Curt Columbus News

Mary-Arrchie Theatre Co. will open its 28th Season with the powerful 90-minute, award-winning stage adaptation of Fyodor Dostoyevsky's classic novel CRIME AND PUNISHMENT by Marilyn Campbell and Curt Columbus, directed by Artistic Director Richard Cotovsky, playing tonight, February 4 - March 16, 2014 at Angel Island, 731 W. Sheridan Ave. in Chicago.

Trinity Rep has announced the return of their annual wine tasting event - Red White & Groove - a casual evening featuring food, wine, and dancing to the music of Superchief Trio. Co-chaired by Gil MacLean and his wife Michelle Collie, the event is sponsored by Bottles Fine Wine. The benefit party will take place tonight January 25th from 7PM to 11PM at the Pell Chafee Performance Center, 87 Empire St., Providence.

Trinity Rep continues its 50th anniversary season with the highly anticipated return of former artistic director and Academy-award nominated actor Richard Jenkins and his wife Sharon Jenkins to bring the beloved musical Oliver! to the Providence stage. The show runs February 20 to March 30, 2014 in Trinity Rep's Chace Theater. The pair returns to direct and choreograph the Tony Award winning musical packed with favorite songs such as 'Consider Yourself,' 'Who Will Buy?' and 'Food, Glorious Food'. This production of Oliver! is made possible by support from the National Endowment for the Arts and supporting sponsor The Washington Trust Company. Tickets are on sale now at www.trinityrep.com, by calling (401) 351-4242, or at the theater's box office at 201 Washington St., Downtown Providence.

After conducting a thorough national search, the Alliance Theatre has announced that Mike Schleifer has been chosen as the new General Manager of the Alliance Theatre, beginning March 3, 2014. Schleifer steps into the position left vacant by Max Leventhal, who served the Alliance for 10 seasons before transitioning to the role of Owners' Representative to the Woodruff Arts Center in September, 2013. Schleifer brings to his new role 19 years of theatre management experience in a variety of company leadership and stage management positions.

Mary-Arrchie Theatre Co. will open its 28th Season with the powerful 90-minute, award-winning stage adaptation of Fyodor Dostoyevsky's classic novel CRIME AND PUNISHMENT by Marilyn Campbell and Curt Columbus, directed by Artistic Director Richard Cotovsky, playing February 4 - March 16, 2014 at Angel Island, 731 W. Sheridan Ave. in Chicago. Tickets for CRIME AND PUNISHMENT go on sale Monday, January 13, 2014 at www.maryarrchie.com or by calling the box office at (773) 871-0442. The press performance is Thursday, February 6, 2014 at 8 pm.

Guy Roberts is an actor/director with a mission. As Founder and Artistic Director of Prague Shakespeare Company, he dreams of leading his company to recognition as the premiere English-language classical theatre in continental Europe. Now in his sixth year of living and working in Prague, he has already made great strides toward that goal.

These days, it is said more and more often that there are no new ideas under the sun. These accusations of a lack of originality are especially directed at Hollywood and the television studios. Every weekend sees the opening of a new sequel or reboot or re-imagining. While there are, in reality, some great original ideas coming out of Hollywood and television, there is also no shortage of originality in the world of live theater. Unfortunately, Christopher Durang's Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, playing at Trinity Rep, feels like little more than a needless attempt to update and reboot Chekov while using as many modern day and mostly unnecessary pop-culture references as possible.

Trinity Rep has announced the return of their annual wine tasting event - Red White & Groove - a casual evening featuring food, wine, and dancing to the music of Superchief Trio. Co-chaired by Gil MacLean and his wife Michelle Collie, the event is sponsored by Bottles Fine Wine. The benefit party will take place on Saturday January 25th from 7PM to 11PM at the Pell Chafee Performance Center, 87 Empire St., Providence. The evening features a wine tasting with culinary pairings from several local restaurants and the danceable rhythms Superchief Trio with opening act 3pile. Tickets are $75 and are available online at www.trinityrep.com, by phone at 401-351-4242 or in person at the Trinity Rep Box Office at 201 Washington St. in Providence.

Trinity Rep continues their 50th anniversary season with the New England premiere of Christopher Durang's smash-hit comedy Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike. Directed by The Richard L. Bready Artistic Director Curt Columbus, the show beings in previews November 21st in the intimate Dowling Theater and runs through December 22nd. Taking takes his cue from some of Anton Chekhov's most recognizable characters, Durang wickedly adds more than a dash of pop culture, a huge helping of dark humor and then lets the characters stew in a pressure cooker of their own devising. The result is a whirlwind weekend of classic Durang barbs, over the top tirades and ridiculously hysterical situations hailed. Tickets on sale now through the box office at 201 Washington St., by phone at (401) 351-4242 and online at www.trinityrep.com.

Trinity Rep announces the addition of sign language interpretation to their upcoming sensory-friendly performance of Charles Dickens with their annual presentation of his classic tale A Christmas Carol, as adapted by Adrian Hall and Richard Cumming, presented by Cardi's Furniture with supporting sponsor Amica Insurance. The sensory-friendly presentation with of the show with ASL interpretation will be held today, November 9 at 2:00PM and is sponsored by The Hearst Foundations.

Fresh on the heels of their sold out run of season opener The Grapes of Wrath, Trinity Rep continues their 50th anniversary season with the New England premiere of Christopher Durang's smash-hit comedy Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike. Directed by The Richard L. Bready Artistic Director Curt Columbus, the show beings in previews November 21st in the intimate Dowling Theater and runs through December 22nd. Taking takes his cue from some of Anton Chekhov's most recognizable characters, Durang wickedly adds more than a dash of pop culture, a huge helping of dark humor and then lets the characters stew in a pressure cooker of their own devising. The result is a whirlwind weekend of classic Durang barbs, over the top tirades and ridiculously hysterical situations hailed as "Terrifically kooky!" by Entertainment Weekly. For those that are not familiar with Uncle Vanya or Cherry Orchard, Critics agree that 'Even if you've never read a word of Chekhov, you're likely to find plenty to make you laugh…' (The New York Times.) Tickets on sale now through the box office at 201 Washington, by phone at (401) 351-4242 and online at www.trinityrep.com.

Trinity Rep proudly announces the addition of sign language interpretation to their upcoming sensory-friendly performance of Charles Dickens with their annual presentation of his classic tale A Christmas Carol, as adapted by Adrian Hall and Richard Cumming, presented by Cardi's Furniture with supporting sponsor Amica Insurance. The sensory-friendly presentation with of the show with ASL interpretation will be held on Saturday, November 9 at 2:00PM and is sponsored by The Hearst Foundations. The ASL interpretation is made possible by a donation from Perspectives Corporation. Catering to both adults and children with sensitivities, this modified performance fits the needs of individuals with autism spectrum disorders and other cognitive and physical disabilities, as well as those seeking sign language interpretation. Trinity Rep's A Christmas Carol is a timeless tale of forgiveness and hope that earns rave reviews from audiences and critics year after year. Tickets for this performance are on sale now and by phone at (401) 351-4242 and in person at the theater's box office. All seats for this performance are $22. Please indicate a preference for the ASL interpretation when purchasing to ensure the best view of the interpreter.

Theatre Communications Group (TCG) announces the 2013 Cycle A recipients of the Leadership U[niversity]-Continuing Ed program. Through the support of The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, grants of up to $5,000 will support four mid-career and veteran theatre professionals at TCG Member Theatres for learning opportunities to advance their leadership skills. The goal of this program is to strengthen the field by developing the individuals who are the core and the future of theatre. The Cycle B Continuing Ed grant application process will launch in October of 2013.

Trinity Rep proudly announces the addition of a sensory-friendly performance of Charles Dickens with their annual presentation of his classic tale of A Christmas Carol, as adapted by Adrian Hall and Richard Cumming, presented by Cardi's Furniture with supporting sponsor Amica Insurance. The sensory-friendly adaptation of the show will be held on Saturday, November 9 at 2:00PM and is sponsored by The Hearst Foundations. Catering to both adults and children with sensitivities, this modified show fits the needs of individuals with autism spectrum disorders and other cognitive and physical disabilities. Trinity Rep's A Christmas Carol is a timeless tale of forgiveness and hope that earns rave reviews from audiences and critics year after year. Tickets for this performance are on sale now and by phone at (401) 351-4242 and in person at the theater's box office. All seats for this performance are $22.

In response to high demand and praise from critics and patrons alike, Trinity Rep announces additional performances of The Grapes of Wrath. Tickets are now on sale for Friday, October 11 at 7:30pm and Saturday, October 12 at 7:30pm. The Friday night performance serves as benefit for Direct Action for Rights and Equality (DARE) and RI Coalition for the Homeless, with proceeds donated to these organizations. Tickets for the added performances of The Grapes of Wrath are on sale now at the Trinity Rep box office, 201 Washington St.; by phone at (401) 351-4242; and online at www.trinityrep.com.

Trinity Repertory Company has announced that in tandem with the depression era drama, The Grapes of Wrath, they are partnering with the RI Blood Center for a Blood Drive on Friday, September 13th from 2:30pm-5:30pm at Trinity Repertory Company, 201 Washington St in Providence in order to raise awareness and urge donations. All pre-registered donors will get a free ticket to a performance of The Grapes of Wrath, onstage now through October 6 at Trinity Rep. To register, login to www.ribcdonor.org and follow the steps to Trinity Rep's drive.

Trinity Rep kicks off their 50th Anniversary season with John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath, the definitive American tale of the strength of family and the human spirit set in the aftermath of the Great Depression. The Grapes of Wrath begins previews tonight, September 5, 2013 and runs until October 6, 2013 in Trinity Rep's Dowling Theater.

Trinity Repertory Company announces open enrollment for lifelong learning classes. The program is currently accepting registration, and fall classes begin as early as August 29. Committed to the belief in theater for every generation, the education department offers a wide array of performance classes for adults taught by the resident acting company and artistic staff. For those too shy to be on stage, the department offers a playwriting class and discussion series illuminating the artistic process. For more information on courses and offerings, contact Jordan Butterfield, Education Programs Manager at jbutterfield@trinityrep.com. To enroll in Acting Classes and Discussion Series, email education@trinityrep.com or register online at http://www.trinityrep.com/education/.

Trinity Rep kicks off their 50th Anniversary season with John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath, the definitive American tale of the strength of family and the human spirit set in the aftermath of the Great Depression. The Grapes of Wrath begins previews September 5, 2013 and runs until October 6, 2013 in Trinity Rep's Dowling Theater. Adapted for the stage by Frank Galati, this evocative and deeply affecting stage version promises to lift Steinbeck's novel to new heights of theatrical urgency, especially when married with director Brian McEleney's visceral storytelling style. Part naturalistic epic, part road novel, part inspirational gospel, The Grapes of Wrath boasts a 17 member cast and original folk-rock music from the show's band, 3pile. This production is sponsored by Taco/The White Family Foundation.

Trinity Repertory Company, the State Theater of Rhode Island is proud to announce that three new company members have been added to their resident acting company roster - Mia Ellis, Rebecca Gibel and Charlie Thurston. All three performers are Brown/Trinity Rep MFA acting program graduates and no strangers to the Trinity Rep stage, having appeared in multiple productions over the past several seasons. The three join Trinity Rep's current resident acting company members: Stephen Berenson, Angela Brazil, Timothy Crowe, Mauro Hantman, Janice Duclos, Brian McEleney, Phyllis Kay, Anne Scurria, Barbara Meek, Fred Sullivan, Jr., Stephen Thorne, Rachael Warren, and Joe Wilson, Jr.