Tennessee Williams News

With this week's news of the passing of American literary and political icon Gore Vidal at the advanced age of 86, now seems a particularly apt time to look back at a truly anomalous career and some of the highlights of a life lived on pages, stages, planes, trains and many of the most exclusive locales in the world.

Northlight Theatre, under the direction of Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans, presents Woody Sez - The Life and Music of Woody Guthrie, devised by David M. Lutken and Nick Corley, directed by Nick Corley. The production runs September 14 - October 21, 2012 at Northlight Theatre, 9501 Skokie Blvd.

The Juilliard School welcomes the inaugural class of its new Master of Fine Arts in Drama program this Fall 2012. Eight graduate actors have been accepted into the highly selective program and will begin classes this September. Juilliard's M.F.A. in Drama is a four-year conservatory program in actor training providing the tools necessary to meet the demands of an ever-evolving performing arts career and preparing young artists to become versatile and dynamic leaders in their field. The M.F.A program joins Juilliard's four-year B.F.A. program, headed by James Houghton, the Richard Rodgers Director of the Drama Division.

Lorenzo Pisoni's celebrated one-man show, Humor Abuse, returns to American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) for an exclusive limited engagement.

The Lark Play Development Center announced that seven plays-in-development have been chosen for its 19th annual Playwrights' Week, which will take place September 26-29, 2012.

On Saturday evening, August 11th, at 7:30 p.m. center stage at The Burt Reynolds Institute for Film and Theatre (BRIFT) will once again come alive in the most hilarious of ways. Three short plays by award-winning writer Christopher Durang will be performed by actors trained by Hollywood legend Burt Reynolds. The Burt Reynolds Institute is an intimate venue with limited seating. Due to the demand for tickets, this return engagement will once again allow theatre goers to enjoy an evening of laughter and relaxation.

As first reported on Deadline.com, Margo Martindale has joined the cast of the big screen adaptation of Tracy Letts' AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY. The actress joins previously announced cast members Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Abigail Breslin, Juliette Lewis and Chris Cooper.

The award-winning Elephant Theatre Company, David Fofi and Lindsay Allbaugh, Artistic Directors, has announced its first annual Poker Royale benefit. The Texas Hold ‘Em Tournament will be held on Saturday, August 18, beginning at 6pm. All proceeds will go toward shows in the highly anticipated 2013 season of the critically acclaimed company.

The Broadway community mourns the loss of celebrated writer Gore Vidal, who passed away yesterday at age 86. The marquees of Broadway theatres in New York will be dimmed in his memory on Friday, August 3rd, at exactly 8:00 p.m. for one minute.

Happy Birthday, Sam Mendes! Sam Mendes is best known for whis work as the artistic director of the Donmar Warehouse, and his direction of the film American Beauty and the Broadway production of Cabaret on Broadway starring Alan Cumming. His production of Oliver! became the longest running show ever to play at the London Palladium. Additional stage credits includeTennessee Williams's The Glass Menagerie, Stephen Sondheim's Company (which had the first ever African American 'Bobby'), Alan Bennett's Habeas Corpus and his farewell duo of Chekhov's Uncle Vanya and Twelfth Night, which transferred to the Brooklyn Academy Of Music and Gypsy on Broadway starring Bernadette Peters.

Single tickets go on sale to the general public today, Aug. 1, for Lyric Opera of Chicago's 58th season. The internationally renowned company will present grand opera with exceptional casts and productions in its beautiful home, the historic Civic Opera House. Lyric will offer 68 performances of 9 operas in the 25-week season, including 6 new-to-Chicago productions, Saturday, October 6, 2012, through Saturday, April 6, 2013.

Revolve Productions will present "PIECES" by Chris Phillips at the 16th New York International Fringe Festival this August. The new play is directed by Brian Zimmer and will be performing at the historic Cherry Lane Theatre in the Village at 38 Commerce Street, NYC.

The Glass Menagerie is now playing at Redtwist Theatre, directed by Redtwist Literary Manager, Josh Altman, through September 2. Company member and Jeff Award-winner, Jacqueline Grandt, plays Amanda in Tennessee Williams' most intimate play. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the production below.

Theatre East presents "Normalcy" by Bennett Windheim, Off Broadway at the Peter Jay Sharp Theatre, 416 West 42nd Street, NYC. Benard Cummings directs the new play. Previews begin for the limited engagement on August 31 and the opening is Wednesday, September 5, 2012 at 7:00 pm. For this opening of its 2012-13 season, there will be a series of talk-backs throughout the run, with the author, the producers and director, as well as experts in the respective field of this emotionally charged play. The schedule will soon be announced.

Tennessee Williams' favorite among his own plays, the Pulitzer prize-winning Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, is now playing through August 5 on the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival main stage, in rep with Much Ado About Nothing. BroadwayWorld has a first look at scenes the production below.

Tennessee Williams' favorite among his own plays, the Pulitzer prize-winning Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, is now playing through August 5 on the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival main stage, in rep with Much Ado About Nothing. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the production photos below.

Hottest Articles on BroadwayWorld.com from this weekend Sunday, July 29, 2012 - Sunday, July 29, 2012.

HERO Theatre previously announced that Joe Manganiello of HBO's True Blood and feature film Magic Mike would join Emmy Award winner William H. Macy, star of Showtime's Shameless and Academy Award nominee for Fargo, in a benefit reading of Tennessee Williams' "Small Craft Warnings", directed by John Frank Levey. The benefit will be held today, July 29 at 6pm at the Annenberg Community Beach House in Santa Monica, Calif. The event will include a silent auction.

The Glass Menagerie opens at Redtwist Theatre, directed by Redtwist Literary Manager, Josh Altman, tonight, July 28, at 3pm. Company member and Jeff Award-winner, Jacqueline Grandt, plays Amanda in Tennessee Williams' most intimate play.