Classic Stage Company News

Classic Stage Company's acclaimed production of UNNATURAL ACTS, a new play created by members of the Plastic Theatre, conceived and directed by Tony Speciale is set to close July 24 at CSC (136 East 13th Street). New York Magazine called UNNATURAL ACTS 'remarkable, sleek and brutal' and said 'the play offers damning lessons in power, persecution and solidarity - or lack thereof.' Variety raved 'UNNATURAL ACTS is riveting and fascinating' with 'stunning theatricality.' The Associated Press called UNNATURALS ACTS 'powerfully riveting' and said 'Speciale has staged this engrossing story with flair and impressive theatricality, employing a company of extremely talented actors. In a riveting series of increasingly charged vignettes, he unspools a story of prejudice, intimidation, friendship, fear and betrayal that displays the crushing effect of societally-approved homophobia.' And The Daily News wrote 'Speciale's production is stylish and stirring, and beautiful.'

La Jolla Playhouse presents Peer Gynt, by Henrik Ibsen, adapted and directed by David Schweizer, running June 28 - July 24 (media night: Wednesday, July 6 at 7:30 pm) in the Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre. Tickets to Peer Gynt are available by calling the Box Office: (858) 550-1010 or online at LaJollaPlayhouse.org.

NIGHTMARE, New York's most horrifying haunted house and AOL CityGuide's No. 1 rated haunted attraction in New York City is celebrating its 8th Anniversary with a return to its origins on the Lower East Side of Manhattan at the Clemente Soto Velez Cultural Center, (107 Suffolk Street between Rivington and Delancey, NYC), September 29 through November 5, 2011.

Due to extraordinary demand, Classic Stage Company's acclaimed production of UNNATURAL ACTS, a new play created by members of the Plastic Theatre, conceived and directed by Tony Speciale, will extend for one final week through Sunday, July 31 at CSC (136 East 13th Street).

Atlantic Theater Company (Neil Pepe, Artistic Director, Jeffory Lawson, Managing Director) is proud to announce its 2011-2012 season productions, featuring world premieres from Academy Award® winner Ethan Coen, Fernanda Coppel, Gabe McKinley, Adam Rapp, and Pulitzer Prize winner John Patrick Shanley, as well as a U.S. premiere from Simon Stephens starring Olivier Award winner Simon Russell Beale.

According to published reports, BLOODY BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON star, Benjamin Walker, and actress Mamie Gummer, daught of Meryl Streep, wed this past weekend in an intimate ceremomy at the home of Streep and husband Don Gummer.

Classic Stage Company's acclaimed production of UNNATURAL ACTS, a new play created by members of the Plastic Theatre, conceived and directed by Tony Speciale, will close on Sunday, July 17 at CSC (136 East 13th Street).

A special One-Night Only press preview performance of SEX YOU (I'm Gonna), the newest immersive comedy experience by comedian Nathan Phillips will be held in New York City on Monday, July 25, 2011 at 8PM at the Ace Hotel (20 West 29th St.) - before heading to Edinburgh, Scotland where it will run as part of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and the Edinburgh Comedy Festival. www.imgonnasexyou.com.

Producers Julian Schlossberg and Letty Aronson announced today that Katherine Borowitz, Jason Kravits, Richard Libertini, Mark Linn-Baker, Patricia O'Connell have joined the ensemble cast of the world premiere of RELATIVELY SPEAKING, three one-act comedies by the prolific writing trio of Ethan Coen, Elaine May and Woody Allen. They join the previously-announced cast of Caroline Aaron, Bill Army, Lisa Emery, Ari Graynor, Steve Guttenberg, Danny Hoch, Julie Kavner, Fred Melamed, Grant Shaud, Marlo Thomas.

Classic Stage Company's acclaimed production of UNNATURAL ACTS, a new play created by members of the Plastic Theatre, conceived and directed by Tony Speciale, will extend by popular demand for one additional and final week through Sunday, July 24 at CSC (136 East 13th Street). New York Magazine called UNNATURAL ACTS 'remarkable, sleek and brutal' and said 'the play offers damning lessons in power, persecution and solidarity - or lack thereof.' Variety raved 'UNNATURAL ACTS is riveting and fascinating' with 'stunning theatricality.' The Associated Press called UNNATURALS ACTS 'powerfully riveting' and said 'Speciale has staged this engrossing story with flair and impressive theatricality, employing a company of extremely talented actors. In a riveting series of increasingly charged vignettes, he unspools a story of prejudice, intimidation, friendship, fear and betrayal that displays the crushing effect of societally-approved homophobia.' And The Daily News wrote 'Speciale's production is stylish and stirring, and beautiful.'

Classic Stage Company (CSC), under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Jessica R. Jenen, will present UNNATURAL ACTS, a new play created by members of the Plastic Theatre, conceived and directed by Tony Speciale, as the final offering of its triumphant 2010-11 season. Based on the real-life story of Harvard's 'Secret Court' of 1920, UNNATURAL ACTS will conclude performances Sunday July 10 at CSC (136 East 13th Street).

Chautauqua Theater Company Artistic Directors Vivienne Benesch and Ethan McSweeny announce the first production of CTC's 28th season: Anton Chekhov's Three Sisters, translated by Paul Schmidt.

Classic Stage Company's acclaimed production of UNNATURAL ACTS, a new play created by members of the Plastic Theatre, conceived and directed by Tony Speciale, will extend by popular demand for one additional week through Sunday, July 17 at CSC (136 East 13th Street). New York Magazine called UNNATURAL ACTS 'remarkable, sleek and brutal' and said 'the play offers damning lessons in power, persecution and solidarity - or lack thereof.' Variety raved 'UNNATURAL ACTS is riveting and fascinating' with 'stunning theatricality.' The Associated Press called UNNATURALS ACTS 'powerfully riveting' and said 'Speciale has staged this engrossing story with flair and impressive theatricality, employing a company of extremely talented actors. In a riveting series of increasingly charged vignettes, he unspools a story of prejudice, intimidation, friendship, fear and betrayal that displays the crushing effect of societally-approved homophobia.' And The Daily News wrote 'Speciale's production is stylish and stirring, and beautiful.'

Classic Stage Company's acclaimed production of UNNATURAL ACTS, a new play created by members of the Plastic Theatre, conceived and directed by Tony Speciale, will extend by popular demand for one additional week through Sunday, July 17 at CSC (136 East 13th Street).

According to the Hollywood Reporter, David Strathairn is set to join previously announced Daniel Day-Lewis and Sally Field in the film version of 'Team of Rivals,' based on Doris Kearns Goodwin's biography of Abraham Lincoln. Steven Spielberg will direct the film titled, 'Lincoln,' featuring a screenplay by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Tony Kushner.

Lynne Meadow (Artistic Director) and Barry Grove (Executive Producer), announced that Manhattan Theatre Club, by special arrangement with Jon B. Platt and Scott Landis, will produce the Broadway premiere of VENUS IN FUR, the play by David Ives directed by Tony Award winner Walter Bobbie featuring Tony Award nominee Nina Arianda reprising her acclaimed breakthrough performance. VENUS IN FUR will begin performances Thursday, October 13 at MTC's Samuel J. Friedman Theatre (261 West 47th Street) in a limited engagement. A November opening night for the production will be announced shortly.

La Jolla Playhouse presents Peer Gynt, by Henrik Ibsen, adapted and directed by David Schweizer, running June 28 - July 24 (media night: Wednesday, July 6 at 7:30 pm) in the Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre. Tickets to Peer Gynt are available by calling the Box Office: (858) 550-1010 or online at LaJollaPlayhouse.org.

Two-time Tony Award® winner James Earl Jones (Hoke Coleburn), Tony and Oscar® winner Vanessa Redgrave (Daisy Werthan) and four-time Tony Award® winner Boyd Gaines (Boolie Werthan) will star in the critically acclaimed production of Driving Miss Daisy, at the Wyndham's Theatre from 26 September until 17 December, with press night on 5 October. The play, written by Alfred Uhry and directed by David Esbjornson, enjoyed a record breaking sell-out run on Broadway until 9 April this year. Design is by John Lee Beatty, costumes by Jane Greenwood, lighting is by Peter Kaczorowski , music by Mark Bennett and sound by Christopher Cronin. Driving Miss Daisy is being produced in the West End by Jed Bernstein and Adam Zotovich.