William Shakespeare News

Five-time Tony Award-winner Audra McDonald joins with real-life partner and fellow stage stalwart Will Swenson for a special pre-Valentine's Day reading of William Shakespeare's epic poem VENUS & ADONIS next month at the Public Theater.

Back by popular demand, West Coast Players announce the opening of Rex's Exes, a sequel to last year's wildly entertaining, The Red Velvet Cake War. This will be the first play of 2014 for the local theater group and opening night is to be held on Friday, January 17 at 8 p.m. in the WCP theater located in central Clearwater.

Canyon Crest Academy (CCA) Envision Theatre will present William Shakespeare's 'Twelfth Night', guest directed by Jason Maddy, from February 28 - March 8, 2014 at the CCA Black Box Theatre. The production team also includes Jeremy Sewell (CCA Technical Director/Set Designer) and CCA Students Mandy Wirt (Assistant Director) and Kara Mendez (Stage Manager).

A new block of tickets are now on sale through March 9, 2014 for the critically acclaimed Bedlam productions of William Shakespeare's Hamlet and George Bernard Shaw's Saint Joan, directed by Eric Tucker at off-Broadway's Lynn Redgrave Theater (45 Bleecker Street, NYC). For tickets and more information please visit www.theatrebedlam.org.

Shakespeare Rep has announced preliminary casting for its upcoming production of MACBETH. Chicago-based actor Santiago Sosa has been selected for the leading role. Artistic Director Debra Charlton states, "We are thrilled to have a classical performer of Santiago Sosa's experience and talent for this demanding role. The part of Macbeth requires an actor who possesses keen sensitivity to the complexities of the verse, emotional range, charisma and athleticism. Santiago Sosa is the ideal person for the job."

The New Victory Theater, New York City's premier performing arts venue for kids and families, adds two shows to their 2013-14 season. Making U.S. premieres at The New Victory Theater, Saltbush, from Compagnia T.P.O. and Insite Arts, will run from May 30-June 8, 2014, and The Ballad of Pondlife McGurk, from Catherine Wheels Theater Company, will run from June 13-22, 2014. For both shows, audiences are seated on stage with the performers for a truly interactive theater experience.

The Ohio State University Department of Theatre presents As You Like It, by William Shakespeare, adapted for young audiences and directed by Maureen Ryan. The show plays on Friday, February 7 at 10 am and 7:30 pm; Saturday, February 8 at 3 pm and 7:30 pm; and Sunday, February 9 at 3 pm at Lincoln Theatre, 769 East Long St.

Queens Theatre (QT), in conjunction with the acclaimed Aquila Theatre, presents William Shakespeare's TWELFTH NIGHT, an innovative and exciting new production directed by Aquila Theatre Artistic Director, Desiree Sanchez (BAM's Herakles). TWELFTH NIGHT will play 4 performances only at Queens Theatre (14 United Nations Avenue South, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens, NY 11368). Performances are Friday, February 14, 2014 at 2pm, Saturday, February 15, 2014 at 2pm and 8pm, and Sunday, February 16, 2014 at 3pm. Tickets are $42 for Friday?s performance and $49 for Saturday and Sunday performances; Rear seating $25 (for all performances). Tickets are available online at www.queenstheatre.org/shakespeares-twelfth-night or by calling the Box Office at 718-760-0064. Tickets may also be purchased in-person at the Queens Theatre Box Office, Monday 10am to 2pm, Wednesday through Sunday 10am to 6pm. (Senior discount available, $20 student rush tickets available day of).

Duke City Repertory Theatre presents A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare, adapted and directed by Dr. John Hardy. The show will run March 6-16, 2014.

Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, Cincinnati's stage for the classics, continues their 20th Anniversary Season with William Shakespeare's classic tragedy 'Hamlet', beginning tonight, January 10, and continuing through February 8, 2014. This production is directed by CSC Producing Artistic Director, Brian Isaac Phillips and features CSC Resident Ensemble members Brent Vimtrup, Bruce Cromer, Sherman Fracher and Sara Clark. The production design is generously sponsored by Legg Mason. Check out a first look below!

Great Lakes Theater (GLT) will launch the world premiere of SEVEN AGES, a free touring production scheduled to visit twenty-two neighborhood venues throughout northeast Ohio, to kick off the company's 2014 series of Surround outreach programming. The one-act play is comprised of seven tales written by seven northeast Ohio playwrights (Nina Domingue, Mike Geither, David Hansen, Christine Howey, Anne McEvoy, Michael Oatman and Toni K. Thayer) and features a touring company of four actors directed by Lisa Ortenzi. The tour commences on February 11th, continues through March 5th and is designed to support Great Lakes Theater's upcoming mainstage production of As You Like It at the Hanna Theatre, PlayhouseSquare which opens in April. All performances of the touring production are free and open to the public, with the exception of performances at area schools, which are private.

Philadelphia Theatre Company rings in the New Year with the 2012 Drama Desk Award winner Tribes by Nina Raine January 24 - February 23 at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre (Broad and Lombard Streets). Directed by Stuart Carden, the ensemble features Robin Abramson, Tad Cooley, Alex Hoeffler, John Judd, Amanda Kearns, and Laurie Klatscher.

No storyline is off limits when the Improvised Shakespeare Co. takes the stage Saturday, February 22, 8pm, at The Capitol Center for the Arts' Spotlight Cafe.

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Date: Fri, Jan 10, 2014 at 1:25 AM Subject: BroadwayWorld News Submission - Shakespeare's R&J at Fabrefaction Theatre Conservatory To: gabrielle@broadwayworld.com PR Shakespeare's R&J at Fabrefaction Theatre Conservatory Submitted by 'Shakespeare's R&J' opens Valentine's Day 2014 at Fabrefaction Theatre Conservatory 3 SHAKESPEARE'S R&J

Milwaukee Repertory Theater announced today that multi-award-winning actor Hollis Resnik will perform the lead role in End of the Rainbow, a theatrical homage to the late, great Judy Garland. An accomplished stage, television and film actor, Resnik brings the depth of acting and musical experience to portray the iconic Garland as well as the emotional intensity and high energy that the role demands. End of the Rainbow runs through March 9 and opens tonight, January 10 on The Rep's Quadracci Powerhouse main stage theater.

Silver Spring Stage presents The Complete Works of Shakespeare (Abridged) by Adam Long, Daniel Singer, and Jess Winfield, directed by William T. Fleming and produced by Karen Fleming, hysterical and fast-paced, gag-a-second delight that deconstructs all 37 of the Bard's plays-plus the sonnets-into a single two-hour whirlwind. The Complete Works of Shakespeare (Abridged) will perform weekends today, January 10 to February 1, 2014.

The lamentable tragedy of TITUS ANDRONICUS by William Shakespeare will perform free shows at The Schapiro Theatre, located at 605 W. 115th Street, New York, NY. The production runs today, January 10-12, 2014.

Hamlet Productions and Breaking Glass Pictures are pleased to announce today's January 10th limited theatrical release of Bruce Ramsay's Hamlet, the latest adaptation of William Shakespeare's immortal classic about the melancholy Dane. Updated by Bruce Ramsay, who steps into the title role, this accelerated version takes place over a single nightmarish evening in post-WWII London.

Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, Cincinnati's stage for the classics, continues their 20th Anniversary Season with William Shakespeare's classic tragedy 'Hamlet', playing today, January 10- February 8, 2014.