Tennessee Williams News

Berkeley's acclaimed Aurora Theatre Company jazzes up the holidays with NAUGHTY & NICE: A MEG AND BILLY CHRISTMAS. Bay Area husband and wife cabaret duo Meg Mackay and Billy Philadelphia, whose seasonal sensation A Little Cole in Your Stocking was a hit for Aurora in 2005 and 2006, return with a witty, memorable musical showcase that is sure to spice up the holidays for cabaret fans old and new. NAUGHTY & NICE plays for eight performances only December 17-30 at the Aurora Theatre in Berkeley. Tickets ($23 and $25) may be purchased directly from the Aurora Theatre Company box office by calling (510) 843-4822, or online at auroratheatre.org.

Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director)begins previews for the new Broadway production of Oscar Wilde's comedy The Importance of Being Earnest, directed by and starring Brian Bedford as 'Lady Bracknell,' at the American Airlines Theatre on Broadway (227 West 42nd St.) on Friday, December 17th, 2010 and open officially on Thursday, January 13th, 2011. This is a limited engagement through Sunday, March 6th, 2011.

Since COIL began in 2006, 50+ companies from NYC, the US, UK, Australia, continental Europe, Latin America and Asia have been presented as part of this mid-winter festival.

The Roundabout Theatre Company continues its tradition of providing some of the best theater in New York City with their 2010/2011 Winter/Spring offerings. Brief Encounter, which opened this fall continues on Broadway at Studio 54. Tony winner Brian Bedford gets in touch with his feminine alter-ego in The Importance Of Being Earnest, which begins performances at the American Airlines Theater this December. Olympia Dukakis will lead a special production of Tennessee Williams' The Milk Train Doesn't Stop Here Anymore at the Harold and Miram Steinberg Center for Theatre in the Laura Pels Theatre in January. Anything Goes, starring Broadway darling Sutton Foster, sails into the Stephen Sondheim Theatre in March. Finally, Donna Murphy stars in the new musical, The People In The Picture, which will follow The Importance Of Being Earnest at the American Airlines Theatre in April.

Walnut Street Theatre's Independence Studio on 3 season continues with legendary Playwright Tennessee Williams' The Glass Menagerie.

Long Wharf Theatre, under the leadership of Artistic Director Gordon Edelstein and Managing Director Ray Cullom, present the U.S. premiere of The Old Masters by Simon Gray.

YALE SCHOOL OF DRAMA (James Bundy, Dean; Victoria Nolan, Deputy Dean) presents A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE by Tennessee Williams, directed by Charlotte Brathwaite, December 10-16 at the Iseman Theater (1156 Chapel Street, New Haven).

Writers' Theatre Artistic Director Michael Halberstam and Executive Director Kathryn M. Lipuma announce the world premiere of DO THE HUSTLE by Brett Neveu. The production, directed by William Brown, runs January 25-March 20, 2011, at Writers' Theatre, 325 Tudor Court in Glencoe. The press performance is on Thursday, February 3, 2011, at 7:30 p.m.

The Gallery Players (Heather Curran, Artistic Director; Neal Freeman, Executive Director) announced today that Broadway veteran Gregory Simmons will direct August Wilson's Jitney, running March 19 - April 3, 2011 at the organization's Brooklyn home (199 14th Street, Park Slope).

Arden Theatre Company continues its 2010/11 season with Eugene O'Neill's American masterpiece A Moon for the Misbegotten. This mythic tale of old sins and the redemptive power of love will be staged on the Arden's intimate Arcadia stage from January 6 - February 27, 2011.

New Repertory Theatre, in residence at the Arsenal Center for the Arts, is pleased to announce Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune, a comedy by Tony Award-winning playwright Terrence McNally.

Aurora Theatre Company continues its 19th season with Minneapolis-based playwright Allison Moore's COLLAPSE. This surprising comedy, which originated as one of Aurora Theatre Company's Global Age Project (GAP) finalists last season, is the second main stage production to develop from the GAP; it will receive its main stage debut as a National New Play Network Rolling World Premiere, a collaboration with Aurora Theatre Company (lead theater), Curious Theatre in Denver, and Kitchen Dog Theater in Dallas.

Happy Medium Theatre, Inc. (HMT) is proud to kick off its second season with, The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds, directed by Lizette Marie Morris.

THE MAN WHO ATE MICHAEL ROCKEFELLER - Jeff Cohen's play that enjoyed great success during its world-premiere at the West End Theatre off-off-Broadway in Manhattan in the fall - will return for a limited engagement Off-Broadway at the Arclight Theatre (152 W. 71 St.) with previews starting February 2, 2011 prior to a press opening on Wednesday, February 9.

The Ensemble Studio Theatre Youngblood program, taking more advantage of its talented roster of emerging playwrights under 30, will present three studio productions of new plays under the title UNFILTERED 2011 January 13 through February 5 at its percolating playwrights headquarters, 549 West 52nd Street.

New Repertory Theatre, in residence at the Arsenal Center for the Arts, is pleased to announce it has added three more performances of Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune, a comedy by Tony Award-winning playwright Terrence McNally. Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune now runs through Tuesday, December 21, 2010 at the Arsenal Center for the Arts in the Black Box Theater.

Stage and screen actress Nicole Kidman, who made her Broadway debut in the 1998 production of THE BLUE ROOM, will join her husband Keith Urban on the November 30 episode of the Oprah Winfrey Show, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Their appearance will be among other celebrity Aussies -- who have yet to be confirmed -- who will help whisk Oprah and 300 of her audience members off on an eight-day trip to Australia, 'Oprah's Ultimate Australian Adventure,' one week later. Kidman and Urban will discuss what audience members venturing on the trip can expect in the 'land down under.' The couple will reconvene with Oprah on the show's taping in Sydney on December 14.Theatre-enthusiasts can expect to see Kidman back on the Broadway stage next fall, when she stars in the revival of Tennessee Williams' SWEET BIRD OF YOUTH.

Bill Clinton was President when Chicago native Michael Flatley created and launched Lord of the Dance (www.lordofthedance.com).

The Greatest Gift, a special family holiday playreading with music, will be presented by Westport Country Playhouse in association with Bisno Productions as part of the Playhouse's popular Script in Hand series, on Monday, December 13, 7 p.m.

Westport Country Playhouse's Family Festivities Series will present, "Season's Greetings," with magic, music, live animals, special effects and audience participation, celebrating the world's seasonal holidays, on Sunday, December 12, 1 and 4 p.m.