David Emerson News

The Ford's Theatre Society announced that Craig Wallace will take on the role of Frederick Douglass in the world premiere of Necessary Sacrifices by Richard Hellesen.

Due to a private health matter, David Emerson Toney has withdrawn from the cast of the Ford's Theatre Society production of Necessary Sacrifices. Ford's Theatre is currently searching for a replacement actor to play the role of Frederick Douglass. In order to allow sufficient rehearsal time for the new cast member, Ford's Theatre has canceled four preview performances between January 20 and January 24. A revised performance schedule will be announced soon.

The Ford's Theatre Society presents the world premiere of the newly commissioned play Necessary Sacrifices by Richard Hellesen, directed by Jennifer L. Nelson from January 20-February 12, 2012. Necessary Sacrifices explores the two documented White House encounters between Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln during a period of national crisis. The production stars David Selby as Abraham Lincoln and David Emerson Toney as Frederick Douglass. The play is presented in connection with the opening of the new Ford's Theatre Center for Education and Leadership (514 Tenth Street NW, Washington, D.C.) in February 2012.

The Shakespeare Theatre Company continues its 2011-2012 Season with the return of Ethan McSweeny (The Merchant of Venice, The Persians, Ion, Major Barbara) directing Shakespeare's romantic comedy Much Ado About Nothing.

Paul R. Tetreault, Director of Ford's Theatre Society, announced that the new Ford's Theatre Center for Education and Leadership (located at 514 Tenth Street NW, Washington, D.C.) will open in February 2012.

The Shakespeare Theatre Company continues its 2011-2012 Season with the return of Ethan McSweeny (The Merchant of Venice, The Persians, Ion, Major Barbara) directing Shakespeare's romantic comedy Much Ado About Nothing.

The Shakespeare Theatre Company continues its 2011-2012 Season with the return of Ethan McSweeny (The Merchant of Venice, The Persians, Ion, Major Barbara) directing Shakespeare's romantic comedy Much Ado About Nothing.

The Shakespeare Theatre Company continues its 2011-2012 Season with the return of Ethan McSweeny (The Merchant of Venice, The Persians, Ion, Major Barbara) directing Shakespeare's romantic comedy Much Ado About Nothing.

November has over 60 more openings in the professional, community, universities, and children's theaters in the DC/MD/VA area. A week has already passed in November and over 20 new productions have opened. To read reviews of these shows, go to Maryland Theatre Guide, where I am the Editor and a columnist. A recent back surgery kept me from posting this earlier, so we have some catching up to do.

The Shakespeare Theatre Company continues its 2011-2012 Season with the return of Ethan McSweeny (The Merchant of Venice, The Persians, Ion, Major Barbara) directing Shakespeare's romantic comedy Much Ado About Nothing.

On May 20th, favorite Washington actors Sarah Marshall, Jennifer Mendenhall, Kim Schraf, Craig Wallace, MaryBeth Wise, Christopher Henley, Donna Migliaccio and Deidra Starnes will perform in readings of new plays by favorite Washington playwrights Ari Roth, Norman Allen, Ally Currin, David Emerson Toney , Renee Calarco, Elizabeth Pringle, Pamela Leahigh, and Keith Bridges at Theater J from 11pm to 1am.

On May 20th, favorite Washington actors Sarah Marshall, Jennifer Mendenhall, Kim Schraf, Craig Wallace, MaryBeth Wise, Christopher Henley, Donna Migliaccio and Deidra Starnes will perform in readings of new plays by favorite Washington playwrights Ari Roth, Norman Allen, Ally Currin, David Emerson Toney , Renee Calarco, Elizabeth Pringle, Pamela Leahigh, and Keith Bridges at Theater J from 11pm to 1am.

Secrets unfold when the Levay brothers bring their girlfriends to the family's luxurious Martha's vineyard summer home to meet their parents in Lydia Diamond's 'Stick Fly,' now at Baltimore's Everyman Theatre.

Lydia Diamond?s acclaimed play Stick Fly both entertains and fascinates audiences everywhere it plays. Everyman Theatre is producing the Baltimore premiere of this renowned theatrical work. Secrets unfold when the LeVay brothers bring their girlfriends to the family?s luxurious Martha?s Vineyard Summer home to meet their parents. When they see one of the girlfriends is white, long-hidden truths are revealed in this funny and poignant portrait of a dysfunctional African-American family. Under the microscope and unaccustomed to the LeVay?s affluent lifestyle, the women challenge the household dynamic. While issues around race and class are at the forefront of this play, it is ultimately about secrets, skeletons in the closet, and about dysfunctional family life.

Lydia Diamond?s acclaimed play Stick Fly both entertains and fascinates audiences everywhere it plays. Everyman Theatre is producing the Baltimore premiere of this renowned theatrical work. Secrets unfold when the LeVay brothers bring their girlfriends to the family?s luxurious Martha?s Vineyard Summer home to meet their parents. When they see one of the girlfriends is white, long-hidden truths are revealed in this funny and poignant portrait of a dysfunctional African-American family. Under the microscope and unaccustomed to the LeVay?s affluent lifestyle, the women challenge the household dynamic. While issues around race and class are at the forefront of this play, it is ultimately about secrets, skeletons in the closet, and about dysfunctional family life.

BroadwayWorld offers highlights of the several productions which will complete their Broadway runs in January.

BroadwayWorld has confirmed that Lincoln Center Theater's productions of WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN and A FREE MAN OF COLOR will not extend their limited engagement runs. WOMEN ON THE VERGE will close on January 23 as previously scheduled, and FREE MAN OF COLOR on January 9.

The Lincoln Center Theater production of John Guare's new play, A FREE MAN OF COLOR, directed by George C. Wolfe, opened on November 18 at the Vivian Beaumont Theater. The cast features Yao Ababio, Peter Bartlett, Nicole Beharie, Arnie Burton, Rosal Colón,Veanne Cox, Paul Dano, Sara Gettelfinger, Derric Harris, Justina Machado, Joseph Marcell, John McMartin, Nick Mennell, Mos, Teyonnah Parris, Postell Pringle, Esau Pritchett, Brian Reddy, Reg Rogers, Triney Sandoval, Robert Stanton, Wendy Rich Stetson, Jerome Stigler, Senfaub Stoney,David Emerson Toney and Jeffrey Wright. Broadway Beat was on hand to bring you interviews with the cast and creative!