Bertolt Brecht News

The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey has announced a new Fall play reading series - titled Lend Us Your Ears - featuring readings of three plays under consideration for future production.

Major General Mike Myatt, President and CEO of San Francisco's Marines' Memorial Association, and Roxanne Goodfellow, Artistic & General Manager of the Marines' Memorial Theatre, are proud to present the upcoming entertainment events for the month of September.

In celebration of the United Nations' International Peace Day, The New Theatre Project will present a staged reading of the greatest anti-war play of all time, Bertolt Brecht's Mother Courage and Her Children in an English version by Tony Kushner.

The American Conservatory Theater Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) Program presents Anton Chekhov's masterpiece The Three Sisters, translated by Carol Rocamora and directed by Shakespeare Santa Cruz Artistic Director Marco Barricelli, a longtime member of the A.C.T. artistic family. Barricelli was a core acting company member at A.C.T. for more than a decade and most recently received favorable notices for his appearance in last season's Vigil at A.C.T. alongside Olympia Dukakis. One of Chekhov's most popular and accessible plays, The Three Sisters explores the decay of Russia's privileged class in the haunting story of the Prozorov family. Trapped in a small provincial town with few prospects, the sisters dream of returning to urban Moscow. Along with facilitating smaller class sizes, the appointment of a full-time faculty, and extended opportunities for financial aid, the new curriculum of the three-year A.C.T. M.F.A. Program (launched last season with the incoming class of 2012) creates opportunities for collaboration among the three classes in their education and performance; The Three Sisters features members of the A.C.T. M.F.A. Program classes of 2011 and 2012. The Three Sisters runs October 13-23, 2010, at Hastings Studio Theater (77 Geary Street, San Francisco). Tickets are $10 and are available at www.act-sf.org or by calling the A.C.T. Box Office at 415.749.2228. Press is welcome to attend the production, but reviews are not allowed for The Three Sisters.

Signature Theatre Company's production of Tony Kushner's ANGELS IN AMERICA: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes, began performances Tuesday, September 14. The first New York revival of Kushner's Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning play is directed by Michael Greif. The production, originally slated to run through December 19, has been extended a second time through February 20, 2011. Click below to hear clips of Kushner talk all things ANGELS and this newest revival.

A comedy about mothers, daughters, and other things that imply some sort of responsibility. A shopping trip where characters find themselves examining much more than their fashion choices. With an absurdist edge, this sometimes ruthless journey throws light on the stuff that we all accumulate as we move through life...and the rather circuitous paths we follow to convince ourselves we're rid of it.

The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey has announced a new Fall play reading series - titled Lend Us Your Ears - featuring readings of three plays under consideration for future production.

Due to overwhelming demand, Signature Theatre Company (Founding Artistic Director James Houghton; Executive Director Erika Mallin) is pleased to announce a second extension for the first New York revival of Tony Kushner's ANGELS IN AMERICA: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes, directed by Michael Greif. The production, originally slated to run through December 19, 2010 and extended once through January 30, 2011, will now play an additional three weeks through Sunday, February 20, 2011.

Due to some unexpected scheduling conflicts, The New Theatre Project has announced some significant changes in the previously planned staged reading event of Mother Courage and Her Children.

Today we are taking a listen to the Original London Cast Recording of Jerry Mitchell's sexily studious stunner of a show, LEGALLY BLONDE, and the remarkable score by Laurence O'Keefe (of BAT BOY fame) along with his wife, an accomplished and gifted lyricist in her own right, Neil Benjamin. They are the strongest male/female composing team since Betty Comden and Adolph Green and LEGALLY BLONDE possesses one of the most sharply satirical, witty and effortlessly enjoyable and winning scores in decades, surely as good if not better than any score on Broadway right now. While critics and audiences were less than enraptured with it on Broadway, the MTV telecast and subsequent reality show casting the next Elle Woods - alongside the smash-hit national tours - bodes well for its future in the States. The West End production is ten times the success the show was on Broadway so Elle & Crew have finally arrived - and in style. It's the age of Elle! Plus, A BONUS: A review and link to a new song by another blonde bombshell in her own right, but a bit brainier one than Elle Woods: Nellie McKay! And a link to a download of her new single 'Caribbean Time'! Top hats off and a salutatory Dickensian 'ello' to Elle and Nellie!

This September, Poland's Stefan Zeromski Theatre unleashes on Los Angeles In the Solitude of Cotton Fields, a theatrical tour de force described by Poland's Gazeta Wyborcza as 'A combination of a concert, disco, poetic slam, and club event.'

Arden Theatre Company continues its 2010/11 season with The Threepenny Opera, Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht's 1920's musical that paved the way for dark and bawdy works like Cabaret and Sweeney Todd.

El próximo 14 de Septiembre la actriz Silvia Luchetti ofrecerá de nuevo en Madrid su espectáculo Jazz Tango Cabaret, en esta ocasión en el Teatro Infanta Isabel. La artista interpretará en un show íntimo y cercano temas de Kurt Weill, Astor Piazzolla y George Gershwin.

In celebration of the United Nations' International Peace Day, The New Theatre Project will present a staged reading of the greatest anti-war play of all time, Bertolt Brecht's Mother Courage and Her Children in an English version by Tony Kushner.

Producer Daryl Roth has announced this year's recipient of the 2010 Creative Spirit Award: Tony Award Nominee David Pittu (LoveMusik). The Creative Spirit Award presented annually, honors a gifted theatre artist and provides them with support as they develop new work.

The Antaeus Company, L.A.'s classical theater ensemble, continues ClassicsFest 2010 with an invigorating 'summer splash' of actor-initiated workshops, readings, and special events. Audiences can choose from a veritable smorgasbord of the classics between July 6 and August 15 at the company's interim home, Deaf West Theatre in the NoHo Arts District. All readings and workshops are $10.

Seattle Shakespeare Company announced today its plans to produce The Threepenny Opera at the Intiman Theatre. The Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill musical satire about the dapper criminal, Mac the Knife, and the denizens of his seedy underworld will run February 16 through March 6, 2011 for 15 performances only.

The acclaimed Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey is an independent, professional theatre company located on the Drew University campus.

Of the 25 plays to be presented in Theater for the New City's upcoming 'Dream Up Festival' August 8 to September 5 (www.dreamupfestival.org), one in particular indicates the expansion of TNC into the international arena.

The Antaeus Company, Los Angeles's classical theater ensemble, will open ClassicsFest 2010 with King Lear, its first full production of a Shakespeare play. Bart DeLorenzo will direct King Lear with renowned scholar, actor, and Antaeus founding artistic director Dakin Matthews and Broadway veteran/three-time Tony nominee Harry Groener heading two fully double-cast ensembles. Two gala openings, one with each cast, will take place on Saturday, June 26 at 8 pm and Sunday, June 27 at 4 pm, with performances continuing through August 8 at Antaeus' interim home, Deaf West Theatre in the NoHo Arts District. Low-priced previews will begin June 12.