Briana Butler News

Fresh off her win of the 2018 Cayle Chernin Award for Theatre Production, Lark & Whimsy Theatre Collective announced today that Briana Brown's newest play Robert will receive its world premiere at this summer's Toronto Fringe Festival, July 4th-15th, 2018 at St. George the Martyr, 197 John Street, Toronto, ON.

Grease has been a part of the American musical theater vernacular for so long - it opened in Chicago some 47 years ago in the halcyon days of 1971 - that it's easy to overlook the show's impact on theater, in general, and audiences, in particular. Its multiple revivals on Broadway, in regional theater and in various community theater and high school drama settings probably makes you believe you've seen in far more often than you actually have (unless, of course, you watch the film treatment with John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John over and over).

Cortland Repertory Theatre kicks off their 47th annual summer season at the Little York Pavilion in Preble with the hysterical ship-board comedy Rough Crossing by Tom Stoppard which he "freely adapted" from Ferenc Molnar's comedy Play At The Castle. Performances will run from June 6th - 16th with evening show times at 7:30 PM.  Matinees are available on June 8th, 10th and 13th at 2:00 PM. 

The 2010 Tony® Award-winning Best Musical, MEMPHIS rocks the Metropolitan Community College-Penn Valley Theatre, 3201 Southwest Trafficway in the Science and Technology Building, Kansas City, MO 64111, May 31 - June 24, 2018, for a limited engagement!

Steppenwolf Theatre Company presents the Chicago premiere production of Guards at the Taj by acclaimed playwright Rajiv Joseph, directed by ensemble member Amy Morton. A stunning tale about the search for beauty in desperate circumstances, the Steppenwolf production features the original cast members, Omar Metwally (Humayun) and Arian Moayed (Babur), whom Amy Morton directed in the Off-Broadway world premiere which received rave reviews when it premiered in 2015 and won the 2016 Obie Award for Best New American Play.

More than 50 actors have been set to participate in The Blank Theatre's 26th Annual Young Playwrights Festival. Twelve winning plays by young playwrights aged 15-19 from seven different states will be presented during this year's festival at the Stella Adler Theatre in Hollywood, running from May 31-June 24.

Of all the composers in the world Giuseppe Verdi is by far the most popular. Of all the operas in the world his 'La traviata' is by far the most frequently performed. Have you missed out on this mega hit? You can fill in that cultural gap with the splendid production now offered by Opera Theatre of St. Louis.

In response to the recent Wikipedia stat that revealed that only 16% of Wikipedia editors identify as women, Paramount Network's upcoming series American Woman and NowThis, the no. 1 news publisher in the world on social, today announced a new campaign to empower women to insert their respective voices and expertise into male dominated media, starting with Wikipedia's millions of crowdsourced pages.

Now in rehearsals, Steppenwolf Theatre Company is thrilled to present Guards at the Taj, a stunning tale about the search for beauty in desperate circumstances, written by acclaimed playwright Rajiv Joseph (Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo). As previously announced, ensemble member Amy Morton directs this Chicago premiere, featuring the original cast members, Omar Metwally (Humayun) and Arian Moayed (Babur), who were last seen on Steppenwolf's stage together in Homebody/Kabul. Morton directed the critically acclaimed Off-Broadway world premiere, which won the 2016 Obie Award for Best New American Play.

Playhouse on the Square, in partnership with Gene and Carol Katz, CrimeStoppers, SunTrust Bank, and in loving memory of Happy Jones and Fred Terry, is proud to once again bring this Broadway hit to stage in the epicenter of music, Memphis, TN. 

Now in rehearsals, Steppenwolf Theatre Company is thrilled to present Guards at the Taj, a stunning tale about the search for beauty in desperate circumstances, written by acclaimed playwright Rajiv Joseph (Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo). As previously announced, ensemble member Amy Morton directs this Chicago premiere, featuring the original cast members, Omar Metwally (Humayun) and Arian Moayed (Babur), who were last seen on Steppenwolf's stage together in Homebody/Kabul. Morton directed the critically acclaimed Off-Broadway world premiere, which won the 2016 Obie Award for Best New American Play.

The drama heats up and relationships are challenged as the next generation of hip hop royalty sets out to do whatever it takes to rise above their legendary parent's shadow. As they reach new heights to build their empires, not all thrones are protected when everything come crashing down around them. WE tv's hit series 'Growing Up Hip Hop' returns for its fourth season, premiering Thursday, May 24 at 9pm ET/PT.

Odyssey Theatre Ensemble collaborates with Not Man Apart-Physical Theatre Ensemble to present the world premiere of Lysistrata Unbound, a new and unexpected dramatic version of the classic Greek story written by acclaimed playwright Eduardo Machado. NMA artistic director emeritus John Farmanesh-Bocca (Tempest Redux, Ajax in Iraq) directs June 9 through Aug. 4 at the Odyssey Theatre in West L.A.

Totem Pole Playhouse, Pennsylvania's premiere summer theatre located in Caledonia State Park, has announced 60 nominations in 12 categories for the fifth annual Totem Pole Playhouse Awards recognizing outstanding achievement in musical theater production and performance by high school students in the counties surrounding the Playhouse.

Rise Above Performing Arts will be closing its current season with Narnia opening today April 26th and running through Sunday April 29th at The Glenridge Performing Arts Center.

Victoria Theatre Association announces the names of 22 female musicians selected to participate in ONE SMALL VOICE: WOMEN WHO ROCK.  ONE SMALL VOICE strives to provide women singers and songwriters, ages 13 and up, with private coaching and recording opportunities that will ultimately give participants the confidence to follow their own music journey as solo artists.

Lady Killers is an all-female touring production premiering at Etcetera Theatre; all the way from San Francisco!

Nowhere Man is an all female touring production premiering at Etcetera Theatre all the way from San Francisco!

The company that makes great theater for everyone is at it again. Taffety Punk Theatre Company's mission is, and always will be, to put out a good product while making it affordable for everyone. Tickets are $15 and there are also “pay what you can” performances. The current production, well worth the ticket price and then some, is a knockout version of Moliere's tale of the great lover Don Juan. It stars the superb DC actress Tonya Beckman in what, so far, is the role of her career.

Community theatre hits a high note with a favorite farcical, fast-paced, irreverent, and funniest musicals ever written - A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. Independence City Theatre winds wit, crafty comedy, salacious slapstick, fast-paced farce for an evening to twists, turns, and music.