Connor Kelly Eiding

Ojai Playwrights Conference (OPC), under the leadership of new Producing Artistic Director Jeremy B. Cohen, today announced the full roster of artists for its 26th Annual New Works Festival to be held August 2 – 6 in Ojai, CA.

Director Stephanie Shroyer's innovative staging and updating of Bertolt Brecht's 1944 THE CAUCASIAN CHALK CIRCLE (using the translation of Alistair Beaton) features a solid ensemble using old-time, theatre magic to fascinate the audience with its tales of World War II tragedies.

The city burns in the heat of civil war and a servant girl sacrifices everything to protect a forsaken child. Antaeus Theatre Company presents Bertolt Brecht's1944 masterpiece, The Caucasian Chalk Circle, in a contemporary translation by award-winning playwright Alistair Beaton.Stephanie Shroyer directs for a July 11opening at the Kiki & David Gindler Performing Arts Center in Glendale, where performances continue through Aug. 26. Low-priced previews begin July 5.

The city burns in the heat of civil war and a servant girl sacrifices everything to protect a forsaken child. Antaeus Theatre Company presents Bertolt Brecht's1944 masterpiece, The Caucasian Chalk Circle, in a contemporary translation by award-winning playwright Alistair Beaton.Stephanie Shroyer directs for a July 11opening at the Kiki & David Gindler Performing Arts Center in Glendale, where performances continue through Aug. 26. Low-priced previews begin July 5.

Fierce. Funny. Intense. The Echo Theater Company opens its 2019 season with theLos Angeles premiere of The Wolves, the debut play by "playwright to watch" Sarah DeLappe that was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. Alana Dietze (Dry Land) directs for aMarch 16 opening at Atwater Village Theatre. Pay-what-you-want previews begin March 13, and performances continue through April 22.

Fierce. Funny. Intense. The Echo Theater Company opens its 2019 season with theLos Angeles premiere of The Wolves, the debut play by "playwright to watch" SarahDeLappe that was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. Alana Dietze (Dry Land) directs for aMarch 16 opening at Atwater Village Theatre. Pay-what-you-want previews begin March 13, and performances continue through April 22.

Tim Venable first fell in love with Shakespeare's classic love tragedy when he read it in his 10th grade English class. Seeing the play, watching Franco Zeffirelli and Baz Luhrmann's film versions in college, and playing Balthasar and Benvolio in two different productions have all added to his passion for what he believes is The Bard's best work.

The Echo Theatre Company's west coast premiere of playwright Ruby Rae Spiegel's DRY LAND needs to come with an advisory warning. Those partial to the sight of profuse bleeding, as in an induced abortion, might think twice about seeing DRY LAND. This particular scene contains graphic bleeding and convulsions heightened by the most convincing screamings of Teagan Rose as the wayward teen Amy.

Ester is a swimmer trying to stay afloat. Amy is curled up on the locker room floor. The Echo Theater Company presents the West Coast premiere of Dry Land, the riveting play by newcomer Ruby Rae Spiegel that has critics and audiences across the U.S. abuzz. Alana Dietze (A Small Fire) directs Connor Kelly-Eiding, Teagan Rose, Daniel Hagen, Ben Horwitz and Jenny Soofor an April 9 opening at the Echo's home base, Atwater Village Theatre.

Ester is a swimmer trying to stay afloat. Amy is curled up on the locker room floor. The Echo Theater Company presents the West Coast premiere of Dry Land, the riveting play by newcomer Ruby Rae Spiegel that has critics and audiences across the U.S. abuzz. Alana Dietze (A Small Fire) directs Connor Kelly-Eiding, Teagan Rose, Daniel Hagen, Ben Horwitz and Jenny Soo for an April 9 opening at the Echo's home base, Atwater Village Theatre.

It's a little uncanny how easily Shakespeare's tragedy lends itself to reinvention by a troupe of clowns and still communicates the full measure of the poet's intent, yet that is exactly what happens in FOUR CLOWNS PRESENTS HAMLET, a guest production at The Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles. To director Turner Munch's credit, not only does he understand the funny – of which there is plenty in this production – he also knows how to play it off against its polar opposite to create palable dramatic tension. And he does it with surprising finesse.

Here's a Fringe production with a pretty 'out there' spin on its Shakespeare source material. From the company's description: 'Better than Shakespeare! presents a revisionist Much Ado About Nothing. New music, new intrigues, twists and turns… and aliens. Because we think The Bard could use a little help. Don't you? We're calling it, Much Ado About Something. The Something is Aliens.