Ethan McSweeny News

The newest from Thomas Bradshaw, whose plays have stirred discussion among theatregoers for their frequent and graphic depictions of sex acts.

WASHINGTON)—Washington National Opera (WNO) today announced details for the fourth season of the American Opera Initiative, its comprehensive commissioning program that brings contemporary American stories to the stage while fostering the talents of rising American composers and librettists. Three pairings of new opera composers and librettists—Christopher Weiss and John de los Santos, David Clay Mettens and Joshua McGuire, and Sarah Hutchings and Mark Sonnenblick—will premiere new one-act operas, each based on a contemporary American story, in a semi-staged concert performance on December 2, 2015 in the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater. Composer Luna Pearl Woolf and librettist Caitlin Vincent, an alumnus of the program's second season, will present their new hour-long work Better Gods—based on the life of Queen Lili'uokalani, the last monarch of Hawaii—on January 8 and 9, 2016 in the Terrace Theater.

Quintessence Theatre Group launches its sixth season of progressive classic theatre with Shakespeare's romantic tragedy ROMEO AND JULIET presented in rotating repertory with Wallace Shawn's celebrated translation of Machiavelli's sex comedy THE MANDRAKE. A nine actor repertory ensemble comprised of Quintessence's best and director Alexander Burns will continue to establish Quintessence's brand of full throttle epic classic theatre for today. ROMEO AND JULIET will begin previews on Wednesday, September 30 at 7pm and open on Saturday, October 3 at 8pm.  THE MANDRAKE will begin previews on Wednesday, October 14 at 7pm and open on Saturday, October 17 at 8pm. All performances are at the Sedgwick Theater, 7137 Germantown Ave in Mt Airy, Philadelphia, 19119. To purchase tickets visit www.QuintessenceTheatre.org or call 215.987.4450.

American Theater Company (ATC) honors its late artistic director PJ Paparelli and kicks off Season 31 with a Legacy Celebration fundraiser on Wednesday, Sept. 30.

American Theater Company (ATC), 1909 W. Byron Street, kicks off Season 31: The Legacy Season with the co-world premiere of Fulfillment, written by Thomas Bradshaw and directed by Ethan McSweeny, Nov. 6-Dec. 13, 2015 (press opening Thursday, Nov. 12). This production is a co-world premiere with The Flea Theater in New York, where Fulfillment opens under McSweeny's direction next month.

Thomas Bradshaw (Job, Dawn, Burning, Purity, Prophet) returns to The Flea with the world premiere of Fulfillment, a new comedy that will have everyone shouting. Directed by Ethan McSweeny (The Best Man, A Time to Kill), previews start September 11, with opening night slated for Monday, September 21.

One of the capital's most beloved annual traditions, the Shakespeare Theatre Company (STC) Free For All, and one of William Shakespeare's most beloved plays, A Midsummer Night's Dream, are coming together for a major milestone: Free For All's 25th anniversary. Ethan McSweeny directs a revival of his 2012-2013 STC production, which will run September 1-13 at Sidney Harman Hall (610 F Street NW).

Niegel Smith, the new Artistic Director and Carol Ostrow, Producing Director of The Flea Theater announced today the slate for the fall season, which will include three World Premieres and one New York premiere.

Chautauqua Theater Company (CTC), under the leadership of Artistic Director Vivienne Benesch and Managing Director Sarah Clare Corporandy, presents Jason Wells's The Engine of Our Ruin for two Signature Staged Readings on July 17 and 18 on the Bratton Stage.

The Guthrie Theater previously announced that its outgoing Director Joe Dowling, the longest tenured artistic director in Guthrie history, will appear for an In Conversation moderated by New York Post theater columnist Michael Riedel tonight, April 21 at 7:30 p.m. on the Wurtele Thrust Stage.

The Guthrie Theater today announced that its outgoing Director Joe Dowling, the longest tenured artistic director in Guthrie history, will appear for an In Conversation moderated by New York Post theater columnist Michael Riedel on Tuesday, April 21 at 7:30 p.m. on the Wurtele Thrust Stage.

Arden Theatre Company continues its 27th season of great stories with Macbeth by William Shakespeare. Alexander Burns directs. Macbeth runs from tonight, March 5, 2015 - April 19, 2015, on the Arden's F. Otto Haas Stage at 40 N. 2nd Street in Philadelphia.

Arden Theatre Company continues its 27th season of great stories with Macbeth by William Shakespeare. Alexander Burns directs. Macbeth runs from March 5, 2015 - April 19, 2015, on the Arden's F. Otto Haas Stage at 40 N. 2nd Street in Philadelphia.

With the third and fourth shows of the Shakespeare Theatre Company's current season underway, Artistic Director Michael Kahn announced today the Company's 2015-2016 Season. Kahn has put together a season of contrasts and striking new voices, with international directors and adaptors bringing provocative approaches to the classics to Washington, D.C.

Continuing the successful partnership between Artistic Director Michael Kahn and Venus in Fur playwright David Ives, the Shakespeare Theatre Company (STC) presents The Metromaniacs, the third installment in Ives's series of rediscovered French comedy masterpieces.

Continuing the successful partnership between Artistic Director Michael Kahn and Venus in Fur playwright David Ives, the Shakespeare Theatre Company (STC) presents The Metromaniacs, the third installment in Ives's series of rediscovered French comedy masterpieces.

Poetic Theater Productions has announced the world premiere production of PARADOX OF THE URBAN CLICHE, written by Craig 'muMs' Grant and directed by Reginald L. Douglas, part of POETIC LICENSE 2015: subconscious.

From today, December 13-20 the Shakespeare Theatre Company (STC) presents a special Family Week, featuring free programming for families and children of all ages that includes special events and activities at each mainstage performance of The Tempest.

Director Ethan McSweeny clearly knows his way around the play, and offers mature Washington audiences a visually rich, complex Tempest that has its share of magical moments, but which at its core is unvarnished by sentiment. And Geraint Wyn Davies gives us a Prospero who is a temperamental, gravelly, flesh-and-blood nobleman, more Hemingway than Santa Claus.

From December 13-20 the Shakespeare Theatre Company (STC) presents a special Family Week, featuring free programming for families and children of all ages that includes special events and activities at each mainstage performance of The Tempest. Events include free performances of The Tiny Tempest for ages 5-10, plus behind the scenes discussions and demonstrations on stage effects, costumes and more. The Tempest, directed by Ethan McSweeny, plays at the Company's Sidney Harman Hall (610 F Street NW) through January 11, 2015.