Sam Shepard News

A Red Orchid Theatre's (AROT) Board of Trustees and Gala Committee, together with Rockit Ranch Productions, proudly announces the 2012 A Red Orchid Gala.The 2012 Gala will celebrate 20 years of creating exceptional, ensemble-based theater in Chicago.

Cellist Maya Beiser will see the New York premiere of her new production, ELSEWHERE, a "CelloOpera," in four performances from October 17 through 20 at 7:30pm, during the 2012 BAM Next Wave Festival in the inaugural season of the Fishman Space, part of BAM's new Richard B. Fischer Building which opens in September 2012 at 321 Ashland Place in Brooklyn. ELSEWHERE is produced by Beth Morrison Projects.

Signature Theatre presents the world premiere of HEARTLESS by Sam Shepard and directed by Daniel Aukin, through September 16, 2012 with an August 27 opening night in The Irene Diamond Stage at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street between 9th and 10th Avenues). BroadwayWorld brings you full video highlights from the show below!

Sam Shepard's Geography of a Horse Dreamer will be coming to Angel Island this September! It is directed by Carlo Lorenzo Garcia (Red Light Winter, Our Bad Magnet) and features Simon Ahmed, Bill Daniel, Rudy Galvan, Christopher Meister, Gavin Robinson, Matt Rockwood, Kevin Stark, & Mark Vallarta.

Rivendell Theatre Ensemble's Artistic Director Tara Mallen announces the first production in its 2012-2013 Season dedicated to the theme "reinvention" is WRENS, by Anne McGravie and directed by Rivendell Theatre Ensemble's co-founder Karen Kessler, September 6 - October 13, at Rivendell's new performance venue, 5779 N. Ridge. Previews are $15 and run Thursday, Sept. 6 - Saturday, Sept. 8 at 8 p.m. There is a Gala Performance Sunday, Sept. 9 at 6 p.m. and opening/press night is Monday, Sept. 10 at 7 p.m. The regular performance tickets are $30 with the schedule Thursdays and Fridays at 8 p.m. and Saturdays at 3 and 8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 14 at 6 p.m. is a benefit performance of WRENS with the original 1996 award-winning cast reprising their roles. Tickets are on sale now; call 773.334.7728 or visit www.RivendellTheatre.org.

Signature Theatre Company has announced a two-week extension for Sam Shepard's HEARTLESS, directed by Daniel Aukin. The production will now play through Sunday, September 30. The production began performances on August 7 and will open August 27 in The Irene Diamond Stage at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street between 9th and 10th Avenues). The initial run is already completely sold out. Tickets during the extension weeks are $75 each.

Concrete timbre & d'moiselles and Theater for the New City are pleased to announce the American premiere production of Sylvaine Hinglais' FOLIE PURE, with original music and soundscapes by concrete timbre: Manuela Lechler, Chris Moscato, Ann Warren, choreography by Jennifer Brainsky and directed by Eleonore Dyl. Folie Pure will play a limited engagement as part of the 2012 Dream Up Festival at Theatre for the New City (155 First Ave. New York NY 10003). Performances begin tonight, August 20 and continue through Monday, August 27.

On Sunday, September 9th, 2012, David Youse, FOUR THINGS PRODUCTIONS in association with L.A. WORKS will present an unprecedented staged reading of the critically-acclaimed play, "Steel Magnolias" at The Broad Stage in Santa Monica. In partnership with playwright Robert Harling, FOUR THINGS PRODUCTIONS is honored to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of this remarkable story written for Harling's sister whom he lost through complications of diabetes. This very special performance will be directed by two-time Tony Award winner Judith Ivey and will feature multiple Emmy nominee and Golden Globe-winning actress Frances Conroy, Golden Globe and Emmy-nominee Elizabeth Perkins, Jennifer Coolidge and Golden Globe and Emmy nominee Annie Potts, along with additional cast members to be announced shortly. Conroy is replacing the previously-announced Kathy Bates in the role of Ouiser due to a scheduling conflict.

Atlantic Theater Company will present the New York premiere of HARPER REGAN, by Olivier Award winner Simon Stephens, starring an ensemble cast featuring Vandit Bhatt, Christopher Innvar, Mahira Kakkar, Jordan Lage, Madeleine Martin, Mary McCann, Mary Beth Peil, Gareth Saxe, Peter Scanavino, John Sharian and Stephen Tyrone Williams, directed by Gaye Taylor Upchurch.

Polarity Ensemble Theatre in association with Azusa Productions presents ADRIFT, a new play by David Alex, directed by Maggie Speer, playing now through August 26, 2012, at the Greenhouse Theater Center Upstairs Studio, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave. in Chicago. ADRIFT features James Eldrenkamp, Colin Henry Fewell, Gary Murphy and Eric Ryan Swanson. Due to the positive response from his first appearance, Dr. John Mundt will return for a second post show discussion regarding Post Traumatic Stress Disorder following the performance tonight, August 16 at 7:30 pm.

Polarity Ensemble Theatre in association with Azusa Productions presents ADRIFT, a new play by David Alex, directed by Maggie Speer, playing July 26 - August 26, 2012 at the Greenhouse Theater Center Upstairs Studio, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave. in Chicago. ADRIFT features James Eldrenkamp, Colin Henry Fewell, Gary Murphy and Eric Ryan Swanson. Tickets for ADRIFT are available by calling the Greenhouse Theater Center Box Office at (773) 404-7336 or online at www.greenhousetheater.org.

Signature Theatre presents the world premiere of HEARTLESS by Sam Shepard and directed by Daniel Aukin, through September 16, 2012 with an August 27 opening night in The Irene Diamond Stage at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street between 9th and 10th Avenues). BroadwayWorld brings you highlights from the show below!

Signature Theatre presents the world premiere of HEARTLESS by Sam Shepard and directed by Daniel Aukin, through September 16, 2012 with an August 27 opening night in The Irene Diamond Stage at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street between 9th and 10th Avenues). BroadwayWorld brings you production shots below!

Rogue Machine is extending Enda Walsh's THE NEW ELECTRIC BALLROOM. Beginning August 10th and running 8pm Fridays, 5pm Saturdays, 7pm Sundays, and 8pm Mondays, the show will now close on September 2nd with a 3pm and 7pm show on that Sunday only.

Bucks County Playhouse (BCP) (Jed Bernstein, Producing Director) has launched The Saturday Arts Program (SAP), a training ground for passionate young performers. Classes will take place weekly from September 22nd - November 17th at the Bucks County Playhouse, New Hope Solebury High School, and the Solebury School.

Polarity Ensemble Theatre in association with Azusa Productions presents ADRIFT, a new play by David Alex, directed by Maggie Speer, playing now through August 26, 2012, at the Greenhouse Theater Center Upstairs Studio, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave. in Chicago. ADRIFT features James Eldrenkamp, Colin Henry Fewell, Gary Murphy and Eric Ryan Swanson. Due to the positive response from his first appearance, Dr. John Mundt will return for a second post show discussion regarding Post Traumatic Stress Disorder following the performance on Thursday, August 16 at 7:30 pm.

Signature Theatre (James Houghton, Founding Artistic Director; Erika Mallin, Executive Director) has announced that performances begin tonight for the world premiere of HEARTLESS by Sam Shepard and directed by Daniel Aukin. All tickets for the initial run of the production are $25 as part of the Signature Ticket Initiative: A Generation of Access. The production runs August 7 through September 16, 2012 with an August 27 opening night in The Irene Diamond Stage at The Pershing Square Signature Center(480 West 42nd Street between 9th and 10th Avenues).

Alley Theatre Artistic Director Gregory Boyd announces the cast and creative team for the Alley Theatre's production of November. November features Alley Theatre Resident Actors Jeffrey Bean as President Charles Smith, James Belcher as The Representative of the National Association of Turkey and Turkey Products, Elizabeth Bunch as Clarice Bernstein, David Rainey as Dwight Grackle, and Todd Waite as Archer Brown. November, by David Mamet and directed by Sanford Robbins, begins performances Friday, August 24, opens officially Wednesday, August 29, and runs through Sunday, September 23 on the Neuhaus Stage.

On Sunday, September 9th, 2012, David Youse, FOUR THINGS PRODUCTIONS in association with L.A. WORKS will present an unprecedented staged reading of the critically-acclaimed play, "Steel Magnolias" at The Broad Stage in Santa Monica. In partnership with playwright Robert Harling, FOUR THINGS PRODUCTIONS is honored to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of this remarkable story written for Harling's sister whom he lost through complications of diabetes. This very special performance will be directed by two-time Tony Award winner Judith Ivey and will feature Academy Award-winning actress Kathy Bates, Golden Globe and Emmy-nominee Elizabeth Perkins and Golden Globe and Emmy nominee Annie Potts along with additional cast members to be announced shortly.