Shakespeare & Company News

Tina Packer, Paul Schoeffler and Suzanne Kachmar are the featured guests on this week's (today, March 25) State of the ARTS, heard LIVEevery Today from 12noon to 1pm on WPKN-FM (89.5) in Bridgeport, Connecticut.

When people think of George Bernard Shaw plays they inevitably go to "Pygmalion" or "Arms and the Man" or something like that. But there's one of his out there that does not see enough of the light of day, "Mrs. Warren's Profession". Maybe it's due to the subject matter or maybe not enough people know about it. Who knows? But it's long been one of my personal favorites so when I saw that Seattle Shakespeare Company was putting it up; you can imagine how excited I was. But of course the cynic in me quickly turned that excitement to trepidation with the thoughts of "Oh please don't screw up one of the few times this show will be done around here." Well lucky for me and for all you Dear Readers, who should rush out and catch this before it's gone, the Seattle Shakespeare Company does absolute honor to this fantastic work with some tight direction from Victor Pappas and performances to rival any production out there (yes, including the one I saw in New York a few years back).

Winter may feel like it never really arrived, but Adirondack Shakespeare Company is ready to officially welcome spring in April with productions of Julius Caesar and The Merchant of Venice. For the first time the company is also offering a number of educational performances for local students of last summer's original children's play, Songs of the Iroquois: Turtle Island.

With direction by Tony Award winner Walter Bobbie and choreography by Josh Rhodes, BRIGHT STAR began performances on February 25th and opens officially tonight, March 24th, 2016 at at the Cort Theatre (138 West 48th Street). Scroll down to learn more about the cast and watch interviews with the company!

Tina Packer, Paul Schoeffler and Suzanne Kachmar are the featured guests on this week's (March 25) State of the ARTS, heard LIVEevery Friday from 12noon to 1pm on WPKN-FM (89.5) in Bridgeport, Connecticut.

In a major theatrical event marking the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare's death, BAM, the Royal Shakespeare Company, and The Ohio State University present the US Premiere of Shakespeare's History plays in KING AND COUNTRY: SHAKESPEARE'S GREAT CYCLE OF KINGS. Following performances at the Barbican, and in China in Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong, the plays are directed by RSC Artistic Director Gregory Doran and performed in repertory at the BAM Harvey Theater from tonight, Mar 24, through May 1, 2016.

New York Theatre Workshop (NYTW) has announced the cast for HADESTOWN, written by celebrated singer-songwriter Anais Mitchell and developed with and directed by the inventive two-time OBIE award-winning director Rachel Chavkin (Three Pianos; Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812).

THE ROYAL Shakespeare Company bring A Midsummer Night's Dream to The Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury, next month (April).

Easter Monday - a group of Irish nationalists stage a rebellion against the ruling British government in Ireland in an attempt to establish an Irish Republic. Some 1,600 rebels seize prominent buildings in Dublin and clash with British troops on the streets of the capital. Within a week, the insurrection is suppressed and more than 2,000 people are dead or injured. The leaders of the rebellion are executed. A few years later an Irish Free State is established. Yet, over the following century the events of that week and their immediate aftermath have cast a long shadow over Ireland and continue to shape Anglo-Irish relations today.

The annual lecture honors the pioneering BBC journalist Richard Dimbleby.

The Skidmore College Department of Theater is thrilled to present the American premiere of HECUBA by Marina Carr as its Spring 2016 mainstage production. This play, previously only seen at the Royal Shakespeare Company, is directed by celebrated Off-Broadway director and National Endowment for the Arts Fellow Ian Belton.

David Farrell's rarely seen publicity photos are part of 'Shakespeare in Art: Tempests, Tyrants and Tragedy' at Compton Verney.

Cortland Repertory Theatre Downtown is proud to present the Pulitzer and Tony Award winning play I Am My Own Wife by Doug Wright, as the new theatrical venue continues to show its versatility.

Contra Costa Civic Theatre (CCCT) continues its 56th season with The Mountaintop, Katori Hall's daring reimagining of a seminal event in American history, directed by CCCT Artistic Director Marilyn Langbehn. The Mountaintop plays from April 15 through May 8- performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, and Sundays at 2pm at the theatre.

ASU Gammage will honor two remarkable families for their contributions to the arts community at this year's Gammy and Jerry Awards Dinner on Monday, March 21.

Spring time is family time at San Francisco Opera, where a series of fun and accessible events have been created to introduce younger audiences to the world of opera. In April, San Francisco Opera Education presents the sixth installment in the series of free Opera in an Hour films: Gioachino Rossini's Cinderella will be presented Saturday, April 9 at 1 p.m. and Sunday, April 10 at 11 a.m. (free). Audiences will delight in this charming opera, crafted for families and youth in a one-hour form. A 15 minute live introduction precedes each screening. Information and reservations at: sfopera.com/whats-on.

The Nora Theatre Company is proud to present the Tom Stoppard's ARCADIA March 31 - May 1, 2016. ARCADIA is directed by The Nora's Artistic Director, Lee Mikeska Gardner. The press performance is Monday, April 4 at 7:30PM.

In an effort to make Shakespeare's plays accessible and enjoyable for everyone, Seattle Shakespeare Company is offering an autism-friendly performance of the company's touring production of THE TEMPEST. Children and adults on the autism spectrum, and their families can see Shakespeare's fantastical play of magic and forgiveness on Sunday, April 17th at 2:00 PM at the Center Theatre at Seattle Center.

Malcolm Sinclair (Capt. Andy Hawks) and Chris Peluso (Gaylord Ravenal) will join original Sheffield cast members Gina Beck (Magnolia Hawks), Lucy Briers (Parthy Ann Hawks), Rebecca Trehearn (Julia La Verne), Emmanuel Kojo(Joe), Sandra Marvin (Queenie), Alex Young (Ellie May Chipley) and Danny Collins (Frank Schultz) in the West End cast of Daniel Evans' five star production of Show Boat.