Macbeth Revival 2008 - Articles Page 15

After playing some of theater's most famous roles, actor Joe Spano takes on the role of theater's most famous scribe: William Shakespeare. Spano, best known for his roles on television's NCIS and Hill Street Blues, portrays Shakespeare (fondly called ‘Shag' after playwright Bill Cain's favorite contemporary spelling of the Bard's name: ‘Shagspeare' or ‘Shagespeare') in the Los Angeles premiere of Equivocation. Spano is joined by two-time Tony Award nominee Harry Groener as Richard, the second in command of Shag's winsome acting troupe, as well as Patrick J. Adams, Brian Henderson and Connor Trinneer, who comprise the rest of Shag's theater company - Sharpe, Armin and Nate, respectively. That said, as Equivocation's tale unwinds onstage, the actors ultimately play about two dozen roles ranging from conspirators and priests to Lady Macbeth and King Lear. The cast also features Troian Bellisario as Judith, Shakespeare's omnipresent daughter.

The Jeff Awards have announced 179 nominations in 35 categories for Chicago Equity theatrical productions which opened between August 1, 2008, and July 31, 2009.

Franco Zeffirelli's glittering production of Puccini's Turandot returns on October 28 with Maria Guleghina in the title role and Marcello Giordani as Calàf, both singing these demanding roles for the first time in their Met careers. Marina Poplavskaya and Samuel Ramey make company role debuts as Liù and Timur respectively, and conductor Andris Nelsons makes his Met debut.

Following a highly successful run at California Shakespeare Theater, Two River Theater Co. is proud to present Shakespeare's most magical and mischievous celebration of fools in love: A Midsummer Night's Dream, directed by Two River Artistic Director Aaron Posner.

New York's OBIE Award-winning Epic Theatre Ensemble (Zak Berkman, Melissa Friedman, Ron Russell, Founding Executive Directors)

Great Lakes Theater Festival opens the season with Rupert Holmes' Tony Award-winning THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD and Shakespeare's enchanting TWELFTH NIGHT.

California Shakespeare Theater Artistic Director Jonathan Moscone today announced his plans for his 10th anniversary season, which includes the company's first world premiere in more than 25 years, a return to the provocative comedy of George Bernard Shaw, and brand-new productions featuring two of Shakespeare's most intriguing couples.

New York's OBIE Award-winning Epic Theatre Ensemble (Zak Berkman, Melissa Friedman, Ron Russell, Founding Executive Directors)

Verdi's grand Egyptian pageant, Aida, returns to the Met stage with soprano Violeta Urmana singing the title role for the first time with the company and mezzo-soprano Dolora Zajick as Amneris, one of her most renowned interpretations.

Woodshed Collective will present the world premiere of The Confidence Man, conceived by Woodshed Collective, written by Paul Cohen (winner of the 2008 NYCFringe best playwright award), and inspired by Herman Melville's1857 novel about a riverboat con man, beginning Tuesday, September 1 and playing free to the public on the ship Lilac, a decommissioned U.S. Coast Guard vessel docked on the north side of Pier 40, at the intersection of West and Houston streets on the Hudson River.

The Jeff Awards have announced 179 nominations in 35 categories for Chicago Equity theatrical productions which opened between August 1, 2008, and July 31, 2009.

The theatre programme of POLSKA! YEAR, a 12 month celebration of Polish art and culture across the UK, is announced.

Great Lakes Theater Festival opens the season with Rupert Holmes' Tony Award-winning THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD and Shakespeare's enchanting TWELFTH NIGHT.

New York's OBIE Award-winning Epic Theatre Ensemble (Zak Berkman, Melissa Friedman, Ron Russell, Founding Executive Directors)

Live Broadcast, a play by John William Schiffbauer, will be presented at the 13th Annual New York International Fringe Festival, a production of The Present Company. Erica Ruff will produce the presentation, which will be directed by Melissa Attebery. The cast will feature Andrea Day, Kyle Knauf, Amanda Brooke Lerner, and John William Schiffbauer. Live Broadcast was previously work-shopped as part of the Manhattan Repertory Theatre's Fall Play Festival in October 2008.

Live Broadcast, a play by John William Schiffbauer, will be presented at the 13th Annual New York International Fringe Festival, a production of The Present Company. Erica Ruff will produce the presentation, which will be directed by Melissa Attebery. The cast will feature Andrea Day, Kyle Knauf, Amanda Brooke Lerner, and John William Schiffbauer. Live Broadcast was previously work-shopped as part of the Manhattan Repertory Theatre's Fall Play Festival in October 2008.

Olivier award-winning playwright Simon Stephens' powerful new play Punk Rock opens at the Lyric Hammersmith on 08 September 2009 with previews from 03 September 2009. Sarah Frankcom, the Co-Artistic Director of the Royal Exchange, Manchester will direct a talented, young cast which includes Nicholas Banks, Henry Lloyd Hughes, Harry McEntire, Jessica Raine, Tom Sturridge, Katie West and Sophie Wu.

Woodshed Collective will present the world premiere of The Confidence Man, conceived by Woodshed Collective, written by Paul Cohen (winner of the 2008 NYCFringe best playwright award), and inspired by Herman Melville's1857 novel about a riverboat con man, beginning Tuesday, September 1 and playing free to the public on the ship Lilac, a decommissioned U.S. Coast Guard vessel docked on the north side of Pier 40, at the intersection of West and Houston streets on the Hudson River.

On Tuesday, July 14, during Seattle Opera's Annual Meeting at McCaw Hall, General Director Speight Jenkins announced that the company's 2008/09 Artists of the Year awards went to mezzo-soprano Stephanie Blythe for performing the role of Amneris in Verdi's Aida in August 2008, and to François Racine for his stage direction of Seattle Opera's double bill of Bartók's Bluebeard's Castle with Schoenberg's Erwartung in February and March, 2009.

Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company closes its 29th Season, 2008-09, with the World Premiere of Fever/Dream by Sheila Callaghan, author of Crumble (Lay Me Down, Justin Timberlake) and the recent Off-Broadway hit That Pretty Pretty; or The Rape Play. Directed by Woolly Mammoth Artistic Director Howard Shalwitz, the cast features Woolly Mammoth Company Member Jessica Frances Dukes, Kimberly Gilbert, Kate Eastwood Norris, and Michael Willis, with Daniel Eichner, Drew Eshelman, and KenYatta Rogers.

San Francisco?s cutting-edge Cutting Ball Theater proudly announces the lineup for its 10th Anniversary season. The season opens in October with The Bald Soprano, Eugène Ionesco?s absurdist comic masterpiece, in a new translation by Cutting Ball Artistic Director Rob Melrose, who will also direct. The company is also poised to present ? And Jesus Moonwalks The Mississippi, a new play by Marcus Gardley, directed by Amy Mueller. Back by popular demand is Eugenie Chan?s retelling of the Ariadne myth, Bone to Pick, which received its World Premiere in Cutting Ball?s 2007-2008 season as part of Avant GardARAMA!; this provocative play, starring Paige Rogers, will be accompanied by a newly commissioned companion piece, Diadem, in May; both will be directed by Rob Melrose.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) will present post-show discussions following select performances of BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON, the fourth play of the 2008-2009 Public LAB season. The Public LAB Speaker Series, held every Tuesday following Public LAB shows, consists of engaging conversations with the artists and notable panelists.

San Francisco's cutting-edge Cutting Ball Theater closes its 2008-09 season with one of Samuel Beckett's funniest and most personal works for the stage, KRAPP'S LAST TAPE. Cutting Ball Artistic Director Rob Melrose helms this witty, poignant look at the choices one man makes and how the paths left untaken come back to haunt him.

Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company closes its 29th Season, 2008-09, with the World Premiere of Fever/Dream by Sheila Callaghan, author of Crumble (Lay Me Down, Justin Timberlake) and the recent Off-Broadway hit That Pretty Pretty; or The Rape Play. Directed by Woolly Mammoth Artistic Director Howard Shalwitz, the cast features Woolly Mammoth Company Member Jessica Frances Dukes, Kimberly Gilbert, Kate Eastwood Norris, and Michael Willis, with Daniel Eichner, Drew Eshelman, and KenYatta Rogers.

Shakespeare on the Sound, Connecticut's premier outdoor summer theatre company presenting free Shakespeare in the park, has announced the complete 17-member cast for Artistic Director Joanna Settle's inaugural production of A Midsummer Night's Dream with music by 2008 Tony Award-winning singer-songwriter Stew.