David New News

Rounding out their 2009-10 smash hit season, Drury Lane Oakbrook, 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace, IL, presents the 1964 classic Broadway musical comedy FUNNY GIRL.

CollaborationTown will present the World Premiere of Jordan Seavey's CHILDREN AT PLAY. Directed by Scott Ebersold (Outstanding Director at FringeNYC 2005 for the silent concerto), the play features a cast of 8 including downtown favorites Susan Louise O' Connor (2009 Theatre World Award for Broadway's Blithe Spirit opposite Angela Lansbury) and Boo Killebrew (Best Actor at FringeNYC 2003 for This is a Newspaper, 2007 NYIT Award for Best Featured Actress in 6969).

CollaborationTown will present the World Premiere of Jordan Seavey's CHILDREN AT PLAY. Directed by Scott Ebersold (Outstanding Director at FringeNYC 2005 for the silent concerto), the play features a cast of 8 including downtown favorites Susan Louise O' Connor (2009 Theatre World Award for Broadway's Blithe Spirit opposite Angela Lansbury) and Boo Killebrew (Best Actor at FringeNYC 2003 for This is a Newspaper, 2007 NYIT Award for Best Featured Actress in 6969).

Throughout Jordan Seavey's new work 'Children at Play,' characters recite rapid fire memorized definitions of words they have learned in the course of their educational pursuits. These interjections provide emphasis and commentary on the action that is driving the scenes that surround them.

CollaborationTown will present the World Premiere of Jordan Seavey's CHILDREN AT PLAY. Directed by Scott Ebersold (Outstanding Director at FringeNYC 2005 for the silent concerto), the play features a cast of 8 including downtown favorites Susan Louise O' Connor (2009 Theatre World Award for Broadway's Blithe Spirit opposite Angela Lansbury) and Boo Killebrew (Best Actor at FringeNYC 2003 for This is a Newspaper, 2007 NYIT Award for Best Featured Actress in 6969).

CollaborationTown will present the World Premiere of Jordan Seavey's CHILDREN AT PLAY. Directed by Scott Ebersold (Outstanding Director at FringeNYC 2005 for the silent concerto), the play features a cast of 8 including downtown favorites Susan Louise O' Connor (2009 Theatre World Award for Broadway's Blithe Spirit opposite Angela Lansbury) and Boo Killebrew (Best Actor at FringeNYC 2003 for This is a Newspaper, 2007 NYIT Award for Best Featured Actress in 6969).

CollaborationTown will present the World Premiere of Jordan Seavey's CHILDREN AT PLAY. Directed by Scott Ebersold (Outstanding Director at FringeNYC 2005 for the silent concerto), the play features a cast of 8 including downtown favorites Susan Louise O' Connor (2009 Theatre World Award for Broadway's Blithe Spirit opposite Angela Lansbury) and Boo Killebrew (Best Actor at FringeNYC 2003 for This is a Newspaper, 2007 NYIT Award for Best Featured Actress in 6969).

The Big Picture, one of the Hollywood Bowl's most popular annual programs, pays tribute this year to the extraordinary legacy of Rodgers & Hammerstein on Sunday, September 6, 2009, at 7:30 p.m.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company launches its 2009-2010 season, exploring the theme of belief, with the world premiere of Fake, written and directed by ensemble member Eric Simonson. Steppenwolf Ensemble Member Kate Arrington discusses her two characters in FAKE with Associate Artistic Director David New.

The Big Picture, one of the Hollywood Bowl's most popular annual programs, pays tribute this year to the extraordinary legacy of Rodgers & Hammerstein on Sunday, September 6, 2009, at 7:30 p.m.

On June 26, 2009, The Princess Grace Foundation-USA hosted a special benefit performance of Steppenwolf Theatre Company's production of Up, written by Princess Grace Awards winner Bridget Carpenter (Playwriting, 1997) and directed by Princess Grace Awards winner Anna D. Shapiro (Directing, 1996).

More than 600 of Chicagoland's young professionals will gather for a spectacular evening of cocktails, food, entertainment, a silent auction and raffle prizes at the Steppenwolf Auxiliary Council's seventh annual Red or White Ball on Friday, June 12, 2009 at 8:00 p.m. The premier event for Chicago's most influential young philanthropists will be held at the unique eco-chic Salvage One, 1840 W. Hubbard Street.

More than 600 of Chicagoland's young professionals will gather for a spectacular evening of cocktails, food, entertainment, a silent auction and raffle prizes at the Steppenwolf Auxiliary Council's seventh annual Red or White Ball on Friday, June 12, 2009 at 8:00 p.m. The premier event for Chicago's most influential young philanthropists will be held at the unique eco-chic Salvage One, 1840 W. Hubbard Street.

The Life opened at the Ethel Barrymore Theater in the spring of 1997 under the direction of Michael Blakemore. It ran for 450 performances and won several awards for 'Best Musical' of 1997, including the Drama Desk Award, the Outer Critics Award, and the Drama League.

South Coast Repertory today announced the cast and creative team for Michael Frayn's ingenious comedic masterpiece, Noises Off. Directed by Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award winner Art Manke, Noises Off will run from Feb. 6 through March 8 on the Segerstrom Stage. Low-priced previews are available from Feb. 6 through Feb. 12. Opening night is Feb. 13. Press night is Saturday, Feb. 14 at 8:00 p.m. Tickets to Noises Off may be purchased online at www.scr.org, by phone at (714) 708-5555 or in person at the SCR box office. Noises Off follows the on-and off-stage antics of an inept acting troupe as they stumble from bumbling dress rehearsal to disastrous closing night. Everything that can go wrong does, as actors desperately try to hang on to their lines, their performances and the furniture. Add a slippery plate of sardines and many slamming doors, and you have the most hilarious backstage farce ever written. Art Manke received his fifth Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for directing SCR's West Coast premiere of Bach at Leipzig in 2006. Other work with SCR includes last season's Taking Steps, the world premiere musical version of The Wind in the Willows and choreography for numerous productions. Elsewhere in Southern California, Manke has directed The Constant Wife, Private Lives and the American premiere of Noel Coward's Star Quality for Pasadena Playhouse and the world premiere of The Ice-Breaker at Laguna Playhouse. Manke was a co-founder and artistic director (1991-2001) of A Noise Within where he directed the works of Shakespeare, Moli?re, Wilde, Coward and Sophocles. Other credits include work with Denver Center Theatre Company, Shakespeare Santa Cruz, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Seattle Repertory Theatre, Mark Taper Forum, Old Globe Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, American Players Theatre, among others. The cast features Nancy Bell (Belinda Blair), Bill Brochtrup (Garry Lejeune), Kandis Chappell (Dotty Otley), Winslow Corbett (Poppy Norton-Taylor), Kaleo Griffith (Lloyd Dallas), Brian Hostenske (Tim Allgood), Timothy Landfield (Frederick Fellows), Jennifer Lyon (Brooke Ashton) and Nick Ullett (Selsdon Mowbray). The creative team for Noises Off includes John Iacvelli (Set Design), Angela Balogh Calin (Costume Design), York Kennedy (Lighting Design), Vincent Olivieri (Sound Design), Ken Merckx (Movement Consultant), David Newell (Dialect Coach), Linda Sullivan Baity (Dramaturg) and Jamie Tucker (Stage Manager). Dee and Larry Higby are the Honorary Producers of Noises Off. OC Metro is the Media Partner. Associated events taking place during the run of Noises Off include: POST-SHOW DISCUSSIONS Wednesday, Feb. 18 & Tuesday, Feb. 24 Discuss the play with members of the Noises Off cast during free post-show discussions led by South Coast Repertory's literary team after the 7:30 p.m. performances on Feb. 18 and Feb. 24. INSIDE THE SEASON: Noises Off Saturday, Feb. 21, 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. $12 Inside the Season is a series of interactive classes that provide a comprehensive inside look at the theatrical production process. Each two-hour class is led by School and Community Programs Director Linda Sullivan Baity and features creative personnel from South Coast Repertory's current production. Tickets are $12 each and can be purchased by calling the Box Office at (714) 708-5555. (Tickets to Noises Off are sold separately.) TICKETS to Noises Off can be purchased online at www.scr.org, by phone at (714) 708-5555 or by visiting the box office at 655 Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa. Performances begin on Feb. 6 and continue through March 8. Ticket prices range from $20 to $64. Low-priced preview performances are available from Feb. 6 to Feb. 12. Performance times: Previews: Friday, Feb. 6 and Saturday, Feb. 7 at 8:00 p.m.; Sunday, Feb. 8, Tuesday, Feb. 10 and Wednesday, Feb. 11 at 7:30 p.m.; and Thursday, Feb. 12 at 8:00pm. Regular Performances: Tuesday and Wednesday evenings at 7:30 p.m.; Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:00 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2:30 p.m.; and Sunday evenings at 7:30 p.m. Discounts are available for full-time students, patrons 25 years of age and under, educators, seniors and groups of 15 or more. There will be a 'Pay-What-You-Will' performance on Saturday, Feb. 14 at 2:30 p.m. ($10 Minimum) and an ASL-interpreted performance on Saturday, March 7 at 2:30 p.m.

South Coast Repertory today announced the cast and creative team for Michael Frayn's ingenious comedic masterpiece, Noises Off. Directed by Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award winner Art Manke, Noises Off will run from Feb. 6 through March 8 on the Segerstrom Stage. Low-priced previews are available from Feb. 6 through Feb. 12. Opening night is Feb. 13. Press night is Saturday, Feb. 14 at 8:00 p.m. Tickets to Noises Off may be purchased online at www.scr.org, by phone at (714) 708-5555 or in person at the SCR box office. Noises Off follows the on-and off-stage antics of an inept acting troupe as they stumble from bumbling dress rehearsal to disastrous closing night. Everything that can go wrong does, as actors desperately try to hang on to their lines, their performances and the furniture. Add a slippery plate of sardines and many slamming doors, and you have the most hilarious backstage farce ever written. Art Manke received his fifth Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for directing SCR's West Coast premiere of Bach at Leipzig in 2006. Other work with SCR includes last season's Taking Steps, the world premiere musical version of The Wind in the Willows and choreography for numerous productions. Elsewhere in Southern California, Manke has directed The Constant Wife, Private Lives and the American premiere of Noel Coward's Star Quality for Pasadena Playhouse and the world premiere of The Ice-Breaker at Laguna Playhouse. Manke was a co-founder and artistic director (1991-2001) of A Noise Within where he directed the works of Shakespeare, Moli?re, Wilde, Coward and Sophocles. Other credits include work with Denver Center Theatre Company, Shakespeare Santa Cruz, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Seattle Repertory Theatre, Mark Taper Forum, Old Globe Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, American Players Theatre, among others. The cast features Nancy Bell (Belinda Blair), Bill Brochtrup (Garry Lejeune), Kandis Chappell (Dotty Otley), Winslow Corbett (Poppy Norton-Taylor), Kaleo Griffith (Lloyd Dallas), Brian Hostenske (Tim Allgood), Timothy Landfield (Frederick Fellows), Jennifer Lyon (Brooke Ashton) and Nick Ullett (Selsdon Mowbray). The creative team for Noises Off includes John Iacvelli (Set Design), Angela Balogh Calin (Costume Design), York Kennedy (Lighting Design), Vincent Olivieri (Sound Design), Ken Merckx (Movement Consultant), David Newell (Dialect Coach), Linda Sullivan Baity (Dramaturg) and Jamie Tucker (Stage Manager). Dee and Larry Higby are the Honorary Producers of Noises Off. OC Metro is the Media Partner. Associated events taking place during the run of Noises Off include: POST-SHOW DISCUSSIONS Wednesday, Feb. 18 & Tuesday, Feb. 24 Discuss the play with members of the Noises Off cast during free post-show discussions led by South Coast Repertory's literary team after the 7:30 p.m. performances on Feb. 18 and Feb. 24. INSIDE THE SEASON: Noises Off Saturday, Feb. 21, 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. $12 Inside the Season is a series of interactive classes that provide a comprehensive inside look at the theatrical production process. Each two-hour class is led by School and Community Programs Director Linda Sullivan Baity and features creative personnel from South Coast Repertory's current production. Tickets are $12 each and can be purchased by calling the Box Office at (714) 708-5555. (Tickets to Noises Off are sold separately.) TICKETS to Noises Off can be purchased online at www.scr.org, by phone at (714) 708-5555 or by visiting the box office at 655 Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa. Performances begin on Feb. 6 and continue through March 8. Ticket prices range from $20 to $64. Low-priced preview performances are available from Feb. 6 to Feb. 12. Performance times: Previews: Friday, Feb. 6 and Saturday, Feb. 7 at 8:00 p.m.; Sunday, Feb. 8, Tuesday, Feb. 10 and Wednesday, Feb. 11 at 7:30 p.m.; and Thursday, Feb. 12 at 8:00pm. Regular Performances: Tuesday and Wednesday evenings at 7:30 p.m.; Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:00 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2:30 p.m.; and Sunday evenings at 7:30 p.m. Discounts are available for full-time students, patrons 25 years of age and under, educators, seniors and groups of 15 or more. There will be a 'Pay-What-You-Will' performance on Saturday, Feb. 14 at 2:30 p.m. ($10 Minimum) and an ASL-interpreted performance on Saturday, March 7 at 2:30 p.m.

Casting has been announced for the Los Angeles premiere of Cy Coleman and Ira Gasman's gritty musical The Life.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company has launched a free, bi-weekly podcast featuring unique interviews with Steppenwolf artists about their work on-stage and behind-the-scenes, hosted by Associate Artistic Director David New. New podcast episodes are available every other Wednesday on Steppenwolf's website and iTunes.

The return of Superman was given star-studded treatment befit for royalty, as the Man of Steel resurfaced on stage in a concert-staging of It's a Bird...It's a Plane...It's Superman, as part of Reprise! Broadway's Best Marvelous Musical Monday series on May 14. This musical rarity, last seen on Broadway in it's original 1966 run, is a throwback to the olden days of theatre like no other...