Amanda Dehnert News

Trinity Rep announced today that former artistic director and Academy-award nominated film, stage and TV actor Richard Jenkins and his wife Director/Choreographer Sharon Jenkins will be honored with the 2014 Pell Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Arts. The theater also announced that nationally known dance educator and choreographer Mary Paula Hunter will receive the 2014 Charles Sullivan Award for Distinguished Service in the Arts. The 18th annual Pell Awards will be held on Monday, June 9, 2014 at Trinity Rep with a reception to follow next door at the Providence Public Library.

Northlight Theatre, under the direction of Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans, announces the fifth selection of its 40th Anniversary Season: John Patrick Shanley's new romantic comedy Outside Mullingar. The play by the Pulitzer, Oscar and Tony Award-winning writer of Moonstruck and Doubt, will be directed by Artistic Director BJ Jones.

Northlight Theatre, under the direction of Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans, announces the first four selections of its 40th Anniversary Season. The celebratory season kicks-off with the current Off-Broadway hit The Commons of Pensacola, which is expected to be the first regional production. The season continues with Agatha Christie's mystery The Mousetrap, which is the world's longest-running play. Playwright Bruce Graham (Stella & Lou, The Outgoing Tide) returns to Northlight for the World Premiere of White Guy on the Bus. Shining Lives: A Musical, based on Melanie Marnich's play, commissioned by Northlight and written by Jessica Thebus (book & lyrics), Andre Pluess and Amanda Dehnert (music) will make its World Premiere in the Spring. An additional title is yet to be announced.

The Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle has announced its 2013 nominations and special awards for excellence in Los Angeles, Orange County and Ventura County theatre. The 45th Annual Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards ceremony will take place on Monday, March 17, 2014 at The Colony Theatre, located at 555 N. Third Street in Burbank.

Trinity Rep continues its 50th anniversary season with the highly anticipated return of former artistic director and Academy-award nominated actor Richard Jenkins and his wife Sharon Jenkins to bring the beloved musical Oliver! to the Providence stage. The show runs February 20 to March 30, 2014 in Trinity Rep's Chace Theater. The pair returns to direct and choreograph the Tony Award winning musical packed with favorite songs such as 'Consider Yourself,' 'Who Will Buy?' and 'Food, Glorious Food'. This production of Oliver! is made possible by support from the National Endowment for the Arts and supporting sponsor The Washington Trust Company. Tickets are on sale now at www.trinityrep.com, by calling (401) 351-4242, or at the theater's box office at 201 Washington St., Downtown Providence.

On the nights of Friday, February 21 and Saturday, February 22 theatre-goers can experience the mind-bending fantasy and unique musical experience of THE LEGEND OF YAUNA, an incredible tale created by theGrammy award-winning composer Chris Berryand reinvented by the creative director of the Tony award-winning Broadway production FELA!,Maija Garcia. Debuting at the legendary BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music) Fisher in Brooklyn, New York, the theatrical event of non-traditional instrumentation, including African drums and the distinctive sound of the Mbira, and contemporary dance set the stage for thewisdom of Yauna, an ancient narrative set 12,000 years ago. Casting for the independent production, presented by BanaKuma, will run from January 7-9 at the DANY Studios in Manhattan; tickets for the February performance at BAM Fisher will go on sale January 14.

Charles Newell, Artistic Director of Court Theatre in Chicago, Illinois, is the 2013 recipient of The Zelda Fichandler Award, an award to recognize an outstanding director or choreographer who is transforming the regional arts landscape through imaginative, brave work in theatre. The $5,000 award, given by Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation, heralds both accomplishment to date and promise for the future, and lauds deep commitment to a community.

Charles Newell, Artistic Director of Court Theatre in Chicago, Illinois, is the 2013 recipient of The Zelda Fichandler Award, an award to recognize an outstanding director or choreographer who is transforming the regional arts landscape through imaginative, brave work in theatre. The $5,000 award, given by Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation, heralds both accomplishment to date and promise for the future, and lauds deep commitment to a community.

Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation (SDCF), the not-for-profit foundation of Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC), announces that Artistic Director Charles Newell of Court Theatre is the recipient of the 2013 Zelda Fichandler Award, which recognizes an outstanding director or choreographer who is transforming the regional arts landscape through singular creativity and artistry in theatre. The award heralds accomplishment to date and promise for the future, artistic vision, and deep commitment to a region outside of New York. It carries an unrestricted grant of $5000 to the individual recipient. The award will be presented to Mr. Newell on Monday, November 4, 2013 at a reception at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park.

The National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) announced additional casting and creatives for the 25th Annual Festival of New Musicals on Thursday, October 17 and Friday, October 18 at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street).

The National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) announced initial casting for the 25th Annual Festival of New Musicals on Thursday, October 17 and Friday, October 18 at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street).

Now performing at South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa through June 9, Director Amanda Dehnert's beguiling new revival of THE FANTASTICKS comes to vibrant life as an old-timey vaudevillian review that just happens to have a love story woven into it. This clever, magical makeover, setting the piece in the midst of an abandoned, dilapidated amusement park called Rocky Point, has wonderfully spilled over into the show's staging, sets, costumes, and, yes, even the songs and characters, resulting in a refreshing new take on the 50-plus-years-old musical.

A carnival midway of magic, mischief and theatrical thrills! Amanda Dehnert, celebrated throughout the American theatre for re-imagining classics, has added a multitude of visual delights and fantastical illusions to the original charm and beautiful ballads (like the haunting "Try to Remember") of The Fantasticks. When two scheming fathers conspire with the mysterious El Gallo to keep their daughter and son apart (to be sure they'll fall in love!) the dewy-eyed lovers venture into the real world. But as fantasy turns to reality, El Gallo is there to remind them that "without the hurt, the heart is hollow" in one of the most popular musicals of all time, which the Washington Postcalls, "Fresh and alive again."

A charming love story, magical illusions and memorable music will bring South Coast Repertory's 2012-13 season to a close with the world's longest-running musical, The Fantasticks by Tom Jones, book and lyrics, and Harvey Schmidt, music. Performances on the Segerstrom Stage run tonight, May 10-June 9.

A charming love story, magical illusions and memorable music will bring South Coast Repertory's 2012-13 season to a close with the world's longest-running musical, The Fantasticks by Tom Jones, book and lyrics, and Harvey Schmidt, music. Performances on the Segerstrom Stage run May 10-June 9.

California Shakespeare Theater today announced that it is has been selected to participate in the first year of a two-year regional theater partnership to provide open captioning for the deaf and hard-of-hearing at select Main Stage performances during the 2013 season.

South Coast Repertory has announced its upcoming events and productions, March-June 2013. Details below!

South Coast Repertory has announced its upcoming events and productions, March-June 2013. Details below!