The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts today announced its 2015-2016 theater season. As the nation's performing arts center, the Kennedy Center is dedicated to bringing theater's finest productions to its stages. Reaching hundreds of thousands of audience members annually, the upcoming theater season showcases a diverse range of theatrical productions from a dramatic, centuries-old classic tale to unforgettable Broadway sensations; the season has something to offer everyone in the family.
The Tony Award-winning Oregon Shakespeare Festival will open its 80th year with preview performances beginning on February 20 and the season officially kicking off tonight, February 27, in the Angus Bowmer Theatre with Shakespeare's Much Ado about Nothing (director, Lileana Blain-Cruz).
The ?Oregon Shakespeare Festival (OSF) is the recipient of a generous grant of $125,000 from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation (DDCF) through the foundation's new Theatre Commissioning and Production Initiative. The grant will support the production of playwright Lynn Nottage's Sweat and a future commission by Ms. Nottage. Sweat is commissioned through OSF's American Revolutions: the United States History Cycle and will premiere at OSF on August 2, 2015 and run through October 31.
East West Players (EWP), the nation's largest producing organization of Asian American artistic work and the longest-running professional theater of color in the country, is leading a 'call to action' to the American Theatre demanding equity, diversity and inclusion affecting artistic and production personnel as well as programming for the communities they serve.
Oh my! It's been a hell of a year for the Seattle Theatre scene and I can say we've been quite fortunate to see the incredible shows we have. So many amazing shows in fact that picking just a few stand outs (let alone a "best") is a near impossibility. But I have searched the deep dark recesses of my memory to find the shows and performances that really stood out and stuck with me beyond the evening and throughout the year. And so, without further ado, I'm thrilled to present the BWW 2014 Seattle Critic's Choice Awards (or Jay's Picks). Let the awesomeness flow!
The Tony Award-winning Oregon Shakespeare Festival will open its 80th year with preview performances beginning on February 20 and the season officially kicking off Friday night, February 27, in the Angus Bowmer Theatre with Shakespeare's Much Ado about Nothing (director, Lileana Blain-Cruz). On Saturday afternoon, Shakespeare's Pericles (Joseph Haj) takes the stage in the Thomas Theatre, and the classic musical Guys and Dolls (Mary Zimmerman) opens in the Bowmer Theatre that evening. Sunday afternoon the world-premiere production of Fingersmith (Bill Rauch) by Alexa Junge, based on the novel by Sarah Waters, opens in the Bowmer Theatre.
HERO Theatre announced today the full cast of its upcoming production of Clifford Odets' "Waiting for Lefty'. Charlie Hofheimer ("Mad Men"), Robin Gammell ("How to Get Away with Murder") and Dion Mucciacito (Lincoln Center's "Golden Boy") are part of a cast that includes Elisa Bocanegra (Roundabout's "The Milk Train Doesn't Stop Here Anymore"), Alan Blumenfeld ("The Interview"), Nick Caballero, Johnny Ray Gill (Sundance Channel's "Rectify"), Ephraim Lopez, Shannon Lucio ("True Blood"), Jonathan Medina and Jerry Nessis. Performances begin January 23rd, 2015 and will be held at the Rosenthal Theater at Inner-City Arts in Los Angeles, CA.
In a continued outpouring of solidarity among a giant consortium of the American theater's artistic directors, more than 30 additional artistic directors have signed the open letter that was issued yesterday in support of Ari Roth, following his recent dismissal from the Jewish Community Center in Washington, D.C., where he has served as Artistic Director of Theater J for the past 18 years.
In an unprecedented display of solidarity among a giant consortium of the American theater's artistic directors, an open letter has been issued in support of Ari Roth, following his recent dismissal from the Jewish Community Center in Washington, D.C., where he has served as Artistic Director of Theater J for the past 18 years. The letter, released earlier today represents the views of top theater brass from coast-to-coast, who believe that his dismissal was an act of politically motivated censorship in retaliation for Roth's choice to produce and publicly defend challenging and provocative work.
The Oregon Shakespeare Festival (OSF) has announced the creation of the Paul Nicholson Arts Management Fellowship, in honor of the 33-year career of OSF Executive Director Emeritus, Paul Nicholson. The fellowship is part of OSF's FAIR (Fellowships, Apprenticeships, Internships and Residencies) Experience Program, which provides more than 50 professional development opportunities annually.
Sometimes a bit of greatness, when combined with an equally great companion can form something so amazing that they surpass the heights to which they've already achieved. Such is the case with Tony Kushner's "Angels in America", the cycle of plays from August Wilson and, in my opinion, even Tarantino's "Kill Bill" saga. Well now we can add another set to the group as the Seattle Rep is now presenting the companion piece to the Robert Schenkkan's LBJ bio-play "All the Way" with the equally stunning "The Great Society". And if the first one grabbed you like it did me, then this one will only serve to extend that wild ride but in a very different way.
Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts (aka 'The Wallis') presents the Oregon Shakespeare Festival's critically acclaimed production of the Tony Award-winning musical Into the Woods for a limited 24-performance engagement through December 21, 2014 at the Bram Goldsmith Theater. Into the Woods, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Lapine, is directed by Amanda Dehnert. Dehnert also serves as the production's musical director, which creates a uniquely visionary and harmonious theatrical experience. BroadwayWorld has photos from the opening night festivities below!
The Oregon Shakespeare Festival's (OSF) production of Into the Woods will move to Beverly Hills, Calif., as part of the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts' 2014-15 season. With music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Lapine, Into the Woods heads to the Wallis' Bram Goldsmith Theater tonight, December 2, and runs through the 21st.
Robert Schenkkan's political drama All the Way has become the highest-grossing production in Seattle Repertory Theatre history, surpassing Lily Tomlin's The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe and Carrie Fisher's Wishful Drinking. The play is currently running now through Jan. 4, 2015 in the Bagley Wright Theatre. All the Way is presented in partnership with Oregon Shakespeare Festival (OSF).
I'm just going to stop you right here, Dear Reader. If you haven't already gone out and got your tickets for the Seattle Rep's production of Robert Schenkkan's "All the Way" then just stop reading this and go take care of that. I'll wait. Done? OK, now we can continue to talk about this juggernaut of a play that has completely lived up to all the hype that preceded it and more.
Theatre luminaries will gather tonight, November 17, 2014, to to honor acclaimed playwright Stephen Adly Guirgis as he receives the 2014 Steinberg Distinguished Playwright Award at the Steinberg Playwright Awards, presented by The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust. Scenes highlighting his work will be presented at the 7th Annual 'Mimi' Awards, which will take place at Lincoln Center Theater's Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater.
Theatre luminaries will gather on Monday, November 17, 2014, to to honor acclaimed playwright Stephen Adly Guirgis as he receives the 2014 Steinberg Distinguished Playwright Award at the Steinberg Playwright Awards, presented by The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust. Scenes highlighting his work will be presented at the 7th Annual 'Mimi' Awards, which will take place at Lincoln Center Theater's Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater.
HERO Theatre announced an upcoming presentation of 'Waiting for Lefty' by Clifford Odets that will be featured in a production titled 'An Evening of Clifford Odets: Waiting for Lefty and other Odets Classics.' 'Waiting for Lefty' will be featured in its entirety alongside scenes from Clifford Odets favorites 'Golden Boy,' 'Awake & Sing' and 'Paradise Lost.' It will be directed by Korey Jackson. The show dates are January 23, 24, 25, 30, 31 and February 1st. It will be presented at the Rosenthal Theater at Inner-City Arts in Los Angeles, CA.
Wallis Center for the Performing Arts (aka 'The Wallis') presents the Oregon Shakespeare Festival's critically acclaimed production of the Tony Award-winning musical Into the Woods for a limited 24-performance engagement December 2-21, 2014 (gala opening is Wednesday, December 3) at the Bram Goldsmith Theater. Into the Woods, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Lapine, is directed by Amanda Dehnert. Dehnert also serves as the production's musical director, which creates a uniquely visionary and harmonious theatrical experience. Scroll down for a sneak peek at the cast in action!
Oregon Shakespeare Festival (OSF) actor Miriam A. Laube has been named a Distinguished Achievement recipient of a Fox Foundation Resident Actor Fellowship. Laube will receive $25,000 as a fellow, while OSF will be awarded a $7,500 support grant.
