Tracy Letts News

TimeLine Theatre Company has announced a two-week extension of its hit Chicago premiere of The Pitmen Painters by Lee Hall, inspired by a book by William Feaver, directed by Northlight Theatre Artistic Director BJ Jones.

Arden Theatre Company kicked off its 2011/12 main stage season with the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning August: Osage County by Tracy Letts. Directed by the Arden's Producing Artistic Director Terrence J. Nolen, this epic play will close on the Arden's intimate F. Otto Haas stage October 30, 2011.

Literature's favorite quirky inquisitor is infused with the spirit of a crotchety Ebenezer Scrooge in an unusual holiday show crafted by Seattle veteran playwright John Longenbaugh.

When Trustus Co-Founder Jim Thigpen directed the first Trustus show Luv in 1985, he did not know what to expect for the future of the company. Twenty-seven years later, Trustus Theatre is not only still in existence, but has grown into an institution of professional and provocative entertainment in the Midlands. In his last season as Artistic Director, Thigpen wanted his 'Swan Song' to be the Tony and Pulitzer Prize winning August: Osage County - a show that many theatre fans call one of the most breathtaking evenings they have experienced in the last 5 years. August: Osage County opens on the Trustus Main Stage at 8:00pm on Friday, October 21st.

THE TRAP DOOR THEATRE presents the North American premiere of OVERWEIGHT, unimportant: MISSHAPE- A European Supper.

Earlier today, prior to his appearance at Comic Con, I had the pleasure of speaking to WALKING DEAD lead actor Jon Bernthal all about his theatre background and his Ovation Award-nominated performance in SMALL ENGINE REPAIR, and, also, his critically praised work on the monster AMC hit series THE WALKING DEAD, which makes its grand return tomorrow night for the launch of its hotly-anticipated second season. I am also happy to share that I was just lucky enough to view the episode myself and I can tell you that it has certainly been worth the wait since THE WALKING DEAD was last seen on TV last year - although the pay-off certainly won't pay off completely until next week given the grisly occurrences in the premiere (and the mind-blowing cliffhanger)! Discussing all aspects of his WALKING DEAD character and what we can expect from tomorrow night's zombie apocalypse shocker - as well as the rest of Season Two - Bernthal and I shed some light on the production of the second season of the hit show so far and how the series will now fare without former show-runner Frank Darabont at the helm. Most importantly, Bernthal shares his deep understanding and passion for theatre and his devotion to his craft - musing on Brecht, Shakespeare and more - as we trace his career trajectory onstage and onscreen from his founding of the Fovea Floods theatre company and the film version of the hit Off-Broadway interactive play TONY N' TINA'S WEDDING in the early 1990s all the way up to HBO'S THE PACIFIC and Roman Polanski's THE GHOST WRITER more recently. Bernthal is also kind enough to share with us what we can look forward to coming up in the near future: RAMPARTS, co-starring fellow InDepth InterView participant Steve Buscemi! Plus, his comments on previous castmates Jason Ritter, Andrea Anders and more!

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Interim Executive Director Joey Parnes) will begin previews for KING LEAR, directed by James Macdonald, on Tuesday, October 18. KING LEAR will run through Sunday, November 20 in The Public's Newman Theater with an official press opening on Tuesday, November 8.

George Manus has been a part of the theater community in Nashville and Middle Tennessee for so long that it's easy to forget he's not yet 40 years old. He cut his teeth as a young director at Dennis Ewing's late and lamented Actors Playhouse of Nashville, which led him to spearhead the opening of his own theater company, DreamWeaver Productions on Third Avenue South in downtown Nashville during the early to mid-1990s, and now he heads up Murfreesboro's Out Front On Main, a storefront operation that specializes in bringing edgier theater to that burgeoning college town.

2nd Story Theatre Artistic Director Ed Shea announced that due to an administrative snafu on the part of the publishing company, the rights to produce John Logan's Red have been rescinded.

Film and television star Jerry O'Connell, now in rehearsals to make his Broadway debut in the World Premiere of Alan Rickman starring in the new comedy SEMINAR by Theresa Rebeck, will co-host 'Live! with Regis and Kelly' this Thursday morning, October 13.

Mark Bazer is bringing 'The Interview Show' back to Union Hall in Brooklyn on Thursday, October 13, 2011, at 8 p.m. (doors open 7:30 p.m.).

Tennessee Repertory Theatre recently announced plans for REPaloud, the popular play reading series which highlights contemporary plays.

Road Less Traveled Productions (RLTP) today announced its WNY premiere production of Tracy Letts' Superior Donuts will open Friday, November 11 th , 2011.

Theatre Exile will present the second show of their 15th season with the Philadelphia premiere of Gruesome Playground Injuries by Rajiv Joseph. Directed by Exile's co-artistic director Deborah Block and starring Philadelphia favorites Charlotte Ford and Keith Conallen, Gruesome Playground Injuries will be running from November 10th to December 4th, with the official press opening on the 16th of November.

The annual Primary Stages November Night to Remember Gala, a fundraiser benefiting the extensive artistic development programs offered by the company, will be held at the Edison Ballroom (240 west 47th Street, between Broadway & 8th Avenue) on Wednesday, November 9, 2011. Cocktail Reception and Silent Auction begin at 6:30 p.m. Broadway producer David Richenthal (Pulitzer winners The Kentucky Cycle, The Young Man from Atlanta, I am my Own Wife) serves as the Event Chair.

Out Front on Main presents Tracy Letts' Bug, directed for the stage by George W. Manus, Jr., focuses on 'on an unhinged war veteran who holes up with a lonely woman in a spooky Oklahoma motel room, while the line between reality and delusion is blurred as they discover a bug infestation.' It runs October 13-31, Thursdays-Sundays at 7:30 p.m. with an additional show on Halloween night followed by a costume ball.