Abby Craden News

A Noise Within (ANW), the acclaimed classical repertory theatre company, offers a free, one-night-only reading of three one-act plays by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright THORNTON WILDER - THE LONG CHRISTMAS DINNER, THE WRECK ON THE FIVE-TWENTY-FIVE and INFANCY - on Wednesday, May 15, 7 pm, as part of its "Words Within" reading series at its Pasadena theatre. Directed by Abby Craden, the readings feature A Noise Within resident artists as well as artists from the theatre company's current repertory productions.

A Noise Within (ANW), the acclaimed classical repertory theatre company, offers a free, one-night-only reading of SARAH RUHL's humorous and heartbreaking LATE: A COWBOY SONG on Wednesday, April 17, 7 pm, as part of its "Words Within" reading series at its Pasadena theatre. Directed by Susan Angelo and featuring A Noise Within resident artists, Ruhl's genre-defying ode to the contemporary cowboy pays homage to Frank Capra's iconic film It's a Wonderful Life. In her signature quirky style, the two-time Pulitzer Prize-nominated playwright utilizes convention only to break with it, offering a meditation on the idiosyncrasies of American culture while challenging definitions of love, partnership, gender and tradition. The Chicago Times describes the work, which premiered in 2010, as "gentle and knowing" and "a play about all manner of uncertainties." The New City Chicago critic proclaimed, "I wouldn't be surprised if Late: A Cowboy Song quickly becomes a modern classic."

A Noise Within (ANW), the acclaimed classical repertory theatre company, concludes its 21st season with the West Coast premiere of GEORGE FARQUHAR'S THE BEAUX' STRATAGEM, a hilarious period yet contemporary "buddy road trip" filled with eccentric characters adapted by THORNTON WILDER and KEN LUDWIG, opening Saturday, April 6 and closing Sunday, May 26, 2013 (previews begin Saturday, March 30). Set in the early 1700's in the English countryside, two girl-crazy young adventures are on the road-trip of their lives when, out of the blue, they find themselves hopelessly in love. Co-Producing Artistic Director Julia Rodriguez-Elliott directs the play, which is the remarkable creation of three playwrights working in three different centuries. Described as "sheer laugh-out-loud fun" (The Free Lance-Star), the play "glides confidently from silly to wry, from the pratfall to the riposte" (The Washington Post) and is "a delightful romp that seamlessly reaches across the centuries to combine the old with the new" (Theater Mania). The run includes a 'Pay What You Can" date on Thursday, April 4.

A Noise Within (ANW) presents THE ILLUSION by Pierre Corneille, adapted by Tony Kushner and directed by Casey Stangl, opening Saturday, March 17 and closing Saturday, May 19, 2012 (previews begin Saturday, March 10).

A Noise Within (ANW) presents THE ILLUSION by Pierre Corneille, adapted by Tony Kushner and directed by Casey Stangl, opening Saturday, March 17 and closing Saturday, May 19, 2012 (previews begin Saturday, March 10).

A Noise Within (ANW), the acclaimed classical repertory theatre company, launches its milestone 2011-12 Season and 20th Anniversary in its permanent new home, a 33,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art venue in Pasadena, with a sizzling original treatment of WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE'S beloved comedy TWELFTH NIGHT, OR WHAT YOU WILL, which runs Saturday, October 29 to Friday, December 16, 2011 (previews begin Saturday, October 22). A 'Pay What You Can' date, which allows patrons to purchase tickets for what they can afford, is Thursday, October 27.

A Noise Within (ANW), the acclaimed classical repertory theatre company, launches its milestone 2011-12 Season and 20th Anniversary in its permanent new home, a 33,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art venue in Pasadena, with a sizzling original treatment of WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE'S beloved comedy TWELFTH NIGHT, OR WHAT YOU WILL, which runs Saturday, October 29 to Friday, December 16, 2011 (previews begin Saturday, October 22). A 'Pay What You Can' date, which allows patrons to purchase tickets for what they can afford, is Thursday, October 27.

Charismatic and contemptible, Richard III pursues his lust for power no matter who stands in his way. Melora Marshall and Chad Jason Scheppner alternate as the thrilling schemer audiences love to hate in William Shakespeare's Richard III, closing October 2 at the outdoor Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum in Topanga.

Charismatic and contemptible, Richard III pursues his lust for power no matter who stands in his way.

Charismatic and contemptible, Richard III pursues his lust for power no matter who stands in his way.

A Noise Within (ANW), the acclaimed classical repertory theatre company, sends in the clowns for WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE's freewheeling farce, THE COMEDY OF ERRORS, directed by Michael Michetti, opening Saturday, March 5 and closing Saturday, May 14, 2011 (previews begin Saturday, February 26).

A Noise Within (ANW), the acclaimed classical repertory theatre company, sends in the clowns for WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE's freewheeling farce, THE COMEDY OF ERRORS, directed by Michael Michetti, opening Saturday, March 5 and closing Saturday, May 14, 2011 (previews begin Saturday, February 26).

A Noise Within (ANW) will end its hilarious and critically acclaimed production of the joyfully out-of control British farce NOISES OFF by Michael Frayn on Sunday, January 30, 2011.

A Noise Within (ANW) reprises its hilarious and critically acclaimed production of the joyfully out-of control British farce NOISES OFF by MICHAEL FRAYN for ten performances from Friday, January 21 to Sunday, January 30, 2011.

A Noise Within (ANW) reprises its hilarious and critically acclaimed production of the joyfully out-of control British farce NOISES OFF by MICHAEL FRAYN for ten performances from Friday, January 21 to Sunday, January 30, 2011.

A Noise Within (ANW), the acclaimed classical repertory theatre company, presents Noel Coward's timeless comedic gem Blithe Spirit, directed by Damaso Rodriguez, which opens Saturday, October 9 and closes Friday, December 17, 2010 (previews begin Saturday, October 2).

A Noise Within (ANW), the acclaimed classical repertory theatre company, presents Noel Coward's timeless comedic gem Blithe Spirit, directed by Damaso Rodriguez, which opens Saturday, October 9 and closes Friday, December 17, 2010 (previews begin Saturday, October 2).

A Noise Within (ANW), the acclaimed classical repertory theatre company, presents Noel Coward's timeless comedic gem Blithe Spirit, directed by Damaso Rodriguez, which opens Saturday, October 9 and closes Friday, December 17, 2010 (previews begin Saturday, October 2).