Sam Shepard News

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.

Keegan Theatre's producing artistic director Mark A. Rhea discusses the Washington, D.C.-based theatre company. The Keegan opens Tracy Letts' award-winning dark comedy AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY August 3, which runs through September 2, 2012 at the Church Street Theatre.

The first official trailer has been released for the Weinstein Company's KILLING THEM SOFTLY, set to hit theaters on October 19. The crime-drama stars Brad Pitt, James Gandolfini, Sam Shepard, Richard Jenkins, Scoot McNairy and Ben Mendelsohn and is based on George V. Higgins' 1974 Boston mobster novel 'Cogan's Trade.' Get a first look below!

Single tickets for Long Wharf Theatre's 2012-13 season will go on sale Wednesday, August 1.

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 Monday, August 20 and continue through Monday, August 27.

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.

Signature Theatre has announced the next wave of upcoming supplemental programs, which allow more intimate and direct access to a playwright's vision and process.

Polarity Ensemble Theatre in association with Azusa Productions presents ADRIFT, a new play by David Alex, directed by Maggie Speer, playing tonight, July 26 - August 26, 2012 at the Greenhouse Theater Center Upstairs Studio, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave. in Chicago.

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

La MaMa will begin its 51st season -- the theatre's 2nd half-century as one of the world's most influential experimental theatres -- with works by Neil LaBute, Marco Calvani, Jean-Claude van Itallie, Ping Chong, Catherine Filloux, Yara Arts Group, John Jahnke and The Hotel Savant, Sheila Callaghan and foolsFURY, The Foundry Theatre featuring Taylor Mac and companies from New York, the U.S., Poland, Uganda and other countries around the world, it has been announced by Mia Yoo, La MaMa's artistic director.

Trevor Nunn is to direct Rob Brydon, Nigel Harman and Ashley Jensen in Alan Ayckbourn's A CHORUS OF DISAPPROVAL, opening at the Harold Pinter Theatre in the Autumn. Jessica Ellerby, Barrie Rutter, Paul Thornley and Susan Tracy will join previously announced company members Teresa Banham, Daisy Beaumont, Georgia Brown, Rob Compton, Matthew Cottle and Steven Edis.

The Contemporary American Theater Festival, an annual summer showcase for new plays is back for the 22nd season. Five new plays by American playwrights are presented at different venues on the Shepherd campus through July 29, 2012.