Williamstown Theatre News

Holiday cheer will abound at Cleveland Play House (CPH) with an all-new production of the beloved holiday classic, A Christmas Story running from tonight, Nov. 29th - Dec. 22nd in the Allen Theatre at PlayhouseSquare.

Move over Grinch; Santa Claus is coming to town and taking up residence at Rubicon Theatre in Ventura! Rubicon's November/ December HOLIDAY CENTRAL calendar offers a sparkling array of more than 35 shows and events for all ages. The festivities begin with the return of a holiday revue with six Broadway singers and a local children's chorus; followed by a late-night adult comedy presented in a cabaret setting; a poetic reading of wartime love letters; and culminating with an enchanting new musical from the Tony and Olivier Award-winning director of Les Miserables and Nicholas Nickleby and the creators of Jane Eyre and Daddy Long Legs, who will have a five-week residency at Rubicon during the holidays.

It's back - the funny, smart, and irreverent musical Nerds! Philadelphia Theatre Company revisits the musical satire Nerds with book and lyrics by Jordan Allen-Dutton and Erik Weiner, music by Hal Goldberg, and a brand new cast and creative team. Directed by Casey Hushion with choreography by Joshua Bergasse, the ensemble features Stanley Bahorek, Matt Bradley, Briana Carlson-Goodman, Benny Elledge, Lexy Fridell, Raymond J. Lee, Alyse Alan Louis, Robert Morrison, Kevin Pariseau, Catherine Ricafort, and Blake Segal.

Vanessa Hidary, best known as the Hebrew Mamita and for her work on Russell Simmons 'Def Poetry Jam' on HBO, returns to the stage with her comedic solo show 10 DAYS. Written and performed by Vanessa Hidary and directed by Kimberly Faith Hickman, this limited engagement will run Dec 3 - 13 at the New Ohio Theatre. 10 DAYS is being presented by terraNOVA Collective, a soloNOVA ARTS workshop as part of the New Ohio Theatre's Producers' Club 2013.

Producers Jeffrey Richards, Stacey Mindich, and Jerry Frankel announced today that The Bridges of Madison County, the new musical based on the best selling novel by Robert James Waller, will now hold its opening night on Thursday February 20, 2014, at 8:00 PM at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre (236 West 45th Street).

This December, 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 54th Street.

Huntington Theatre Company kicks off 2014 with David Ives' sexy Broadway smash hit Venus in Fur, deemed '90 minutes of good, kinky fun,' by The New York Times. Daniel Goldstein (God of Carnage) returns to the Huntington to the direct the 2012 Tony Award nominee for Best Play. Performances will begin on January 3 at the Avenue of the Arts / BU Theatre. The most produced play in America this season, Venus in Fur is 'deadly serious, madly funny ... you won't see a funnier play this season, or a smarter one,' says The Wall Street Journal.

The box office of the newly renovated Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre (236 West 45th Street) opened yesterday, November 25, 2013, for The Bridges of Madison County, which will begin performances on Friday, January 17, 2014. The opening night is set for Thursday, February 27, 2014. Rehearsals will begin Monday, December 9, 2013. In celebration of the opening, customers who visited the box office between 10AM and 11AM were entered to win a special, grand prize - an original love song, written and performed by Jason Robert Brown. In addition, the first 25 people in line received special The Bridges of Madison County gift bags. BroadwayWorld was there for the special celebration and you can check out photos below!

The Vineyard Theatre world-premiere production of the musical THE LANDING - with book and lyrics by Greg Pierce, music by John Kander and directed by Walter Bobbie - will conclude its acclaimed run with a special VIP benefit reception for patrons following the final performance today, November 24 at 3 p.m. at The Vineyard. (108 E. 15 St.)

Following critically acclaimed, smash-hit runs at The Hartford Stage and San Diego's Old Globe Theatre, A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, starring Jefferson Mays, Bryce Pinkham, and featuring Lisa O'Hare, Lauren Worsham, Jane Carr, Pamela Bob, Joanna Glushak, Eddie Korbich, Jeff Kready, Mark Ledbetter, Jennifer Smith, Price Waldman, and Catherine Walker, opened opened earlier this month at the Walter Kerr Theatre. Below you can check out photos of director Darko Tresnjak in the BroadwayWorld.com series 'In The Spotlight' by acclaimed photographer Walter McBride!

Producers Jeffrey Richards, Stacey Mindich, and Jerry Frankel announced today that the box office of the newly renovated Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre (236 West 45th Street) will open at 10AM on Monday, November 25, 2013, for The Bridges of Madison County, which will begin performances on Friday, January 17, 2014. The opening night is set for Thursday, February 27, 2014. Rehearsals will begin Monday, December 9, 2013.

Ensemble Theatre Company of Santa Barbara announces its 2013-14 Season in its new home, the New Vic, beginning with the hit Broadway musical A Little Night Music, inspired by the Ingmar Bergman film 'Smiles of a Summer Night. Directed by Ensemble Executive Artistic Director Jonathan Fox, A Little Night Music features one of Stephen Sondheim's best-known songs, "Send in the Clowns." A star-studded cast featuring Piper Laurie, Stephanie Zimbalist and Patrick Cassidy will christen the stage at the New Vic.

Point Park University presents an original, irreverent comedy, The Alchemists' Lab, directed, written and devised by Gab Cody in collaboration with students of the Conservatory Theatre Company.

The long-gestating late-career musical drama from John Kander and the late Fred Ebb based on Friedrich Durrenmatt's dark 20th century play THE VISIT is set for a new production at the Williamstown Theatre Festival this summer, starring the iconic Broadway legend who has taken on the major central role of the piece a few times prior, the one and only Chita Rivera.

Paper Mill Playhouse will continue its 75th Anniversary Season with the classic Charles Dickens musical Oliver!, with a holiday 'twist' for the entire family. With a book, music and lyrics by Lionel Bart, Oliver! will be directed by Paper Mill Playhouse Producing Artistic Director Mark S. Hoebee with original choreography by JoAnn M. Hunter. Oliver! will feature David Garrison (Fagin), best known for his role as Steve Rhoades on the hit television series Married...with Children, Betsy Morgan (Nancy), John Treacy Egan (Mr. Bumble), Jose Llana (Bill Sikes), David Hess (MR. Brownlow), Ethan Haberfield (Artful Dodger) and introducing Tyler Moran as Oliver. Oliver! will also feature 16 local boys from across the state of New Jersey who auditioned from a pool of over 200. Oliver! will play the Millburn, New Jersey theater from tonight, November 21 through December 29. The official press opening night is Sunday, December 1, 2013, at 7:00pm.

Chance Theater presents the fifth show of its 15th Anniversary Season - a family-friendly holiday offering The Secret Garden - The Musical with book and lyrics by Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Marsha Norman, music by Tony Award nominee Lucy Simon, and directed by Casey Long and KC Wilkerson. The Secret Garden - The Musical will preview on November 29 and 30, open November 30 and continue through December 29 at Chance Theater.

Williamstown Theatre Festival honored Award-winning director and frequent WTF collaborator Scott Ellis, at last night's benefit at the Edison Ballroom in New York City. The evening was hosted by Julie White, who won a Tony Award for her performance in the Ellis-helmed production of The Little Dog Laughed, and included appearances by Tony Award-winners Chita Rivera, Susan Stroman, Rupert Holmes and more. BroadwayWorld was there for the special night and you can check out photos from inside the event below!

The American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) at Harvard University and the Hutchins Center for African and African American Research (formerly known as the Du Bois Institute), in conjunction with Hilton Als of The New Yorker, will present a staged reading of Alice Childress's Wedding Band: A Love-Hate Story in Black and White, co-directed by Hilton Als and A.R.T. Artistic Associate Shira Milikowsky. It takes place at the Loeb Drama Center, 64 Brattle Street, Cambridge, starting at 7:30pm, and will be followed by a post-reading discussion.

Williamstown Theatre Festival's 2013 benefit will honor Award-winning director and frequent WTF collaborator Scott Ellis, today, Monday, November 18th at 6:30 p.m. at the Edison Ballroom in New York City (240 West 47th Street). The evening is hosted by Julie White, who won a Tony Award for her performance in the Ellis-helmed production of The Little Dog Laughed, and includes appearances by Tony Award-winners Chita Rivera, Susan Stroman, Rupert Holmes and more.

Holiday cheer will abound at Cleveland Play House (CPH) with an all-new production of the beloved holiday classic, A Christmas Story running from Nov. 29th - Dec. 22nd in the Allen Theatre at PlayhouseSquare. In honor of the 30th anniversary of the unforgettable film, CPH enthusiastically breathes new life into this classic story about Ralphie and his ultimate Christmas wish. Having delighted audiences for 30 years on both the big and small screens, this incredible production is brought to vivid life on stage for Northeast Ohio audiences. Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased by calling (216) 241-6000 or online at www.clevelandplayhouse.com. CPH is pleased to have University Hospitals as the Presenting Sponsor of A Christmas Story, along with Benesch, Nordson and FirstMerit as Supporting Sponsors.