Bill Rauch News

The second season of Asolo Rep's IllumiNation Series continues on February 11 with a panel discussion, 'Creating Change, Counting Voices,' focusing on the theatre's current production of THE GREAT SOCIETY.

Lisa Loomer's new drama focuses on the two women responsible for the decision in Roe v. Wade.

The Tony Award-winning Oregon Shakespeare Festival will launch its 82nd year with preview performances beginning on February 17, and the season officially kicks off Friday night, February 24, in the Angus Bowmer Theatre with Shakespeare's Julius Caesar (director, Shana Cooper).

In Washington D.C. we are at the center of political activity. Today we inaugurate the 45th President of the United States and tomorrow thousands are expected to attend the Women's March on Washington. In light of this, the world premiere of ROE at Arena Stage was all the more timely.

Following an acclaimed run at Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Lisa Loomer's world-premiere drama Roe makes its D.C. debut at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater. Directed by Bill Rauch, the drama focuses on the two women at the heart of the landmark Roe v. Wade case-plaintiff Norma McCorvey and her attorney Sarah Weddington-and documents their shockingly divergent journeys following the case, that would come to mirror the polarization in American culture. Roe is a co-production with Oregon Shakespeare Festival and Berkeley Repertory Theatre and runs January 12-February 19, 2017 in the Kreeger Theater. BroadwayWorld has photos from the opening night festivities in D.C. below!

On Tuesday, January 24, Asolo Repertory Theatre kicks off the second season of its IllumiNation Series, connecting the social issues presented on stage with the local community. Each of the four events includes a pre-performance reception on the mezzanine, a ticket to the performance, and a moderated post-show discussion where audience members can further explore the topics they have just seen played out on stage.

Berkeley Repertory Theatre today announced the world premiere production of Roe written by Lisa Loomer and directed by Bill Rauch. Roe is a co-production with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and Arena Stage.

The only Equity theatre company dedicated exclusively to developing and producing new work by Native American artists, Native Voices presents the world premiere of Fairly Traceable by Mary Kathryn Nagle (Cherokee). This production is presented as part of Native Voices' 2016-17 season, themed "Take Back the Land."  

Berkeley Repertory Theatre today announced the West Coast premiere of Hand to God written by Robert Askins and directed by David Ivers. The Broadway smash hit and Tony Award-nominated play begins previews on Friday, February 3, and the show runs through Sunday, March 19. Individual tickets begin at $29 and can be purchased online at berkeleyrep.org or by phone, 510 647-2949. Press night will be on Friday, February 10.

The American Repertory Theater reunites with Oregon Shakespeare Festival Artistic Director Bill Rauch to present FINGERSMITH, Alexa Junge's adaptation of Sarah Waters' 2002 novel of the same name. The playwright's Herculean effort capsulizes the 582-page opus into a taut two-hour drama enhanced by exceptional performances and outstanding production design. Words are insufficient to praise the central trio of women - Tracee Chimo, Christina Bennett Lind, and Kristine Nielsen - who inhabit all the layers of the fascinating characters in this Victorian thriller.

Following an acclaimed run at Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Lisa Loomer's world-premiere drama Roe makes its D.C. debut at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater.

The Oregon Shakespeare Festival wrapped up the 2016 season on October 30 with the final performances of Great Expectations, Richard II, Twelfth Night and The Yeomen of the Guard. Preparations for the 2017 season and 2017 member ticket sales are already underway. The 2017 opening weekend is February 24-26; preview performances begin February 17.

The American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) at Harvard University begins performances of FINGERSMITH by Alexa Junge, based on the novel by Sarah Waters, directed by Bill Rauch. Performances begin on Sunday, December 4, 2016 and run through Sunday, January 8, 2017 at the Loeb Drama Center, 64 Brattle Street, Cambridge.

The Oregon Shakespeare Festival's growing reputation as an incubator for some of the best new American plays continues this fall and winter, as commissions from the "American Revolutions: The United States History Cycle" program and other new work will grace stages across the country.

The Oregon Shakespeare Festival (OSF) has received a $5 million gift from Roberta and David Elliott to endow the Festival's Artistic Opportunity Fund (AOF). The AOF allows the Festival to pursue significant artistic opportunities.            

Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for theatre, has announced the recipients of the second round of the 2016 Edgerton Foundation New Play Awards.

Asolo Repertory Theatre announces that acclaimed actor Jack Willis will portray President Lyndon Baines Johnson in its production of Robert Schenkkan's political drama THE GREAT SOCIETY.

The Oregon Shakespeare Festival (OSF) and the Consortium of Asian American Theaters & Artists (CAATA) will present the 2016 National Asian American Theater Conference and Festival (ConFest) Oct. 1-9, 2016, hosted by OSF's biannual CultureFest.

Asolo Rep's 2016-17 Season single ticket sales begin September 8 for subscribers and donors and October 1 for the general public.

Asolo Rep's 2016-17 Season single ticket sales begin September 8 for subscribers and donors and October 1 for the general public.