Shakespeare & Company News

?Today, rehearsals have begun for Sir Trevor Nunn's production of William Shakespeare's A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, running at the New Wolsey Theatre in Ipswich from Thursday 16 June to Saturday 9 July 2016.

Brian Mullin's debut drama is a frank and wry portrait of modern feminism, friendship and one extraordinary woman, determined to take on the world. WE WAIT IN JOYFUL HOPE is a funny and touching exploration of religion and capitalism in contemporary America.

Goodman Theatre announces Broadway stars John Dossett and Douglas Sills will join the cast of War Paint, a new musical starring two-time Tony Award winners Patti LuPone and Christine Ebersole as Helena Rubinstein and Elizabeth Arden, respectively. Dossett will portray Tommy Lewis, Miss Arden's husband and chief marketing officer, and Sills will portray the ambitious Harry Fleming, Madame Rubinstein's clubby confidante and faithful ally.

Gloucester Stage Company kicks off the 37th season of producing professional theater on Cape Ann with Peter Shaffer's Lettice and Lovage opening on May 19 and running through June 11 at 267 East Main Street, Gloucester, MA.

Commemorating the centenary of the Battle of the Somme, the world premiere of It Is Easy To Be Dead by award-winning playwright Neil McPherson opens at the Finborough Theatre for a four week limited season on Wednesday, 15 June 2016 (Press Night: Friday, 17 June 2016 and Saturday, 18 June 2016 at 7.30pm).

? Manhattan Shakespeare Project - Manhattan's All-Female Shakespeare Company, presents Al'ukhraa: A Study in Othello, for its 2016 FREE Shakespeare in the ParkS.  Manhattan Shakespeare Project provides an opportunity for female artists to play traditionally male roles as well as an opportunity to break into the male-dominated theater industry in directing, producing, writing, and stage production.

An entirely new cast has started rehearsals for Robert Icke and Duncan Macmillan's adaptation of 1984.

Open letter: CAST Artistic Directors fear for our cultural vibrancy in the face of funding announcements

National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Jane Chu has approved more than $82 million to fund local arts projects and partnerships in the NEA's second major funding announcement for fiscal year 2016.

Casting has been confirmed for the world premiere of a new version of Maxim Gorky's Vassa Zheleznova, coming to Southwark Playhouse. The production will run Wednesday 15 June - Saturday 9 July 2016, with an official opening scheduled for Friday, 17 June 2016 at 8pm.

Join us for one of Shakespeare's earliest and funniest plays. Watch and laugh as close friends Valentine and Proteus both pursue the Duke of Milan's beautiful daughter, Sylvia.  See how Crab, 'the sourest-natured dog that lives', provides one of the first examples of the animal stealing the show. Don't miss this rarely produced comedy.

The merry old land of Oz comes to downtown Meriden May 13-22 as the Castle Craig Players presents THE WIZARD OF OZ. Join Dorothy as she's swept away from farmland Kansas and enters a world of color. Dance and sing along the yellow brick road with her companions, Scarecrow, Tinman, and Lion. And click your heels together as you rediscover the real story of OZ in this fantastic musical treat for the whole family!

?Tennessee Shakespeare Company, in partnership with the University of Memphis' Department of Theatre & Dance, calls to action-packed theatrical life the battlefields and courts of an ambitious young king in William Shakespeare's masterwork on the chaos of war and the romance of peace:  Henry V.

Arguably one of the most complex and intriguing female characters ever written, HEDDA GABLER weaves a mesmerizing tale of a woman trapped in a loveless marriage who is driven by a need for power and freedom. Working from a freshly translated script by Anne-Charlotte Harvey that removes stilted language while staying true to Ibsen's voice, the actors have put their personal touches on their characters to create a piece that speaks to contemporary audiences. Lovers of classic theatre will not want to miss this gripping world premiere translation.

Helen Mirren and Donald Sutherland are set to star in Italian director Paolo Virzì's English-language debut film THE LEISURE SEEKER.

*PHOTOS & VIDEO* The Principal Cast of the 60th Anniversary Production of MY FAIR LADY was announced in Sydney. *PHOTOS & VIDEO*

Australia's MY FAIR LADY, directed by Julie Andrews, just announced its leading players, featuring acclaimed British performer Alex Jennings, as Professor Higgins and the young Australian star, Anna O'Byrne, as Eliza Doolittle. 

Shakespeare & Company opens its 39th Season on Friday, May 27 with the regional premiere of THE TAMING.

Join us for one of Shakespeare's earliest and funniest plays. Watch and laugh as close friends Valentine and Proteus both pursue the Duke of Milan's beautiful daughter, Sylvia.  See how Crab, 'the sourest-natured dog that lives', provides one of the first examples of the animal stealing the show. Don't miss this rarely produced comedy.

Carmen Cusack has finally made her Broadway debut, and it's in the role of a lifetime. She plays Alice Murphy (at two ages) in Steve Martin and Edie Brickell's BRIGHT STAR- a performance that earned her a nomination for Best Performance by and Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical. Hear her story below!