Cincinnati Playhouse News

Four-time Emmy Award-winner and Tony Award nominee Valerie Harper returns to Hartford to kick off the National Tour of Matthew Lombardo's madcap comedy LOOPED, January 24-February 6, 2013 at The Belding Theatre at The Bushnell. The original Broadway production will again be directed by Rob Ruggiero.

Barrington Stage Company, the award-winning theatre in downtown Pittsfield, MA, under the leadership of Julianne Boyd, Artistic Director, and Tristan Wilson, Managing Director, will present the East coast premiere of The North Pool by Rajiv Joseph, a Pulitzer Prize finalist for Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo. Directed by Giovanna Sardelli, The North Pool will run July 26 through August 11 at BSC's St. Germain Stage (formerly Stage 2) with an Opening performance on Sunday, July 29 at 3pm. St. Germain Stage is located on the upper level of the Sydelle and Lee Blatt Performing Arts Center, 36 Linden Street, Pittsfield.

In the video below, CAP21 Alum Jared Gertner, who starred in THE BOOK OF MORMON on Broadway as Elder Cunningham and now will be playing the role in the National Tour, shares insights on being part of the show, and talks about his CAP21 training, favorite memories, and the skills that help him out the most.

Cincinnati Shakespeare Company is delighted to present the regional premiere of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES adapted by Steve Canny.

Original Broadway cast member Jared Gertner will star as Elder Cunningham in the First National Tour of THE BOOK OF MORMON, launching in Denver from August 14-September 2 at The Ellie Caulkins Opera House. Gertner will join previously announced Gavin Creel as Elder Price. Samantha Marie Ware joins as Nabulungi, as well as Grey Henson as Elder McKinley and Kevin Mambo as Mafala Hatimbi.

The award-winning Vineyard Theatre will celebrate its 30th anniversary season after its enormously successful 2011-12 season - which included the acclaimed debuts of THE LYONS, OUTSIDE PEOPLE, NOW. HERE. THIS. and the developmental lab of THE LANDING - with new works by Douglas McGrath, Rajiv Joseph and Jenny Schwartz, to be produced during 2012-13, it was announced by Douglas Aibel, Artistic Director, and Sarah Stern, Co-Artistic Director.

The American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) has just announced the Company for David Adjmi's new play, Marie Antoinette, directed by Rebecca Taichman, with choreography by Karole Armitage, in a co-production with Yale Repertory Theatre. The production begins previews on Saturday, September 1, and runs through Saturday, September 29, with press opening on Friday, September 7 at 7:00pm.

Jay Russell and Adam Fitzgerald announced two staged readings of ON THE TREETOP (by Jay Russell) today, June 18th at 3:30 PM and 6:30 PM at the Alvin Ailey Studios. The facility is located at 405 West 55th Street (at 9th Avenue). The reading is an invited presentation.

The Colony Theatre presents the first production of its "Season of Premieres" with the Los Angeles Premiere of THE SAVANNAH DISPUTATION, written by Evan Smith and directed by award-winning Cameron Watson, the show stars three-time Los Angeles Drama Critics Award-winning actress Anne Gee Byrd. THE SAVANNAH DISPUTATION opens tonight, June 16 at 8:00pm and continues through Sunday, July 8 at The Colony Theatre, 555 North Third Street (at Cypress) adjacent to the Burbank Town Center.

Olney Theatre Center today announced Martin Platt as their new Artistic Director. Mr. Platt began his tenure on May 28, 2012. He comes to Olney Theatre Center from his current position as Co-Director of Perry Street Theatricals (PST), a New York based producing company.

13P, the innovative collective of 13 playwrights, is about to culminate the mission it set forth upon its founding in 2003: to produce one play by each of its members. Pulitzer Finalist, TONY Award nominee and MacArthur "Genius" Fellowship recipient Sarah Ruhl (P#13) is creating a new, chamber version of her Melancholy Play (2001) with the composer Todd Almond and Davis McCallum, who directed a version of the work in 2002.

Round House Theatre's Board of Trustees announced today that it has named Ryan Rilette as its new Producing Artistic Director. Currently the Producing Director at Marin Theatre Company, Rilette will assume his full-time duties at Round House on August 1, 2012.

With oddly still no official word on who would be taking over as the new leads in the Tony-winning THE BOOK OF MORMON for departing stars (and former Tony nominees) Josh Gad (June 6) and Andrew Rannells (June 10), BWW reached out to a source in the production who confirmed that standby Jared Gertner would be taking over for Gad as Elder Cunningham and standby Nic Rouleau will be taking over for Rannells as Elder Price.

President George HW Bush and Mrs. Barbara Bush honored the Ogunquit Playhouse by attending yesterday's (June 3rd) Matinee performance of Always, Patsy Cline, now playing through June 16. Sally Struthers (as Louise) and Carter Calvert (as Patsy Cline) welcomed them backstage during intermission, where President and Mrs. Bush exalted both leading lady's performances. The former President and First Lady "loved" the show, and the cast, musicians and audience members loved seeing them as well. Check out the photo below!

Atlantic Theater Company presents world premiere of Fernanda Coppel's new play CHIMICHANGAS AND ZOLOFT, featuring Teddy Cañez, Zabryna Guevara, Alfredo Narciso, Xochitl Romero, and Carmen Zilles, directed by Jaime Castañeda.

Jay Russell and Adam Fitzgerald have announced two upcoming staged readings of ON THE TREETOP (by Jay Russell) on Monday, June 18th at 3:30 PM and 6:30 PM at the Alvin Ailey Studios. The facility is located at 405 West 55th Street (at 9th Avenue). The reading is an invited presentation.

The Colony Theatre presents the first production of its "Season of Premieres" with the Los Angeles Premiere of THE SAVANNAH DISPUTATION, written by Evan Smith and directed by award-winning Cameron Watson and will star three-time Los Angeles Drama Critics Award-winning actress Anne Gee Byrd.

As the summer days near, BroadwayWorld rounded up our worldwide community - from Australia to Spain, California and beyond! - to bring you our top picks for the best of summer theater in each of our main markets! Looking for the best of the summer venue and production offerings in your area? Let's hear from a sampling of the BroadwayWorld experts!

Take a break from the heat this summer and check out one of Cincinnati's summer theater options.