Wit 1998 - Articles Page 3.4

BWW Reviewer Peter Nason chooses the best musical theatre characters from 1940-2020; see if your favorites are on our list of the best characters from Broadway musicals.

Filming begins today on new productions of Alan Bennett's critically acclaimed and multi-award-winning Talking Heads monologues, which first aired on BBC Television in 1988 and 1998.

BWW Reviewer Peter Nason chooses the greatest theatrical works (non-musical) from 1920-2020; see if your favorites made the list!

Walnut Street Theatre (WST) continues its 211th season with Gore Vidal's thrilling political drama, THE BEST MAN. Directed by Broadway veteran Michael Wilson, the production begins previews on March 10, opens March 18, and continues through April 26 on the Walnut's Mainstage.

Philly's funniest friends, Artistic Director at Act II Playhouse, Tony Braithwaite, and Producing Artistic Director at 1812 Productions, Jennifer Childs, have created and are sharing the spotlight in a new comedy cabaret, Together Again For the First Time. Music Direction and piano accompaniment are by Owen Robbins. Reflecting the pace and style of classic comedy duo Mike Nichols and Elaine May, Braithwaite and Childs merge their wit and musical chops in a high-energy performance of songs, sketches and hilarious asides.

Birdland's December 2019 schedule will feature The Joe Lovano Nonet, Stacey Kent, Monty Alexander, A Swinging Birdland Christmas, Freddy Cole Quartet, Gunhild Carling, Julius Rodriguez, Veronica Swift Holiday Show, 'Season's Swingin' Greetings!a??, Marta Sanchez Quintet, Darius de Haas, Marilyn Maye New Years Eve Extravaganza, The Lineup with Susie Mosher, Jim Caruso's Cast Party, and MORE!

MTC has officially opened Bella Bella, written and performed by four-time Tony Award winner Harvey Fierstein (Casa Valentina, Torch Song, Hairspray) and directed by Kimberly Senior (Disgraced, The Niceties).

Meganne George, Indiana-born beloved New York City theatre production designer, passed away on July 30th in her home on City Island. She was 52.

Wit, by Margaret Edson, presented by actor Pamela Vogel, opens for eight performances in a limited run. It is one production in the inaugural year of the Houston Equity Festival, a collection of local professional actors, all members of the union Actors' Equity Association, each of whom is mounting her/his own show during the summer and fall of 2019. Ms. Vogel (Leap and the Net Will Appear / Catastrophic Theatre) plays Vivian Bearing, and Vance Johnson (Bootycandy / Catastrophic Theatre) and (Passing Strange / Standing Room Only Productions) directs.

Wit, by Margaret Edson, presented by actor Pamela Vogel, opens for eight performances in a limited run. It is one production in the inaugural year of the Houston Equity Festival, a collection of local professional actors, all members of the union Actors' Equity Association, each of whom is mounting her/his own show during the summer and fall of 2019. Ms. Vogel (Leap and the Net Will Appear / Catastrophic Theatre) plays Vivian Bearing, and Vance Johnson (Bootycandy / Catastrophic Theatre) and (Passing Strange / Standing Room Only Productions) directs.

Shattered Globe Theatre announces its 2019-20 Season, featuring two Chicago premieres: BE HERE NOW by Deborah Zoe Laufer, directed by Producing Artistic Director Sandy Shinner* a?" a bittersweet comedy about searching for happiness; and SHEEPDOG by Kevin Artigue, directed by Wardell Julius Clark a?" a love story colliding with today's headlines; followed by WHEN THE RAIN STOPS FALLING by Andrew Bovell, directed by Elizabeth Margolius a?" a stunning mystery of love and loss that reverberates through four generations.

Wit, by Margaret Edson, presented by actor Pamela Vogel opens for eight performances in a limited run; a production in the inaugural year of the Houston Equity Festival a collection of local professional actors, all members of the union Actors' Equity Association, each of whom is mounting herhis own show during the summer and fall of 2019. Ms. Vogel (Leap and the Net Will Appear Catastrophic Theatre) plays Vivian Bearing, and Vance Johnson (Bootycandy Theatre) and (Passing Strange Standing Room Only Productions) directs.

The 72nd Annual Tony Awards are this Sunday June 10th at 8/9c hosted by Josh Groban and Sara Bareilles. It's the biggest award show of the Broadway season and it closes out a long awards season for Broadway and Off-Broadway musicals and plays. We can't help but wonder what chances this year's Best Musical and Best Play nominees have of taking home the ultimate prize...

 It is with deep sadness that Shakespeare & Company announces the passing of beloved Founder and Director of Training Dennis Krausnick, who has been a leader of the Company since its inception in 1978. There will be a Public Memorial Service held on June 24, 2019 at 1:00pm on the Shakespeare & Company campus in Lenox, MA. The Company's 2019 Season will be dedicated to his legacy. 

Arena Stage announces the presentation of the fourth annual Beth Newburger Schwartz Award to National Public Radio's Nina Totenberg, with actor and performer Kathleen Turner headlining the 2019 Arena Stage Annual Gala. The Gala will be held on Tuesday, May 21, 2019 at the Mead Center for American Theater

Theater heaven. A rare occurrence when every component of a production converges in perfect harmony to create a tour de force. Druid Theatre Company have accomplished this with their current production of Richard III. Adding pizzazz, Opening Night was attended by a fine complement of glitterati from Irish radio, theater, and screen.

This fall the French Institute Alliance Francaise presents Pascal Greggory: Unsung Eros, a CineSalon series celebrating the work and film career of acclaimed actor Pascal Greggory from November 6 to December 18.

Birdland will kick-off their exciting month of programming with Dee Dee Bridgewater with the Theo Croker Quintet, Kevin Eubanks Quartet, Anita Gillette, Ron Carter's Great Big Band, Quartet and Golden Striker Trio, Alan Broadbent Trio, Capathia Jenkins & Louis Rosen, Jay Leonhart, Pasquale Grasso Trio, Ken Peplowski with Special Guest Sinne Eeg, Jim Caruso's Cast Party, and more!

The 72nd Annual Tony Awards are this Sunday June 10th at 8/9c hosted by Josh Groban and Sara Bareilles. It's the biggest award show of the Broadway season and it closes out a long awards season for Broadway and Off-Broadway musicals and plays. We can't help but wonder what chances this year's Best Musical and Best Play nominees have of taking home the ultimate prize...

AstonRep Theatre Company is pleased to conclude its 2017-18 season with THE LARAMIE PROJECT, a community's deeply-moving response to the 1998 murder of gay University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard, written by Moises Kaufman and the Members of Tectonic Theater Project and directed by Associate Artistic Director Derek Bertelsen. THE LARAMIE PROJECT will play June 7 - July 8, 2018 at The Raven Theatre (West Stage), 6157 N. Clark St. in Chicago.

The American Theatre Wing and The Village Voice announce that Tony Award-nominated and three-time Obie-winning actress Kathleen Chalfant will receive a special Obie Award for Lifetime Achievement at the 63rd Annual Obie Awards.

The 8th Annual Shakespeare's Birthday Sonnet Slam is being held tomorrow, Friday, April 27th from 1-4pm at the Naumburg Bandshell in Central Park. Notable Sonnet readers this year include Michael Urie, Dana Ivey, Brian Soliwoda as C.P. Shakes and Perdita, the pigeon, Peter Francis James, American painter Gerri Davis and Award-winning Orchestrator Michael Starobin. The Sonnet Slam features 154 readers of all ages performing all 154 of Shakespeare's Sonnets in numerical order. The event is free to the public. This year, the kickoff Reader for Sonnet #1 will be Tony Award-nominee and Drama Desk-winner Kathleen Chalfant (Angels in America, Wit, Showtime's The Affair).

The 8th Annual Shakespeare's Birthday Sonnet Slam being held Friday, April 27th from 1-4pm at the Naumburg Bandshell in Central Park has added Michael Urie, Dana Ivey and many others to the festivities. The Sonnet Slam features 154 readers of all ages performing all 154 of Shakespeare's Sonnets in numerical order.  The event is free to the public. This year, the kickoff Reader for Sonnet #1 will be Tony Award-nominee and Drama Desk-winner Kathleen Chalfant (Angels in America, Wit, Showtime's The Affair).

Dear Evan Hansen's Laura Dreyfuss and Tony-nominated actresses Kathleen Chalfant and Geneva Carr join National New Play Network (NNPN) for a 20th Anniversary benefit reading of a new play Jane Burgoyne by Robert Moulthrop, directed by Moritz von Stuelpnagel, at Westside Theatre on April 30th at 7:00 pm. Hosted by Richard Winkler and Jane and JB Harrison, the reading will support NNPN as it continues to revolutionize the new play landscape through its nationally recognized programs and services for artists and organizations. Tickets for the reading can be purchased at TodayTix. 

Buffalo Theatre Ensemble (BTE), the professional Equity company in residence at the McAninch Arts Center, presents John Patrick Shanley's heartwarming romantic comedy "Outside Mullingar," directed by Steve Scott, May 3-June 3. Says the Seattle Times, "The Irish-American Shanley (known for his delightful film romance 'Moonstruck,' and trenchant morality drama 'Doubt') can sure and begorrah dish the bickering and the blarney, the Irish wisdom and gallows wit."