Williamstown Theatre News

Looking for a quick roundup of this week's events in the theatre world? Look no further - here are some of the best articles the week had to offer!

Betty Buckley won a Tony Award for the role of Grizabella in Cats, starred as Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard, was a Tony nominee for Triumph of Love, and starred on TV's Eight is Enough, film's Tender Mercies and Carrie, and in many other memorable roles. On Aug 11 & 12 she makes her debut at The Art House, joined by Seth Rudetsky at piano, as the celebrated Broadway at The Art House series continues. For tickets please visit www.ptownarthouse.com or call 508-487-9222.

Williamstown Theatre Festival presents The Elephant Man, now running on the Nikos Stage through August 5. View new production photos below!

Williamstown Theatre Festival will take a look at arguably the most contentious social issue of the 21st Century when the Festival presents a reading of "8" on Monday. Artistic Director Jenny Gersten announced today the cast and creative team for the one-night-only event, which will be presented on the Main Stage on Monday, August 6 in a staged reading benefitting Broadway Impact and American Foundation for Equal Rights. T he performance will be followed by a talkback.

Williamstown Theatre Festival Artistic Director Jenny Gersten announced today the opening of A Month in the Country, the last Main Stage production of the season which opens August 2 following performances beginning August 1.

The producers of Peter and the Starcatcher, a new play by Tony Award-nominee Rick Elice, announced today that a new block of tickets are now on sale, through January 6, 2013. Directed by Tony Award-winner Roger Rees and Tony Award-nominee Alex Timbers, Peter and the Starcatcher began performances on March 28, 2012 and opened April 15, 2012, and is playing at Broadway's Brooks Atkinson Theatre (256 West 47th Street).

he American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) has announced additional casting information for David Adjmi's new play, Marie Antoinette, directed by Rebecca Taichman, with choreography by Karole Armitage, in a co-production with Yale Repertory Theatre. Marie Antoinette begins previews on Saturday, September 1, and runs through Saturday, September 29, with press opening on Friday, September 7 at 7:30pm.

Williamstown Theatre Festival presents The Elephant Man, now running on the Nikos Stage through August 5. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the production photos below.

HERO Theatre previously announced that Joe Manganiello of HBO's True Blood and feature film Magic Mike would join Emmy Award winner William H. Macy, star of Showtime's Shameless and Academy Award nominee for Fargo, in a benefit reading of Tennessee Williams' "Small Craft Warnings", directed by John Frank Levey. The benefit will be held today, July 29 at 6pm at the Annenberg Community Beach House in Santa Monica, Calif. The event will include a silent auction.

Williamstown Theatre Festival Artistic Director Jenny Gersten announced the opening of The Elephant Man, which opens on the Nikos Stage July 26 following performances beginning July 25.

Stage and screen star Sanaa Lathan (A Raisin in the Sun, Contagion) returns to the title role in Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage's By the Way, Meet Vera Stark for its West Coast premiere at the Geffen Playhouse. Lathan, who originated the character of Vera Stark in the critically acclaimed New York run, will once again take the stage as the 1930's era maid turned movie star, reunited with original cast member Kimberly Hebert Gregory (Spike Lee's Red Hook Summer) reprising her role as fellow aspiring African American actress Lottie. Broadway vet and Geffen alum Merle Dandridge (Spamalot, Rent, Aida) will take on the spicy role of Anna Mae, who fakes a Brazilian accent for a slice of fame, and former leading lady of ABC's Man Up, Amanda Detmer, will portray Gloria Mitchell, the white starlet dubbed "America's little sweetie pie" and Vera's first employer. Helmed by award-winning director Jo Bonney, the West Coast premiere cast also features Kevin Carroll (Paid in Full, Being John Malkovich), Spencer Garrett (Iron Man 3, Air Force One) and Geffen alum Mather Zickel (Extraordinary Chambers, Rachel Getting Married).

Berkshire Playwrights Lab announced that its staged reading of James DeMarse's new play, Existing Privilege, that was to be directed by Matthew Penn on August 8 will now take place on August 22, directed by Joe Cacaci, and with the new title, Ceasefire.

Soho Rep, in association with John Adrian Selzer, welcomes OBIE Award-winner Roberta Maxwell to the cast of Chekhov's Uncle Vanya tonight, July 25, replacing Rebecca Schull as Maria.

For its seventh season Boston Midsummer Opera (BMO) presents the comic piece, Donizetti's Don Pasquale, playing at the Tsai Performance Center at Boston University for three performances only, tonight, July 25, 27, and 29. Obie Award winner/Tony Award nominee Austin Pendleton directs the fully staged and costumed production. Music director and nationally acclaimed conductor Susan Davenny Wyner leads the performances, which will be performed with orchestra and sung in English. Metropolitan Opera bass Ricardo Lugo will sing the role of Don Pasquale.

Williamstown Theatre Festival presents THE ELEPHANT MAN, on the Nikos Stage from tonight, July 25 through August 5 (opening July 26).

Williamstown Theatre Festival Artistic Director Jenny Gersten announced today the full cast and creative team for the World Premiere of WHADDABLOODCLOT!!! by Olivier Award-winning playwright Katori Hall, which will be presented from August 8 through August 19 (opening August 9) on the Nikos Stage. The cast began rehearsals today on the bucolic Williams College campus in preparation for their run as the last production of the 2012 season.

BSC is proud to present a fall return of DR. RUTH, ALL THE WAY, by Mark St. Germain, directed by Julianne Boyd. Starring stage, film and television actress Debra Jo Rupp.

Women's Project, the 35-year-old non-profit theater dedicated to producing plays written and directed by women, will present its 2012-2013 season of new plays featuring women theater artists at a new home, New York City Center Stage II, 131 West 55th Street, January 11 to May 19, Julie Crosby, Producing Artistic Director announced.

Primary Stages (Casey Childs, Founder & Executive Producer; Andrew Leynse, Artistic Director; Elliot Fox, Managing Director) launches its 28th season tonight, July 24 when HARRISON, TX: THREE PLAYS BY HORTON FOOTE begins performances.