South Coast Repertory News

Body Slam, power drive, BAMM! Firehouse Theatre Project has announced the larger-than-life cast and creative team behind its next installment of its 20th Anniversary Season, The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity, by Kristoffer Diaz. Directed by Kerry McGee and proud participant of Richmond's annual Acts of Faith festival, this balls-out dramatic comedy will play 15 performances, February 6 - March 8. Opening Night is Friday, February 7th.

The adventurous St. Lawrence String Quartet marks its third Segerstrom Center appearance with an exciting program that includes a world premiere of composer James Matheson's new string quartet commissioned for the Center's Chamber Music Series by long-time subscribers Elizabeth and Justus Schlichting.

Joe's Pub at The Public has announced its slate of performances for this week, Jan. 6-12, including BEST OF CRAIGSLIST, SCREAM ALONG WITH BILLY, JEFF SLATE, EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH SHOW, CHAMPAGNE JERRY, TRIBECASTAN, SUN RA VISITATION SERIES, THE HOT SARDINES, MEKLIT HADERO/LEIF VOLLEBEKK, FREDERICKS BROWN, FEDERICO AUBELE/KEREN ANN/DOM LA NENA, RED BARAAT/METAL TONGUES/PATTEN, REVEREND BILLY, BRENDA RUSSELL, and JOEY ARIAS.

'The Piano Teacher' opens February 5, 2014, with a limited run through February 23 in the Smith Theatre of the Horowitz Visual and Performing Arts Center (HVPA) on the campus of HCC. For tickets and additional information, visit www.repstage.org or call 443-518-1500. Press performance is Saturday, February 8, at 8 p.m.

The Theatre @ Boston Court presents Se Llama Cristina, by Octavio Solis, directed by Robert Castro. This production is the final stop on the National New Play Network Rolling World Premiere, which included productions at The Magic Theater in San Francisco and Kitchen Dog in Dallas. Opening night is Saturday, January 25, 2014 on the Main Stage at Boston Court Performing Arts Center, 70 North Mentor Avenue.

An Italian vacation, young love and a parent's heart-rending decision are all part of the award-winning Broadway hit, The Light in the Piazza, book by Craig Lucas, music and lyrics by Adam Guettel, and based on the novel by Elizabeth Spencer. Directed by Kent Nicholson, The Light in the Piazza runs Jan. 24-Feb. 23 on SCR's Segerstrom Stage.

South Coast Repertory has announced its upcoming shows, January through April 2014. Details below!

An Italian vacation, young love and a parent's heart-rending decision are all part of the award-winning Broadway hit, The Light in the Piazza, book by Craig Lucas, music and lyrics by Adam Guettel, and based on the novel by Elizabeth Spencer. Directed by Kent Nicholson, The Light in the Piazza runs Jan. 24-Feb. 23 on SCR's Segerstrom Stage.

The B Street Theatre presents Elemeno Pea, Molly Smith Metzler's sharply funny comedy. Elemeno Pea was first presented at the Actors Theatre of Louisville's Humana Festival on March 10, 2011.

As 2013 comes to a close, we've collected the hottest theatrical productions from around the globe. From Los Angeles to Chicago, Tampa, Houston, Rhode Island and even South Africa, BroadwayWorld takes a look back at some of the most memorable shows from our Regional Editors worldwide!

Segerstrom Center for the Arts has announced its upcoming shows for January 2014. Details below!

Award-winning musical theater superstar, Patti LuPone, who has portrayed some of Broadway's most memorable roles, returns to Segerstrom Center for the Arts for a special one-night-only performance of her latest concert, Far Away Places on Saturday, March 22 at 8 p.m. in the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall.

Atlantic Theater Company presents the American premiere production of award-winning British playwright Roy Williams' stage adaptation of Alan Sillitoe's beloved short story THE LONELINESS OF THE LONG DISTANCE RUNNER, directed by Leah C. Gardiner. Meet the cast in the photos below!

Segerstrom Center for the Arts welcomes the national tour of I LOVE LUCY® LIVE ON STAGE, the brand new hit stage show adapted from the most beloved program in television history, March 18 - 23 in Segerstrom Hall.

The quintessential portrait of maniacal ambition and lust for power is on stage in William Shakespeare's epic history play Richard III at Folger Theatre. Robert Richmond

Segerstrom Center for the Arts welcomes the return of Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo March 7 - 9, 2014 under the Presidency of H.R.H. the Princess of Hanover. The company will perform the American premiere of LAC, a new and brilliantly re-imagined telling of the Swan Lake story by Jean- Christophe Maillot, the company's choreographer and director.

Lucky for us here in Southern California, going to the theater this time of year doesn't mean having to trudge through icy streets and snow-covered pavements! So this holiday season, spend some time with these top 5 yuletide-themed theatrical offerings for the holidays!

Ah, yes. 2013 was indeed an outstanding year for theater in Southern California. Even better: Orange County---my home base---boasted some of the best shows, period---marking an exciting theater renaissance in brilliance and artistry that I hope continues to grow here inside L.A.'s next door neighbor. With that said, here is my Top 10 Stage Shows of 2013 from Orange County and adjacent locales nearby, followed by my picks for the year's best performances.

Stage Directors and Choreographers Workshop Foundation, The Pasadena Playhouse, and East West Players will present a forum to explore the current state of diversity in Southern California theatre focusing on the director's role and the questions: What's working? What aren't we doing? How can we work together to increase diversity in Southern California theatre? DIVERSITY: THROUGH THE DIRECTOR'S EYE is set for Today, December 16, 2013 at 7:30 p.m. at Pasadena Playhouse, 39 El Molino Ave, Pasadena, CA.