Austin Pendleton News

Mad Horse Theatre Company's Dark Night Series returns with Austin Pendleton's UNCLE BOB. The reclusive Bob is an angry old man who has never done anything meaningful in his life. He is a failed actor and writer, he has driven away his loving wife, and he is dying of AIDS.

United Solo, established as the world's largest solo theatre festival, has announced dates for its six-week run this fall. The Festival will be held between October 11 and November 18, 2012 at Theatre ROW on 42nd Street in the heart of New York's theatre district.

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick, has announced that Greg Reiner will join the acclaimed Off-Broadway theater as its new Executive Director beginning March 19. Reiner comes to CSC after an extremely successful tenure as Executive Director of Tectonic Theater Project, where, among many other achievements, he produced the world premiere of The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later in 150 theaters on a single night, and oversaw the Tony nominated Broadway production of 33 Variations. Reiner succeeds Jessica R. Jenen, who departed CSC in the fall.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company continues its 2011/12 season with Time Stands Still by Donald Margulies, directed by ensemble member Austin Pendleton, playing January 19 - May 13, 2012 in Steppenwolf's Upstairs Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted St. Time Stands Still features ensemble members Francis Guinan and Sally Murphy with Randall Newsome andKristina Valada-Viars. See photos below.

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS will present the 15th and grand finale edition of THE BROADWAY BEARS, the annual Broadway auction of teddy bears dressed in museum-quality outfits based on original costumes and created by acclaimed designers on March 18, 2012.

Writers' Theatre Artistic Director Michael Halberstam and Executive Director Kathryn M. Lipuma announce the 2012/13 Season, which includes Shakespeare's Hamlet directed by Michael Halberstam with Scott Parkinson in the title role; the Midwest premiere of John W. Lowell's play The Letters, directed by Kimberly Senior; Sweet Charity, directed by Michael Halberstam with Musical Direction by Doug Peck and choreography by Jessica Redish; the Midwest premiere of David Greig's Yellow Moon directed by Stuart Carden; and David Ives' modern adaptation of Corneille's The Liar, directed by William Brown.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company Artistic Director Martha Lavey announced today the 2012/13 Subscription Season, including a Steppenwolf-commissioned world premiere and the work of fifteen ensemble members. The season begins in Steppenwolf's Downstairs Theatre with David Lindsay-Abaire's Good People, directed by ensemble member K. Todd Freeman. Up next, ensemble member Anna D. Shapiro directs The Motherf**ker with the Hat by Stephen Adly Guirgis. In the Upstairs Theatre, ensemble member Austin Pendleton directs The Birthday Party by Harold Pinter. In April 2013, ensemble member Tina Landau directs the Steppenwolf-commissioned world premiere of Head of Passes by ensemble member Tarell Alvin McCraney, their first collaboration since the widely-praised The Brother/Sister Plays (2010). The season concludes with Belleville by Amy Herzog, directed by Anne Kauffmann.

The Steppenwolf Theater Company of Chicago have announced their season for 2012-13, including GOOD PEOPLE, Pinter's THE BIRTHDAY PARTY, and BELLEVILLE.

Mississippi Mud Productions will present a talkback with director Austin Pendleton on March 16th, opening night performance, of Marcy Lafferty's stunning play, VIVIEN LEIGH: THE LAST PRESS CONFERENCE, in New York, NY, March 16 - 19, 2012 at the Alexander Technique Center For Performance And Development, 330 West 38th Street, Suite 805.

The Cell, Nancy Manocherian (Founding Artistic Director) and Kira Simring (Artistic Director) are pleased to announce the World Premiere production of Seamus Scanlon's DANCING AT LUNACY in conjunction with Larry Kirwan's BLOOD, directed by Kira Simring. This series, The Irish Cell, will play a limited engagement at the cell (338 West 23rd Street New York, NY 10011). Performances begin Thursday, March 1 and continue through Saturday, March 17. Opening Night is Saturday, March 3 (8 p.m.).

Classic Stage Company's production of Bertolt Brecht's GALILEO (translated by Charles Laughton) starring Academy Award winner F. Murray Abraham, runs through Sunday, March 18. The official press opening for GALILEO is tonight, Thursday, February 23 at CSC (136 East 13th Street). GALILEO is directed by CSC's Artistic Director Brian Kulick. Ceck out just-released production shots below!

Frog and Peach Theatre Co., Inc. will present an all-star benefit reading of 'Hamlet' on February 21 at The Player's Club with a cast including Darrell Hammond (Saturday Night Live) as Guildenstern, Austin Pendleton ('My Cousin Vinnie') as Claudius and the Ghost, Shirley Knight ('Our Idiot Brother,' 'Sweet Bird of Youth') as Gertrude, David Margulies ('Ghostbusters,' 'Sopranos') as Polonius and Gravedigger, Fred Willard ('Anchorman,' 'Waiting for Guffman') as Horatio, Anna Chlumsky ('In the Loop') as Ophelia, Ted Zurkowski ('Boys on the Side,' co-founder of Frog and Peach Theatre Co.) as Hamlet and Ryan Tramont ('The Hurt Locker') as Laertes. Music is by Ian McDonald (King Crimson, Foreigner) and performed live by Mr. McDonald.

Oklahoma City Repertory Theatre, in partnership with the University of Oklahoma's A. Max Weitzenhoffer School of Musical Theatre, will present, just in time for Valentine's Day, MY FAIR LADY with book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe.

Frog and Peach Theatre Co., Inc. will present an all-star benefit reading of 'Hamlet' on February 21 at The Player's Club with a cast including Darrell Hammond (Saturday Night Live) as Guildenstern, Austin Pendleton ('My Cousin Vinnie') as Claudius and the Ghost, Shirley Knight ('Our Idiot Brother,' 'Sweet Bird of Youth') as Gertrude, David Margulies ('Ghostbusters,' 'Sopranos') as Polonius and Gravedigger, Fred Willard ('Anchorman,' 'Waiting for Guffman') as Horatio, Anna Chlumsky ('In the Loop') as Ophelia, Ted Zurkowski ('Boys on the Side,' co-founder of Frog and Peach Theatre Co.) as Hamlet and Ryan Tramont ('The Hurt Locker') as Laertes. Music is by Ian McDonald (King Crimson, Foreigner) and performed live by Mr. McDonald.

Frog and Peach Theatre Co., Inc. will present an all-star benefit reading of 'Hamlet' on February 21 at The Player's Club with a cast including Darrell Hammond (Saturday Night Live) as Guildenstern, Austin Pendleton ('My Cousin Vinnie') as Claudius and the Ghost, Shirley Knight ('Our Idiot Brother,' 'Sweet Bird of Youth') as Gertrude, David Margulies ('Ghostbusters,' 'Sopranos') as Polonius and Gravedigger, Fred Willard ('Anchorman,' 'Waiting for Guffman') as Horatio, Anna Chlumsky ('In the Loop') as Ophelia, Ted Zurkowski ('Boys on the Side,' co-founder of Frog and Peach Theatre Co.) as Hamlet and Ryan Tramont ('The Hurt Locker') as Laertes. Music is by Ian McDonald (King Crimson, Foreigner) and performed live by Mr. McDonald.

Rising Phoenix Repertory announces the 15th play in the CINO NIGHTS SERIES: sex and death in london- a new play BY crystal skillman and directed by michael padden.

Rising Phoenix Repertory announces the 15th play in the CINO NIGHTS SERIES: sex and death in london- a new play BY crystal skillman and directed by michael padden.

Oklahoma City Repertory Theatre, in partnership with the University of Oklahoma's A. Max Weitzenhoffer School of Musical Theatre, presents, just in time for Valentine's Day, one of the most romantic musicals of all time, MY FAIR LADY with book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe. MY FAIR LADY, based on Bernard Shaw's PYGMALION, tells the story of the transformation of a Cockney flower girl to a lady of society.