David Strathairn News

From touchdown to takeoff, Syfy is planning an all-out assault in order to give fans their first introduction to the visionary transmedia experience DEFIANCE at San Diego Comic-Con 2012.

From touchdown to takeoff, Syfy is planning an all-out assault in order to give fans their first introduction to the visionary transmedia experience Defiance at San Diego Comic-Con 2012. Defiance, a partnership between Syfy and Trion Worlds, unites, for the first time, a television series and a Massive Multiplayer Online (MMO) game, which will debut in April 2013. In addition to Defiance, Syfy will also showcase original series Alphas, Being Human and Warehouse 13 with star-studded panels. Convention-goers will get their first 'taste' of Defiance as Syfy transforms Hard Rock Hotel San Diego restaurant, Maryjane's into Defiance Café where fans can 'Watch. Play. Eat.' and completely immerse themselves in the world of the show and game.

The second season of Syfy's hit series Alphas, produced by Universal Cable Productions and BermanBruan Television, returns Monday, July 23 at 10PM ET/PT with a deep roster of guest stars. New this season are Sean Astin (The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Rudy), C. Thomas Howell (Southland), Lauren Holly (NCIS), Steve Byers (Immortals, Total Recall), Kandyse McClure (Battlestar Galactica) and Noah Reid (Rookie Blue). Returning guest stars include John Pyper-Ferguson (Caprica, Brothers and Sisters) as Stanton Parish, Kathleen Munroe (Haven, Stargate Universe) as Dani Rosen and Mahershala Ali (Treme, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) as Agent Nathan Cley. Summer Glau (Dollhouse, Firefly) who was a fan favorite last season playing an Alpha, Skylar Adams, will return for three episodes.

From adultery on a dart team to Chicago White Sox players on trial for throwing the World Series, the July offerings on 'Reel 13' - including 'Heartlands,' 'The Hustler,' 'Eight Men Out' and 'Rocky II' -- show that, whatever the game, good sportsmanship doesn't always prevail.

THE HEIRESS by Ruth and Augustus Goetz and directed by Moisés Kaufman, is coming to Broadway in a strictly limited engagement, starring Jessica Chastain, David Strathairn and Dan Stevens, in October 2012. The show has just announced the launch of its official website, Facebook and Twitter pages.

Now that the 2012 awards season has come to a close, BroadwayWorld is looking ahead to an exciting season coming up. This summer/fall Broadway will welcome a plethora of productions - from star-studded revivals to exciting new musicals. Below, we bring you the line-up of officially announced upcoming shows (still subject to change). Don't forget to stay tuned for more even more opening announcements expected soon!

Happy Medium Theatre, Inc. (HMT) presents The American Plan, written by Richard Greenberg and directed by Melanie Garber from tonight, June 8th to June 16th, 2012 at the Factory Theatre, 791 Tremont Street, Boston, MA, 02118.

HEMINGWAY & GELLHORN recounts one of the greatest romances of the last century, the passionate love affair and tumultous marriage of literary master Ernest Hemigway and the beautiful, trailblazing war correspondent Martha Gellhorn, as it follows the adventurous writers through the Spanish Civil War and beyond. As witnesses to history, they covered all the great conflicts of their time, but the war they couldn't survive was the war between themselves.

Featuring a record number of primetime original programming hours, Syfy's hot Summer 2012 will be highlighted by the premiere of the new unscripted series School Sprits (from executive producer Mark Burnett), Insane or Inspired? and Paranormal Highway (working title) starring Jack Osbourne.

Downton Abbey meets Broadway! BWW can report that Dan Stevens, star of the Golden Globe-winning series "Downton Abbey," will play the role of "Morris Townsend" opposite Academy Award nominee Jessica Chastain (Catherine Sloper) and Academy Award nominee and Emmy Award winner David Strathairn (Dr. Austin Sloper) in the Tony Award-winning play The Heiress. Written by Ruth Goetz & Augustus Goetz, The Heiress will be directed by Tony Award nominated playwright and director Moises Kaufman. Performances will begin October 2012 at a theatre to be announced.

Academy Award(R) nominee andGolden Globe winner Clive Owen and Academy Award(R) and three-time Golden Globe winner Nicole Kidman star in the title roles of HBO Films' HEMINGWAY & GELLHORN, under the direction of Academy Award(R) nominee Philip Kaufman. Kaufman directs from a script by Jerry Stahl and Barbara Turner.

Academy Award(R) nominee andGolden Globe winner Clive Owen and Academy Award(R) and three-time Golden Globe winner Nicole Kidman star in the title roles of HBO Films' HEMINGWAY & GELLHORN, under the direction of Academy Award(R) nominee Philip Kaufman. Kaufman directs from a script by Jerry Stahl and Barbara Turner.

American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) Artistic Director Carey Perloff previously announced that an evening of short plays by modernist master Samuel Beckett replaces Twelfth Night for the 2011-12 season. The evening includes ENDGAME, Beckett's timeless rumination on the end of life, featuring two-time Tony Award winner and A.C.T. favorite Bill Irwin, who was recently hailed by The New York Times as 'an actor deeply steeped in the traditions of clowns, according to both the commedia dell'arte and Samuel Beckett,' and PLAY featuring A.C.T. core acting company members René Augesen, Anthony Fusco, and Omozé Idehenre. A longtime Bay Area favorite as one of the founders of the Pickle Family Circus, Irwin returns to A.C.T. after stealing the hearts of the Bay Area audiences last season as the loveable title character in Moliére's SCAPIN, which he also adapted and directed. Perloff, who has previously directed Beckett's WAITING FOR GODOT at A.C.T. and will helm the production, said: 'It was in Endgame that Beckett famously wrote: 'nothing is funnier than unhappiness.' And I cannot think of a more consummate artist than Bill Irwin to demonstrate that fact, undertaking the lead role of Hamm in this astonishing play. Endgame is a play Bill and I have wanted to do together for many years; when the opportunity suddenly presented itself to do it this season, we could not say no. I am thrilled to present Endgame in tandem with a comic gem from 1963 called PLAY, which will give our core company a chance to shine a spotlight on a hilarious tale of marriage and adultery that represents a very different side of Beckett's oeuvre. I hope that this Beckett pairing will add a rich chapter to A.C.T.'s explorations of the great modernists, Beckett and Pinter.' Endgame and Play play May 9-June 3, 2012, at the American Conservatory Theater (415 Geary Street, San Francisco). Press night is Wednesday, May 16, 2012, at 8 p.m. Tickets (starting at $10) are available by calling A.C.T. Ticket Services at 415.749.2228 or at www.act-sf.org.

Happy Medium Theatre, Inc. (HMT) will present The American Plan, written by Richard Greenberg and directed by Melanie Garber from June 8th - 16th, 2012 at the Factory Theatre, 791 Tremont Street, Boston, MA, 02118.

Previews begin Friday, April 20th for Epic Theatre Ensemble's production of William Shakespeare's MACBETH, 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, opens Sunday, April 29 at 6PM, and continues through Saturday, May 26th, at the 47th Street Theatre (304 W. 47th Street).

HEMINGWAY & GELLHORN recounts one of the greatest romances of the last century, the passionate love affair and tumultous marriage of literary master Ernest Hemigway and the beautiful, trailblazing war correspondent Martha Gellhorn, as it follows the adventurous writers through the Spanish Civil War and beyond. As witnesses to history, they covered all the great conflicts of their time, but the war they couldn't survive was the war between themselves.

Epic Theatre Ensemble announces post performance forums lead by scholars, authors, and thinkers, which will also include members of the cast, immediately following each performance of MACBETH at the 47th Street Theatre (304 W. 47th Street). This series is sponsored by the New York City Council on the Humanities. The production, directed by Ron Russell, begins performances Friday, April 20th and continues through Saturday, May 26th. MACBETH opens, Sunday April 29th at 6pm.

Joining the cast of Syfy's ALPHAS this season is Erin Way (Detroit 187, Private Practice) as 'Kat' the newest addition to the team of quirky superhuman investigators. The season will consist of 13 episodes and is slated to premiere on Syfy in July 2012.

Production begins this week in Toronto on the second season of Syfy's super-powered original drama series ALPHAS starring David Strathairn, Malik Yoba, Warren Christie, Azita Ghanizada, Ryan Cartwright and Laura Mennell.

Epic Theatre Ensemble, now in their 11th year, presents William Shakespeare's MACBETH, part of Shakespeare for a New Generation, a national program of the National Endowment for the Arts in cooperation with Arts Midwest.