Ethan McSweeny News

The Shakespeare Theatre Company (STC) continues its 2014-2015 mainstage season with one of William Shakespeare's late masterpieces,The Tempest. STC Affiliated Artist Ethan McSweeny, following his imaginative production of A Midsummer Night's Dream two seasons ago, applies his flair for visual panache to The Tempest, in which sprites, goddesses and fools hold court. The Tempest will play at the Sidney Harman Hall (610 F Street NW) from December 2, 2014-January 11, 2015.

On November 17, at the Annual Membership Meeting in New York City, SDC announced the results of the 2014 Executive Board Elections.

On Monday, November 10, the Shakespeare Theatre Company presents "The Play's The Thing: An Evening of Hamlet with Ted van Griethuysen," a special reading at the Lansburgh Theatre (450 7th Street NW), beginning at 7 p.m.

Quintessence Theatre Group launches its fifth season of progressive classic theatre with an all-male Shakespeare repertory: AS YOU LIKE IT presented in rotating repertory with RICHARD II. Bringing together the best professional actors and designers from Philadelphia and across the country, Artistic Director Alexander Burns leads this collective of artists on a mission to ignite the classics through visceral, actor-focused and text-driven productions. AS YOU LIKE IT will begin previews today, October 1 at 7pm and open on Saturday, October 4 at 8pm. RICHARD II will begin previews on Thursday, October 9 at 7pm and open on Saturday, October 18 at 8pm. All performances are at the Sedgwick Theater, 7137 Germantown Ave in Mt Airy, Philadelphia, PA.

Quintessence Theatre Group launches its fifth season of progressive classic theatre with an all-male Shakespeare repertory: AS YOU LIKE IT presented in rotating repertory with RICHARD II. Bringing together the best professional actors and designers from Philadelphia and across the country, Artistic Director Alexander Burns leads this collective of artists on a mission to ignite the classics through visceral, actor-focused and text-driven productions.

The Shakespeare Theatre Company brings two productions by the Isango Ensemble to Washington, D.C., as part of STC's 2014-2015 Presentation Series. The Isango Ensemble's unique performances reset Western theatre classics within a South African township, utilizing music, dance and elements of South African heritage. The Ensemble will perform an adaption of Mozart's opera The Magic Flute- Impempe Yomlingo and Shakespeare's epic love poem Venus and Adonis in repertory at the Lansburgh Theatre September 12-21, 2014. Tickets for non-subscribers will be available starting August 1, when individual tickets for the 2014-2015 STC Season go on sale.

Chautauqua Theater Company (CTC), under the leadership of Vivienne Benesch Artistic Director and Sarah Clare Corporandy Managing Director, celebrates the 10th year of The New Play Workshop, with a staged reading of The Guadalupe by Carol Carpenter (Sweet, Sweet Spirit and Wild Dogs) from July 31-August 2, directed by CTC Resident Director Ethan McSweeny.

The Shakespeare Theatre Company announces the addition of David Greig's Dunsinane from the National Theatre of Scotland and the Royal Shakespeare Company to its upcoming 2014-2015 Season. This international production, which has toured Scotland, the U.K., Russia and China, will replace the previously announced production of Enrico IV, slated for spring 2015.

Chautauqua Theater Company (CTC), under the leadership of Vivienne Benesch Artistic Director and Sarah Clare CorporandyManaging Director, presents Lorraine Hansberry's award-winning classic A Raisin in the Sun, directed by CTC Resident Director Ethan McSweeny(CTC's The Glass Menagerie, Broadway's A Time to Kill), June 28 through July 6 on the Bratton Stage.

Apply by May 30, 2014 to be eligible for all 25 PAID opportunities through the Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation (SDCF). Applications are available online at SDCFOUNDATION.ORG.

Chautauqua Theater Company (CTC), under the leadership of Vivienne Benesch Artistic Director and Sarah Clare Corporandy Managing Director, has announced programming for its 2014 season featuring Lorraine Hansberry's classic A Raisin in the Sun, directed by Ethan McSweeny (June 28-July 6), The May Queen, a world premiere by Molly Smith Metzler (July 18-27), directed by Vivienne Benesch, and Shakespeare's The Tempest (August 8-15), starring Lisa Harrow, directed by Jade King Carroll on the Bratton Theater Mainstage.

The Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation (SDCF) Observership Program grants emerging Directors and Choreographers 25 paid opportunities to observe the work of master Directors and Choreographers as they create productions on Broadway, Off-Broadway and at leading regional theatres across the country. SDCF Observers have access to the entire rehearsal process, from first rehearsal through previews to opening night. Observers are guaranteed the invaluable opportunity to observe, first-hand, the techniques, disciplines, approaches and insights of master artists as they create new productions and revive classics.

The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey has announced the appointment of stage director and longtime company guest artist Stephen Brown-Fried as the Theatre's Artistic Associate & Casting Director. 'I am thrilled to be back at this company. I do not know of another theatre that combines excellence in classic theatre and such a deep commitment to teaching. The combination of professional practice and educational training here is unparalleled,' says Brown-Fried.

Midway through Shakespeare Theatre Company's current season, Artistic Director Michael Kahn announced today the Company's 2014-2015 Season. Kahn has put together a classic and entertaining season, continuing to stake STC's claim as 'the nation's foremost Shakespeare company' (The Wall Street Journal) while '[making] the Bard a relevant voice in our current affairs' (DC Metro Theatre Arts).

Red Bull Theater presents the Off Broadway revival of Loot by Joe Orton. Red Bull Artistic Director Jesse Berger directs a company that includes Rebecca Brooksher (Fay), Eric Martin Brown (Meadows), Jarlath Conroy (McLeavy), Ryan Garbayo (Dennis), Rocco Sisto (Truscott), and Nick Westrate (Hal). Loot has scenic design by Narelle Sissons, costume design by Sara Jean Tosetti, lighting design by Scott Zielinski, and sound design by Brad Berridge. Opening Thursday January 16th, this limited engagement continues through February 9th only at Lucille Lortel Theater (121 Christopher Street).

Today, check out part two of this year's curtain call highlights 2013, and catch up on anything that you might have missed within the last 12 months!

Stage & Screen, a collaboration between Coolidge Corner Theatre and Huntington Theatre Company that explores the depictions of shared themes in Huntington productions and acclaimed films continues its second season of collaboration on Monday, January 6 at 7pm with Secretary starring Maggie Gyllenhaal and James Spader. The screening will be followed by a conversation moderated by Boston Globe columnist Meredith Goldstein with Venus in Fur director Daniel Goldstein and actors Andrea Syglowski and Chris Kipiniak.

As previously announced, Red Bull Theater will present two RUSSIAN READINGS by Vladimir Nabokov and Alexander Ostrovsky on December 9 and December 16 as part of its OBIE Award-winning Revelation Readings Series. Today, the all-star casts for the two readings have been announced, boasting a roster which includes Jonathan Groff, Tovah Feldshuh, Stephen Spinella, and more.