Anna D. Shapiro News

PlayhouseSquare announces today its entire seven-show line-up for the 2009 - 2010 KeyBank Broadway Series at PlayhouseSquare. The series entertains hundreds of thousands each season and is largely responsible for making the not-for-profit PlayhouseSquare a thriving destination and economic engine for downtown Cleveland.

Tony Kushner's 'The Illusion,' loosely adapted from Pierre Corneille's 17th century classic farce 'L'illusion Comique,' is an entertaining comedic-drama that transports audiences from mayhem to magic and back again. It questions what it really means to love, and the obligations that may be connected with that emotion.

Tony Award winning actor Denis O'Hare is set to lead the cast of An Iliad at Seattle Repertory Theater. The show is co-created by O'Hare along with director Lisa Peterson. An Iliad is adapted from stories from Homer's tale about the Trojan War, The Iliad. The show will run 4/19-5/16 2010.

Season tickets are now on sale for the Seattle Rep 2009-10 season, which features an exciting collaboration with Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Noël Coward's comedy Hay Fever, a 25th anniversary celebration of August Wilson' beloved Fences, and more.

Lookingglass Theatre Company announces an added performance to the sold-out run of Thornton Wilder's Our Town to benefit the company's new play initiative, gglassworks. The benefit on Sunday, April 5, 2009, includes a pre-show reception at 6:30 p.m. and performance at 7:30 p.m.

Atlantic Theater Company (Neil Pepe, Artistic Director; Jeffory Lawson, Managing Director) is proud to announce casting and dates for the world premiere production of Academy Award® winning film maker Ethan Coen's OFFICES, directed by Neil Pepe (Speed-the-Plow).

Steppenwolf celebrates its 33rd season with Gala 2009: A Celebration of the Season of the Imagination on Saturday, April 18, 2009 at 6:30 p.m. at Steppenwolf Theatre Company, 1650 N. Halsted St. in Chicago.

Magnolia by Regina Taylor and directed by Anna D. Shapiro opened March 14 and plays to April 19 at Goodman Theater. Atlanta, 1963. As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. inspires Atlanta's black citizens to fight passionately for their civil rights, the new mayor erects 'The Payton Wall' to restrict where they can live

Atlantic Theater Company (Neil Pepe, Artistic Director; Jeffory Lawson, Managing Director) is proud to announce casting and dates for the world premiere production of Academy Award winning film maker Ethan Coen's OFFICES, directed by Neil Pepe (Speed-the-Plow).

Steppenwolf Theatre Company concludes its 2008-2009 season, an exploration of the imagination, with Up by Bridget Carpenter, directed by ensemble member Anna D. Shapiro and featuring ensemble member Martha Lavey with Rachel Brosnahan, Jake Cohen, Tony Hernandez and Lauren Katz (additional casting to be announced). Up plays June 18 - August 23, 2009 in Steppenwolf's Downstairs Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted. The press performance is Saturday, June 27 at 3:00 p.m.

With the announcement of the Denver Center Theatre Company's 2009/10 Season, Artistic Director Kent Thompson continues his company's mission of new play development by selecting three world premieres - including two Denver Center commissions - while sending a resounding message to Colorado and the nation that uncertain economic times call for new and classic plays that hold a special relevance for us. 'The best way to overcome fear and uncertainty is to stir people's thoughts and hearts with stimulating ideas, different cultures, and imaginative stories,' said Thompson.

Magnolia, Artistic Associate ReGina Taylor's world premiere about possibility in the face of seismic social change, takes root at the Goodman with an official opening tonight, March 23rd, Magnolia runs through April 19, 2009.

ASU Gammage announced the 2009-2010 Broadway Across America - Arizona season. The seven show series includes the 2008 Tony? Award winner for Best Musical IN THE HEIGHTS, Best Play AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY and the family hit MARY POPPINS. The full series includes: LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL - September 22 - 27, 2009

Steppenwolf celebrates its 33rd season with GALA 2009: A Celebration of the Season of the Imagination on Saturday, April 18, 2009 at 6:30 p.m. at Steppenwolf Theatre Company, 1650 N. Halsted St. in Chicago. The GALA 2009 Co-Chairs are Nora Daley Conroy, Charles H. James III, Randall K. Rowe, Manuel 'Manny' Sanchez, Pat Pulido Sanchez and Anna D. Shapiro.

Goodman Theatre unites six diverse Chicago theater companies who are presenting work created, produced and/or performed by women for a special spring series, 'Taking the Stage: A Celebration of Women Making Theater,' April 4 - 19, 2009. Over the course of two weeks, each of the participating companies-Babes with Blades, Berwyn's 16th Street Theater, Goodman Theatre, Rivendell Theatre Ensemble, Serendipity Theatre Collective and Teatro Luna-presents productions, panel discussions and workshops that highlight the voices and visions of female theater artists, as well as the opportunities and obstacles they face today.

Magnolia is written by Regina Taylor and directed by Anna D. Shapiro Show plays March 14 - April 19 Atlanta, 1963. As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. inspires Atlanta's black citizens to fight passionately for their civil rights, the new mayor erects 'The Payton Wall' to restrict where they can live. Amid these churning social currents, Magnolia Estate faces foreclosure, pitting the sensual, free-spirited heiress Lily Forrest against Thomas, a strong-willed businessman who lays claim to the estate where his ancestors were slaves.

ASU Gammage announced the 2009-2010 Broadway Across America - Arizona season. The seven show series includes the 2008 Tony? Award winner for Best Musical IN THE HEIGHTS, Best Play AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY and the family hit MARY POPPINS. The full series includes: LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL - September 22 - 27, 2009

Magnolia, Artistic Associate Regina Taylor's world premiere about possibility in the face of seismic social change, takes root at the Goodman this spring, March 14 - April 19, 2009. Directing for the first time at the Goodman, Tony Award winner Anna D. Shapiro helms a cast of 12 led by Academy Award nominee Annette O'Toole (Smallville, A Mighty Wind, 48 Hours) and Tony Award nominee John Earl Jelks (August Wilson's Radio Golf and Gem of the Ocean) in the leading roles of Lily and Thomas. Tickets to Magnolia are $25 - $70. A complete performance schedule including dates, times and ticket prices appears at the end of this release. Target is the lead Corporate Sponsor Partner of Magnolia and Lead Diversity Night Sponsor.

Goodman Theatre is proud to present the world premiere of Regina Taylor's newest work, Magnolia, directed by Tony Award winner Anna D. Shapiro (August: Osage County). Magnolia runs March 14 - April 19, 2009, in the Albert Ivar Theatre. Tickets are $25 - 75. Target is the lead Corporate Sponsor Partner.

The Kimmel Center and Shubert Organization are thrilled to announce a top-notch lineup of Broadway theater as part of the new 2009-2010 Broadway Series at the Academy of Music and the Forrest Theatre. The new Broadway Series subscription season will feature: Grease starring American Idol Winner Taylor Hicks (July 7 - 12, 2009); White Christmas (Nov. 24 - 29, 2009); Dreamgirls (June 22 - 27, 2010) all at the Academy of Music; and August: Osage County (April 27 - May 2, 2010) at the Forrest Theatre.