Alan Bennett News

The new DC area theatre season begins in September. Over 50 shows are opening in our professional and community theatres. But before we move on to the new season and what's opening in September, let's look back at my personal favorite musicals, plays, and performances in both musicals and plays in the DC area - from August 2010 to August 2011.

Cameron Mackintosh's musical comedy BETTY BLUE EYES, based on the Alan Bennett and Malcolm Mowbray film ‘A Private Function', will close at the Novello Theatre on Saturday 24 September 2011 after a run of six months.

Musical comedy BETTY BLUE EYES, by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe and based on the Alan Bennett and Malcolm Mowbray film 'A Private Function', will close at the Novello Theatre on Saturday 24 September 2011 after a run of six months.

Today we are talking to the man who makes all of the magic available to see in the Shakespeare's Globe Film Series actually happen onstage in the first place - such as this week's stunning showing of HENRY IV: Part 2 on August 18 -Shakespeare's Globe Artistic Director, Dominic Dromgoole. In addition to a thorough discussion of all aspects of the unprecedented series of performance captures that have taken place at Shakespeare's Globe so far - seven and counting - we also discuss many aspects of the Bard himself and what productions like HENRY IV: Parts 1 & 2 - both of which he directed - have to say to a twenty-first century audience. Besides that, Dromgoole sheds some light on some of the most memorable moments of his tenure at the Globe, as well as sharing his individual insight into everything from GLEE to Chekhov and, of course, we dissect a number of Shakespeare's most instructive, innovative and unforgettable scenes from many of his finest histories and latter plays, with a focus on HENRY IV and the future for the Shakespeare's Globe Film Series.

The Studio Theatre follows up its 2008 hit production of The History Boys with Alan Bennett's next play, The Habit of Art. Deep in the bowels of London's National Theatre, rehearsals for a new play go apace: Benjamin Britten is having trouble with his latest opera and seeks out his collaborator, poet W. H. Auden, after a twenty-five year separation. Between visits by a rent boy and a biographer-whom Auden briefly mistakes for the rent boy-these aging artists wrestle with their desires, their jealousies, the ephemeral connection between creativity and inspiration, and all the reasons their friendship fell apart.

Stephen Poliakoff will direct the world premiere of My City, his first new play for 12 years, running at the Almeida Theatre from 8 September - 5 November, with press night on 15 September 2011.

Kim Cattrall and Paul Gross will star on Broadway this autumn in Noël Coward's Private Lives directed by Richard Eyre at the Music Box Theatre (239 West 45th Street). Previews will begin on Sunday November 6; opening night is Thursday November 17. The limited engagement runs through February 5 2012.

Everybody's been talking about the animatronic pig which cost a reported £100,000 for Cameron Mackintosh's new musical comedy BETTY BLUE EYES, based on the Handmade Film 'A PRIVATE FUNCTION' by Alan Bennett and Malcolm Mowbray. BETTY BLUE EYES is the first original musical Cameron Mackintosh has produced in ten years. It started previews at the Novello Theatre in the West End on 19 March and opened on 13 April. Reelkandi TV got the first look at the production highlights and now BroadwayWorld brings you a glimpse of the exciting production below!

Following a three week run at the Chichester Festival Theatre, Trevor Nunn directs a company led by Samuel Barnett and Jamie Parker in Tom Stoppard's Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead which runs at the Theatre Royal Haymarket from 16 June - 20 August, with press night on 21 June 2011.

Following a three week run at the Chichester Festival Theatre, Trevor Nunn directs a company led by Samuel Barnett and Jamie Parker in Tom Stoppard's Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead which runs at the Theatre Royal Haymarket from 16 June - 20 August, with press night on 21 June 2011. Set design is by Simon Higlett, with costumes by Fotini Dimou, lighting by Tim Mitchell, sound by Paul Groothuis and music by Steven Edis. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead is produced by the Chichester Festival Theatre, the Theatre Royal Haymarket and Triumph Entertainment Limited.

Pleasance Islington is in preparation for the 2011 Edinburgh Festival Fringe and to celebrate the vibrant festival atmosphere are presenting a six week Edinburgh preview season, featuring established actors and comedians performing alongside young up-and-coming talent, for only £5 per show.

Noel Coward's Private Lives, which played the West End's Vaudeville Theatre for a ten week season beginning in February 2010 starring Kim Cattrell and Matthew Macfadyen, will travel across the pond and open at the Royal Alexandra Theatre in September in a Mirvish production. Cattrall will also star in this production, which reportedly has an eye for Broadway. She will be joned in Toronto by Paul Gross. Richard Eyre will continue on as director.

Richard Bean's revised version of Carlo Goldini's A Servant of Two Masters, titled: ONE MAN, TWO GUVNORS features James Corden in the title role.The production, directed by Nicolas Hynter, is scheduled to open in May 2011 at the National Theatre's Lyttleton Theatre.

Mix a Hitchcock masterpiece with a juicy spy novel, add a dash of Monty Python and you have the hilarious Tony Award-winning hit Alfred Hitchcock's 'The 39 Steps.' In Patrick Barlow's stage adaptation of the film, from the novel by John Buchan, a beautiful spy leaks a deadly secret to a man she's just met.

Gary Naylor salutes a grand old man of British Theatre - he'll like that, won't he?

Everybody's been talking about the animatronic pig which cost a reported £100,000 and we've now got the first photos from Cameron Mackintosh's new musical comedy BETTY BLUE EYES, based on the Handmade Film 'A PRIVATE FUNCTION' by Alan Bennett and Malcolm Mowbray. BETTY BLUE EYES is the first original musical Cameron Mackintosh has produced in ten years. It started previews at the Novello Theatre in the West End on 19 March and opens on 13 April.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) presents the thrilling story of a monarch's struggle for control over his mind and government with The Madness of George III. Masterfully written by Alan Bennett, the Laurence Olivier and Tony Award-winning playwright of The History Boys, the production's title role of King George III is performed by three-time Tony Award nominee Harry Groener.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) presents the thrilling story of a monarch's struggle for control over his mind and government with The Madness of George III. Masterfully written by Alan Bennett, the Laurence Olivier and Tony Award-winning playwright of The History Boys, the production's title role of King George III is performed by three-time Tony Award nominee Harry Groener.

?Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) presents the thrilling story of a monarch's struggle for control over his mind and government with The Madness of George III.

Northern Stage (formerly Newcastle Playhouse) and Sheffield Theatres today announce their first collaboration, a new production of Edward Albee's "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?". The production will be directed by Northern Stage's Artistic Director Erica Whyman. "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" will play at Sheffield's Crucible Theatre (Wednesday 16 March - Thursday 7 April) and then continue to Northern Stage (Tuesday 12 April - Saturday 30 April).