William Shakespeare News

HAM: A Musical Memoir, a new theatrical event based on Sam Harris' book, HAM: Slices of a Life (a collection of stories and essays published by Simon & Schuster) is an innovative and exciting hybrid theatrical concept and the culmination of Harris' successful 30 year career as actor, vocalist and, now, author. HAM: A Musical Memoir will play a limited engagement, with an opening night set for tonight, January 12, 2015 at Theater 511 at Ars Nova.

Lifeline Theatre's KidSeries presents Lions in Illyria, a world premiere based on William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, written by Lifeline Theatre ensemble member Robert Kauzlaric and directed by Lifeline Theatre ensemble member Amanda Delheimer Dimond. Separated from her brother by a storm at sea, the young lioness Violet must brave an unknown country all alone. Disguised as a boy, she joins with a preposterous peacock on a quest to claim the attentions of the most graceful gazelle in town. But soon Violet is torn between multiple masters and her adventure takes a turn for the absurd when she becomes entangled in the clownish antics of a wacky warthog and his featherbrained dodo sidekick. Travel to the weird and wonderful land of Illyria in a magical comedy loaded with music, monkeys, and mayhem. This production is recommended for children ages five and up (children under two not permitted), and runs one hour with no intermission.

A ROCKIN' MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM played 54 Below last night, featuring the new 'Stars' Cast. BroadwayWorld has photos from the concert below!

Denice Hicks' vision for Twelfth Night warmly ingratiates itself with the fluidity of its presentation, enacted by a delightful cast of NSF veterans and newcomers who envelop their audience with genuinely high-spirited good feelings sure to thaw the most frozen of hearts.

Returning to The Rose Playhouse after their acclaimed production of The Taming of the Shrew in 2013 and the opera Orpheus and Eurydice in 2014, Time Zone Theatre presents a new, contemporary adaptation of William Shakespeare's tragedy Othello. Director Pamela Schermann transfers the action to the cityscape of modern London. Here, in this high-flying executive business world, we dive into an abyss of power and intrigue, riddled with suspicion and jealousy. Beneath the surface of this civilised and polite environment we encounter brutality and callousness.

Always a bridesmaid, appearing off-Broadway and as a Broadway understudy, Elise Kibler is now the Broadway bride, with her upcoming debut in The Heidi Chronicles. During the months of rehearsal leading up to her Broadway debut, Elise will also star in William Shakespeare's THE TRAGEDY OF ROMEO AND JULIET as the title character, Juliet at The Gym at Judson (243 Thompson Street), which begins previews Wednesday, January 14th and opens on Sunday, January 18th.

HAM: A Musical Memoir, a new theatrical event based on Sam Harris' book, HAM: Slices of a Life (a collection of stories and essays published by Simon & Schuster) begins previews tonight, January 8 at Theater 511 at Ars Nova.

Hotel Nikko San Francisco and Michael Feinstein are honored to welcome Tony and Grammy Award-winning singer, composer, actor, playwright and director Billy Porter to Feinstein's at the Nikko for three performances only - Friday, January 30 (8 p.m.); Saturday, January 31 (7 p.m.) and Sunday, February 1 (7 p.m.). Porter will perform songs from his new critically acclaimed album, "Billy's Back on Broadway," as well some of his other favorites!

HAM: A Musical Memoir, a new theatrical event based on Sam Harris' book, HAM: Slices of a Life (a collection of stories and essays published by Simon & Schuster) begins previews tomorrow night Thursday, January 8 at Theater 511 at Ars Nova.

Join Centenary Stage Company in a celebration of the works of William Shakespeare with Shake It Up Shakespeare: Magic, Mystery and Mayhem, January 31st at 11am in the Little Theatre.

Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) just announced that Sienna Miller ("American Sniper", After Miss Julie) will join the cast of CABARET starring opposite Alan Cumming beginning February 17, 2015. Miller will take over for current star Emma Stone, whose final performance is February 15, and play "Sally Bowles" for the final six weeks of the limited engagement through March 29, 2015.

A ROCKIN' MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM played 54 Below last night, January 5 and will return for a second performance on the 8th. BroadwayWorld has photos from the concert below!

Last August, the 12.14 Foundation premiered Michael Unger and Eric Svejcar's A ROCKIN' Midsummer Night's Dream. This week, the new musical comes to New York City at 54 BELOW. With a ton of energy and some serious vocal talent, the kids involved with the 12.14 Foundation and the Broadway vetted adults bring fabulous new life to William Shakespeare's classic tale of love and fairy mischief.

A ROCKIN' MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM will play 54 Below tomorrow, Jan. 5 and 8, with shows slated for 7:00 PM.

Combined Artform/Theatre Asylum are thrilled to announce the comeback of PULP SHAKESPEARE (or Bard Fiction), adapted by Ben Tallen, Aaron Greer & Brian Watson-Jones directed by Ovation Award winning director Amanda McRaven. PULP SHAKESPEARE will be opening Thursday January 15, 2015 at Theatre Asylum in Hollywood, running Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 3pm through March 8.

A ROCKIN' MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM will play 54 Below on Jan. 5 and 8, with shows slated for 7:00 PM.

Today in 1948, opened at the Shubert Theatre. Kiss Me, Kate is a musical with music and lyrics by Cole Porter. It is structured as a play within a play, where the interior play is a musical version of William Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew. The original production starred Alfred Drake, Patricia Morison, Lisa Kirk and Harold Lang. Kiss Me, Kate was a response to Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma! and other integrated musicals, and it proved to be his biggest hit and the only one of his shows to run for more than 1,000 performances on Broadway. It won the first Tony Award presented for Best Musical, in 1949.

This January and February 54 BELOW presents an exciting lineup of the brightest talent from Broadway and beyond. Located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54thStreet. For a detailed schedule of upcoming performances at 54 Below and to purchase tickets, visit www.54Below.com.

Today in 1935, Romeo and Juliet opened at the Martin Beck Theatre. Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy by William Shakespeare about two young star-crossed lovers whose deaths ultimately unite their feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's most popular archetypal stories of young, teenage lovers.

The feature film adaptation of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's beloved fairy tale musical INTO THE WOODS is coming to movie theaters nationwide on Christmas Day and BroadwayWorld celebrates the man behind the music and lyrics with a new series highlighting the work of the iconic composer and lyricist, kicking off today with a look at his work in the 1950s and 1960s.