Barbara Damashek News

Berkeley's acclaimed Aurora Theatre Company proudly announces the lineup for its 25th anniversary season. The company opens the season with a revival of Dorothy Bryant's DEAR MASTER, directed by acclaimed actress and director Joy Carlin and featuring Kimberly King and Michael Ray Wisely.

WAITRESS, which begins performances at the Brooks Atkinson on March 25th, is making history! It will be the first show in Broadway history to have four top creative spots in a show filled by four separate women. The team includes music and lyrics by Sara Barellies, book by Jessie Nelson, choreography by Lorin Latarrom and direction by Diane Paulus. While this is definitely a landmark, other Broadway shows have had a significant number of female creatives, or a completely female creative team - driven by one person! So embrace your inner girl power, and celebrate the amazing female driven shows that came before!

Actors' Summit, Akron's professional theater, announces the opening of the 2015-2016 theater season with the musical, QUILTERS by Molly Newman and Barbara Damashek.

Actors' Summit, Akron's professional theater, announces the opening of the 2015-2016 theater season with the musical, QUILTERS by Molly Newman and Barbara Damashek.

Actors' Summit, Akron's professional theater, announces the opening of  the 2015-2016 theater season, with the musical, QUILTERS by Molly Newman and Barbara Damashek.

Fountain Hills Theater will present its 2015-16, 29th season for its three venues, Mainstage, Mainstage Too and Youth Theater as well as our Sizzlin' Summer Stock. Tickets go on sale May 1st, 2015.

Critics and audiences agree -- THE LYONS roars! Aurora Theatre Company announces that it will add an additional six performances of the Bay Area Premiere of Nicky Silver's (Pterodactyls, Raised in Captivity) scathingly funny Broadway hit THE LYONS.

Due to popular pre-sale demand, Aurora Theatre Company announces that it will again extend Lanford Wilson's Pulitzer Prize-winning TALLEY'S FOLLY, the second fully staged production to be performed in the company's second stage performance space, Harry's UpStage.

Aurora Theatre Company continues its 23rd season with the Bay Area Premiere of Nicky Silver's (Pterodactyls, Raised in Captivity) scathingly funny Broadway hit THE LYONS. Tony-nominated director Barbara Damashek, who helmed Aurora Theatre Company's productions of American Buffalo, Fat Pig, and Private Jokes, Public Places, returns to direct THE LYONS, featuring Ellen Ratner (After the Revolution, Awake and Sing!), Will Marchetti (Knock Knock), Nicholas Pelczar (Dublin Carol, Marius), Jessica Bates (After the Revolution), Joe Estlack (Shotgun Players, Magic Theatre), and Edris Cooper-Anifowoshe (Brava Theater, TheatreWorks, Magic Theatre). THE LYONS plays January 30 through March 1 at the Aurora Theatre in Berkeley. For tickets ($32-60) and information the public can call (510) 843-4822 or visit auroratheatre.org. For mature audiences.

Due to popular demand, Aurora Theatre Company announces that it will add a second extension week of performances of the West Coast Premiere of Fraser Grace's provocative BREAKFAST WITH MUGABE. Jon Tracy, who directed Aurora's productions of Gidion's Knot and The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity, helms BREAKFAST WITH MUGABE, featuring L. Peter Callender (The Soldier's Tale, Permanent Collection), Dan Hiatt (Wittenberg, The Arsonists), Leontyne Mbele-Mbong (African-American Shakespeare Company, Lamplighters), and Adrian Roberts (TheatreWorks, California Shakespeare Theater). BREAKFAST WITH MUGABE plays now through December 20 (added performances: Tuesday, December 16, 7pm; Wednesday, December 17, 8pm; Thursday, December 18, 8pm; Friday, December 19, 8pm; Saturday, December 20, 8pm) at the Aurora Theatre in Berkeley. For tickets ($32-50) and more information the public can call (510) 843-4822 or visit auroratheatre.org.

Critics and audiences agree -a second helping of BREAKFAST WITH MUGABE is in order. Aurora Theatre Company announces that it will add an additional 7 performances of the West Coast Premiere of Fraser Grace's provocative new play.

Aurora Theatre Company continues its 23rd season with the Bay Area Premiere of Nicky Silver's (Pterodactyls, Raised in Captivity) scathingly funny Broadway hit THE LYONS.

Aurora Theatre Company celebrated the remarkable life of its founding Artistic Director, Barbara Oliver, with the unveiling of the Barbara Oliver Bas Relief on Tuesday, October 28 in the Nell and Jules Dashow Wing at Aurora Theatre Company.

Aurora Theatre Company presents Bay Area magician Christian Cagigal in OBSCURA, an extraordinary presentation of up-close and personal magic. This special fall presentation plays for 15 performances only today, October 15 through November 2 at Harry's UpStage, located in the Nell and Jules Dashow Wing at the Aurora Theatre in Berkeley.

Aurora Theatre Company presents Bay Area magician Christian Cagigal in OBSCURA, an extraordinary presentation of up-close and personal magic. This special fall presentation plays for 15 performances only October 15 through November 2 at Harry's UpStage, located in the Nell and Jules Dashow Wing at the Aurora Theatre in Berkeley. For tickets (General $28; VIP reserved seating $32; subscribers receive a $2 discount) and information the public can call (510) 843-4822 or visit auroratheatre.org.

Aurora Theatre Company presents Bay Area magician Christian Cagigal in OBSCURA, an extraordinary presentation of up-close and personal magic. This special fall presentation plays for 15 performances only October 15 through November 2 at Harry's UpStage, located in the Nell and Jules Dashow Wing at the Aurora Theatre in Berkeley. For tickets (General $28; VIP reserved seating $32; subscribers receive a $2 discount) and information the public can call (510) 843-4822 or visit auroratheatre.org.

Aurora Theatre Company announces that it will add an additional 7 performances of the Bay Area Premiere of Obie-winning playwright Gina Gionfriddo's (After Ashley, Becky Shaw) unflinching look at modern gender politics. Desdemona Chiang (The Hundred Flowers Project) directs this finalist for the 2013 Pulitzer Prize, featuring Gabriel Marin (This Is How It Goes, Collapse), Rebecca Schweitzer (A Delicate Balance, The First Grade), Marilee Talkington (Salomania), Lilian Bogovich, and Nicole Javier. RAPTURE, BLISTER, BURN plays now through October 5 (added performances: Tuesday, September 30, 7pm; Wednesday, October 1, 8pm; Thursday, October 2, 8pm; Friday, October 3, 8pm; Saturday, October 4, 8pm; Sunday, October 5, 2pm and 7pm) at the Aurora Theatre in Berkeley. For tickets ($32-50) and information the public can call (510) 843-4822 or visit auroratheatre.org.

Critics and audiences agree that it would be a crime to miss AMERICAN BUFFALO. Aurora Theatre Company announces that it will add an additional 7 performances of Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright David Mamet's powerful, fast-paced modern masterpiece.