Elliot Norton News

Reagle Music Theatre of Greater Boston brings its triumphant 45th anniversary season to a close August 8-18 with Alain Boublil, Claude-Michel Schonberg and Herbert Kretzmer's revolutionary pop opera, LES MISERABLES. The winner of nine Tony Awards (including Best Musical, Best Book and Best Score), this international sensation - seen in 42 countries by more than 65 million people - is the longest-running musical in the world.

The new musical SHIDA, written and performed by Jeannette Bayardelle -- whose Broadway appearances include leading roles in THE COLOR PURPLE and HAIR -- will receive its world-premiere this summer Off-Broadway as an Ars Nova Summer Fling (511 W. 54 St. in Manhattan). Previews begin July 19 prior to SHIDA's official opening night on July 31. The Off-Broadway limited engagement runs through August 28.

Boston's Commonwealth Shakespeare Company 2013 Apprentices take a break with a Harlem Shake... speare. For more information about the CSC Apprentice program and this Summer's Free Shakespeare on the Common 'The Two Gentlemen of Verona' Visit commshakes.org

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) announced 59 Our Town grant awards totaling $4.725 million and reaching 34 states in the Our Town program's third year of funding. Commonwealth Shakespeare Company is the only Boston-based organization to receive a $100,000 matching grant to fund 'Shakespeare OFF the Common,' an innovative three-part arts program created in collaboration with the Mayor's Office of Arts, Tourism and Special Events to foster community interaction.

Hartford Stage will host the Broadway Dreams Triple Threat Extreme Workshop for local teen performers, Friday, August 16, through Sunday, August 18. The Final Showcase will take place at 6 p.m. on Sunday, August 18, at Hartford Stage.

Single tickets for Hartford Stage's 50th Anniversary Season, are now on sale as of today, July 15, with 'Christmas in July' special offers on tickets purchased through July 31.

The Past Presidents Council of the Board of Hartford Stage invite you to save the dates for its 50th Anniversary celebrations, including a 50 Year Retrospective: A Conversation with all Five Artistic Directors on November 3, 2013; the Hartford Stage 50th Anniversary Celebration on November 4, 2013; and the Party in the Paint Shop: 50th Anniversary Gala on April 26, 2014.

One of Greater Boston's most beloved traditions, Commonwealth Shakespeare Company's 'Free Shakespeare On The Common' celebrates its 18th season with the comedy The Two Gentlemen of Verona. Inspired by Rat Pack-era Vegas, this production brings together the talents of CSC's Artistic Director Steve Maler, music director Colin Thurmond and choreographer Yo-el Cassel. Playing today, July 6 - 28, 2013.

Single tickets for Hartford Stage's 50th Anniversary Season, will go on sale Monday, July 15, with 'Christmas in July' special offers on tickets purchased through July 31.

The National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest has selected Hartford Stage to participate in Shakespeare in American Communities and receive a $25,000 grant for its upcoming production ofMacbeth to help support performances and educational activities, including in-school residencies, workshops, or post-performance discussions.

Boston Playwrights' Theatre (BPT) announced its 32nd season today, which will feature new work by three of its award-winning alumni playwrights. The line-up includes Burning by Ginger Lazarus, Windowmen by Steven Barkhimer, and Absence by Peter M. Floyd. All three writers are based in Boston.

Follow the yellow brick road to the award-winning North Shore Music Theatre (NSMT) for THE WIZARD OF OZ, beginning Tuesday, July 16 and now playing through Sunday, August 4. Press night is scheduled for Wednesday, July 17 at 7:30 p.m.

Varla Jean Merman (aka Jeffery Roberson) has been the acknowledged entertainment Queen of P-town for the past decade. Each summer brings the anticipated premiere of her latest, original and irreverent music-comedy show - a summer-long 'hot ticket' every year. After a typically busy year starring to critical acclaim as the title roles in the original musical comedy farces Mildred Fierce in Boston andScrooge in Rouge in New Orleans, as well as in Menotti's opera The Medium in New York, Varla returns to P-Town to premiere Twice Upon A Mattress...Will My Prince Every Come? at The Art House from today, July 1 - August 31, with MRF at the piano.

Commonwealth Shakespeare Company and Boston Landmarks Orchestra will present a concert version of Cole Porter's Kiss Me Kate with Broadway's Marc Kudisch* as Fred Graham/Patruchio and Kerry O'Malley* as Lilli Vanessi/Katherine. Steven Maler, Founding Artistic Director of Commonwealth Shakespeare Company and Associate Artistic Director, Adam Sanders, will direct with Boston Landmark Orchestra's Music Director Christopher Wilkins, conducting. The free event will be held on Thursday August 21st at 7:00PM at DCR's Hatch Shell on the Esplanade. Security entrances will open to the public at 5 pm. The rain location is The Back Bay Events Center, 180 Berkley Street in Boston. To learn more, visit www.commshakes.org or www.landmarksorchestra.org. For weather alerts: Call 617-987-2000 or Text Landmarks to 27138.

After a typically busy year starring to critical acclaim as the title roles in the original musical comedy farces Mildred Fierce in Boston andScrooge in Rouge in New Orleans, as well as in Menotti's opera The Medium in New York, Varla returns to P-Town to premiere Twice Upon A Mattress…Will My Prince Every Come? at The Art House from July 1 - August 31, with MRF at the piano. For tickets please visit www.ptownarthouse.com

Greek mythology meets burlesque, puppetry and a modern Americana score in ICARUS, the latest original theatrical presentation from acclaimed Boston-based ensemble Liars & Believers. Creators of last year's gritty NYMF hit Le Cabaret Grimm, Liars & Believers will present ICARUS as part of the 2013 New York Musical Theatre Festival.

Proving that great entertainment never goes out of style, Hub Theatre Company of Boston, Inc., will continue its debut season with the Boston premier production of Love, Loss, and What I Wore by award-winning screenwriters and authors Nora & Delia Ephron (based on the book by Ilene Beckerman).

Leave it to Artistic Director Tony Simotes and Shakespeare & Company's irreverent 'master of wit' Kevin G. Coleman to bring audiences one the funniest plays Stoppard has put his pen to in the Company's 36th Performance Season with HEROES. Written by Gerald Sibleyras and translated by Tom Stoppard, the show, directed by Coleman, boasts a stalwart trio of actors including Jonathan Epstein, Malcolm Ingram and Robert Lohbauer in this auspicious comedy. Heroes runs now through September 1, in S&Co.'s Elayne P. Bernstein Theatre. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Rodgers and Hammerstein's first collaboration, Oklahoma!, which earned the legendary duo a special Pulitzer prize, opens the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival's 22nd season. The musical previews tonight, June 12th and 13th, opens June 14th, running through June 30th on the main stage.

One of Greater Boston's most beloved traditions, Commonwealth Shakespeare Company's 'Free Shakespeare On The Common' celebrates its 18th season with the comedy The Two Gentlemen of Verona. Inspired by Rat Pack-era Vegas, this production brings together the talents of CSC's Artistic Director Steve Maler, music director Colin Thurmond and choreographer Yo-el Cassel. Playing July 6 - 28, 2013, performances are free and open to the public.