Alex Jennings News

Throughout 2013, the centenary of British composer Benjamin Britten (1913-1976) has been observed around the world by musicians and institutions of every kind. Music Director James Conlon, whose lifelong fascination with Britten is reflected in his personal three-year performance cycle of the composer's works in America and Europe, is the inspiration for LA Opera's Britten 100/LA: A Celebration, an extensive collaboration featuring performances, conferences and exhibitions presented by a host of organizations throughout the Southland. Britten's centenary year may be drawing to an end, but Britten 100/LA events will continue into early 2014.

Chicago area and North Shore audiences -- for the third consecutive year -- will have the opportunity to experience the best of British theatre in December, when the Theatre and Interpretation Center (TIC) at Northwestern University presents the National Theatre Live (NT Live) broadcast series.

Celebrating its 50th anniversary, The National Theatre first opened its doors in 1963 at the Old Vic, under Laurence Olivier. 800 productions later, they are marking their half-century with a short season celebrating the remarkable people and plays that have made the NT one of the most cherished and creative of great British institutions. last night, a private reception, panel discussion, and screening was held for Live From The National Theatre: 50 Years On Stage. BroadwayWorld was there for the special event and you can check out photos below!

From Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead to The History Boys, from The Mysteries to Angels in America, from Guys and Dolls to London Road - join us for a thrilling evening of live performance and rare glimpses from the archive, featuring many of the most celebrated actors who have performed on our stages over the past five decades and directed by Nicholas Hytner.

Amphibian Stage Productions (Kathleen Culebro, Artistic Director) today announced an additional offering in its National Theatre Live screening series for 2013, presented in association with the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth (Marla Price, Director). In celebration of its 50th anniversary, the National Theatre presents National Theatre: 50 Years on Stage, bringing together the best British actors for unique evenings of unforgettable performances broadcast live from London to cinemas around the world.

The 50th anniversary celebration 'LIVE FROM THE NATIONAL THEATRE: 50 YEARS ON STAGE,' directed by Nicholas Hytner, will be broadcast by National Theatre Live to cinemas internationally today, November 2, 2013 (with many encore dates in U.S. cities). From Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead to The History Boys, from Antony and Cleopatra to Angels in America, from Guys and Dolls to London Road, this will be a thrilling evening of live performance and rare glimpses from the archive, featuring many of the most celebrated actors who have performed on their stages over the past five decades.

National Theatre: 50 Years on Stage is an anniversary celebration that features the best British actors for a night of unforgettable performances broadcast Live in HD to The Ridgefield Playhouse on Saturday, November 30, at 6:30 p.m. Appearing in this once-in-a-lifetime event, directed by the National Theatre's current Director Nicholas Hytner, will be award-winning actors Judi Dench, Ralph Fiennes, Michael Gambon, Maggie Smith and many more. Special guest is Richard Pilbrow (pictured), Ridgefield resident and founder of Theatre Projects Consultants, who will be on stage (in person) to speak about National Theatre's 50th anniversary and about The Ridgefield Playhouse, which he helped renovate. Pilbrow was voted one of the 50 most powerful people in the entertainment technology industry. For tickets ($25 adults, $20 seniors/members, $15 students, $18 each for all 10 in the series), call the box office at (203) 438-5795, or order online at ridgefieldplayhouse.org. -- Photos courtesy of National Theatre Live

Today, October 22, 2013, marks the official 50th anniversary of the National Theatre of Great Britain. The National Theatre first opened its doors in 1963 at the Old Vic, under Laurence Olivier. 800 productions later, they are marking their half-century with a short season celebrating the remarkable people and plays that have made the NT one of the most cherished and creative of great British institutions.

Helen Mirren, Benedict Cumberbatch and Christopher Eccleston have joined the starry cast for the National Theatre of Great Britain's 50th anniversary celebration "LIVE FROM THE NATIONAL THEATRE: 50 YEARS ON STAGE," directed by Nicholas Hytner. This special event will be broadcast by National Theatre Live to cinemas internationally on Saturday, November 2, 2013 (with many encore dates in U.S. cities). From Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead to The History Boys, from Antony and Cleopatra to Angels in America, from Guys and Dolls to London Road, this will be a thrilling evening of live performance and rare glimpses from the archive, featuring many of the most celebrated actors who have performed on their stages over the past five decades.

Writers and non-writers who refer to dictionaries to properly spell or pronounce a word will enjoy the hilarious stage production of "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee," Oct. 25-Nov. 10, at Northwestern University.

The epic production of National Theatre's "War Horse," based on the novel by English author, poet, playwright and librettist and 2003-05 Children's Laureate Michael Morpurgo, is the latest addition to a series of hit London plays that will be broadcast this season at Northwestern University. Single tickets to "War Horse" go on sale today (Sept. 27).

NATIONAL THEATRE LIVE has just announced a live broadcast of the National Theatre of Great Britain's 50th anniversary celebration 'National Theatre: 50 Years on Stage,' to cinemas around the world. From Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead to The History Boys, from Antony and Cleopatra to Angels in America, from Guys and Dolls to London Road, this will be a thrilling evening of live performance and rare glimpses from the archive, featuring many of the most celebrated actors who have performed on their stages over the past five decades and directed by Nicholas Hytner. The celebration will be broadcast to cinemas internationally and in the UK on BBC Two on Saturday, November 2, 2013 (with many encore dates in U.S. cities).

Pianist Lucy Parham & Kings Place launch 'Word/Play', a new regular Sunday Coffee Concert series starring Henry Goodman, Janie Dee, Edward Fox, Alex Jennings, Alan Rusbridger and a host of piano-playing celebrities.

The Daily Mail reports that Simon Russell Beale, Frances de la Tour, Judi Dench, Ralph Fiennes, Michael Gambon, Derek Jacobi, Alex Jennings, Rory Kinnear, Adrian Lester, Anna Maxwell Martin, Andrew Scott, Maggie Smith, Penelope Wilton and more will be joining NATIONAL THEATRE: 50 YEARS ON STAGE on November 2, 2013.

Forthcoming productions at the National Theatre, announced today by Nicholas Hytner, include plays familiar, rare and new: Shakespeare's Othello, Gorky's Children of the Sun,James Baldwin's The Amen Corner;Marlowe's Edward II, Pirandello's Liola, Eugene O'Neill's Strange Interlude and Georg Kaiser's From Morning to Midnight. Tori Amos and Samuel Adamson's musical The Light Princess will premiere in October, and there will be a new adaptation of Emil and the Detectives for family audiences at Christmas.

The Evening Standard Theatre Awards, established in 1955, are presented annually for outstanding achievements in London Theatre, and this year's nominations longlist has just been announced. Sponsored by the Evening Standard newspaper, this year's shortlist will be announced on November 12 and the winners revealed on November 25.

Highlights of the forthcoming productions at the National Theatre, announced today by Nicholas Hytner, include new plays by Alan Bennett, Stephen Beresford, Lisa D'Amour, James Graham and Lucy Prebble. There will be adaptations of Mark Haddon's The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Simon Stephens, and of The Count of Monte Cristo by Richard Bean. Enda Walsh's Misterman receives its London premiere; classic revivals include Polly Findlay's production of Sophocles' Antigone, Shakespeare's Timon of Athens directed by Nicholas Hytner, Bijan Sheibani's staging of Damned for Despair by Tirso de Molina, and Nadia Fall's production of Bernard Shaw's The Doctor's Dilemma.

La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts will present the third High Definition screening of this season's National Theatre Live series, by presenting COLLABORATORS, written by John Hodge and directed by National Theatre's Nicholas Hytner on FRIDAY, JANUARY 13 at 8pm at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd. in La Mirada.