Alan Paul News

The Shakespeare Theatre Company brings two productions by the Isango Ensemble to Washington, D.C., as part of STC's 2014-2015 Presentation Series. The Isango Ensemble's unique performances reset Western theatre classics within a South African township, utilizing music, dance and elements of South African heritage. The Ensemble will perform an adaption of Mozart's opera The Magic Flute- Impempe Yomlingo and Shakespeare's epic love poem Venus and Adonis in repertory at the Lansburgh Theatre September 12-21, 2014. Tickets for non-subscribers will be available starting August 1, when individual tickets for the 2014-2015 STC Season go on sale.

Washington National Opera (WNO) today announced the roster of emerging artists and renowned vocal coaches engaged for the 13th season of its Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program. Under the leadership of program director Michael Heaston, the Domingo- Cafritz Young Artist Program continues to increase its number of performances throughout the season and expand its training regimen to include mentorship by its returning Artist in Residence, the acclaimed American soprano Deborah Voigt. Additional faculty members include voice teachers Diana Soviero and William Stone; guest vocal coaches Be?ne?dicte Jourdois, Kathleen Kelly, and Danielle Orlando; career consultants Ken Benson and Matthew Epstein; and guest drama coaches Peter Kazaras and Alan Paul, among others. The new class of young artists will participate in several world premiere productions during the 2014-2015 season as part of

Over 25 years and 30 albums, eight-time Grammy Award-winning vocal quartet The Manhattan Transfer continues to delight audiences worldwide. Best known for their live performances and stellar jazz singing, these harmonizing legends perform such hits as 'Tuxedo Junction,' 'Route 66,' 'Spice of Life,' 'Java Jive,' and many more.

Dear Bookworks Bookworm, I read a book this month that I had every intention of liking, but didn't. It had a story line that interested me but the characters were one dimensional and flat and the writing that was not worth writing home about. Rather than review a book that disappoints, I decided to review a movie that I had just seen with Clive Owen and Juliette Binoche, Words and Pictures. This is a movie well worth the ticket price. It is always a pleasure seeing a movie where actors do what they should be doing best, acting and where writers are doing what they should be doing best, writing.

The Shakespeare Theatre Company announces the addition of David Greig's Dunsinane from the National Theatre of Scotland and the Royal Shakespeare Company to its upcoming 2014-2015 Season. This international production, which has toured Scotland, the U.K., Russia and China, will replace the previously announced production of Enrico IV, slated for spring 2015.

Over 25 years and 30 albums, eight-time Grammy Award-winning vocal quartet The Manhattan Transfer continues to delight audiences worldwide. Best known for their live performances and stellar jazz singing, these harmonizing legends perform such hits as 'Tuxedo Junction,' 'Route 66,' 'Spice of Life,' 'Java Jive,' and many more.

On Today, June 17, 2014, Will on the Hill, a favorite bipartisan event of theatre and political fans alike, returns to the Shakespeare Theatre Company. This year's event features a performance of Lend Me Your Ears, an original play by Peter Byrne, written with assistance from The West Wing Writers Group, and directed by STC Associate Artistic Director Alan Paul. The cast will include special guest performers Nicholas Bruder, Harry Hamlin and Hannah Yelland.

On Tuesday, June 17, 2014, Will on the Hill, a favorite bipartisan event of theatre and political fans alike, returns to the Shakespeare Theatre Company. This year's event features a performance of Lend Me Your Ears, an original play by Peter Byrne, written with assistance from The West Wing Writers Group, and directed by STC Associate Artistic Director Alan Paul. The cast will include special guest performers Nicholas Bruder, Harry Hamlin and Hannah Yelland.

Washington theatre celebrated its highest honors for achievement at the 30th Annual Helen Hayes Awards tonight, April 21, 2014 at the National Building Museum. Scroll down for the full list of winners!

The Shakespeare Theatre Company, recipient of the 2012 Regional Theatre Tony Award, presents Shakespeare's Henry IV, Parts 1 and 2 as part of the Clarice Smith Repertory. STC Artistic Director Michael Kahn will direct both parts of this sweeping epic - one of Shakespeare's culminating achievements in the history play genre - over multiple nights. As Kahn says, describing Parts 1 and 2 as his favorite Shakespearean drama: 'It brings to the stage every issue we as human beings experience.' The two productions will run in the Company's Sidney Harman Hall (610 F Street NW) from today, March 25 - June 8, 2014.

The Shakespeare Theatre Company, recipient of the 2012 Regional Theatre Tony Award, presents Shakespeare's Henry IV, Parts 1 and 2 as part of the Clarice Smith Repertory. STC Artistic Director Michael Kahn will direct both parts of this sweeping epic - one of Shakespeare's culminating achievements in the history play genre - over multiple nights. As Kahn says, describing Parts 1 and 2 as his favorite Shakespearean drama: 'It brings to the stage every issue we as human beings experience.' The two productions will run in the Company's Sidney Harman Hall (610 F Street NW) from March 25 - June 8, 2014.

Washington National Opera (WNO), led by Artistic Director Francesca Zambello, today announced its 2014-2015 season. It includes the company premiere of Daniel Catán's Spanish-language Florencia in the Amazon, a brand-new production of Puccini's classic La bohème, the company premiere of Rachel Portman's family opera The Little Prince, an English-language production of Poulenc's 20th-century drama Dialogues of the Carmelites, a revival of Wagner's epic The Flying Dutchman, and an acclaimed new-to- Washington staging of Rossini's Cinderella. A third season of the American Opera Initiative, including the world premiere of Penny by two alumni of the program, continues WNO's efforts to commission new works and expand the American repertory. Highlights from the 2014-2015 season will be performed by the WNO Orchestra and special guests at a free preview concert on Wednesday, May 14, 2014 at 6 p.m. in the Kennedy Center Opera House.

Midway through Shakespeare Theatre Company's current season, Artistic Director Michael Kahn announced today the Company's 2014-2015 Season. Kahn has put together a classic and entertaining season, continuing to stake STC's claim as 'the nation's foremost Shakespeare company' (The Wall Street Journal) while '[making] the Bard a relevant voice in our current affairs' (DC Metro Theatre Arts).

Washington National Opera (WNO) today announced the commission of a new hour-long opera for the 2014-2015 season of the American Opera Initiative, its comprehensive new commissioning program for contemporary American opera. Penny, by composer Douglas Pew and librettist Dara Weinberg, will have its world premiere in January 2015 in the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater. Pew and Weinberg are alumni of the American Opera Initiative; their 20-minute work A Game of Hearts had its world premiere during the program's first season in November 2012.

It is comedy, it is baudy and it is brilliantly directed by Alan Paul.

Clear Conscience Pet is a small company with a big mission: educating the public to separate truth from hype in the pet food business for the betterment of companion animals. Now the company has joined forces with Gander, a famous and widely followed service dog, and his human partner to aid Veteran and Dog Rescue causes. The result is a new book that would be a heartwarming holiday gift for any dog lover.

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum will take the stage at the Shakespeare Theatre Company this holiday season. Making his STC mainstage directing debut, STC Associate Director Alan Paul heads up the hilarious and fun musical farce based on the classic plays of ancient Roman playwright Plautus. A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum will play at Sidney Harman Hall (610 F Street NW) from today, November 21, 2013-January 5, 2014.

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum will take the stage at the Shakespeare Theatre Company this holiday season. Making his STC mainstage directing debut, STC Associate Director Alan Paul heads up the hilarious and fun musical farce based on the classic plays of ancient Roman playwright Plautus. A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum will play at Sidney Harman Hall (610 F Street NW) from November 21, 2013-January 5, 2014. Check out the rehearsal photos below!

Primary Stages held their annual Gala last night, November 11, at The Edison Ballroom (240 W. 47th Street). The event honored Tony Award-winning playwright Christopher Durang and President of the General Counsel at Dramatists Play Service, Stephen Sultan. The evening featured performances by Rachel deBenedet (Catch Me If You Can, Addams Family), Alan Paul (Grease, Oliver!, Manhattan Transfer), Michele Ragusa (Urinetown, Ragtime, A Class Act, Adrift in Macao), and Alton F. White (The Color Purple, The Lion King, Ragtime). BroadwayWorld was there for the special event and you can check out photos below!

Blue Note Jazz Club, the iconic Greenwich Village jazz and blues venue that offers live musical performances every night of the week, announces new show additions through February 2014.