George Takei, who recently starred in the Broadway musical Allegiance, has been cast as 'Reciter' in Classic Stage Company's upcoming production of Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman's PACIFIC OVERTURES, to be directed by Tony Award winner (and 2016 Tony Award nominee) John Doyle, who this season takes the reins as Artistic Director of the vital East Village theater company.
Red Bull Theater's annual festival of 10-minute plays of heightened language and classic themes features two brand new commissions from Lisa D'Amour and Amy Freed alongside 6 brand new plays chosen from hundreds of submissions from playwrights across the country, inspired by this year's theme 'SCANDAL'.
The great legends and myths have their roots in common human experience. Yet it is not always obvious which experience gives rise to them. Take the myth of Medea, the sorceress who aided the hero Jason and who, when Jason cast her aside to make a politically expedient marriage, murdered their two sons. Only part of the story is commonplace: the part about Medea being cast aside. We all know (if we are not ourselves) women (and men) whose spouses have deserted them and left them heartbroken. Few of us, however, know parents, and especially mothers, who have murdered their children for that reason. Nor is it fair to trace the roots of the myth to occasional feelings of 'wanting to kill' Junior; those feelings are seldom serious to begin with, and almost always transient.
Last night's Stuff Happens revival was concerned with warmongering men chasing glory from afar. Now we meet the women who suffer most from such conflict: 13 Syrian refugees, driven from their homeland. Their voices are seldom heard amidst the din, but thanks to Georgina Paget, Charlotte Eagar and William Stirling's drama therapy workshop, which grew into a fully-fledged performance and will tour nationally following its London run, those voices now ring out across the UK.
Red Bull Theater today announced that their Twelfth Season will conclude with Red Bull Theater's annual festival of 10-minute plays of heightened language and classic themes features two brand new commissions from Lisa D'Amour and Amy Freed alongside 6 brand new plays chosen from hundreds of submissions from playwrights across the country. The 2016 Short New Play Festival will be Monday July 25th (7:30pm) at Lucille Lortel Theatre. This year's plays will be Motley Fool by Kate Abbruzzese, Swan Song by Emily Taplin Boyd, Malaprop by Lisa D'amour, The Ghoul Of Amherst by Amy Freed, Warp And Weft by Anchuli Felicia King, Her Father's Daughter by Dakin Matthews, The Eighth Circle by Bridgette Dutta Portman, and The Opulent Complex by Lynn Rosen. Tickets may be purchased online at www.redbulltheater.com or by phone at (212) 352-3101.
London is never short of theatre temptations, whether splashy West End shows, epic dramas or bold fringe offerings. From a magical mega-hit and musical revivals to plays with strong political resonance, here are some of this month's most eye-catching openings. Don't forget to check back for BroadwayWorld's reviews…
Prepare to witness a performance like no other as The reFASHIONed Theatre opens at Selfridges with MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING presented by critically-acclaimed theatre company, The Faction.
Classic Stage Company has announced that Mirirai Sithole is this year's recipient of the Rosemarie Tichler Fund grant. The Fund was established in 2010 with the mission to assist young actors who have appeared at CSC and who have recently made the transition from their training into the profession. The $3,000 grant can be used by the young artist to continue training or to offset loans they may have incurred while studying their craft. With the grant, CSC hopes to make a difference in the lives of young actors at the start of their careers as well as to heighten awareness in the community to the specific needs of actors.
The Flea Theater's Artistic Director Niegel Smith and Producing Director Carol Ostrow the fall 2016 season, which will include an A.R. Gurney World Premiere and a new look at the Greeks by Ellen McLaughlin.
Mr. Rioult is a compelling storyteller. In 'Iphigenia' - which begins with a glimpse of the gruesome future - he confronts the tragedy head on by making it clear that the designated sacrifice is unaware of her fate. Watching Clytemnestra - Charis Haines, who handily walks away with the piece - batter a commanding Brian Flynn as Agamemnon reminds one that there is nothing so frightening as a mother whose child has been threatened.
The Bayou Theatre Company returns with its third season entitled 'The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly: Exploring the Complexities of Womanhood'. With a season focused on female-centered stories, the season will open with Lanie Robertson's riveting one woman play with music LADY DAY AT THE EMERSON'S BAR AND GRILL, followed by PECONG by Steve Carter, a resetting of the myth of Medea.
The Board of Directors, Chairman's Council, and Dancers of RIOULT Dance NY, a leading American modern dance company with a classic sensibility, proudly announce their GALA EVENING 2016,Wednesday, June 22, 2016 starting with a 7pm performance at The Joyce Theater, 175 Eighth Avenue at 19th Street featuring the NYC Premiere of Pascal Rioult's Polymorphous.
The University of Washington School of Drama, under the leadership of Executive Director Todd London, has announced its 2016-2017 Season. As with their 75th anniversary season, the School of Drama will continue to build artistic partnerships with both local and national artists in an effort to provide more diverse learning opportunities for their students and create a laboratory environment within the School. Guest artists involved this season include: Ali el-Gassier, Marya Sea Kaminski, Jane Jones, Ellen McLaughlin, Qui Nguyen, Ken Rus Schmoll, Daniel Talbott, and Anne Washburn.
In preparation for its upcoming Joyce season, RIOULT Dance NY held an open rehearsal at the Gibney Dance Center at 890 Broadway featuring a run through of the company's upcoming world premiere, 'Cassandra's Curse'. Of course this refers to that doomed prophetess from the Trojan War who - though blessed with foresight - was cursed to never have her predictions believed. In an expansive opening, Artistic Director Pascal Rioult revealed that the piece was inspired by his passion for Euripides' 'The Trojan Women', a play that serves as a wellspring of material for his current artistic period.
The award-winning Young People's Chorus of New York City (YPC), known for bringing children of diverse ethnic, religious and economic backgrounds together through a program of musical excellence, community and educational initiatives under Artistic Director/Founder Francisco J. Nuñez, will give a one-hour preview of its summer tour concert program on Thursday, July 14 at 7:00 p.m. at the Richard Rodgers Amphitheater at Marcus GarveyPark (enter at 124th Street and Fifth Avenue and walk south to the venue).
Michael C. Hall will headline a one-night night only reading of Will Eno's play GNIT, adapted from Henrik Ibsen's PEER GYNT Monday evening, June 20 at 7 pm at CSC (136 East 13th Street) as part of the theater's FIRST LOOK FESTIVAL IBSEN, presented in conjunction with the company current production of PEER GYNT, directed by John Doyle and runs through this Sunday, June 19.
Head over to the Matrix Theatre in June for a mini Australian theater festival, when L.A.'s Australian Theatre Company presents a 'Double Feature' of two celebrated Australian plays that were made into movies and ATC's second annual free reading series - all over the course of 3-1/2 weeks. Opening with Speaking in Tonguesby Andrew Bovell on June 6 and the U.S. premiere of Ruben Guthrie by Brendan Cowell on June 7, performances of the two plays continue in repertory through June 28, with a free "Works by Women" reading series taking place every Wednesday evening.
RIOULT Dance NY, a leading American modern dance company with a classic sensibility, returns to The Joyce Theater from June 21-26, 2016 with eight performances featuring World and New York City Premieres. Tickets start at $10 and are on sale now at www.joyce.org.
After selling out its week-long run at the Young Vic theatre, the UK tour of QUEENS OF SYRIA - Developing Artists and Refuge Productions' adaptation of Euripides' great anti-war tragedy - will culminate in a West End Gala Performance at the New London Theatre on Sunday 24 July.