Charles Towers News

Shakespeare & Company has announced its Winter Studio Festival of Plays on January 13 and 14, 2018. This weekend of staged readings will showcase emerging and established playwrights, and feature Company artists. All performances will take place in the Elayne P. Bernstein Theatre on the Shakespeare & Company campus in Lenox, Massachusetts.

Shakespeare & Company has announced its Winter Studio Festival of Plays on January 13 and 14, 2018. This weekend of staged readings will showcase emerging and established playwrights, and feature Company artists. All performances will take place in the Elayne P. Bernstein Theatre on the Shakespeare & Company campus in Lenox, Massachusetts.

The Independent Reviewers of New England (IRNE) today announced the nominees for the 20th Annual IRNE Awards, which honors the best of the previous year's actors, directors, choreographers, designers and companies across the full spectrum of large, mid-size and fringe theater companies.

Artistic Director Charles Towers is stepping down after fourteen seasons at the helm of Merrimack Repertory Theatre. He leaves the audience with one final moving drama by playwright Bruce Graham, written with impeccable honesty and directed with the finest attention to every emotional detail.

Merrimack Repertory Theatre (MRT) will be holding an Open House on Saturday, May 16 from 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm at their 50 E. Merrimack St. location in Lowell. The FREE event will provide an opportunity for members of the community to learn about the region's only professional theatre and hear about the upcoming 2015-16 Season from new Artistic Director Sean Daniels.

Merrimack Repertory Theatre (MRT) will close its 2014-15 Season with the touching drama, "The Outgoing Tide" by Bruce Graham, directed by Charles Towers. Tormented by the menacing grip of an aging mind and with an uncertain future ahead, Gunner Concannon has a plan for his and his family's future - but it is not what his wife Peg and son Jack had in mind. As the family debates his unorthodox idea, they are confronted by memories of the past and fears of the unknown. Ultimately, they must decide what it truly means to love someone. "The Outgoing Tide" is a deeply moving drama shot through with surprising humor.

Merrimack Repertory Theatre will be introducing its new Artistic Director Sean Daniels to the Boston theatre community at a reception on Monday, March 9. The reception will be held in lobby of Lyric Stage at 140 Clarendon St in Boston from 5:30 - 7:30 pm. The event is free and RSVP's can be submitted at https://www.facebook.com/events/415656115260049, but are not required.

'Oceanside' by Nick Gandiello will have its world premiere production at Merrimack Repertory Theatre under the direction of Melia Bensussen this winter. The production marks the first full-length professional production for Gandiello, an up-and-coming playwright whose work has received considerable national attention from playwriting conferences and workshops.

Boston area stages feature the kick-ass wit of Molly Ivins in RED HOT PATRIOT; Christopher Durang's hilarious mash-up of Chekhov and Snow White in VANYA AND SONIA AND MASHA AND SPIKE; the modern-day paranoia of cyber spy vs. spy in MUCKRAKERS; and the black comedy of two sons and a funeral in THE BEST BROTHERS.

"Oceanside" by Nick Gandiello will have its world premiere production at Merrimack Repertory Theatre under the direction of Melia Bensussen this winter. The production marks the first full-length professional production for Gandiello, an up-and-coming playwright whose work has received considerable national attention from playwriting conferences and workshops.

Daniel MacIvor's play 'The Best Brothers' quickly became a hit in Canada after its 2012 world premiere at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival. Merrimack Repertory Theatre will produce its East Coast premiere (and second production ever in the United States) this January, directed by Charles Towers.

Illustrious stage and screen actress Penny Fuller brings all of her charm and incandescence to Merrimack Repertory Theatre this holiday season in the lovely one-woman musical 13 THINGS ABOUT ED CARPOLOTTI.

Merrimack Repertory Theatre (MRT) will be celebrating its 35th season with a black-tie gala tonight, June 21. Congresswoman Nicola Tsongas will present the Paul Tsongas Award to UMass Lowell Chancellor Marty Meehan in recognition of his long-time personal support and his continued work to build and expand MRT's partnership with UMass Lowell. The event will also feature the Reduced Shakespeare Company presenting 'The Complete History of MRT (abridged),' a 10-minute sketch created especially for this event.

The Nominating Committee of the Independent Reviewers of New England has just announced nominees for the 2014 IRNE Awards. The Independent Reviewers of New England (IRNE) Awards, founded by Beverly Creasey of the Journal Newspapers and Larry Stark of TheaterMirror in 1997, recognize the extraordinary wealth of talent in the Boston theatre community.

Merrimack Repertory Theatre (MRT) is introducing the first in a series of 'Ladies Nights' at the theatre. The event, which takes place on Thursday, January 23 includes seats for the 7:30 pm performance of The Devil's Music: The Life and Blues of Bessie Smith by Angelo Parra and directed by Joe Brancato. Tickets also include a pre-show dessert reception beginning at 6:00 pm and a post-show discussion. The desserts will be provided by Dessert Yurt, a new Lowell-based specialty chocolate and dessert creator. Tickets for the event range from $48-23 and are all inclusive. They can be purchased online at www.mrt.org or by calling 978-654-4678.

Merrimack Repertory Theatre (MRT) presents The Devil's Music: The Life and Blues of Bessie Smith by Angelo Parra and directed by Joe Brancato, January 9- February 2, continuing the theater's 35th season with the soulful blues. The play will be performed in the recently-renovated Nancy L. Donahue Theatre, located at 50 East Merrimack Street in historic downtown Lowell. Tickets range from $60 - $20 and are on sale now through www.mrt.org or by calling 978-654-4678.

Lowell, MA - Merrimack Repertory Theatre (MRT) will be celebrating its 35th season with a black-tie gala onSaturday, June 21. Congresswoman Nicola Tsongas will present the Paul Tsongas Award to UMass Lowell Chancellor Marty Meehan in recognition of his long-time personal support and his continued work to build and expand MRT's partnership with UMass Lowell. The event will also feature the Reduced Shakespeare Company presenting 'The Complete History of MRT (abridged),' a 10-minute sketch created especially for this event.

Merrimack Repertory Theatre (MRT) brings the romantic comedy Stella and Lou by Bruce Graham to Lowell November 29 - December 22, continuing the theater's 35th season. The play is directed by MRT Artistic Director Charles Towers and will be performed in the recently-renovated Nancy L. Donahue Theatre, located at 50 East Merrimack Street in historic downtown Lowell. Tickets range from $60 - $20 and are on sale now through www.mrt.org or by calling 978-654-4678.

On Thursday, June 20 the Friends of MRT held their 'A Cause for Applause'charity auction to benefit Merrimack Repertory Theatre (MRT). The event was held at the UMass Lowell Inn and Conference Center and featured celebrity auctioneer Susan Wornick, a live and silent auction, and a seated dinner. With almost 300 people in attendance, 'A Cause for Applause' raised over $116,000 for MRT, which will benefit the theatre's mainstage and education programs.

Merrimack Repertory Theatre Board President Debra Grossman announced today that the company had concluded a six month national search for MRT's new Executive Director and have engaged Elizabeth Kegley, currently Managing Director of Dallas' highly-regarded Kitchen Dog Theatre, to fill the position.