Alice Childress News

ClassicsFest 2012, Part 2 - The Antaeus Company, L.A.'s classical theater ensemble, presents staged readings of six classics in six weeks.

ClassicsFest 2012, Part 2 - The Antaeus Company, L.A.'s classical theater ensemble, presents staged readings of six classics in six weeks.

E.Faye Butler shines in pivotal role in this tale of racism and stereotypes in the theater

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater kicks off the second year of programming in the company's new home with the 2011/12 Season Opening Celebration September 15, 2011. The evening, which benefits Arena Stage's Community Engagement and educational programs, will include cocktails and dinner featuring the presentation of the American Artist Award to Tony and Emmy award-winning actress Leslie Uggams, followed by the highly anticipated season opening performance of Trouble in Mind by Alice Childress in the Kreeger Theater.

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater kicks off the second year of programming in the company's new home with the 2011/12 Season Opening Celebration September 15, 2011. The evening, which benefits Arena Stage's Community Engagement and educational programs, will include cocktails and dinner featuring the presentation of the American Artist Award to Tony and Emmy award-winning actress Leslie Uggams, followed by the highly anticipated season opening performance of Trouble in Mind by Alice Childress in the Kreeger Theater.

After a memorable and record-breaking inaugural year, Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater celebrates its 61st anniversary season with Trouble in Mind, written by playwright Alice Childress. Childress was the first African-American woman to have her plays professionally produced in New York, and she became the first woman of color to win an Obie Award, in 1956 for Trouble in Mind (Best Original Production).

E. Faye Butler, who portrays Aunt Eller in the summer revival of Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater's acclaimed and record-setting production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma!, will transition out of her Helen Hayes-nominated role to begin rehearsals for Arena Stage's 2011/12 season opening play Trouble in Mind. Butler will be replaced by Terry Burrell, who was last at Arena Stage in the 2007/08 world-premiere musical The Women of Brewster Place. Burrell joins the Oklahoma! company August 2, and her first performance will be August 9. Burrell was 'lovely and heartbreaking...spellbinding' in Signature Theatre's Show Boat (TalkinBroadway.com), and will be a strong addition to the cast.

The Tony Award® winning Crossroads Theatre Company presents the annual CommonGround: Festival of the People June 19-25.

In the midst of a record-breaking 60th Anniversary season and inaugural year in the Mead Center for American Theater, Arena Stage Artistic Director Molly Smith announces 11 selections for the second year in the new venue.

In the midst of a record-breaking 60th Anniversary season and inaugural year in the Mead Center for American Theater, Arena Stage Artistic Director Molly Smith announced 11 selections for the second year in the new venue. Furthering the Mead Center as a national center for the production, presentation, development and study of American theater, year two continues the dynamic, diverse and impressive work from our country's theater artists.

Critics and audiences alike all seem to have TROUBLE IN MIND. Aurora Theatre Company announces that it will add an additional six performances of its current hit production of TROUBLE IN MIND, Alice Childress' vibrant, humorous, and heartbreaking look at racism through the lens of the theater. Robin Stanton (Speech & Debate, Betrayed, Permanent Collection) directs this play about race, identity, and opportunity, featuring Bay Area favorite Margo Hall in her Aurora Theatre Company debut, along with Tim Kniffin, Rhonnie Washington, Elizabeth Carter, Michael Ray Wisely, Earll Kingston, Patrick Russell, Jon Gentry, and Melissa Quine. TROUBLE IN MIND plays at the Aurora Theatre in Berkeley now through October 3 (added performances: September 28, 7pm, September 29, 8pm, September 30, 8pm, October 1, 8pm, October 2, 8pm, October 3, 2pm). For tickets ($10-45) and information the public can call (510) 843-4822 or visit www.auroratheatre.org.

Aurora Theatre Company opens its 19th season with Alice Childress' vibrant, humorous, and heartbreaking look at racism through the lens of the theater, TROUBLE IN MIND. Robin Stanton (Speech & Debate, Betrayed, Permanent Collection) directs this play about race, identity, and opportunity, featuring Bay Area favorite Margo Hall in her Aurora Theatre Company debut, along with Tim Kniffin, Rhonnie Washington, Elizabeth Carter, Michael Ray Wisely, Earll Kingston, Patrick Russell, Jon Gentry, and Melissa Quine. TROUBLE IN MIND plays August 20 through September 26 at the Aurora Theatre in Berkeley. For tickets ($34-55) and information the public can call (510) 843-4822 or visit auroratheatre.org.

Critics and audiences alike all seem to have TROUBLE IN MIND. Aurora Theatre Company announces that it will add an additional six performances of its current hit production of TROUBLE IN MIND, Alice Childress' vibrant, humorous, and heartbreaking look at racism through the lens of the theater. Robin Stanton (Speech & Debate, Betrayed, Permanent Collection) directs this play about race, identity, and opportunity, featuring Bay Area favorite Margo Hall in her Aurora Theatre Company debut, along with Tim Kniffin, Rhonnie Washington, Elizabeth Carter, Michael Ray Wisely, Earll Kingston, Patrick Russell, Jon Gentry, and Melissa Quine. TROUBLE IN MIND plays at the Aurora Theatre in Berkeley now through October 3 (added performances: September 28, 7pm, September 29, 8pm, September 30, 8pm, October 1, 8pm, October 2, 8pm, October 3, 2pm). For tickets ($10-45) and information the public can call (510) 843-4822 or visit www.auroratheatre.org.

Aurora Theatre Company opens its 19th season with Alice Childress' vibrant, humorous, and heartbreaking look at racism through the lens of the theater, TROUBLE IN MIND. Set during the early years of the Civil Rights movement, this disconcerting yet disarmingly funny look at the inequalities of American life in the 1950's highlights the half-truths we tell ourselves about race relations and societal progress in America.

Aurora Theatre Company opens its 19th season with Alice Childress' vibrant, humorous, and heartbreaking look at racism through the lens of the theater, TROUBLE IN MIND. Robin Stanton (Speech & Debate, Betrayed, Permanent Collection) directs this play about race, identity, and opportunity, featuring Bay Area favorite Margo Hall in her Aurora Theatre Company debut, along with Tim Kniffin, Rhonnie Washington, Elizabeth Carter, Michael Ray Wisely, Earll Kingston, Patrick Russell, Jon Gentry, and Melissa Quine. TROUBLE IN MIND plays August 20 through September 26 at the Aurora Theatre in Berkeley. For tickets ($34-55) and information the public can call (510) 843-4822 or visit auroratheatre.org.

Aurora Theatre Company opens its 19th season with Alice Childress' vibrant, humorous, and heartbreaking look at racism through the lens of the theater, TROUBLE IN MIND. Set during the early years of the Civil Rights movement, this disconcerting yet disarmingly funny look at the inequalities of American life in the 1950's highlights the half-truths we tell ourselves about race relations and societal progress in America.

Berkeley's Aurora Theatre Company announces the directors for the company's sixth Global Age Project (GAP) festival of new works: Aurora Theatre Company Artistic Director chose Allen McKelvey, M. Graham Smith, Jonathan Spector, and Tracy Ward to sit on this year's GAP Director's Council. Over the next several weeks, the directors, along with Ross, will select finalists from an international pool of play submissions dealing with global age concerns. Four plays will be chosen to be presented as staged readings during the GAP festival, scheduled for February of 2011. The GAP festival will coincide with the company's fully-staged World Premiere of 2010 GAP finalist Allison Moore's new comedy, COLLAPSE, the second main stage production to develop from the GAP.

Berkeley's acclaimed Aurora Theatre Company is proud to announce a call for submissions for its sixth season of the Global Age Project (GAP) festival of new works. The company will choose four new plays to be presented as staged readings with professional directors and actors during the GAP festival in February of 2011; the festival will coincide with the company's fully-staged World Premiere of 2010 GAP finalist Allison Moore's new comedy, COLLAPSE, the second main stage production to develop from the GAP.

Closing Aurora Theatre Company's 18th season is the Bay Area Premiere of Stephen Karam's fiercely funny SPEECH & DEBATE. Robin Stanton (Betrayed, The Busy World is Hushed, and Permanent Collection) directs this distinctive new play Entertainment Weekly called 'One of the top ten plays of the year...Even if you're not fluent in IM, you'll LOL at this subversive comedy.' Featuring Jayne Deely, Jason Frank, Maro Guevara, and Holly Hornlien, SPEECH & DEBATE plays June 11 through July 18 at the Aurora Theatre in Berkeley. For tickets ($34-55) and information the public can call (510) 843-4822 or visit auroratheatre.org. Contains mature themes and subject matters.

Aurora Theatre Company opens its 19th season with Alice Childress' vibrant, humorous, and heartbreaking look at racism through the lens of the theater, TROUBLE IN MIND. Robin Stanton (Speech & Debate, Betrayed, Permanent Collection) directs this play about race, identity, and opportunity, featuring Bay Area favorite Margo Hall in her Aurora Theatre Company debut, along with Tim Kniffin, Rhonnie Washington, Elizabeth Carter, Michael Ray Wisely, Earll Kingston, Patrick Russell, Jon Gentry, and Melissa Quine. TROUBLE IN MIND plays August 20 through September 26 at the Aurora Theatre in Berkeley. For tickets ($34-55) and information the public can call (510) 843-4822 or visit auroratheatre.org.