Thomas Gardner News

Members of the 'Pro99' movement of Actors' Equity Association have issued an open letter to AEA's newly elected president, Kate Shindle, in response to her victory and to her inaugural address as president of the national union for actors and stage managers. The open letter is signed by over 400 Equity members (listed below), including such notable names as Ed Asner, Francis Fisher, Sally Kirkland and Alfred Molina. The 'Pro99' movement formed in late 2014 in opposition to AEA's rollout of a new plan that will effectively force 'intimate theaters' in Los Angeles to pay Equity actors minimum wage, go 'non-union' or even close - despite an overwhelming vote against the plan by 66% of the Los Angeles membership on an advisory referendum. 'Pro99' members around the nation, who take their name from the current AEA '99 Seat Plan' that allows members to volunteer in smaller venues, oppose AEA's new promulgated plan. They are requesting that Equity leadership put a moratorium on the plan until local members' voices can be heard, and that the union work with its members to develop an alternative plan that will more realistically address the needs of the Los Angeles theater community.

On all accounts, THE LIAR is a delightfully ingenious and irreverent update of a classic French romp, presented in the Antaeus tradition best known as 'partner casting' with two actors sharing every role, working together throughout the rehearsal process to enrich the creative experience for both cast and audience.

Wildly clever and a bit naughty, brimming with wordplay and swordplay, David Ives' English-language adaptation of Pierre Corneille's The Liar is next up at Antaeus. Casey Stangl directs the Los Angeles premiere of this delightfully ingenious and irreverent update of a classic French romp at the Antaeus Theater in NoHo. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Commonly considered a pillar of modern theatre, A Doll House explores the lives of two people in the same marriage who are living in entirely different worlds. Torvald Helmer believes he has the perfect life and the perfect marriage with his devoted, childlike wife Nora. When Nora's old friend Mrs. Linde comes to her looking for work, Nora is happy to ask her husband to find her a position. Unfortunately, the man losing the position is Krogstad, who holds the note on a debt Nora incurred years before without her husband's knowledge. When the disclosure of Nora's long-held secret reveals her husband's true nature, their idealized vision of their lives, their home and their marriage cannot survive.

Children's Playhouse of Maryland, in residence at the Community College of Baltimore County, Essex, brings "Grease: School Version" to the stage at 1 p.m. weekends beginning Saturday, May 4 through Sunday, May 19. An additional performance at 4 p.m. Sunday, May 12 will be sign-language interpreted by students in the CCBC Interpreter Preparation program. All performances will be held in the J Building Lecture Hall (J-137) at CCBC Essex, 7201 Rossville Blvd. in Rosedale, Md. The J-Building Lecture Hall at CCCB Essex is a wheelchair-accessible facility. Please request accommodations at the time of ticket purchase. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased from the CCBC Box Office at 443-840-ARTS (2787) or online at https://www.ticketreturn.com/prod2/team.asp?SponsorID=4917. Tickets are available at the door, space permitting. Advanced purchase is recommended.

Swing back to a time when music was grand and life seemed easier. Dundalk Community Theatre celebrates the glorious music of the 1940's with a comedy set inside a radio studio, broadcasting a Christmas Special to the boys overseas, fighting the war in 1942. This isn't your typical musical, and not to be missed. The 1940's Radio Hour, runs 6 performances only, from Feb 22 to March 3rd. Individual tickets are $23 for adults, $20 for senior adults and $15 for students/DCT Actors/Children 12 and under.

The Children's Playhouse of Maryland, Inc., in residence at CCBC Essex, performs Disney's "The Little Mermaid, Jr." for its 2012 holiday fare. The musical runs weekends at 1 p.m. today, Dec. 8 through Dec. 23 except the Dec. 15 performance is sold out with an additional performance 4 p.m., Dec. 16, in J-137, the J Building Lecture Hall, CCBC Essex, 7201 Rossville Blvd.

The Children's Playhouse of Maryland, Inc., in residence at CCBC Essex, performs Disney's "The Little Mermaid, Jr." for its 2012 holiday fare. The musical runs weekends at 1 p.m. today, Dec. 8 through Dec. 23 except the Dec. 15 performance is sold out with an additional performance 4 p.m., Dec. 16, in J-137, the J Building Lecture Hall, CCBC Essex, 7201 Rossville Blvd.

As part of its 40th Anniversary celebration, Cockpit in Court Summer Theatre performs Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical "Sunset Boulevard."

The Antaeus Company presents the Bard's dark, psychological tale MACBETH in an intimate, fully double-cast production by L.A.'s top classical ensemble. Get a first look at the production photos of the 'Thanes' cast below.

The Antaeus Company, L.A.'s multiple award-winning classical theater company, takes on William Shakespeare's gripping psychological drama, Macbeth. Jessica Kubzansky directs the fully double-cast production, with Bo Foxworth and Rob Nagle sharing the title role and Tessa Auberjonois and Ann Noble partnering as Lady M. Performances take place tonight, July 12 through August 26. Talk-backs will follow the performance every Thursday night beginning July 19: stay after the performance to ask questions and discuss the play with various cast members.

The Antaeus Company, L.A.'s multiple award-winning classical theater company, takes on William Shakespeare's gripping psychological drama, Macbeth. Jessica Kubzansky directs the fully double-cast production, with Bo Foxworth and Rob Nagle sharing the title role and Tessa Auberjonois and Ann Noble partnering as Lady M. Performances take place July 12 through August 26, with low-priced previews beginning July 5. Talk-backs will follow the performance every Thursday night beginning July 19: stay after the performance to ask questions and discuss the play with various cast members.

Children's Playhouse of Maryland, Inc. (CPM), in residence at the Community College of Baltimore County, Essex, performs FAME Jr. 1 p.m., Saturday and Sunday today, May 5 and May 6, 12,-13, 19- 20 and 4 p.m. March 13 in the J Building Lecture Hall (J-137) at CCBC Essex, 7201 Rossville Boulevard. The 4 p.m. show will be sign-language interpreted by students from the CCBC Catonsville Interpreter Preparation Program. Tickets are $10 general admission and $8 for birthday parties or scout troops. Tickets can be ordered in advance through the Box Office, 443-840-ARTS, and are available at the door, space permitting.

Children's Playhouse of Maryland, Inc. (CPM), in residence at the Community College of Baltimore County, Essex, will perform FAME Jr. 1 p.m., Saturday and Sunday May 5,-6, 12,-13, 19- 20 and 4 p.m. March 13 in the J Building Lecture Hall (J-137) at CCBC Essex, 7201 Rossville Boulevard. The 4 p.m. show will be sign-language interpreted by students from the CCBC Catonsville Interpreter Preparation Program. Tickets are $10 general admission and $8 for birthday parties or scout troops. Tickets can be ordered in advance through the Box Office, 443-840-ARTS, and are available at the door, space permitting.

The Children's Playhouse of MD (CPM), in residence at the Community College of Baltimore County, Essex, announces its first musical production of the 2011-2012 season, Meredith Willson's 'The Music Man, Jr.'