Bill Irwin News

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Greg Reiner, today announced plans for its 2014/2015 Season. The upcoming season for the esteemed off-Broadway company begins in October with Rodgers & Hammerstein's ALLEGRO, directed by Tony Award-winner and CSC Associate Director John Doyle. ALLEGRO marks the second installment of CSC's Musical Theater Initiative, which launched last year with the company's hugely-successful production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's Passion, directed by Doyle. Considered one of Richard Rodgers' and Oscar Hammerstein II's most personal and groundbreaking works, ALLEGRO was their third collaboration and first premiered on Broadway in 1947.

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Greg Reiner, will present David Ives' THE HEIR APPARENT, adapted from the play by Jean-Francois Regnard, beginning performances Friday, March 28 at CSC (136 East 13th Street). Directed by John Rando, THE HEIR APPARENT will feature Suzanne Bertish (Madame Argante), Carson Elrod (Crispin), Claire Karpen (Lisette), Amelia Pedlow (Isabelle), David Pittu (Scruple), Dave Quay (Eraste) and Paxton Whitehead (Geronte). The official press opening for THE HEIR APPARENT is Wednesday, April 9. The production will play at limited engagement through Sunday, May 4.

Philadelphia Theatre Company's PTC@Play Festival of new work will host a special onstage conversation with PTC's artist-in-residence playwright/performer ANNA DEAVERE SMITH, and two evenings of staged readings by the winners of the Terrence McNally New Play Award, playwrights BILL CAIN and A. ZELL WILLIAMS, all at PTC's home, the Suzanne Roberts Theatre at Broad and Lombard Streets.

Philadelphia Theatre Company's PTC@Play Festival of new work will host a special onstage conversation with PTC's artist-in-residence playwright/performer ANNA DEAVERE SMITH, and two evenings of staged readings by the winners of the Terrence McNally New Play Award, playwrights BILL CAIN and A. ZELL WILLIAMS, all at PTC's home, the Suzanne Roberts Theatre at Broad and Lombard Streets.

The Marsh announces that Geoff Hoyle's hit solo show GEEZER will extend at The Marsh Berkeley through April 26, following its current sold-out run previously scheduled to close March 1. This vivid look at NOT "going gentle into that good night" by one of the era's most acclaimed physical comedy actors will play Thursdays at 8pm and Saturdays at 5pm at The Marsh Berkeley Main Stage, 2120 Allston Way, Berkeley. For tickets ($25-$50), the public may visit www.themarsh.org or call 415-282-3055 between 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday. All proceeds from the final performance Saturday, April 26 (tickets $50-$100, include reception) will benefit The Marsh.

Playing on Air, which presents readings of short plays by prominent, contemporary American playwrights for a national audience via public radio and the Internet, inaugurates a new initiative next month. On consecutive Mondays in March, Playing on Air presents its first plays for radio broadcast taped in front of live audiences.

The Public Theater announced the line-up today for the 2014 free Shakespeare in the Park season, continuing a 52-year tradition of free theater in Central Park. Since 1962, over five million people have enjoyed more than 150 free productions of Shakespeare and other classical works and musicals at the Delacorte Theater. Conceived by founder Joe Papp as a way to make great theater accessible to all, The Public's free Shakespeare in the Park continues to be the bedrock of the Company's mission to increase access and engage the community. This summer, free Shakespeare in the Park will feature a comedy and a tragedy with Jack O'Brien directing MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING and Daniel Sullivan directing KING LEAR.

16 years after they swept San Francisco Bay Area audiences off their feet with the Tony Award-winning production Fool Moon, American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) welcomes back Tony Award winners Bill Irwin and David Shiner in the West Coast premiere of the Signature Theatre production of Old Hats. Using music, technology and movement - plus a few other tricks up their sleeves - Old Hats combines the inimitable magic, slapstick and hilarity of Irwin and Shiner into a wild and remarkable outing of theatre for generations old and new. Directed by Tina Landau, Old Hats was the recipient of the 2013 Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Alternative Theatrical Experience and the 2013 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Revue. Old Hats marks the first collaboration for Irwin and Shiner since the smash Broadway hit Fool Moon, which set A.C.T. box office records during its sold-out 1998 run and their return engagement in 2001. At this time, tickets to Old Hats are available only to subscribers of A.C.T.'s 2014-15 season.

A memorial to celebrate the life and career of actor Christopher Evan Welch will take place on Monday, February 17 on the Irene Diamond Stage of The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 W. 42nd Street). The event is open to the public and will begin at 3:00 with doors opening at 2:30PM. Mr. Welch died Monday, December 2 in Santa Monica, California from complications related to cancer. He was 48.

Pioneer Theatre Company presents the charming Shakespearean comedy Much Ado About Nothing, February 21 through March 8, 2014.

Scott Elliott, Founding Artistic Director of The New Group and Serge Nivelle, Chairman of its Board of Directors, have announced that Adam Bernstein has been named Executive Director of the company.

Whether you've been living under a rock for the past week or you're just in the mood for a recap, BroadwayWorld's 'This Week in Pictures' is here to satisfy your end of the week fix. Take a look below to catch up on the latest happenings from the Great White Way to The West End (and everywhere in between) with coverage of press events, rehearsals, opening nights and more. Highlights this week include a look at the cast of THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY in previews, Broadway Bares coverage, BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN - the opera , and more!

Winners of the 12th Annual Nightlife Awards and Special Guest Stars joined together to celebrate New York Nightlife on Monday, January 27th at 7 PM at The Town Hall. Special Guest Stars included Stephanie J. Block. Tony Award Winner Bill Irwin, Tony Nominee Jason Robert Brown, Recording and Concert Artist Nellie McKay, and the show's Three-Time Emmy Award-winning host, Bruce Vilanch. Check out a look behind the scenes below!

Winners of the 12th Annual Nightlife Awards and Special Guest Stars joined together to celebrate New York Nightlife on Monday, January 27th at 7 PM at The Town Hall. Special guest stars included Stephanie J. Block. Tony Award Winner Bill Irwin, Tony Nominee Jason Robert Brown, Recording and Concert Artist Nellie McKay, and the show's Three-Time Emmy Award-winning host, Bruce Vilanch. Check out a look back at the evening below!

Winners of the 12th Annual Nightlife Awards and Special Guest Stars joined together to celebrate New York Nightlife earlier this week at The Town Hall. Special Guest Stars included Stephanie J. Block. Tony Award Winner Bill Irwin, Tony Nominee Jason Robert Brown, Recording and Concert Artist Nellie McKay, and the show's Three-Time Emmy Award-winning host, Bruce Vilanch. broadwayWorld brings you photos from the special event below!

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Greg Reiner, will present BRECHT FEST, a special series exploring the songs, poetry and stories of Bertolt Brecht, to be presented on Monday, February 3 and Monday, February 10 at CSC (136 East 13th Street). CSC is currently presenting Brecht's A MAN'S A MAN, directed by Brian Kulick and with a new score and new songs by Tony Award-winning composer Duncan Sheik, continuing the company's exploration of the works of Brecht, which began in 2011 with the sold-out production of Galileo and was followed by last season's The Caucasian Chalk Circle.

The Marsh announces that Geoff Hoyle's hit solo show GEEZER will move to The Marsh Berkeley tonight, January 23 - March 1, 2013, following its multi-extended runs at The Marsh San Francisco.

With the brilliant work of Constellation Theatre, Bill Irwin's irreverent spirit is alive and well in their current production of 'Scapin,' adapted from Moliere's Les Fourberies de Scapin ('Scapin's Tricks'). It's not one of those moldy old comedies where you try to laugh like your distinguished ancestors might have laughed back in the day-It works because the production rocks, but also because the original author Moliere stole some of the best material from his stage-mates in the Italian Commedia dell' Arte, who were standup before there was standup, and whose sight gags and stock characters laid the foundation for every sitcom you love today.

Today in 1957 Waiting for Godot opened at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre, where it ran for 6 performances. An absurdist play by Samuel Beckett, it revolves around two characters, Vladimir and Estragon, who wait endlessly and in vain for someone named Godot to arrive. Godot's absence, as well as numerous other aspects of the play, have led to many different interpretations since the play's premiere. Since its US premiere in 1956, several notable revivals have been produced, including the 1988 production featuring Robin Williams and Steve Martin, and the 2009 revival starring Nathan Lane and Bill Irwin.

Winners of the 12th Annual Nightlife Awards and Special Guest Stars join together to celebrate New York Nightlife on Monday, January 27th at 7 PM at The Town Hall. Tony & Drama Desk Nominee STEPHANIE J. BLOCK, TV Icon BARBARA FELDON (Agent 99 on Get Smart), Nightlife Award Winner CAROLE J. BUFFORD, and Actress/Nightlife Star MAXINE LINEHAN join an already illustrious array of Special Guest Stars that includes Tony Award Winner BILL IRWIN, Tony Nominee JASON ROBERT BROWN, Recording and Concert Artist NELLIE McKAY, and the show's Three-Time Emmy Award-winning host, BRUCE VILANCH!