David Cromer News

The Hairy Ape follows the saga of Yank, a maritime laborer who questions his place in society when branded as 'a filthy beast' by the rich daughter of a steel industrialist. In a series of eight scenes, O'Neill chronicles Yank's struggle with 'the human condition,' caught somewhere between his own primitive nature and the more intellectually based-and emotionally vacant-upper classes. Rejected by the bourgeois of Fifth Avenue as well as his fellow workers, Yank finally seeks solace from the only creature with whom he finds kinship: an ape in the Central Park Zoo. The Provincetown Players premiered The Hairy Ape, O'Neill's sixth play, in March 1922 under the direction of frequent O'Neill collaborator Robert Edmond Jones. That production, featuring Louis Wolheim's powerful performance as Yank, moved that April to Broadway's Plymouth Theatre. In 1944, a film version of the play featured William Bendix and in the ensuing decades the play has received dozens of notable revivals around the country; perhaps the most celebrated of these was The Wooster Group's 1996 production, featuring Willem Dafoe as Yank.

John Leguizamo, last seen in the ill-fated Broadway revival of David Mamet's American Buffalo, is returning to his downtown roots with a new one man project, 'WORK IN PROGRESS' which he'll debut at the Barrow Street Theatre beginning February 27th. 'WORK IN PROGRESS' will play through March 11th, 2009.

Two of Chicago's acclaimed off-Loop theater troupes join Goodman Theatre's 21st century exploration of Eugene O'Neill in February and March. The Hypocrites perform The Hairy Ape February 7-21, directed by Artistic Director and Founder Sean Graney, 'one of the most insightful directors now at work in Chicago' (Chicago Sun-Times), who transforms Goodman's three-tiered Owen Bruner Theatre into the various strata of an ocean liner. The Neo-Futurists, 'one of the most imaginative experimental theater ensembles in the country' (The Economist), perform Strange Interlude March 6-8, directed by Founder Greg Allen, in a production which unites audience and actors on the stage.

Emmy-nominated Paul Anthony Stewart stars as Raskolnikov in a gripping 90-minute adaptation of Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment at The Cleveland Play House. In addition to numerous New York and regional theatre roles, Stewart, who was nominated for his recurring role on 'Guiding Light,' recently appeared on Broadway in the revivals of Fiddler on the Roof and Cyrano - The Musical. Performed with only three actors, the adaptation of Crime and Punishment by Marilyn Campbell and Cut Columbus is being helmed by the acclaimed director of the 2005 Play House production of I Am My Own Wife, Anders Cato. Crime and Punishment begins in the Drury Theatre at The Cleveland Play House on Friday, February 27 and runs through Sunday, March 22, 2009. Tickets are on sale now at The Cleveland Play House box office by calling 216.795.7000 ext 4 or online at www.clevelandplayhouse.com. Crime and Punishment is presented in promotional partnership with National City and Baker & Hostetler.

Film and theatre production company Jean Doumanian Productions (August: Osage County) will produce a musical based on Mitchell Zuckoff's acclaimed biography 'Ponzi's Scheme: The True Story of a Financial Legend.' Jean Doumanian Productions will be co-producing the musical with Michael Shulman and Craig Saavedra of Starry Night Entertainment. The two companies jointly acquired the rights to Zuckoff's book for both the stage and film.

Two of Chicago's acclaimed off-Loop theater troupes join Goodman Theatre's 21st century exploration of Eugene O'Neill in February and March. The Hypocrites perform The Hairy Ape February 7-21, directed by Artistic Director and Founder Sean Graney, 'one of the most insightful directors now at work in Chicago' (Chicago Sun-Times), who transforms Goodman's three-tiered Owen Bruner Theatre into the various strata of an ocean liner. The Neo-Futurists, 'one of the most imaginative experimental theater ensembles in the country' (The Economist), perform Strange Interlude March 6-8, directed by Founder Greg Allen, in a production which unites audience and actors on the stage.

Producers Scott Morfee, Jean Doumanian and Tom Wirtshafter have announced complete casting for the acclaimed David Cromer production of Thornton Wilder's Our Town. Performances will begin on February 17th with an official opening night set for Thursday, February 26th, 7:30 p.m., at the Barrow Street Theatre (27 Barrow Street), whose space will be completely redesigned for this production.

Jean Doumanian Productions and Barrow Street Theatre(Scott Morfee and Tom Wirtshafter) today announced that they will produce director David Cromer's acclaimed staging of Thornton Wilder's Our Town at Off Broadway's Barrow Street Theatre. Performances will begin on February 17, with anofficial opening night set for Thursday, February 26. The production will require acomplete redesign of the theater space.

Variety is reporting that David Cromer will direct the upcoming Broadway revivals of 'Brighton Beach Memoirs' and 'Broadway Bound.'

The Chicago Tribune is reporting that David Cromer's hit Chicago production of Thornton Wilder's 'Our Town' looks headed for Off-Broadway in a few weeks.

American Theater Company (ATC) continues its 2008-09 season with the sixth annual production of It's a Wonderful Life: The Radio Play adapted from Frank Capra's classic film and directed by Damon Kiely. The production will run December 4 -December 28, 2008, at American Theater Company, 1909 W Byron St, Chicago, IL. Press opening is Monday, December 8, 2008 at 7:00 p.m.

American Theater Company (ATC) continues its 2008-09 season with the sixth annual production of It's a Wonderful Life: The Radio Play adapted from Frank Capra's classic film and directed by Damon Kiely. The production will run December 4 -December 28, 2008, at American Theater Company, 1909 W Byron St, Chicago, IL. Press opening is Monday, December 8, 2008 at 7:00 p.m.

American Theater Company (ATC) continues its ambitious Season 24 with the Chicago Premiere of 'Celebrity Row' written by Itamar Moses and directed by David Cromer. The production will run October 16- November 9, 2008 at American Theater Company, 1909 W Byron St, Chicago.

Profiles Theatre opens its 20th Anniversary Season with the acclaimed comedy-drama Men of Tortuga by Jason Wells, directed by Steppenwolf ensemble member Rick Snyder. The production runs October 9-December 7, 2008, at Profiles Theatre, 4147 N. Broadway. Men of Tortuga will play for a limited engagement at Profiles through December 7, 2008 only and will not extend. The press opening is Thursday, October 9, 2008, at 8:00 p.m.

American Theater Company (ATC) continues its ambitious Season 24 with the Chicago Premiere of 'Celebrity Row' written by Itamar Moses and directed by David Cromer. The production will run October 16- November 9, 2008 at American Theater Company, 1909 W Byron St, Chicago.

Profiles Theatre opens its 20th Anniversary Season with the acclaimed comedy-drama Men of Tortuga by Jason Wells, directed by Steppenwolf ensemble member Rick Snyder. The production runs October 9-December 7, 2008, at Profiles Theatre, 4147 N. Broadway. Men of Tortuga will play for a limited engagement at Profiles through December 7, 2008 only and will not extend.

Writers' Theatre Artistic Director Michael Halberstam and Executive Director Kathryn M. Lipuma announce William Inge's Picnic directed by David Cromer. The production runs September 16-November 16, 2008, at Writers' Theatre, 325 Tudor Court in Glencoe.

American Theater Company proudly announces Michael Thomas Newberry as its Executive Director. Newberry joins Artistic Director PJ Paparelli for his first full season as ATC embarks upon its ambitious Season 24, which includes an expanded mainstage season, new Ensemble Members and a bold new logo designed by Noble.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company presents the 4th annual First Look Repertory of New Work.