod Cradle.

According to Deadline.com, Broadway veteran Michael C. Hall is in negotiations to lead an upcoming Broaway production of BIG FISH. Susan Stroan will direct the stage adaptation of the Tim Burton film, which will feature music by Andrew Lippa. Hugh Jackman was originally rumored to star inthe production, but 'his movie schedule got in the way and the producers turned to Hall.'

Hockadoo! The 2010 Tony winning Best Musical MEMPHIS announced today that Broadway veteran Adam Pascal will join the cast of MEMPHIS as 'Huey Calhoun.' Pascal will begin performances on Tuesday, October 25th. Chad Kimball will play his final performance on Sunday, October 23rd. As BroadwayWorld previously reported, Kimball recently suffered nerve damage in his neck as a result of performing the demading role he created on Broadway nearly two years ago and has had to miss several performances of late.

Great Lakes Theater (GLT) will commence its 50th anniversary season at the Hanna Theatre, PlayhouseSquare, with a Fall Repertory that features the Tony Award-winning musical, Cabaret and William Shakespeare's uproarious battle of the sexes, The Taming of the Shrew.

Bay Area Cabaret continues its 2011-2012 season on October 22, 2011 with renowned veteran of stage, screen and film, Tony-nominated actor/singer Peter Gallagher in the West Coast premiere of his critically acclaimed cabaret show SONGS AND STORIES.

Executive Producer Lou Spisto today announced that Matt McGrath will appear in the role of Frank ‘N' Furter in The Old Globe's upcoming production of Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show. McGrath appeared on Broadway as the Emcee in Sam Mendes' hit revival of Cabaret and in the international tour of Tom Waits and William S. Burroughs' The Black Rider: The Casting of the Magic Bullets directed by Robert Wilson. He has also appeared Off Broadway in Hedwig and the Angry Itch and A Fair Country at Lincoln Center Theater. McGrath replaces the previously announced James Barbour, who has departed the production.

Atlantic Theater Company (Neil Pepe, Artistic Director; Jeffory Lawson, Managing Director) will present the first production of its 2011-2012 season, the U.S. premiere of Simon Stephen's play BLUEBIRD, directed by Gaye Taylor Upchurch and starring Olivier Award winner and Tony Award® nominee Simon Russell Beale, Tobias Segal and Atlantic Theater Company members Kate Blumberg, Mary McCann, and Todd Weeks.

Oscar-nominated actress Sophie Okonedo will return to the stage in a psychological drama according to the Daily Mail. Okonedo will star with Ben Daniels, and a seven-year-old boy yet to be cast, in Joe Penhall's new play HAUNTED CHILD. The production will be directed by Jeremy Herrin and will open at the Royal Court on December 2.

SHN will present The Bridge Project production of RICHARD III by William Shakespeare featuring Kevin Spacey with Sam Mendes directing.