Shakespeare & Company News

The San Francisco Playhouse (Bill English, Artistic Director; Susi Damilano, Producing Director) concludes its fourth season of the Sandbox Series of new plays in alliance with theNational New Play Network (NNPN) to present the 'Rolling World Premiere' of Grounded by George Brant. The one-woman play will be directed by Susannah Martin and feature Lauren English*. The San Francisco Playhouse is proud to host the first production for this year's 'Rolling World Premiere.'

World-renowned playwright and Tony Award nominee Ken Ludwig (Crazy for You, Lend Me a Tenor) will be hosting an interactive discussion on Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, followed by a book-signing of his new book How to Teach Your Children Shakespeare at the Folger Shakespeare Library on Saturday, June 8 at 12pm.

MATILDA THE MUSICAL Tony Award nominees Tim Minchin, Dennis Kelly, Matthew Warchus and Bertie Carvel will be interviewed on "The Charlie Rose Show" tonight, May 15 at 11:00PM on PBS (channel 13 in New York). The episode will be rebroadcast onThursday, May 16 at 1:30PM and available online at www.charlierose.com.

Theatre Royal Bath Productions presents Alan Ayckbourn's Relatively Speaking at London's Wyndham's Theatre for a limited run until Saturday 31st August. Previews begin tonight, 14th May 2013 with press night on Monday 20th May.

Merrimack Repertory Theatre's (MRT's) Artistic Director Charles Towers has just announced an updated schedule for the 2013-2014 Season. Due to rights availability, MRT is pleased to announce next season will now include Lanford Wilson's classic American love story Talley's Folley. An updated schedule of the 2013-2014 Season is included below. Subscriptions to MRT's 2013-2014 Season are on sale now. Discounted season tickets are available in a full 7-play subscription or 3-6 play customizable packages and can be purchased online at MRT.org or at the box office by calling 978-654-4678.

The award-winning Equity professional East Lynne Theater Company has exciting shows lined up for its thirty-third season. It includes the usual world premiere ('The Legend of Sleepy Hollow'), a New Jersey premiere ('Lost on the Natchez Trace'), a comedy by a Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright ('The Late Christopher Bean'), an American detective joins Holmes in our popular radio-style productions ('Holmes and Carter Mysteries') and our enchanting storytelling holiday show ('Christmas with Harte and O. Henry.') Special events include our standing-room-only Student Workshop Production and A Sunday Film Series that includes incredible silent features with live organ accompaniment. Our performance venue is the historic First Presbyterian Church of Cape May, located at the corner of Decatur and Hughes, between the beach and the Washington Street Mall.

AWA Partners has just announced that they are joining forces with OBB/Off Broadway Booking to expand operations as a full-service agency. The new company will operate under the banner of AWA Partners and provide tour direction and booking for attractions spanning from multi-week national tours to single night performances, domestically and internationally, and in venues ranging from performing arts centers of all sizes to arenas and clubs. Partners in the newly expanded company will be L. Glenn Poppleton, Alison Spiriti and Orin Wolf. L. Glenn Poppleton will serve as president of the agency. Alan Wasser and Allan Williams will continue as founding partners in the company.

The Boston Theater Critics Association previously announced its nominations for the 31st Annual Elliot Norton Awards. The awards, which recognize excellence in Greater Boston theater, will be presented tonight, May 13, at 7 p.m. at the Paramount Mainstage, 559 Washington Street, Boston.

Utah Repertory Theater Company announces its production of the hysterical farce WHAT THE BELLHOP SAW -- the funniest show you've never seen.

Artistic Director Tony Simotes and Shakespeare & Company will present celebrated playwright Terrence McNally's powerful Master Class, officially kicking off its 36th Performance Season. This riveting production directed by Daniel Gidron stars Elliot Norton and IRNE award-winning actress Annette Miller as Maria Callas. Master Class runs from May 24th through August 18th in S&Co.'s Elayne P. Bernstein Theatre.

Harrisburg Shakespeare Company is celebrating its twentieth year performing in Reservoir Park, and is bringing to the stage William Shakespeare's MEASURE FOR MEASURE. Performances will be held at the Levitt Pavilion in Reservoir Park, Harrisburg, May 31-June 1, June 5-8, and 12-15 at 7:30 p.m.

Shakespeare's classic exploration of ambition, guilt and destiny opens at the Globe on 22 June 2013, the third and final play in the Season of Plenty's trio of supernatural Shakespeares. The production features Joseph Millson and Samantha Spiro as the murderous couple at the heart of the play, with Billy Boyd as Banquo and Gawn Grainger as Duncan. Celebrated cabaret artist Bette Bourne will play the Porter.

Tony Award nominees Dennis Kelly and Tim Minchin, respectively the book writer and composer of MATILDA THE MUSICAL, can be heard this weekend and next week on 'Broadway Names with Julie James,' On Broadway SIRIUSXM 72 tonight, May 11 at 8 PM, Sun May 12 at 12 PM, and Thu May 16 at 9 PM ET and On Demand at SiriusXm.com/ondemand.

Cincinnati Shakespeare Company has announced that Mark Mallory, Mayor of the City of Cincinnati has proclaimed May 3, 2013 as "Brian Isaac Phillips Day".

Red Handed Theatre Company will present Sheridan's most popular comedy, The School for Scandal, at the Park Theatre, London from the 12 June to the 7 July. Directed by Jessica Swale, this sparkling period production will come to life in one of London's newest venues before transferring to the Georgian Theatre Royal Bury St. Edmunds.

Does your dog dream of a life on the stage, performing for tens of thousands of people? Does your pup have what it takes to tackle Shakespeare? Is s/he easy-going, able to take direction, and comfortable around strangers? Bring your pooch out to Bark Place on Saturday May 18th to audition with Larry Coen, playing Launce in our 2013 Free Shakespeare on the Common production of The Two Gentlemen of Verona. We're looking for medium to large-sized dogs to interview with Larry to determine which barkers have that special 'it' quality that we know will make a successful 'Crab.'

Earlier today, the cast of MATILDA THE MUSICAL got the chance to speak live with an astronaut on the International Space Station via satellite hook-up provided by NASA. During the event, Astronaut Tom Marshburn (brother-in-law of cast member John Sanders) got to chat with some of the kids and adults from the Tony nominated show. BroadwayWorld was there for the festivities and you can check out full coverage below!