David Shiner News

Berkeley Repertory Theatre proudly welcomes MacArthur "Genius" Award winner Tarell Alvin McCraney for the West Coast premiere of Head of Passes, a poignant and poetic story about the journey of family and faith, trial and tribulation. In a dilapidated house near the ever-shifting mouth of the Mississippi, Shelah's family gathers on a stormy night for her birthday -- bringing ghosts and secrets of the past with them. As her roof buckles under the weight of the rain, Shelah's convictions begin to wash away, leaving her to excavate the truths buried below. Directed by Tina Landau, the riveting Head of Passes comes to the Bay Area straight from its critically lauded world premiere in Chicago. Head of Passes is a co-production with the Public Theater in New York. It begins previews on Berkeley Rep's intimate Thrust Stage on Friday, April 10, opens on Friday, April 17, and runs through Sunday, May 24, 2015. Press night for Head of Passes will be held on Friday, April 17, 2015.

Tony Award-winning actor and clown Bill Irwin opens Philadelphia Theatre Company's new Theatre Masters Series on February 16 at 7:00 PM at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre (Broad and Lombard Streets). Irwin will be joined in his conversation by arts consultant and former Executive Director of the American Theatre Wing Howard Sherman.

From clown to actor, from performer to playwright, from actor to social commentator, Bill Irwin, Billy Porter, and Anna Deavere Smith share their artistic journeys in Philadelphia Theatre Company's new Theatre Masters series. Launched as part of PTC's celebration of its 40th Anniversary season, Theatre Masters will offer an array of Monday night on-stage interviews with major theatre artists with whom PTC has worked, each sharing their personal journey of transformation and creative growth over time and how it has impacted both their art and their lives. This season's schedule features Bill Irwin on February16, Billy Porter on March 23, and Anna Deavere Smith on May 11.

After a year of traveling and performing all over the country, singer/songwriter Shaina Taub - winner of the 2014 Jonathan Larson Grant - returns home to New York to present an evening of her original songs with her band, tonight, November 19 at 7:00 PM at Joe's Pub at The Public Theater.

After a year of traveling and performing all over the country, singer/songwriter Shaina Taub - winner of the 2014 Jonathan Larson Grant - returns home to New York to present an evening of her original songs with her band, on Wednesday November 19 at 7:00 PM at Joe's Pub at The Public Theater. Shaina will be joined by her bandmates bassist/singer Mike Brun (Mr. Burns, Old Hats) and drummer/singer Jacob Colin Cohen (One Man, Two Guv'nors; Old Hats), pianist David Farrell Melton and singer Grace McLean (Bedbugs!!!), Catherine Brookman (Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812) and Starr Busby will make special guest appearances. The set list will features selections from Old Hats, There's A House, Robin, songs from Taub's two EPs, and many brand new songs as well.

American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) presents the West Coast premiere of the Signature Theatre production of OLD HATS. Originally scheduled to close on Sunday, October 5, tickets are now on-sale through Sunday, October 12. Old Hats will perform at A.C.T.'s Geary Theater (415 Geary Street, San Francisco). BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Due to overwhelming advance ticket sales, American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) has announced that an extra week of performances will be added to the current schedule of the West Coast premiere of the Signature Theatre production of Old Hats. Originally scheduled to close on Sunday, October 5, tickets are now on-sale through Sunday, October 12. Old Hats will perform at A.C.T.'s Geary Theater (415 Geary Street, San Francisco). Tickets ($20-$120) are on-sale now and may be purchased online at act-sf.org or by calling 415.749.2228.

Luminaries of the local and national theatre scene -- including Tony Award winners Bill Irwin and David Shiner, Geoff Hoyle, Marga Gomez, Lorenzo Pisoni and Diane "Pino" Wasnak -- will appear on American Conservatory Theater's Geary Theater stage on Sunday, October 5 at 7 p.m. in a one-night-only production to benefit beloved local actor/clown Joan Mankin, aka Queenie Moon.

Sixteen years after they swept San Francisco Bay Area audiences off their feet with the Tony Award-winning production Fool Moon, American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) welcomes back Tony Award winners Bill Irwin and David Shiner in the West Coast premiere of the Signature Theatre production of Old Hats.

Jim Dale got his big break at an audition after getting a big laugh from a big fall. From that moment on, he would use his physicality for laughs, making him part of a long line of artists unafraid of falling down on the job.

Joe Orrach, US Air Force Welterweight Champ turned tap dancer, was discovered by Gregory Hines and has appeared on stage and television with Joan Baez, Bob Hope, the Smothers Brothers, Michael Davis, Liliane Montevecchi, Bill Irwin, David Shiner, Melissa Manchester, and the Cookie Monster. He's appeared in Woody Allen's Everyone Says I Love You and in the long running Teatro ZinZanni in San Francisco. The Pasadena Playhouse is collaborating with Orrach to bring his skills and insight as a communicative performer to support the underserved in the Pasadena community. In his community workshops, Orrach focuses on how to communicate using both words and body language to share thoughts and feelings - as well as learning to read and learn about others by observing their body language and non-verbal cues. He has created exercises that improve public speaking by using the speaker's unique rhythms to best enhance personality and presence and best serve and communicate the authenticity of messages.

With the help of students from the Master of Fine Arts and Young Conservatory programs, American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) raised over $670,000 at its 2014 Season Gala, FLEISHHACKER, MAGNIN, SWIG -- A.C.T.'s MAD, MAD MEN, which honored the three founding fathers of A.C.T. -- Mortimer Fleishhacker, Jr., Cyril Magnin, and Melvin Swig -- and celebrated the past, present, and future of the organization. The Gala took place on Sunday, May 18, at the historic Regency Ballroom in San Francisco. The proceeds from the Gala support A.C.T.'s actor training and arts education programs.

The Pasadena Playhouse has updated the performance schedule for two unusual one-person shows - Amy G in Entershamement and Joe Orrach in In My Corner - to reopen the newly re-designed Carrie Hamilton Theatre. Entershamement has a limited run of five performances, while In My Corner runs for one night only. With these shows, that perform today, May 22 to May 31, The Playhouse is relighting the refurbished Carrie Hamilton Theatre, which has been changed from a proscenium theatre to a black box, and can be configured to accommodate many different kinds of productions.

The Pasadena Playhouse has updated the performance schedule for two unusual one-person shows - Amy G in Entershamement and Joe Orrach in In My Corner - to reopen the newly re-designed Carrie Hamilton Theatre. Entershamement has a limited run of five performances, while In My Corner runs for one night only. With these shows, that perform May 22 to May 31, The Playhouse is relighting the refurbished Carrie Hamilton Theatre, which has been changed from a proscenium theatre to a black box, and can be configured to accommodate many different kinds of productions.

Colleen Petrucci's production at the Byham Theatre brings the zany, anything-can-happen edge that Dr. Seuss himself preferred. But does the show work as a show?

A.C.T. kicks off its 2014-15 season with the West Coast premiere of the Signature Theatre production of Old Hats (September 10-October 5, 2014), starring Tony Award winners Bill Irwin and David Shiner. Using music, technology, and movement - plus a few other tricks up their sleeves - Old Hats combines the inimitable magic, slapstick and hilarity of Irwin and Shiner into a wild and remarkable outing of theater for generations old and new. Directed by Tina Landau, Old Hats was the recipient of the 2013 Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Alternative Theatrical Experience and the 2013 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Revue. Old Hats marks the first collaboration for Irwin and Shiner since the smash Broadway hit Fool Moon, which set A.C.T. box office records during its sold-out 1998 run and their return engagement in 2001. Press night for Old Hats will be on Wednesday, September 17, 2014.

In honor of this week's announcement that talk show queen and Broadway star Rosie O'Donnell will be receiving a special 2014 Tony Award Honor, the Isabelle Stevenson Award, named after longtime committee chairman Isabelle Stevenson, we take a look at some of her best Tony-related moments from her years as host, performer and presenter - GREASE to TABOO and beyond.

16 years after they swept San Francisco Bay Area audiences off their feet with the Tony Award-winning production Fool Moon, American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) welcomes back Tony Award winners Bill Irwin and David Shiner in the West Coast premiere of the Signature Theatre production of Old Hats. Using music, technology and movement - plus a few other tricks up their sleeves - Old Hats combines the inimitable magic, slapstick and hilarity of Irwin and Shiner into a wild and remarkable outing of theatre for generations old and new. Directed by Tina Landau, Old Hats was the recipient of the 2013 Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Alternative Theatrical Experience and the 2013 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Revue. Old Hats marks the first collaboration for Irwin and Shiner since the smash Broadway hit Fool Moon, which set A.C.T. box office records during its sold-out 1998 run and their return engagement in 2001. At this time, tickets to Old Hats are available only to subscribers of A.C.T.'s 2014-15 season.

Scott Elliott, Founding Artistic Director of The New Group and Serge Nivelle, Chairman of its Board of Directors, have announced that Adam Bernstein has been named Executive Director of the company.