David Strathairn News

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Greg Reiner, will present its annual Monday Night Open Rehearsal Series, this year featuring Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet. On three Monday evenings - May 13, May 20 and June 3 - different actors and directors will explore the text of Romeo & Juliet, giving theater-goers the opportunity to become part of the discovery process, and experience different acting approaches and directorial interpretations of one of Shakespeare's most cherished plays. CSC will open its 2013/2014 season with a new production of Romeo & Juliet starring Elizabeth Olsen. Here is the line-up for this year's Open Rehearsal series.

American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) Artistic Director Carey Perloff announced today that their highly anticipated production of the National Theatre of Scotland's internationally acclaimed production of Black Watch has extended its run at The Drill Court at the Armory Community Center (333 14th Street, between Mission and Valencia) through Sunday, June 16. The production was originally scheduled to run through Sunday, June 9. Tickets for all performances are on sale now and may be purchased online at act-sf.org or by calling 415.749.2228.

Tonight, April 22nd, Our Time - a non-profit organization that has been helping children who stutter for over a decade - will hold its 11th Annual Benefit Gala, Worth the Wait, celebrating the bravery and achievements of young people who stutter as well as those who inspire their success.

The Award-Winning Epic Theatre Ensemble, now in their 12th year presents William Shakespeare's RICHARD III: Born With Teeth, part of Shakespeare for a New Generation, a national program of the National Endowment for the Arts in cooperation with Arts Midwest. The production, directed by Ron Russell, begins previews Off-Broadway tonight, Tuesday, April 16th and opens Saturday, April 20th at 8:00 PM at the Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street). The play will run through May 4th.

The Award winning Epic Theatre Ensemble announces post performance forums lead by scholars, authors, and entertainers, immediately following several performances of RICHARD III: BORN WITH TEETH at the Pershing Square Signature Center. The production, directed by Ron Russell, begins performances Tuesday, April 16, opens on Saturday, April 20th and continues through Saturday, May 4th. RICHARD III: BORN WITH TEETH begins previews Tuesday, April 16th. The Forum's are presented as part of Epic's goal to inspire vital dialogue about social, ethical, and political issues and to build thoughtful citizenship in local communities.

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Greg Reiner, announced today that acclaimed Tony Award-winning director John Doyle will join the company for its 2013/2014 season as an Associate Director. Doyle, who directed and designed the company's current highly-acclaimed production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's musical PASSION, will develop his own projects for CSC, contribute leadership for CSC's new Musical Theatre Initiative (for which PASSION was the launch production) and consult with Artistic Director Brian Kulick over season planning and other creative aspects of CSC's artistic programming.

The Award-Winning Epic Theatre Ensemble, now in their 12th year presents William Shakespeare's RICHARD III: Born With Teeth, part of Shakespeare for a New Generation, a national program of the National Endowment for the Arts in cooperation with Arts Midwest. The production, directed by Ron Russell, begins previews Off-Broadway on Tuesday, April 16th and opens Saturday, April 20th at 8:00 PM at the Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street). The play will run through May 4th.

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Greg Reiner, will present a new production of Bertolt Brecht's THE CAUCASIAN CHALK CIRCLE featuring Christopher Lloyd (Azdak), directed by Brian Kulick (who directed Brecht's Galileo last season), and featuring new music by Tony Award-winning singer/songwriter Duncan Sheik (Spring Awakening). THE CAUCASIAN CHALK CIRCLE will begin performances Friday, May 3 at CSC (136 East 13th Street) for a limited engagement through Sunday, June 9. The official opening is Thursday, May 30. Tickets are now on sale.

American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) Artistic Director Carey Perloff announced today two additional productions for the company's 47th subscription season: Glen Berger's acclaimed solo drama, Underneath the Lintel, starring Emmy Award winner and Academy Award nominee David Strathairn, and Beatrice Basso and Linda Alper's new translation of Eduardo De Filippo's poignant Italian comedy, Napoli!, featuring A.C.T. favorites Marco Barricelli and Stratford Festival star Seana McKenna. These two productions join the previously announced 1776, A Christmas Carol, Major Barbara, Venus in Fur, and The Orphan of Zhao. The final production for the 2013-14 season will be announced at a later date.

Principal production kicked off on GODZILLA in Canada last week - and a local news station caught some behind-the-scenes action on the set. Check out their report, featuring exclusive footage, below!

Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures announced today the final principal cast for the upcoming tent pole "Godzilla." Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ken Watanabe, Elizabeth Olsen, and Juliette Binoche are starring in the film, with David Strathairn and Bryan Cranston.

Vineyard Theatre's annual Gala, this year celebrating the institution's 30th Anniversary, will take place at The Edison Ballroom (240 West 47th Street) tonight, March 18, 2013 beginning at 6:00 p.m. (cocktails at 6:00pm, dinner at 7:30pm and performance at 8:30pm).

The Award-Winning Epic Theatre Ensemble, now in their 12th year presents William Shakespeare's RICHARD III: Born With Teeth, part of Shakespeare for a New Generation, a national program of the National Endowment for the Arts in cooperation with Arts Midwest. The production, directed by Ron Russell, begins previews Off-Broadway on Tuesday, April 16th and opens Saturday, April 20th at 8:00 PM at the Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street). The play will run through May 4th. Epic Theatre Ensemble's tickets are $25 for this production. Student Rush is also available. For tickets, please visit www.Ticketcentral.com or call (212) 270-4200. For more information, visit www.epictheatreensemble.org/R3.

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Greg Reiner, announced today that PS Classics, home to a dozen Sondheim cast albums, will record and release the cast recording of its critically-acclaimed new production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's Tony Award-winning musical PASSION, directed by John Doyle.

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Greg Reiner, announced today that their critically-acclaimed new production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's Tony Award-winning musical PASSION, directed by John Doyle (director of the acclaimed Broadway revivals of Sondheim's Sweeney Todd and Company), will extend once again by popular demand for four additional performances through Friday, April 19 at CSC (136 East 13th Street). PASSION stars Melissa Errico (Clara), Judy Kuhn (Fosca) and Ryan Silverman (Giorgio). The production also features Stephen Bogardus (Colonel Ricci), Jeffry Denman (Lieutenant Barri), Jason Michael Evans (Private Augenti), Ken Krugman (Lieutenant Torasso), Orville Mendoza (Sergeant Lombardi), Tom Nelis (Doctor Tambourri), Will Reynolds (Major Rizzoli/Ludovic), John Antony (understudy) and Amy Justman (understudy). CSC also announced that twenty $10 tickets for each of the final four performances - Tuesday, April 16 at 7pm, Wednesday, April 17 at 7pm, Thursday, April 18 at 8pm and Friday, April 19 at 8pm - generously underwritten by TheaterMania.com and Aaron Lieber/Bruce Horten. These special $10 tickets will go on sale to the public Tuesday, Apri1 2 at 12pm, available in person at the CSC Box Office only.

Pulitzer Prize-winner Lawrence Wright premieres his new play at Berkeley Repertory Theatre. It is a fictional play about the last days of legendary journalist Oriana Fallaci. Don't miss this sizzling new script, which is directed by Oskar Eustis, stars Concetta Tomei and Marjan Neshat, and features an incredible team of designers. The 65th world premiere presented by Berkeley Rep, Fallaci is currently in previews in the Roda Theatre and opens March 13, running through April 21. Below, check out a sneak peek at FALLACI, Berkeley Rep's new world premiere about one of the first rock stars of modern journalism!

Pulitzer Prize-winner Lawrence Wright premieres his new play at Berkeley Repertory Theatre. It is a fictional play about the last days of legendary journalist Oriana Fallaci. Don't miss this sizzling new script, which is directed by Oskar Eustis, stars Concetta Tomei and Marjan Neshat, and features an incredible team of designers. The 65th world premiere presented by Berkeley Rep, Fallaci is currently in previews in the Roda Theatre and opens March 13, running through April 21. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the actors onstage below!

Even as his latest book attracts international attention, Pulitzer Prize-winner Lawrence Wright premieres his new play at Berkeley Repertory Theatre. A reporter renowned for his work with The New Yorker - and the bestselling author behind The Looming Tower and Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief - Wright is also the playwright who penned My Trip to al Qaeda and The Human Scale. Now he debuts a fictional play about the last days of legendary journalist Oriana Fallaci. Don't miss this sizzling new script, which is directed by Oskar Eustis, stars Concetta Tomei and Marjan Neshat, and features an incredible team of designers. The 65th world premiere presented by Berkeley Rep, Fallaci begins previews in the Roda Theatre tonight, March 8, opens March 13, and runs through April 21.

On March 3, 2013, Epic Theatre Ensemble held their Annual Gala, Remix: Mix It Up With Epic. The event was held at the McKittrick Hotel, home of Sleep No More. This year's honoree was Tony Award-Winning actor Richard Easton. Highlights of the evening included performances from high school students in Epic's Shakespeare Remix program (winner of the the 2009 National Arts & Humanities Youth Program Award); the live fundraising auction with celebrity auctioneer Gordon Elliottand the funny and heartfelt tribute to Easton by Ethan Hawke and Aaron Krohn (currently appearing together Off-Broadway in Clive).

Vineyard Theatre's annual Gala, this year celebrating the institution's 30th Anniversary, will take place at The Edison Ballroom (240 West 47th Street) on Monday, March 18, 2013 beginning at 6:00 p.m. (cocktails at 6:00pm, dinner at 7:30pm and performance at 8:30pm). Single tickets (starting at $750) and tables of 10 are available by contacting The Vineyard's Development Office at 212-353-3366 x242 or development@vineyardtheatre.org. Balcony-level tickets to the performance only are $125 each (which includes an open bar) and are available by contacting (212) 353-3366 x227 or development@vineyardtheatre.org.