Today in 1948, opened at the Shubert Theatre. Kiss Me, Kate is a musical with music and lyrics by Cole Porter. It is structured as a play within a play, where the interior play is a musical version of William Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew. The original production starred Alfred Drake, Patricia Morison, Lisa Kirk and Harold Lang. Kiss Me, Kate was a response to Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma! and other integrated musicals, and it proved to be his biggest hit and the only one of his shows to run for more than 1,000 performances on Broadway. It won the first Tony Award presented for Best Musical, in 1949.
The quintessential portrait of maniacal ambition and lust for power is on stage in William Shakespeare's epic history play Richard III at Folger Theatre. Robert Richmond
The critically-acclaimed ALLIANCE REPERTORY COMPANY is returning in conjunction with Witzel View Entertainment with its first production in over 3 years and the first show of their 2013-2014 season, with Tony Award-winning actress Daisy Eagan (The Secret Garden) featured in THE EIGHT: REINDEER MONOLOGUES written by Jeff Goode and directed by Alliance Repertory Artistic Director Royana Black and David Peryam. THE EIGHT: REINDEER MONOLOGUES will open tonight, December 5 at 8:00pm and run through Saturday, December 21 at the Complex Theatre, 6476 Santa Monica Blvd. in Hollywood.
The critically-acclaimed ALLIANCE REPERTORY COMPANY is returning in conjunction with Witzel View Entertainment with its first production in over 3 years and the first show of their 2013-2014 season, with Tony Award-winning actress Daisy Eagan (The Secret Garden) featured in THE EIGHT: REINDEER MONOLOGUES written by Jeff Goode and directed by Alliance Repertory Artistic Director Royana Black and David Peryam.
Tickets go on sale to the general public tomorrow, November 2 at 10 AM for Neil Patrick Harris' return to Broadway in Hedwig and the Angry Inch, the musical with book by John Cameron Mitchell and music and lyrics by Stephen Trask, directed by Michael Mayer. For tickets, call 212-239-6200 or visit Telecharge.com.
Stephen Fry, who is making his Broadway acting debut as Malvolio in the critically acclaimed Shakespeare's Globe production of TWELFTH NIGHT, will be a guest on 'The Colbert Report' on Thursday, October 24. 'The Colbert Report' airs at 11:30 PM ET on Comedy Central, 10:30 PM Central.
American Stage Theatre Company is excited to announce their 2013-2014 season opening production, THE BIRDS by the acclaimed Irish Playwright Conor McPherson (The Seafarer). Previews are tonight and tomorrow, October 2 & 3. Opening Night is October 4 and the production runs through October 27.
THE TAMING OF THE SHREW is one of Shakespeare's most famous comedies. In popular culture the play was translated into the 1999 movie 10 Things I Hate About You starring Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles. To keep the content entertaining Orlando Shakespeare Theater staged this production in the wild west, which fit the material perfectly.
American Stage Theatre Company is excited to announce their 2013-2014 season opening production, THE BIRDS by the acclaimed Irish Playwright Conor McPherson (The Seafarer). Previews are October 2 & 3. Opening Night is October 4 and the production runs through October 27.
The Dallas Opera is happy to present three weekends of family-friendly programming guaranteed to introduce you and your loved ones to the big, beautiful world of opera. The Dallas Opera Educational/Family Series, part of The Perot Foundation Education and Community Outreach Programs, is presented by Texas Instruments and made possible with additional support from Lockheed Martin.
One of Greater Boston's most beloved traditions, Commonwealth Shakespeare Company's 'Free Shakespeare On The Common' celebrates its 18th season with the comedy The Two Gentlemen of Verona. Inspired by Rat Pack-era Vegas, this production brings together the talents of CSC's Artistic Director Steve Maler, music director Colin Thurmond and choreographer Yo-el Cassel. Playing today, July 6 - 28, 2013.
Among its many assets, Columbus, Ohio has an abundance of college students, research facilities, and, according to Kate Tull, Shakespearean actors.
The Utah Shakespeare Festival previously announced the casting of the first eight actors for the 2013 season. All are familiar faces, having appeared at the Festival in the past. Actors slated to appear include: Corey Jones, Melinda Parrett, Henry Woronicz, Roderick Peeples, Melinda Pfundstein, Quinn Mattfeld, David Ivers, and Barbara Bednarczuk.
One of Greater Boston's most beloved traditions, Commonwealth Shakespeare Company's 'Free Shakespeare On The Common' celebrates its 18th season with the comedy The Two Gentlemen of Verona. Inspired by Rat Pack-era Vegas, this production brings together the talents of CSC's Artistic Director Steve Maler, music director Colin Thurmond and choreographer Yo-el Cassel. Playing July 6 - 28, 2013, performances are free and open to the public.
Here are five upcoming productions in the Portland area that shouldn't be missed this summer. Of course, we'll have our eyes open for other productions as well, which will be reviewed in this space as they arrive. And don't forget the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, which is not part of the Portland area, but is certainly worth the drive for great theater in a beautiful setting.
Cutting Ball Theater concludes its 14th season with the World Premiere of KRISPY KRITTERS IN THE SCARLETT NIGHT, San Francisco playwright Andrew Saito's poetic portrayal of the heart of the city in the spirit of Alan Ginsburg's Howl, William S. Burroughs, and the plays of Suzan-Lori Parks. Cutting Ball Artistic Director Rob Melrose directs KRISPY KRITTERS IN THE SCARLETT NIGHT, featuring Felicia Benefield, Wiley Namen Strasser, David Sinaiko, Marjorie Crump-Shears, Mimu Tsuimara, Maura Halloran, Caleb Caberera, and Drew Wolfe, May 17 through June 16 (Press opening: May 23) at the Cutting Ball Theater in residence at EXIT on Taylor (277 Taylor Street) in San Francisco. For tickets ($10-50) and more information, the public may visit cuttingball.com or call 415-525-1205.
The Public Theater (Artistic Director, Oskar Eustis; Executive Director, Patrick Willingham) announced today that the 2013 Public Theater annual gala will celebrate the company's acclaimed 1980 production of the musical, THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE, with a one-night-only concert performance on Monday, June 10 at the Delacorte Theater where The Public's production originally premiered more than three decades ago. Sir Howard Stringer, Arielle Tepper Madover, and Renee Beaumont will serve as Gala Co-Chairs for this unforgettable evening that will also honor the late Nora Ephron who was a longtime Public Theater board member and consummate lover of Shakespeare in the Park.
The 2013-2014 Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre season was announced today by CTG Artistic Director Michael Ritchie.
Polarity Ensemble Theatre presents the world premiere of Never the Bridesmaid, a sweet, funny, life-affirming comedy by Chicago playwright Bill Jepsen. Directed by award-winning director Richard Shavzin, Never the Bridesmaid runs at the Polarity space at the Josephinum Academy, 1500 N. Bell St. in the Wicker Park neighborhood of Chicago, tonight, February 26 through April 7, 2013. Press night is Thursday, February 28 at 8:00 p.m.
Today in 1957, The Taming of the Shrew openend at the Phoenix Theatre, where it ran for 23 performances. A comedy by William Shakespeare, the play is believed to have been written between 1590 and 1591. The main plot depicts the courtship of Petruchio, a gentleman of Verona, and Katherina, the headstrong, obdurate shrew. Initially, Katherina is an unwilling participant in the relationship, but Petruchio tempers her with various psychological torments-the 'taming'-until she becomes a compliant and obedient bride. The subplot features a competition between the suitors of Katherina's more desirable sister, Bianca.
The Utah Shakespeare Festival recently announced the casting of the first eight actors for the 2013 season. All are familiar faces, having appeared at the Festival in the past. Actors slated to appear thus far are Corey Jones, Melinda Parrett, Henry Woronicz, Roderick Peeples, Melinda Pfundstein, Quinn Mattfeld, David Ivers, and Barbara Bednarczuk.
Cutting Ball Theater continues its 14th season with Eugene Ionesco's THE CHAIRS, in a new translation by Rob Melrose. This tragic farce, in the tradition of Cutting Ball's hit productions of Ionesco's The Bald Soprano (2010) and Victims of Duty (2008), is as comedic as it is heartbreaking. Annie Elias (Tenderloin) directs THE CHAIRS, featuring David Sinaiko, Tamar Cohn, and Derek Fischer, March 1 through 31 (Press opening: March 7) at the Cutting Ball Theater in residence at EXIT on Taylor (277 Taylor Street) in San Francisco. For tickets ($10-50) and more information, the public may visit cuttingball.com or call 415-525-1205.
Multiple Tony Award-winner JULIE TAYMOR will direct and ELLIOT GOLDENTHAL will compose original music for William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, the inaugural production in Theatre for a New Audience's first home in the Downtown Brooklyn Cultural District, 262 Ashland Place between Lafayette Avenue and Fulton Streets. Previews begin October 19, 2013 for an opening November 2.
Polarity Ensemble Theatre presents the world premiere of Never the Bridesmaid, a sweet, funny, life-affirming comedy by Chicago playwright Bill Jepsen. Directed by award-winning director Richard Shavzin, Never the Bridesmaid runs at the Polarity space at the Josephinum Academy, 1500 N. Bell St. in the Wicker Park neighborhood of Chicago, February 26 through April 7, 2013.
The epic story of King Henry V's battle with the French during the Hundred Years' War comes alive for the first time at the Folger Theatre, in William Shakespeare's historical drama Henry V. The production, directed by Robert Richmond (Othello and Henry VIII at the Folger), stars Zach Appelman (War Horse on Broadway) in his Folger Theatre debut as Henry V, and will run from tonight, January 22 - March 3, 2013.
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