Annie Smart News

'Why do I feel like a f**king tourist in my own neighborhood!?!' That is the angry, anguished cry of Robert, a Polish-Puerto Rican native of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, who has seen the crime and neglect of his lifelong neighborhood remedied by a gentrifying influx of high-end restaurants, art galleries and expensive building complexes that have priced long-time residents out of their communities.

Berkeley Repertory Theatre greets the new year by proudly presenting its 50th world premiere, a new comedy about marriage, intimacy, and electricity from the creators of Eurydice. Celebrated playwright Sarah Ruhl and Obie Award-winning director Les Waters come together again for the debut of In the Next Room (or the vibrator play). Commissioned by Berkeley Rep and staged in the state-of-the-art Roda Theatre, this hotly anticipated play begins previews on January 30, opens February 4, and closes March 15. BART and Wells Fargo serve as season sponsors for Berkeley Rep's 41st year of fearless theatre, and the executive producer for this show is the Strauch Kulhanjian Family.

Obie Award?-winner Danny Hoch returns to a Center Theatre Group stage with his latest solo work 'Taking Over,' opening January 23 at 8 p.m. at the Kirk Douglas Theatre. Previews are January 21 and 22 at 8 p.m.; performances continue through February 22, 2009. The production is directed by Tony Taccone, artistic director of Berkeley Repertory Theatre.

Danny Hoch's solo performance piece 'Taking Over' previews tonight, January 21, 2009, and tomorrow night at 8 p.m. at the Center Theatre Group/Kirk Douglas Theatre. Opening night for the Obie Award-winning performer is Friday, January 23 (at 8 p.m.). Performances continue through February 22. The production is directed by Tony Taccone, artistic director of Berkeley Repertory Theatre. 'Taking Over' is a riveting study of the effects of gentrification and how this is changing the face of many American cities. Hoch seamlessly transforms himself into the vividly diverse characters from his hometown, the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn, and into the real estate agents and developers who are shepherding radical changes into the district's character and nature. Filling the stage with compelling, impeccably drawn, multicultural portraits, Hoch captures the complexities of the transition of a poorer urban community, once vibrant and colorful - albeit crime and cocaine-ridden - into a culture that is wealthier, less diverse, and the cause of higher rents and property values, and the subsequent displacement of long-term residents. The production features scenic and costume design by Annie Smart, lighting design and projections by Alexander V. Nichols, original music by Asa Taccone and sound design by Adam Phalen. The production stage manager is David S. Franklin. 'Taking Over' was originally produced by Berkeley Repertory Theatre and recently played at The Public Theater in New York. Hoch's 'Some People' (Obie Award) was part of CTG's 1995 Taper, Too season, while his 'Jails, Hospitals & Hip-Hop' was presented as a CTG special event in 1998 at The Actors' Gang. Hoch is a 2008-2009 Guggenheim Fellow.

Obie Award?-winner Danny Hoch returns to a Center Theatre Group stage with his latest solo work 'Taking Over,' opening January 23 at 8 p.m. at the Kirk Douglas Theatre. Previews are January 21 and 22 at 8 p.m.; performances continue through February 22, 2009. The production is directed by Tony Taccone, artistic director of Berkeley Repertory Theatre.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) announced that TAKING OVER, the first new solo play by OBIE Award winner Danny Hoch in 10 years, has been extended through Sunday, December 21 due to popular demand. Directed by Tony Taccone, TAKING OVER opened on Sunday, November 23 and was originally scheduled to close on Sunday, December 14.

Berkeley Repertory Theatre greets the new year by proudly presenting its 50th world premiere, a new comedy about marriage, intimacy, and electricity from the creators of Eurydice. Celebrated playwright Sarah Ruhl and Obie Award-winning director Les Waters come together again for the debut of In the Next Room (or the vibrator play). Commissioned by Berkeley Rep and staged in the state-of-the-art Roda Theatre, this hotly anticipated play begins previews on January 30, opens February 4, and closes March 15. BART and Wells Fargo serve as season sponsors for Berkeley Rep's 41st year of fearless theatre, and the executive producer for this show is the Strauch Kulhanjian Family.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) announced today that TAKING OVER, the first new solo play by OBIE Award winner Danny Hoch in 10 years, has been extended through Sunday, December 21 due to popular demand. Directed by Tony Taccone, TAKING OVER opened on Sunday, November 23 and was originally scheduled to close on Sunday, December 14.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson)officially opened TAKING OVER, the first new solo play by OBIE Award winner Danny Hoch in 10 years, on Sunday, November 23 at 7 p.m. Directed by Tony Taccone, TAKING OVER will run through Sunday, December 14.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) will begin previews on Friday, November 7 for the New York premiere of TAKING OVER, the first new solo play by OBIE Award winner Danny Hoch in 10 years.

Today Tony Taccone, artistic director of Berkeley Repertory Theatre, announced additional dates for two solo shows that he staged in Berkeley before launching them on tours across the continent. Danny Hoch's Taking Over had its world premiere at Berkeley Rep in January and hit it big in Montreal this July; next week it starts an All City Tour featuring free performances in Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx in addition to previously announced dates in Manhattan and Los Angeles. Moreover, after a record-breaking run in Berkeley last winter, Carrie Fisher's Wishful Drinking careened through Hartford, San Jose, Santa Fe, and Washington, DC this summer; now it adds Seattle to a list of upcoming destinations that also includes Boston.

Berkeley Repertory Theatre kicks off its 2008/09 Season with the world premiere of a provocative new play set in Berkeley and written by a Berkeley native: renowned playwright Itamar Moses returns to his hometown with Yellowjackets, a script set just around the corner in the halls of his alma mater.

Berkeley Repertory Theatre kicks off its 2008/09 Season with the world premiere of a provocative new play set in Berkeley and written by a Berkeley native: renowned playwright Itamar Moses returns to his hometown with Yellowjackets, a script set just around the corner in the halls of his alma mater.

Tony Taccone, artistic director of Berkeley Repertory Theatre, revealed that Danny Hoch's 'Taking Over' - which made its world premiere at Berkeley Rep in January - is headed on the road.

Les Waters, the associate artistic director of Berkeley Repertory Theatre, heads east again this week to open the world premiere of Cardenio in Cambridge.

Representing the print and electronic media, 21 members of the San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle announced the winners of 36 drama awards and 31 musical awards from 243 nominated actors, designers, productions, and more reviewed in 2007. Over 400 productions were seen in 2007 by Circle critics reviewing theatre from San Jose to Santa Rosa, San Francisco to Concord.

Taking Over, written and performed by Danny Hoch, directed by Tony Taccone makes its world premiere at Berkeley Rep. Taking Over is a powerful new show in which this Obie Award-winning solo performer depicts a Brooklyn neighborhood where the melting pot is boiling over with ethnic and economic tension,' explain press notes.

Magic Theatre continues its 2007-08 Season of New Plays with the world premiere of Edna O'Brien's Tir na nOg ('Land of Youth') performs February 23 - March 23, 2008 at Magic's Sam Shepard Theatre.

This January, Obie Award-winner Danny Hoch is Taking Over Berkeley Repertory Theatre's Thrust Stage with his first new solo show in ten years. Berkeley Rep's artistic director, Tony Taccone helms the solo project. Taking Over begins previews on January 11, opens January 16, and closes February 10, 2008.

Berkeley Repertory Theatre celebrates its 40th season with a fresh look at a classic text: Obie Award-winning director Les Waters stages George Bernard Shaws' Heartbreak House, beginning previews in the Roda Theatre on August 31, opening September 5, through October 14.