Anton Chekhov News

The Shakespeare Theatre Company is proud to welcome Man in a Case to Washington, D.C. Interweaving video, music and dance, this production is adapted from two short stories of Anton Chekhov's and features celebrated performer Mikhail Baryshnikov and veteran members of Big Dance TheaterJess Barbagallo, Tymberly Canale, Chris Giarmo and Aaron Mattocks. Adapted and directed by the Obie Award-winning team Annie-B Parson andPaul Lazar/Big Dance Theater, Man in a Case runs from December 5-22, 2013 in the Lansburgh Theatre (450 7th Street, NW). Check out a first look below!

Front Foot Theatre presents THE SEAGULL, written by Anton Chekhov and translated by Michael Frayn, from tonight, Dec 3-22 at White Bear Theatre.

What started as a disposable play has concluded as one of the great American theatre experiences of this young century.

Talk Is Free Theatre has announced principal casting and creative teams for the first three productions of the current season. Some of Canada's most renowned artists are scheduled to appear, with additional casting announcements expected to follow at a later date.

These days, it is said more and more often that there are no new ideas under the sun. These accusations of a lack of originality are especially directed at Hollywood and the television studios. Every weekend sees the opening of a new sequel or reboot or re-imagining. While there are, in reality, some great original ideas coming out of Hollywood and television, there is also no shortage of originality in the world of live theater. Unfortunately, Christopher Durang's Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, playing at Trinity Rep, feels like little more than a needless attempt to update and reboot Chekov while using as many modern day and mostly unnecessary pop-culture references as possible.

There was a live band of four playing Russian Folk Music to help set the mood: Anastasia Leonova on vocals/guitar, Gordon Reinhart on violin, Michael Baltzell on the balalaika, and Stitch Marker on guitar. It made for a wonderful transition into the world we were about to enter. They had a quality to them that could (almost should) be on CD.

Trinity Rep continues their 50th anniversary season with the New England premiere of Christopher Durang's smash-hit comedy Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike. Directed by The Richard L. Bready Artistic Director Curt Columbus, the show beings in previews November 21st in the intimate Dowling Theater and runs through December 22nd. Taking takes his cue from some of Anton Chekhov's most recognizable characters, Durang wickedly adds more than a dash of pop culture, a huge helping of dark humor and then lets the characters stew in a pressure cooker of their own devising. The result is a whirlwind weekend of classic Durang barbs, over the top tirades and ridiculously hysterical situations hailed. Tickets on sale now through the box office at 201 Washington St., by phone at (401) 351-4242 and online at www.trinityrep.com.

The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust honors playwrights Annie Baker and Rajiv Joseph at the Sixth Annual Steinberg Playwright 'Mimi' Awards tonight, Monday, November 18, 2013 at the Lincoln Center Theater in New York. The 'Mimi' Awards are presented biennially to honor the accomplishments of some of the most gifted up-and-coming American Playwrights and to recognize the promise they hold for the future of American theater.

The Boston College Theatre Department continues its 2013-2014 season with an exciting, non-traditional production of Anton Chekhov's Three Sisters. The production will be directed by guest artist, David R. Gammons, the Theatre Department's Rev. J. Donald Monan, S.J. Professor in Theatre Arts for the Fall 2013 semester. [More below.] Performances will take place on the Robsham Theater Arts Center main stage November 21-24.

Apollinaire Theatre Company presents From White Plains by by Michael Perlman, in Collaboration with Craig Wesley Divino, Karl Gregory, Jimmy King and Aaron Rossinil. Just because it gets better, doesn't mean it didn't happen.

The Chicago Humanities Festival (CHF) announces its Winter 2014 programs: featuring critically acclaimed authors Gary Shteyngart, Karen Russell, and Mohsin Hamid. Kicking off the new year, writer Gary Shteyngart will discuss his just-published memoir Little Failure with Chicago literary star Aleksandar Hemon on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014. Following in February, The New Yorker '20 Under 40' writer and MacArthur Fellow Karen Russell will talk about her latest book Vampires in the Lemon Grove with Time Out Chicago's Laura Pearson on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014. Concluding in March, The New York Times bestselling author Mohsin Hamid will speak about his most recent novel How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia, on Tuesday, March 11, 2014. All events will take place at 6 p.m. at First United Methodist Church at The Chicago Temple (77 W Washington St). Tickets will go on sale to CHF Members Wednesday, Dec. 4 at 10 a.m. and to the public Monday, Dec. 9 at 10 a.m. Visit chicagohumanities.org for more information.

Talk Is Free Theatre has announced principal casting and creative teams for the first three productions of the current season. Some of Canada's most renowned artists are scheduled to appear, with additional casting announcements expected to follow at a later date.

Front Foot Theatre presents THE SEAGULL, written by Anton Chekhov and translated by Michael Frayn, from Dec 3-22 at White Bear Theatre. Some desire love. Some desire success. Some desire artistic genius. This is not a play about right or wrong; it is an honest portrayal of the agonies of love and art and the comic tragedies born of this struggle. In his seminal work, Chekhov lays bear the insecurities and blinding desires of a colourful cross section of Russian society which still evokes resonant parallels with today's wants and needs.

The Shakespeare Theatre Company is proud to welcome Man in a Case to Washington, D.C. Interweaving video, music and dance, this production is adapted from two short stories of Anton Chekhov's and features celebrated performer Mikhail Baryshnikov and veteran members of Big Dance Theater Jess Barbagallo, Tymberly Canale, Chris Giarmo and Aaron Mattocks. Adapted and directed by the Obie Award-winning team Annie-B Parson and Paul Lazar/Big Dance Theater, Man in a Case runs from December 5-22, 2013 in the Lansburgh Theatre (450 7th Street, NW).

The Phoenix, the New Theatre Company founded by long-time PICT artistic director and founder Andrew Paul and Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre founder and former director of theatre initiatives at the August Wilson Center, Mark Clayton Southers, will debut with a four week run of Joe Penhall's provocative, caustically funny, Olivier Award-winning play Blue/Orange. The production will star acclaimed actors David Whalen, Sam Tsoutsouvas, and newcomer Rico Parker, with direction by Andrew Paul and scenic design by Mark Clayton Southers. Blue/Orange, sponsored by founding Phoenix Board Member and noted arts philanthropist Richard E. Rauh, plays tonight, November 1-23, 2013 at the Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre, 937 Liberty Avenue in downtown Pittsburgh.

Fresh on the heels of their sold out run of season opener The Grapes of Wrath, Trinity Rep continues their 50th anniversary season with the New England premiere of Christopher Durang's smash-hit comedy Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike. Directed by The Richard L. Bready Artistic Director Curt Columbus, the show beings in previews November 21st in the intimate Dowling Theater and runs through December 22nd. Taking takes his cue from some of Anton Chekhov's most recognizable characters, Durang wickedly adds more than a dash of pop culture, a huge helping of dark humor and then lets the characters stew in a pressure cooker of their own devising. The result is a whirlwind weekend of classic Durang barbs, over the top tirades and ridiculously hysterical situations hailed as "Terrifically kooky!" by Entertainment Weekly. For those that are not familiar with Uncle Vanya or Cherry Orchard, Critics agree that 'Even if you've never read a word of Chekhov, you're likely to find plenty to make you laugh…' (The New York Times.) Tickets on sale now through the box office at 201 Washington, by phone at (401) 351-4242 and online at www.trinityrep.com.

After an acclaimed and sold-out run of Anton Chekhov's rarely produced short stories, award-wining Russian director Aleksey Burago returns with Uncle Vanya, one of the most beloved comedies in the Russian repertoire.