Craig Lucas News

After breaking box office records and selling out in record time for a two-week engagement in 2006, WICKED, the smash-hit musical, returns to SAN DIEGO CIVIC THEATRE as a Broadway/San Diego - A Nederlander Presentation, playing Wednesday, JULY 29 through Sunday, AUGUST 30.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) announced casting for the Shakespeare in the Park production of Euripides' THE BACCHAE, directed by JoAnne Akalaitis with original music by Philip Glass and translated by Nicholas Rudall. THE BACCHAE will run August 11-August 30 at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park with an official press opening on Monday, August 24 at 8 p.m. Bank of America returns as lead sponsor of Shakespeare in the Park 2009.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) announced complete casting today for the Shakespeare in the Park production of Euripides' THE BACCHAE, directed by JoAnne Akalaitis with original music by Philip Glass and translated by Nicholas Rudall. Anthony Mackie (The Hurt Locker) will play the lead role of Pentheus joining George Bartenieff as Cadmus; André De Shields as Teiresias; Jonathan Groff as Dionysus; Karen Kandel as Chorus Leader; Joan MacIntosh as Agave; Steven Rishard as Cowherd; and Rocco Sisto as Messenger.

Casting has been announced for the all-new production of the Lincoln Center Theater prize-winning musical classic Rodgers and Hammerstein's SOUTH PACIFIC premiering at the Golden Gate Theatre beginning Friday, September 18 through Sunday, October 25, 2009.

Playwrights Horizons (Tim Sanford, Artistic Director; Leslie Marcus, Managing Director) announced today that Parker Posey has had to withdraw from the cast of THIS, a new play by Obie Award winner Melissa James Gibson (Suitcase, [sic]), due to developing a case of Lyme Disease. A replacement actress for the lead role of Jane will be announced shortly.

Rattlestick Playwrights Theater will open its 15th anniversary season with a fresh look at Killers and Other Family, the provocative play by Lucy Thurber (Monstrosity, Where We're Born, Stay) which had its world premiere as part of the company's 2000-01 season.

Jonathan Groff goes from THE BACCHAE on stage to 'Taking Woodstock' on screen this summer. The always evolving young talent has been hitting the press circuit to promote the two projects.

South Ark Stage and kef productions will present the World Premiere of Lyric is Waiting by Michael Puzzo, directed by Adam Fitzgerald. This production will begin Thursday, July 30; Opening on Sunday, August 2 and will run through August 22, 2009 and take place at The Irish Repertory Theatre.

ROGUE MACHINE announces the run of SHORTS AND SWEETS, opening Friday, August 7th and running through August 22, 2009

ROGUE MACHINE announces the run of SHORTS AND SWEETS, opening Friday, August 7th and running through August 22, 2009

Celebrating 35 years of producing award-winning musical theater in Chicagoland, The Marriott Theatre is thrilled to present the stunningly beautiful new musical THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA, previewed July 22nd, opened July 29th, and running through September 20th.

Prescott Fine Arts Association, 208 N. Marina Street, Prescott, opens the 40th Season with the modern day fairytale Prelude to a Kiss on our theatre stage. Prelude to a Kiss opens September 10th with a reception after. The dates and times are September 10,11,12, 17,18 and 19 at 7:30 pm, and two matinees: September 13 and 19 at 2:00 pm.

The Huntington Theatre Company will offer $25 tickets to select performances of August Wilson's Pulitzer Prize winner Fences and to the world premiere of Grammy Award-winning pop icon Maureen McGovern's A Long and Winding Road at a special One Day Sale on Thursday, August 20. Tickets will be available online, by phone, and in person at the Boston University Theatre Box Office, located at 264 Huntington Avenue, Boston.

VITAL THEATRE COMPANY is pleased to announce the extension of THE BULLY, an original musical for children with music and lyrics by JOHN GREGOR and book by DAVID L. WILLIAMS, directed and choreographed by TROY MILLER, at the VITAL THEATRE.

Arena Stage presents The Quality of Life, written by playwright and Emmy Award-winner Jane Anderson and directed by Lisa Peterson (Arena's The Rainmaker). In this 'magnetic work of theater' (San Francisco Chronicle) filled with compassion, honesty and humor, we find two couples dealing very differently with devastation.

New York's OBIE Award-winning Epic Theatre Ensemble (Zak Berkman, Melissa Friedman, Ron Russell, Founding Executive Directors)

The Metropolitan Opera has reason to celebrate; $2.5 million worth of tickets were sold on Sunday, the first day of sales, through its box office, telephone call center and Web site, up from $2 million on the first day of sales last year, according to the Associated press.

Playwrights Horizons (Tim Sanford, Artistic Director; Leslie Marcus, Managing Director) is now accepting entries for its popular LIVEforFIVE online lottery for $5 tickets to its next production, the World Premiere of THE RETRIBUTIONISTS, a new play by Daniel Goldfarb (Modern Orthodox, Adam Baum and the Jew Movie, Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me). At least 50 tickets will be available via the online lottery.

Jonathan Groff goes from THE BACCHAE on stage to 'Taking Woodstock' on screen this summer, the always evolving young talent has been hitting the press circuit to promote the two projects. Groff recently spoke to New York Magazine, and is featured in a pair of new articles.

The Vineyard Theatre has announced its 2009-2010 season. The lineup includes new works from Passing Strange's Colman Domingo, Adam Rapp, John Kander & Fred Ebb and more.