Williamstown Theatre News

TACT/The Actors Company Theatre presents Natural Affection by William Inge, the first production of the company's 21st Season. Directed by TACT Co-Artistic Director Jenn Thompson, performances begin at Theatre Row's Beckett Theatre (410 West 42nd Street - between 9th & 10th Avenues) tonight, September 17, 2013. Opening night is set for Thursday, September 26 at 7:30pm. Performances will continue through October 26, 2013.

The Old Globe today announced the complete cast and creative team for the World Premiere comedy The Few by award-winning playwright Samuel D. Hunter (The Whale). Directed by Davis McCallum, The Few will run Sept. 28 - Oct. 27, 2013 in the Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre, part of the Globe's Conrad Prebys Theatre Center. Preview performances run Sept. 28 - Oct. 2. Opening night is Thursday, Oct. 3 at 8:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at www.TheOldGlobe.org, by phone at (619) 23-GLOBE or by visiting the Box Office at 1363 Old Globe Way in Balboa Park.

Deadline writes that screenwriter and playwright Kyle Jarrow and executive producer Michael London (Milk) are developing a project for The CW called 'ZE' that centers on a transgender teenager.

David Wilson Barnes (Becky Shaw at Second Stage Theatre and London's Almeida Theatre) plays Charlie Duff, a burnt-out local newscaster who transforms first his community and then himself when he begins praying on-air in the Huntington Theatre Company's new production of Stephen Belber's moving new drama The Power of Duff. Amy Pietz ('The Office,' 'Caroline in the City') plays Duff's ex-wife Lisa, and Jennifer Westfeldt (Kissing Jessica Stein, Friends with Kids) plays Sue, Charlie's co-anchor, in the production helmed by Huntington Artistic Director Peter DuBois. Performances begin on October 11 at the Calderwood Pavilion at the BCA. The Power of Duff is produced in association with New York Stage and Film and Vassar's Powerhouse Theater.

Due to critical acclaim The Flea Theater has announced a limited extension through October 7th. This play about friendship, class and where loyalty has its limits is directed by Flea Resident Director Kel Haney and features members of The Bats. Previews began August 23 with closing originally slated for September 22.

9 Livingston Avenue in New Brunswick will be rockin' every night beginning September 24 with music and laughter. George Street Playhouse and Artistic Director David Saint have announced casting for the opening production for the venerable theatre's fortieth season. Gettin' The Band Back Together (formerly titled Garage Band) is a rockin' valentine to the Garden State, and will be directed by Tony Award-winner John Rando - who also helmed The Toxic Avenger in New Brunswick (and New York) a few seasons back. Gettin' The Band Back Together will rock the house beginning Tuesday, September 24 and continue through Sunday, October 27. Opening night is set for Friday, October 4. Gettin' The Band Back Together is performed by special arrangement with Davenport Theatrical Enterprises, Inc. and Roy Putrino.

Betty R. and Ralph Sheffer Foundation and The League of Professional Theatre Women will present Award-winning actress TYNE DALY for the next Oral History interview on Monday, October 7, 2013 at 6:00 pm at the Bruno Walter Auditorium of the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts on 65th Street & Amsterdam Avenue. Admission is free, but seats will be on a first-come-first-seated basis. (Photos are available here: http://bit.ly/TynePhoto) The next Oral History will be on January 13, 2014.

Marin Hinkle, Neal Huff, Olivia Oguma, Okieriete Onaodowan and Sharon Washington will comprise the cast of the upcoming LCT3/Lincoln Center Theater world premiere production of LUCE, by JC Lee, directed by May Adrales. LUCE begins previewsSaturday, October 5, opens Monday, October 21 and will run through Sunday, November 17 at the Claire Tow Theater (150 West 65thStreet).

'Marilyn … MADNESS & Me', a new one and a half person play by Frank V. Furino from an original concept by Didier Bloch will be directed by Joe Leonardo at the Monroe Forum at the El Portal Theatre, September 19 through October 20, 2013.

Emmy award-winning director/writer Larry Charles (Borat, Religulous, Bruno, Seinfeld) and his son Francesco DeSantis join forces for the first time to pen the world premiere of 'Treason or Reason'. 'Treason or Reason' is part of HERO Theatre's Classic Film Project, world premiere scenes inspired by classic films performed live on a historical soundstage today, September 7th, 2013 in Los Angeles for two shows only.

Laura Benanti's engagement at New York's 54 BELOW will be recorded and released by Broadway Records. 'In Constant Search of the Right Kind of Attention: Live At 54 BELOW' will be released digitally today, September 6th and on CD on September 10, 2013.

The Rose Theater, one of the country's largest theaters specializing in professional productions for young audiences, will present nine shows for the 2013-14 season. Included are two world premieres, Leo Lionni's Frederick, a musical based on the popular 1968 children's book, and The Grocer's Goblin & The Little Mermaid adapted from two Hans Christen Andersen tales by Rose Playwright-in-Residence Brian Guehring and Rose Director of Youth Productions Stephanie Jacobson.

Berkeley Repertory Theatre kicks off its 46th season this September with Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, winner of the 2013 Tony Award for Best Play. The hilarious Broadway blockbuster from three-time Obie Award-winner Christopher Durang begins previews in the Roda Theatre on September 20, opens September 25, and runs through October 20. Get a first look at the cast below!

TACT/The Actors Company Theatre has announced the cast and creative team for Natural Affection by William Inge, the first production of the company's 21st Season. Directed by TACT Co-Artistic Director Jenn Thompson, performances begin at Theatre Row's Beckett Theatre (410 West 42nd Street - between 9th & 10th Avenues) on Tuesday, September 17, 2013. Opening night is set for Thursday, September 26 at 7:30pm. Performances will continue through October 26, 2013.

Roundabout Theatre Company has officially announced that Oscar nominee Michelle Williams will star for the first time on Broadway as 'Sally Bowles' in its upcoming production of Cabaret. She will take the stage at Studio 54 alongside Alan Cumming as the Emcee, reprising the role that won him a Tony Award in 1998.

Tickets to the Vineyard Theatre's 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 go on sale to the general public today, Wednesday, September 4 at 1 p.m. THE LANDING begins previews at The Vineyard (108 E. 15 St.) on October 3 prior to an official opening night on October 23.

Ars Nova (Jason Eagan, Artistic Director; Jeremy Blocker, Managing Director) presents, as part of the Out Loud series, a FREE reading of GIRL ON GIRL by Stephen Karam, co-directed by Noah Brody and Ben Steinfeld. The cast includes Jessie Austrian, Darius Pierce, Ben Steinfeld and Emily Young.

Laura Benanti's 'In Constant Search of the Right Kind of Attention: Live At 54 BELOW' will be released digitally onSeptember 6th and on CD on September 10, 2013. The CD is now available for pre-order at http://amzn.com/B00CRU5YW0. The track listing and cover art were unveiled today by Broadway Records.

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Greg Reiner, announced complete casting today for its upcoming production of Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet starring Elizabeth Olsen as Juliet. Julian Cihi has been cast as Romeo. Daniel Davis replacesWilliam Hurt as Friar Laurence. Hurt has withdrawn from the production for personal reasons. Previously announced Emmy Award nominee T.R. Knight(Mercutio) and Tony Award nominee Daphne Rubin-Vega (Nurse) will be joined by McKinley Belcher III (Benvolio), Stan Demidoff (Paris/Sampson),Harry Ford (Gregory, Friar John, Watchman), David Garrison (Capulet), Anthony Michael Martinez (Prince), Kathryn Meisle (Lady Capulet), Dion Mucciacito (Tybalt) and John Rothman (Montague/Apothecary). CSC's Romeo & Juliet, which begins performances Friday, September 27, will be directed byTea Alagi? (Jackie). Set design is by Marsha Ginsberg; costumes by Clint Ramos, lighting by Jason Lyons and sound by Ryan Rumery. The official opening night is Wednesday, October 16. Romeo & Juliet will play a limited engagement through Sunday, November 3. Tickets will go on sale Wednesday, September 4 at 12pm.