Shakespeare Theatre Company News

THE TRAP DOOR THEATRE presents The Duchess of Malfi, Written by: John Webster, Directed by: Christopher Marino.

THE TRAP DOOR THEATRE presents The Duchess of Malfi, Written by: John Webster, Directed by: Christopher Marino.

Anthony Giardina's Off-Broadway smash hit THE CITY OF CONVERSATION, about a Georgetown political hostess, makes its Washington, D.C. debut at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater. Following his direction of the 2014 world premiere at Lincoln Center Theater, Tony Award winner Doug Hughes returns to direct this political drama spanning three decades, from Carter's presidency through the Reagan era and ending with Obama's inauguration. THE CITY OF CONVERSATION runs January 29-March 6, 2016 in the Fichandler Stage.

New Repertory Theatre announces VIA DOLOROSA, January 2-31, 2016 in the Black Box Theater at the Arsenal Center for the Arts, 321 Arsenal Street, Watertown, MA.

Dallas Theater Center presents the world premiere of CLARKSTON this winter. Written by 2014 MacArthur Foundation Fellow Samuel D. Hunter, one of the most provocative new voices in American theater, and directed by Davis McCallum, CLARKSTON runs through Sunday, January 31. Press Opening is tonight, December 11 at 8 p.m.

Kelley Curran and Thomas Jay Ryan have been selected to receive the 2015 Joe A. Callaway Award presented by the Actors Equity Foundation.

Dallas Theater Center presents the world premiere of CLARKSTON this winter. Written by 2014 MacArthur Foundation Fellow Samuel D. Hunter, one of the most provocative new voices in American theater, and directed by Davis McCallum, CLARKSTON begins with previews tonight, December 3 at 7:30 p.m. with a Pay-What-You-Can performance and runs through Sunday, January 31.

The new drama Sweat by Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage (Ruined; By The Way, Meet Vera Stark) comes to Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater following a critically-acclaimed debut at Oregon Shakespeare Festival as part of a co-commission between the two theaters. Hailed by The New York Times as an 'extraordinarily moving drama' that 'brims with the kind of ripe, richly imagined life associated with the work of the great August Wilson,' the play is directed by Nottage's longtime collaborator Kate Whoriskey and runs January 15-February 21, 2016 in the Kreeger Theater.

The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey closes its 53rd season with THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR by William Shakespeare, directed by Artistic Director Bonnie J. Monte.

As the Billboard Top 40 Rap Chart features Broadway's own Hamilton at the top of the page, it's exciting to remember a time where hearing Broadway tunes on the radio, and having them performed by top talents was not such a rarity. If you need a reminder of the timelessness of a good melody, of the allure of crisp, intelligent lyrics, go no further than the Sidney Harmon Theatre in downtown D.C. Under the direction of Alan Paul, with smooth and sexy choreography from Michele Lynch, Shakespeare Theatre Company's KISS ME, KATE opened last week to a well-deserved standing ovation. 

Word for Word closes the 2015 Season with Word for Word's HOLIDAY HIGH JINX -- Bums, Broads and Broadway: Stories by Damon Runyon, Joseph Mitchell, and E.B. White, opening tonight Saturday Nov. 28, 8pm (Press opening) and run through December 24, 2015 at Z Below in San Francisco's Mission/SOMA district.

Yale Repertory Theatre presents the world premiere of PEERLESS by Jiehae Park, directed by Margot Bordelon, November 27-December 19 at Yale Repertory Theatre (1120 Chapel Street). Opening Night is Thursday, December 3. The cast of PEERLESS includes Teresa Avia Lim, Christopher Livingston, Caroline Neff, JD Taylor, and Tiffany Villarin.

The bustle and chaos of the Friday evening pre-show crowds on West 47th Street on Broadway are a fitting contrast to the calm that emanates from venerable DC-based actor, Nancy Robinette, who kindly agreed to chat with me about making the move to Broadway as Mrs. Alexander, in the Tony Awards® Best Play of 2015, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. We met up in front of the Barrymore Theatre, Nancy's current professional home, but DC is very fortunate to call Nancy one of our own; she was raised in Arlington, graduated from Yorktown High School, and has graced the stages of Washington's most well-respected theaters over the years, including The Shakespeare Theatre Company, Arena Stage, Woolly Mammoth, Ford's Theatre and Studio Theatre. She's a Helen Hayes Award-winner for her work in Washington, and now the work has taken her a few hours north to make her Broadway debut; although to hear her tell, no matter the city or the theater, good work is good work, and Nancy is definitely familiar with lots of good work, having performed in every major DC theatre, Off Broadway at the New York Theatre Workshop and Roundabout Theatre Company, among others, Papermill Playhouse (New Jersey), at The Williamstown Festival (Massachusetts), and in cities around the country, including San Diego at The Old Globe.

Word for Word closes the 2015 Season with Word for Word's HOLIDAY HIGH JINX -- Bums, Broads and Broadway: Stories by Damon Runyon, Joseph Mitchell, and E.B. White, to open on Saturday Nov. 28, 8pm (Press opening) and run through December 24, 2015 at Z Below in San Francisco's Mission/SOMA district.

The New York premiere of Pulitzer Prize finalist and Emmy Award nominated writer Rolin Jones and Tony Award nominee and Grammy Award winning Green Day front man Billie Joe Armstrong's new play with music THESE PAPER BULLETS!, directed by Jackson Gay, begins tonight, November 20, at Atlantic Theater Company.

Virginia Repertory Theatre announces the opening of the award-winning American musical, GYPSY, at the Sara Belle and Neil November Theatre, 114 West Broad Street today, November 20 with a Preview on Thursday, November 19. The show runs through January 10, 2015. With music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and book by Arthur Laurents, GYPSY is considered a crowning achievement in American musical theatre.

In an effort to continue its vision to provide a training ground for the next generation of theatre artists, the Shakespeare Theatre Company (STC) has launched its first-ever Directors' Studio, a series of workshops and discussions designed to investigate the craft of theatrical direction created for local, early-career directors. By application, six directors have been selected for the 2015-2016 season's Directors' Studio: Catrin Rowenna Davies, Rick Hammerly, Lee Liebeskind, Carter Lowe, Angela Kay Pirko, and Jason Schlasfstein.

Virginia Repertory Theatre announces the opening of the award-winning American musical, GYPSY, at the Sara Belle and Neil November Theatre, 114 West Broad Street on Friday, November 20 with a Preview tonight, November 19. The show runs through January 10, 2015. With music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and book by Arthur Laurents, GYPSY is considered a crowning achievement in American musical theatre.

Dallas Theater Center presents the world premiere of CLARKSTON this winter. 

The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey closes its 53rd season with THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR by William Shakespeare, directed by Artistic Director Bonnie J. Monte.