Arena Stage News

MCC THEATER (Robert LuPone, Bernard Telsey, Artistic Directors; William Cantler, Associate Artistic Director; Blake West, Executive Director) today announced that Kathleen Turner has been confirmed to star in their production of Charles Busch's The Third Story, directed by Carl Andress. Ms. Turner will appear opposite Mr. Busch, who was previously announced to play the other leading female role.

LAByrinth Theater Company (John Ortiz, Artistic Director; Philip Seymour Hoffman, Co-Artistic Director; John Gould Rubin, Co- Artistic & Executive Director) opens its alternative festival of free staged readings, Live Nude Plays (November 16-19, 2008).

Rattlestick Playwrights Theater (David Van Asselt, Artistic Director and Sandra Coudert, Managing Director) presents the World Premiere production of Geometry of Fire, by Stephen Belber.

LAByrinth Theater Company (John Ortiz, Artistic Director; Philip Seymour Hoffman, Co-Artistic Director; John Gould Rubin, Co- Artistic & Executive Director) opens its alternative festival of free staged readings, Live Nude Plays (November 16 ? 19, 2008).

YALE REPERTORY THEATRE (James Bundy, Artistic Director; Victoria Nolan, Managing Director) presents ROUGH CROSSING by TOM STOPPARD, from an original play by FERENC MOLNÁR, directed by MARK RUCKER at the University Theatre (222 York Street, New Haven) beginning November 28 through December 20. Opening Night is Thursday, December 4.

YALE REPERTORY THEATRE (James Bundy, Artistic Director; Victoria Nolan, Managing Director) presents ROUGH CROSSING by TOM STOPPARD, from an original play by FERENC MOLN?R, directed by MARK RUCKER at the University Theatre (222 York Street, New Haven) beginning November 28 through December 20. Opening Night is Thursday, December 4.

THE ARENA STAGE NEW DEAL: FOR 24 HOURS GET 7 SHOWS FOR $25 EACH (Washington, D.C.) Arena Stage has issued theater-goers a one-day-only bailout plan, The Arena Stage New Deal.

The 2009 Arena Stage Student Playwrights Project invites all students between 5th and 12th grades in the District of Columbia and its neighboring counties to enter into competition an original ten-minute play. Entries must be delivered to Arena Stage by Friday, December 5, 2008.

Four Time Emmy Award winning actress Valerie Harper stars as Tallulah Bankhead in the Pre-Broadway Engagement of Looped , a new comedy by Matthew Lombardo and directed by Rob Ruggiero. The production (direct from its sold out World Premiere at The Pasadena Playhouse) arrives at The Cuillo Centre for the Arts, prior to a Broadway bow in Summer 2009. Tony Award winning actor Jarrod Emick co-stars.

Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) has announced that Tony® award winner Mary-Louise Parker (Hedda Gabler), Tony® award winner Michael Cerveris (Jorgen Tesman), Paul Sparks (Ejlert Lovborg) and Peter Stormare (Judge Brack) in a new Broadway production of Hedda Gabler by Henrik Ibsen. The production features a new adaptation by Christopher Shinn and will be directed by Ian Rickson.

Now entering its 6th year on Broadway, the musical blockbuster WICKED will welcome new cast members in the coming week. Beginning performances Tuesday, November 11, MARCIE DODD will assume the role of Elphaba and ALLI MAUZEY will assume the role of Glinda. Also joining the company are KEVIN KERN in the role of Fiyero and BRYNN O'MALLEY as Nessarose. ALEX BRIGHTMAN will assume the role of Boq on Tuesday, November 4.

Due to demand for tickets, Naked Angels (Geoffrey Nauffts, Artistic Director and Brittany O'Neill, Managing Director) has extended the world premiere engagement of Stephen Belber's new dark comedy Fault Lines, directed by David Schwimmer. Fault Lines opened September 30, 2008 at The Cherry Lane Theatre (38 Commerce Street). The run will now continue through November 9, 2008.

Theater news from Broadway and the Baltimore/Washington area.

Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company continues its 2008-09 Season with Boom by Peter Sinn Nachtrieb, author of Hunter Gatherers, winner of the 2007 Steinberg New Play Award.

THE ARENA STAGE NEW DEAL: FOR 24 HOURS GET 7 SHOWS FOR $25 EACH (Washington, D.C.) Arena Stage has issued theater-goers a one-day-only bailout plan, The Arena Stage New Deal.

Frank Capra's classic film has been brought to vibrant theatrical life through the remarkable collaboration of Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning librettist & lyricist, Sheldon Harnick and Grammy and Emmy Award winning Composer, Joe Raposo.

Oscar & Emmy Award winning screen legend JANE FONDA will return to Broadway in MOISÉS KAUFMAN's 33 VARIATIONS. The play marks Fonda's first time on Broadway in 46 years.

Now entering its 6th year on Broadway, the musical blockbuster WICKED will welcome new cast members in the coming week. Beginning performances Tuesday, November 11, MARCIE DODD will assume the role of Elphaba and ALLI MAUZEY will assume the role of Glinda. Also joining the company are KEVIN KERN in the role of Fiyero and BRYNN O'MALLEY as Nessarose. ALEX BRIGHTMAN will assume the role of Boq on Tuesday, November 4.

Two-time Emmy Award-winner Daniel J. Travanti ('Hill Street Blues') returns to the New York stage in a revival of the Eugene O'Neill classic A TOUCH OF THE POET as Con Melody -- a role he has played previously to acclaim in Boston, Washington and Denver -- with previews to begin December 2, prior to an official opening December 7, at The 14th Street Theater (344 East 14th Street) in Manhattan.

Friday, October 31st, THE AFTER PARTY will celebrate Halloween with a special line up.