Brian Sidney Bembridge News

Writers Theatre, under the leadership of Artistic Director Michael Halberstam and Executive Director Kathryn M. Lipuma, continues its 2016/17 season with The Scene, written by Theresa Rebeck and directed by Kimberly Senior.

Philadelphia Theatre Company continues its 2016-2017 season with the Tony-nominated comedy Hand to God by Robert Askins on March 31-April 30.  Directed by Matt Pfeiffer with Robert Smythe as puppet designer and puppet movement director, the all-Philadelphia cast features Grace Gonglewski, Alex Keiper, Aubie Merrylees, Matteo Scammell, and William Zielinski.

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis concludes its 2016-2017 Studio Theatre season with The Royale by Marco Ramirez, directed by Stuart Carden.

THE ROYALE at City Theatre follows the story of Heavyweight Champion boxer Jay Johnson as he deals with racial inequity and impacting African-American culture with his success.

Writers Theatre, under the leadership of Artistic Director Michael Halberstam and Executive Director Kathryn M. Lipuma, continues its 2016/17 season with The Scene, written by Theresa Rebeck and directed by Kimberly Senior.

When we know tomorrow will just bring more tragedy, why do we get out of bed? Emerging playwright K.M.C. explores that question with humor, a fistful of feathers, and a plethora of plums in  Jocasta, or The Three Plums  by exploring Jocasta's last day behind the scenes of Sophocles' Oedipus Rex. 

Writers Theatre continues its 2016/17 season with The Scene, written Theresa Rebeck and directed by Kimberly Senior. The production runs February 22 - April 2, 2017 in the Alexandra C. and John D. Nichols Theatre at 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe. 

Votes are cast; polls are closed; and results have been tabulated! This was our biggest year yet! After a record number of voters in more than 75 regions worldwide, BroadwayWorld is very excited to announce the 2016 Seattle winners! Thanks to all who voted, and huge congratulations to all the winners!

It's been a crazy year, Dear Readers. Lots of ups, lots of downs, and LOTS of emotions. And I'm not just talking about on stage. But let's not dwell on the bad things that may have happened in the world and focus on some of the amazing things Seattle theater companies gave us this past year, and let me tell you there were quite a few. So many in fact that in some categories I simply had to call out more than the usual Honorable Mentions as some performances just needed to be noted. You'll see what I mean especially when you get to the female categories as the ladies were certainly bringing it this year. But let's get started shall we? Out of the myriad shows I saw this year in Seattle, here are the shows and performances that truly stood out to me.

The 'Driver's Seat' Monthly Reading Series  continues with... THE LAST MATCH by Anna Ziegler.

Played out under the bright lights of the U.S. Open Semifinals, The Last Match is a battle for the ages. Rising Russian star Sergei Sergeyev is pitted against American great Tim Porter in an epic showdown that follows two tennis titans through pivotal moments in their lives both on-and-off the court.

One of my favorite things in seeing all the shows I do is to stumble upon one that I like to refer to as 'alchemy'. It's that rare instance where all of the elements, the script, actors, director, set, costume, lights, music, etc all come together in just the right way and at just the right times to form pure gold. It may look like science or technical expertise but it's really just magic. One of those shows is ACT's current production of Christopher Hampton's 'Dangerous Liaisons'. If in seeing this show you are not able to have a thrilling night then you're just not paying attention.

Route 66 Theatre Company continues its 'Driver's Seat' Monthly Reading Series at Mrs. Murphy and Sons Irish Bistro (3905 N. Lincoln Ave) with CHANGING CHANNELS by John Reeger on Monday, November 7th at 7:30 p.m.

Be in the 'Driver's Seat' for THE MAKING OF A MODERN FOLK HERO, a new play by Martin Zimmerman, next up in Route 66 Theatre Company's monthly reading series at Mrs Murphy and Sons Irish Bistro.

Route 66 Theatre Company is pleased to announce the appointment Rachel Wendte and Deborah Blumenthal as its new Managing Director and New Play Development Director, respectively. 

Some plays seem ageless, while others are uncannily current. DISGRACED is the kind of play that succeeds in being both timeless and timely. Winner of the 2013 Pulitzer Prize for drama and a 2015 Tony Award nominee for best play, Ayad Akhtar's DISGRACED makes its regional premiere to open the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park's 2016-17 Thompson Shelterhouse season from Sept. 24 through Oct. 23.

Opening its 29th Season, Lookingglass Theatre Company presents the Midwest Premiere of Life Sucks written by Aaron Posner and directed by Lookingglass Ensemble Member Andrew White. Life Sucks runs now through November 6, 2016 at Lookingglass Theatre Company, located inside Chicago's historic Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave. at Pearson. The Press Opening is Saturday, September 17, 2016 at 7:30 p.m. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Some plays seem ageless, while others are uncannily current. DISGRACED is the kind of play that succeeds in being both timeless and timely. Winner of the 2013 Pulitzer Prize for drama and a 2015 Tony Award nominee for best play, Ayad Akhtar's DISGRACED makes its regional premiere to open the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park's 2016-17 Thompson Shelterhouse season from Sept. 24 through Oct. 23.

Chicago is hosting the Midwest premiere of Alan Lester Brooks' gripping post-World War II drama A SPLINTERED SOUL, directed by Keira Fromm and presented by ARLA Productions. A SPLINTERED SOUL plays now through May 29, 2016 at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago. The press opening was last Saturday, April 23. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Quintessence Theatre Group has announced the extension of its celebrated Devil and Saints Repertory: SAINT JOAN and DOCTOR FAUSTUS, performed in rotating repertory now through May 1.