William Shakespeare News

Before joining the cast of Martin Scorsese's Emmy and Golden Globe award-winning HBO series BOARDWALK EMPIRE, and before starring as Mimi Marquez in the critically acclaimed Off-Broadway revival of RENT, Natalie Wachen was a member of the La Mirada-based Phantom Projects Theatre Group. Now, Ms. Wachen returns not as an actress and director, but as a teacher.

Milwaukee Chamber Theatre (MCT) presents Ken Ludwig's classic farce LEND ME A TENOR, today, April 10-27, 2014.

World renown master magician Teller co-directs the new A.R.T. production of William Shakespeare's THE TEMPEST along with Aaron Posner and the creative collaborators are featured in a new promotional video highlighting the recent Las Vegas opening of the new take on the classic.

New York The box collective announces the premiere of 116, an original devised performance piece composed of Shakespeare's text in a new form of storytelling.

The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) will mark Shakespeare's 450th Birthday with a free fireworks display outside the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Shakespeare's hometown of Stratford-upon-Avon on the evening of Wednesday 23 April.

A Noise Within (ANW), the acclaimed classical repertory theatre company, announces two free readings, a special free family event for Shakespeare's birthday at the theatre, and added dates for our critically acclaimed production of Moliere's Tartuffe upcoming in April and May.

Playwrights' Arena with Artistic Director Jon Lawrence Rivera, the only theatre dedicated to discovering, nurturing and producing original works written exclusively by Los Angeles playwrights, is celebrating its 22st Anniversary with their annual fund-raiser presenting HOT NIGHT IN THE CITY : an evening of songs by local composers and lyricists tonight, April 8, 2014, at Barnsdall Gallery Theatre atop Batnsdall Art Park in Hollywood. The special performance, which benefits the programs of Playwrights' Arena, celebrates the works of Los Angeles' most adventurous resident composers and lyricists writing for the theater today and honors Andrea Cockrum (community leader), Henry Ong (playwright)) and Lisa Wolpe (actor/director and artist director of LA Women's Shakespeare Company) with the *Lee Melville Award for their outstanding contribution to the Los Angeles theatre community.

The American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) at Harvard University, under the leadership of Diane Paulus, Artistic Director and William Russo, Managing Director; presents the last production of its 2013/14 Season, THE TEMPEST, adapted and directed by Aaron Posnerand Teller from the play by William Shakespeare, with magic by Teller, music byTom Waits and Kathleen Brennan, and movement by Matt Kent of Pilobolus. Scroll down for a first look at the production!

WAM Theatre has announced the cast for a staged reading of Blue Stockings by Jessica Swale. Blue Stockings premiered to critical acclaim at London's Globe Theatre last year and will be presented by WAM Theatre on Sunday, April 13 at 3:00 p.m. at No. Six Depot Roastery and Cafe, 6 Depot Street in West Stockbridge, MA. The reading will be followed by a talkback with the actors and director. Blue Stockings is the first in WAM Theatre's new Fresh Takes Play Reading series, which offers new and reimagined works that tell women's stories.

Shakespeare's Globe is delighted to announce full casting for Jonathan Munby's Antony & Cleopatra. Clive Wood will take the role of Marc Antony and Eve Best will play the alluringly ambiguous Cleopatra. The production also stars Jolyon Coy as Octavius Caesar, Phil Daniels as Enobarbus and Sirine Saba as Charmian.

WILLIAM Shakespeare is almost without debate the greatest playwright in the English language. He was born in April, 1564, which makes April 2014 the 450th anniversary of his birth.

The 4th Annual Shakespeare's Birthday Sonnet Slam will be held Friday, April 25th from 1-4pm at the Naumburg Bandshell in Central Park. The Sonnet Slam features 154 volunteer readers of all ages performing all 154 of Shakespeare's Sonnets and the event is free to the public. Our kickoff reader for Sonnet #1 will be Broadway star, Ms. Dana Ivey.

Have you heard about our Black Coffee Staged Reading Series? Once a month on a Saturday, we present new works by local playwrights in a staged reading format featuring local actors. If you haven't been out to see this yet, you really should come! This morning, we did something a little different and fun, and presented Witty Fools & Foolish Wit to honor the 450th birthday of William Shakespeare and also in recognition of April Fool's Day. The reading consisted of select scenes featuring some of Shakespeare's most popular fools. Past readings have featured a new play by local playwright Ray Zacek about notorious Tampa gangster Charlie Wall, a musical about Zombies, a cabaret about French singer Jacques Dutronc, 8 short comedies about death, a drama about the D-Day Invasion in World War Two and more.

Playwrights' Arena with Artistic Director Jon Lawrence Rivera, the only theatre dedicated to discovering, nurturing and producing original works written exclusively by Los Angeles playwrights, is celebrating its 22st Anniversary with their annual fund-raiser presenting HOT NIGHT IN THE CITY : an evening of songs by local composers and lyricists on Tuesday, April 8, 2014, at Barnsdall Gallery Theatre atop Batnsdall Art Park in Hollywood. The special performance, which benefits the programs of Playwrights' Arena, celebrates the works of Los Angeles' most adventurous resident composers and lyricists writing for the theater today and honors Andrea Cockrum (community leader), Henry Ong (playwright)) and Lisa Wolpe (actor/director and artist director of LA Women's Shakespeare Company) with the *Lee Melville Award for their outstanding contribution to the Los Angeles theatre community.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater presents Henry V, directed by Christopher Luscombe, from April 29-June 15.

HUDSON WAREHOUSE, known as 'The Other Free Shakespeare in the Park,' is announcing it's 2014 Summer Season, featuring King John, The Importance of Being Earnest, and The Winter's Tale.

Shakespeare and the Language that Shaped a World returns for another fun-filled, whirlwind tour through the life, times and works of William Shakespeare.

The Smith Center for the Performing Arts presents the world premiere of THE TEMPEST, produced by the American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) at The Smith Center in Las Vegas today, April 5-13, 2014. The Smith Center's first ever co-production, THE TEMPEST is adapted and directed by Aaron Posner and Teller from the play by William Shakespeare, with magic by Teller, music by Tom Waits and movement by Matt Kent of Pilobolus. THE TEMPEST will perform at The Smith Center's Donald W. Reynolds Symphony Park in a 500-seat climate controlled tent before moving to Cambridge, MA to begin performances at A.R.T.

William Peace University, a private four-year university located in downtown Raleigh, is proud to announce that its Theatre Program is concluding its theatrical season with Sir William Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing. The event is being held from Monday, April 1 to Sunday, April 6, 2014, in Leggett Theatre located in Main Building at 15 East Peace St., and is directed by Wade Newhouse, Ph.D., WPU's Associate Professor of English and Assistant Theatre Director.