Shakespeare & Company News

Public Theater Artistic Director Oskar Eustis and Executive Director Patrick Willingham announced the line-up today for The Public's 2013-2014 season, continuing the theater's nearly 60 year tradition of producing Shakespeare and the classics, musicals, contemporary and experimental works in equal measure while engaging a wide range of audiences and artists at its six downtown theaters at Astor Place, including Joe's Pub, as well as the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. The Public's 58th season will also celebrate the 10th anniversary of the acclaimed Under the Radar Festival and the 15th anniversary of the world-renowned Joe's Pub. 'This season - whether classics, new plays, musicals or experimental ensembles - speaks to the way we live now,' said Artistic Director Oskar Eustis. 'We will bring you the triumphant return (and climax) of Richard Nelson's Apply Family Plays, the heartbreaking and gorgeous new musical Fun Home, and Tarell Alvin McCraney's thrilling Antony & Cleopatra, in a collaboration between England and America's leading Shakespeare companies. We are deeply proud of the range and depth of the work of these remarkable artists and are delighted to add them to the rich history of The Public Theater.'

Arts Centre Melbourne and Opera Australia have announced plans to ensure the preservation of Opera Australia's substantial archive of production, performance and company material - including costumes from the Dame Joan Sutherland Archive - through a new ongoing donation agreement with Arts Centre Melbourne's Performing Arts Collection. The new agreement will ensure that the history, repertoire and stage magic of Australia's pre-eminent opera company will be preserved in perpetuity.

Cornelia Street Cafe presents Shakespeare: A Two-Part Invention featuring Robin Hirsch and John Hudson on Sunday, April 28th at 6pm.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts previously announced national awardees for outstanding work from the regional festivals that were held January 8 through March 3, 2013. Individual awardees and a representative from each of the outstanding productions will travel to the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. for an expenses-paid trip to participate in the 45th annual Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF), today, April 15-20, 2013.

Round House Theatre continues its 2013 Bethesda season with the East Coast premiere of How to Write a New Book for the Bible, which runs now thru May 5. Producing Artistic Director Ryan Rilette makes his Round House directing debut with this powerful, beautiful new play by Bill Cain, the author of such plays as Equivocation and 9 Circles. Opening night is tonight, April 15, 2013.

MATILDA THE MUSICAL, produced by The Royal Shakespeare Company and The Dodgers, opened on April 11, 2013 at Broadway's Shubert Theatre (225 West 44th Street). The four girls sharing the title role are Sophia Gennusa -- who played the lead on opening night -- Oona Laurence, Bailey Ryon and Milly Shapiro, each of whom is making her Broadway debut. BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge was there for all of the opening night festivities and brings you interviews with the four leading ladies and more below!

MATILDA THE MUSICAL, produced by The Royal Shakespeare Company and The Dodgers, opened last night April 11, 2013 at Broadway's Shubert Theatre (225 West 44th Street). Get a look at the arrivals for the after party below!

MATILDA THE MUSICAL, produced by The Royal Shakespeare Company and The Dodgers, opened last night April 11, 2013 at Broadway's Shubert Theatre (225 West 44th Street). Check out photos of the red carpet arrivals below!

From 13 May 2013 Anna-Jane Casey will join the West End cast of Billy Elliot the Musical at the Victoria Palace Theatre to play Billy's dance teacher Mrs Wilkinson. Also joining the cast are Kevin Wathen as Billy's brother, Tony, Howard Crossley as George and Alexander Loxton as Older Billy.

MATILDA THE MUSICAL, produced by The Royal Shakespeare Company and The Dodgers, opened last night April 11, 2013 at Broadway's Shubert Theatre (225 West 44th Street). The four girls sharing the title role are Sophia Gennusa -- who played the lead for last night's opening -- Oona Laurence, Bailey Ryon and Milly Shapiro, each of whom will be making her Broadway debut. Check them all out at the curtain call below!

Theatre for a New Audience, whose vision is based on its core commitment to ideas, to language, and to artists and audiences, has scheduled the first three of its new Open Books Series of free lectures beginning Thursday, April 25, at 6:00pm with Kenneth Gross, author of Puppet: An Essay on Uncanny Life (University of Chicago Press, 2011), and continuing with Penelope Niven, author of Thornton Wilder: A Life (Harper, 2012) Tuesday, May 21,at 5:00pm and Jonathan Kalb, author of Great Lengths: Seven Works of Marathon Theater (University of Michigan Press, 2011), Thursday, May 30, at 6:00pm.

According to the Daily Mail, Alex Kingston (Doctor Who) will play the role of 'Lady Macbeth' opposite Kenneth Branagh in the 2013 Manchester International Festival production of Shakespeare's Macbeth, beginning July 5. Rehearsals start next month. Directed by Rob Ashford and Kenneth Branagh, this interpretation of Shakespeare's tragedy will unfold within the walls of an intimate deconsecrated Manchester Church.

MATILDA THE MUSICAL, produced by The Royal Shakespeare Company and The Dodgers, opens tonight April 11, 2013 at Broadway's Shubert Theatre (225 West 44th Street). The four girls sharing the title role are Sophia Gennusa -- who will play the lead for tonight's opening -- Oona Laurence, Bailey Ryon and Milly Shapiro, each of whom will be making her Broadway debut. Let's see what the critics had to say...

The Boston Theater Critics Association (BTCA) is pleased to announce its nominations for the 31st Annual Elliot Norton Awards. The awards, which recognize excellence in Greater Boston theater, will be presented on Monday, May 13, at 7 p.m. at the Paramount Mainstage, 559 Washington Street, Boston. Tickets are $30 (including post-party) and available by phone at 617-824-8000 or online www.nortonawardsboston.com. (Use "NortonSave" code to receive $5 off for the month of April only.) Sponsors for the 2013 awards ceremony include, ArtsEmerson, Actors' Equity Association, ArtsBoston, EdgeBoston, Emerson College, TheaterMania, The Boston Globe, WBUR, WERS and WGBH.

There might be a total of four pint-sized ladies playing the lead role, but only one gets to portray the title character on opening night. Ever wonder how the big decision is made? BroadwayWorld brings you an exclusive look at the selection with director Matthew Warchus below!