David Lindsay-Abaire News

Yesterday, September 13, David Lindsay-Abaire premiered the film adaptation of his Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning play, The Rabbit Hole during the 35th Toronto International Film Festival at the Elgin Theatre. The film stars Nicole Kidman, Diane Wiest, Aaron Eckhart, Tammy Blanchard, and Sandra Oh. The film was adapted by Lindsay-Abaire and directed by John Cameron Mitchell.

The original animated film SHREK was a kind of adult fairytale, though it was obviously aimed squarely at the youth market as well, successfully spawning a franchise with sequels and merchandising galore. So, it should come as no surprise that Dreamworks would opt to try their luck on stage with a musical version of their blockbuster hit. Happily, like the original, it's a cute and amusing production that will play equally well to children and their parents, who will certainly appreciate some of the more grown-up humor the book and lyrics provide. The current production of SHREK THE MUSICAL, which is playing at the Fox Theatre, is a cleverly mounted show with fine performances and dazzling displays of technical wizardry.

Manhattan Theatre Club's (Lynne Meadow, Artistic Director; Barry Grove, Executive Producer) American premiere of Tony Award winner Lee Hall's THE PITMEN PAINTERS begins previews tomorrow, Tuesday, September 14 at MTC's Samuel J. Friedman Theatre (261 West 47th Street). The play will celebrate a September 30 opening night.

DreamWorks Theatricals and Neal Street Productions, Ltd. are pleased to announce that David F. M. Vaughn has recently joined the National Tour of SHREK THE MUSICAL in the role of the vertically challenged villain Lord Farquaad. He is joined by Justin W. Shuffler, who will play the Big Bad Wolf.

According to a report by Baz Bamigboye in UK Daily Mail, the upcoming West End production of Shrek will receive many changes before opening at Theatre Royal. The cast will be lead by Nigel Lindsey as Shrek, Nigel Harman as Lord Farquaad, Richard Blackwood as Donkey, and Amanda Holden as Princess Fiona.

All the wrong men chase all the wrong women in Misalliance, an exuberant comedy from George Bernard Shaw that opens South Coast Repertory's 47th season. This witty classic, helmed by SCR Artistic Director Martin Benson, runs Sept. 10 through Oct. 10 on the Segerstrom Stage.

OF GRAPES AND NUTS, written by Doug Armstrong, Keith Cooper and Tom Willmorth, formerly of Chicago's highly celebrated Illegitimate Players, will have its west coast premiere by SeaGlass Theatre September 18 - October 24, 2010 at the Victory Theatre Center's Little Vic Theatre in Burbank, CA. The 6-week engagement marks the 20th anniversary of this award-winning comedy.

DreamWorks Theatricals and Neal Street Productions, Ltd. are pleased to announce that David F. M. Vaughn has recently joined the National Tour of SHREK THE MUSICAL in the role of the vertically challenged villain Lord Farquaad. He is joined by Justin W. Shuffler, who will play the Big Bad Wolf.

Sarah Ruhl's In the Next Room or the vibrator play will heat up South Coast Repertory's Julianne Argyros Stage Sept. 26 through Oct. 17. The Pulitzer Prize finalist and Tony Award nominee is set in the Victorian era, just before its corseted women shed their inhibitions. Dr. Givings (Andrew Borba) is having tremendous success with a new electric invention designed to alleviate the symptoms of 'female hysteria.' But the noises in the adjoining room spark the curiosity of his wife, Catherine (Kathleen Early), a lonely new mother eager for intimacy. Her investigation into the doctor's work leads to friendships with a couple of patients, the high-strung Sabrina Daldry (Rebecca Mozo) and the artist Leo Irving (Ron Menzel), and ultimately to a new relationship with her husband.

2nd Story Theatre Artistic Director Ed Shea announces the 2010-2011 Season, five comedies 'with teeth', alternating between quirky modern and enduring classics.

New Feet Productions and Adam Blanshay, in association with The Present Company, present the World Premiere of the dark political comedy ALL DAY SUCKERS by playwright/author Susan Dworkin (THE NAZI OFFICER'S WIFE, THE VIKING IN THE WHEAT FIELD), directed by Jessica Bauman (MILK, INTO THE HAZARD (HENRY 5)) - as part of the 14th Annual New York International Fringe Festival with five performances only, between August 13-29 at the Robert Moss Theatre at 440 Studios (440 Lafayette Street, 3rd Floor) in Manhattan.

Haven Burton and two of the cast members from 'Shrek the Musical' performed 'I Know It's Today' on ABC7 in Chicago. Shrek the Musical plays through September 7 at the Cadillac Palace Theatre in Chicago.

The prestigious STAGE International Script Competition announces The Altruists, by British playwright Craig Baxter, as the 2010 winner of their 4th biennial award for best new play about science and technology.

Landmark on Main Street's 2010-11 Season 'Conversations From Main Street Series' opens on Wednesday, September 15, 2010 at 7:30 PM with An Evening with Jeanine Tesori. Free Admission to all Conversations From Main Street programs is made possible thanks to the generosity of the Angela & Scott Jaggar Foundation.

All the wrong men chase all the wrong women in Misalliance, an exuberant comedy from George Bernard Shaw that opens South Coast Repertory's 47th season. This witty classic, helmed by SCR Artistic Director Martin Benson, runs Sept. 10 through Oct. 10 on the Segerstrom Stage.

Juilliard's Drama Division announced the complete schedule for its 2010-2011 season of fully-staged productions featuring students in their fourth and final year of acting training at Juilliard. This season's plays include Lorraine Hansberry's A RAISIN IN THE SUN, directed by Jade King Carroll, October 20-24; David Auburn's PROOF, directed by Harris Yulin, November 11-15; and Chekhov's THE SEAGULL, directed by Richard Feldman, December 9-13.

THE OJAI PLAYWRIGHTS CONFERENCE (OPC) is thrilled to announce its 2010 Season - 13th Annual program of playwrights, readings and special performances featuring some of the most talented, established and up-and-coming playwrights writing today.

New Feet Productions and Adam Blanshay, in association with The Present Company, present the World Premiere of the dark political comedy ALL DAY SUCKERS by playwright/author Susan Dworkin (THE NAZI OFFICER'S WIFE, THE VIKING IN THE WHEAT FIELD), directed by Jessica Bauman (MILK, INTO THE HAZARD (HENRY 5)) - as part of the 14th Annual New York International Fringe Festival with five performances only, between August 13-29 at the Robert Moss Theatre at 440 Studios (440 Lafayette Street, 3rd Floor) in Manhattan.

New Feet Productions and Adam Blanshay, in association with The Present Company, present the World Premiere of the dark political comedy ALL DAY SUCKERS by playwright/author Susan Dworkin (THE NAZI OFFICER'S WIFE, THE VIKING IN THE WHEAT FIELD), directed by Jessica Bauman (MILK, INTO THE HAZARD (HENRY 5)) - as part of the 14th Annual New York International Fringe Festival with five performances only, between August 13-29 at the Robert Moss Theatre at 440 Studios (440 Lafayette Street, 3rd Floor) in Manhattan.

Ars Nova (Jason Eagan, Artistic Director; Jeremy Blocker, Managing Director) announced today that Jeremy Blocker has been named the company's first Managing Director.