Shakespeare & Company News

Reviving important but neglected operas is one of the ways the Bard SummerScape festival has established itself as “a hotbed of intellectual and aesthetic adventure” (New York Times), and this year's immersion in “Chávez and His World” is no exception.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) and the City of Chicago honor William Shakespeare's 451st Birthday with an official proclamation from Mayor Rahm Emanuel declaring April 23rd Talk Like Shakespeare Day.

The Fox Cities Performing Arts Center revealed the 2015-16 Bemis Company Education Series last night to a group of educators from the Fox Cities and Northeast Wisconsin. The series of daytime performances is comprised of titles that connect with grades PreK-12 curriculum. Highlights include  Junie B. Jones' Essential Survival Guide to School, Dallas Children's Theater's The BFG (Big Friendly Giant) and Ballet Folklorico "Quetzalli" de Veracruz. 

Snapdragon Productions and Theatre Bench announce a casting update, including the title role, for the world premiere of Teddy - by Tristan Bernays and music by Dougal Irvine. Snapdragon's Eleanor Rhode directs Joseph Prowen as Teddy and Jennifer Kirby as Josie in the production, which opens on 8 June, with previews from 4 June, running until 27 June.

Following its Edinburgh Fringe 2014 sell out success, the critically acclaimed Kingmaker hits The Arts Theatre in London and The Marlborough Theatre at The Brighton Fringe this Spring.  The writers of previous Edinburgh Fringe hits Coalition and Making News and multi-award winning director of Instinct For Kindness and Lockerbie - Unfinished Business have teamed with one of the most respected actors of his generation to present a satirical tale of political intrigue, gamesmanship and ambition in the corridors of power. Alan Cox is directed by Hannah Eidinow in Robert Khan and Tom Salinsky's Kingmaker, the story of a fictional yet strangely familiar political figure whose bumbling bonhomie disguises a fierce determination and a heart of steel.  The subject matter of this biting satire is expected to be brought into sharp focus in the last few days of campaigning for the general election and the inevitable political frenzy that follows during the mad month of May.  

Full casting for the Australian Premiere Season of the Royal Shakespeare Company's production of Matilda The Musical has been announced with rehearsals commencing in Sydney next week.

In this taut 2013 theatrical adaptation of Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela's award winning-book, the apartheid regime's most notorious assassin and head of its death squad, Eugene de Kock (played by Matthew Marsh), sits opposite psychologist Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela (played Noma Dumezweni) in Pretoria Central Prison in 1997. Gobodo-Madikizela is a member of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission determined to understand his actions. She questions de Kock, who is sentenced to two life terms plus 212 years for crimes against humanity, murder, conspiracy to murder, attempted murder, assault, kidnapping, illegal possession of firearms, and fraud.

Casting has been announced for the First National Tour of Matilda the Musical. Produced by the Royal Shakespeare Company and The Dodgers, the First National Tour of Matilda the Musical will begin this May with technical rehearsals and performances at the Shubert Theatre in New Haven, CT, with the official tour opening at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles on June 7, 2015.

Salt Lake Acting Company (SLAC) closes out its 20th season of the New Play Sounding Series (NPSS) with a free reading of HARBUR GATE by Kathleen Cahill, directed by Cohen Ambrose on Monday, April 27, 2015 at 7:00 p.m.

Veteran independent film distributor Richard Abramowitz announced that his company Abramorama, will release LUCKY STIFF in New York City on July 24th. The Orchard will compliment the theatrical release by making the film available to all U.S. and Canadian cable, satellite and digital platforms for a simultaneous day and date release.

The Associated Press has confirmed earlier rumors that the Broadway-bound GROUNDHOG DAY musical will debut at the Old Vic Theatre as part of Matthew Warchus' first season at the helm.

The Guthrie Theater previously announced that its outgoing Director Joe Dowling, the longest tenured artistic director in Guthrie history, will appear for an In Conversation moderated by New York Post theater columnist Michael Riedel tonight, April 21 at 7:30 p.m. on the Wurtele Thrust Stage.

The Visit, the final musical ever by legendary Tony Award-winning duo John Kander and Fred Ebb, celebrates its official opening tonight, April 23, 2015 at the Lyceum Theatre (149 West 45th Street). Scroll down to learn more about the company and watch a sneak preview of the show!

Bottoms Dream has announced 5 Ways Shakespeare: Romeo & Juliet, featuring performances by five independent Shakespeare companies. This one-night-only event will take place at 7pm on April 25 at New York Shakespeare Convention, held in Speyer Hall at University Settlement (184 Eldridge Street, Manhattan).

The Ustinov Studio, Bath has announced the final production in its spring 2015 season, the UK premiere of Florian Zeller's THE MOTHER, in a new translation by Christopher Hampton, directed by the Ustinov Studio's Artistic Director Laurence Boswell.

Robin Rayner, David Adkin and TREMers are pleased to announce the cast for their upcoming production of Tim Foley's brave dark comedy The Dogs of War, starring Richard Southgate (Skins, Young Dracula and Borgia). This new play is a volatile look at a group of people battling with the fear of change, isolation and separation.

Minnesota Jewish Theatre Company (MJTC) has announced the opening of a new work by Jack Canfora, Jericho. This regional premiere runs from tonight, April 18 - May 10 at the Highland Park Center Theater, 1978 Ford Parkway, St. Paul, MN 55116. Tickets range in price from $19 - $28. Student and group discounts are available. To order, call (651)647-4315 or visit mnjewishtheatre.org. Press passes are available for the performances today, April 18 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, April 19 at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.

If you happen to be looking for a role model for making the most of your particular strengths and talents, I'd like to introduce you to actor/composer/writer/musician/director Nick Blaemire. Lucky for us, Nick, whose new musical, Soon, is currently making its world premiere at Arlington's Signature Theatre, was gracious enough to share some of his secrets for a successful creative life with me, even as he works on three of his own shows in three different cities at once.

The Drama League has announced the 2015 Drama League Awards Nominees this morning - check out the complete list!

Lanford Wilson's 'Talley Trilogy' continues on the Aurora Theatre Company main stage with FIFTH OF JULY. Aurora Artistic Director Tom Ross (A Bright New Boise, This Is How It Goes, Edward Albee's A Delicate Balance, The Shape of Things) helms FIFTH OF JULY, featuring Craig Marker (The Shape of Things, The Persians), Elizabeth Benedict, John Girot, Jennifer Le Blanc, Oceana Ortiz, Harold Pierce, Josh Schell, and Nanci Zoppi. FIFTH OF JULY plays tonight, April 17 through May 17 at the Aurora Theatre in Berkeley.