Folger Theatre News

Oppressed in Heels and A Letter for You presents THE TROJAN WOMEN, a new devised work pulled from interviews of women dealing with war in its many ravaging forms weaved into the narrative of Euripides' classic text. Nathaniel P. Claridad (the original company of Here Lies Love) directs and serves as head writer for the new investigative theatre piece that will play October 23rd through November 1 at the Access Theatre.

Shakespeare's Pericles, as directed by Joseph Haj from the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, will be restaged at the Folger Theatre from November 13 through December 20, 2015. This fantastical tale of a father's heroic odyssey stars Washington, D.C. native Wayne T. Carr in the title role. Tickets are available for purchase online at www.folger.edu/theatre or by calling the Folger Box Office at (202) 544-7077.

Aurora Theatre Company presents the Bay Area Premiere of Pulitzer Prize finalist (Freedomland) Amy Freed's THE MONSTER-BUILDER. Art Manke, who directed the World Premiere of THE MONSTER-BUILDER at Portland's Artists Repertory Theatre in 2014, makes his Aurora directing debut with this viciously funny comedy featuring Danny Scheie (The Mystery of Irma Vep), Rod Knapp (The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity), Nancy Carlin (Hysteria), Thomas Gorrebeeck (The Eccentricities of a Nightingale), Tracy Hazas, and Sierra Jolene. THE MONSTER-BUILDER plays November 6 through December 6 at the Aurora Theatre in Berkeley. For tickets ($32-60) and information the public can call (510) 843-4822 or visit auroratheatre.org.

A Contemporary Theatre is thrilled to present the imaginative dark comedy of MR. BURNS, A POST-ELECTRIC PLAY by Anne Washburn (The Internationalist, A Devil At Noon, and The Small). Spanning several years to several decades after the end of the world, survivors must begin again to create a new society. As the survivors bond by recounting the popular "Cape Feare" episode of The Simpsons, the story evolves into its own mythos.

It's not easy being Queen. And if you need any evidence look no further than the Folger Theatre's fascinating new documentary-style play texts&beheadings/ElizabethR.

Fresh off its world-premiere run in Minneapolis, where Star Tribune declared "Akeelah and the Bee triumphs," Children's Theatre Company's new production about an 11-year-old spelling prodigy comes to Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater. The show is adapted for the stage by veteran playwright Cheryl L. West (Arena's Pullman Porter Blues, Jar the Floor), who partners with celebrated director Charles Randolph-Wright (director of Broadway's Motown and an inaugural resident playwright with Arena Stage, where he premiered his play Love in Afghanistan). Akeelah and the Bee runs November 13-December 27, 2015 in the Kreeger Theater.

Olney Theatre Center, a Mid-Atlantic destination for extraordinary theater performance and education, opens its 2015-2016 season with Noel Coward's Hay Fever, running September 2 - September 27, 2015 on the Mainstage, directed by Artistic Associate Eleanor Holdridge.  Check out a first look below!

The Folger Shakespeare Library continues its collaboration with Picturehouse Entertainment to bring the Royal Shakespeare Company from Shakespeare's hometown of Stratford-upon-Avon to Washington, D.C. with a screening of THE MERCHANT OF VENICE tonight, September 12th at 7:00pm.

Guillotine Theatre and the National Museum of Women in the Arts present Monique LaForce's new play Hootenanny as part of the Women's Voices Theatre Festival.

Washington, DC - theatreWashington unveils a groundbreaking network of ticketing discounts to mark theatreWeek 2015, a celebration of live theatre that spans the capital region and is personified by exclusive ticket discounts offered by more than 50 professional theatres.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) presents Shakespeare's spectacular tale of revenge and romance -- The Tempest -- staged by award-winning directors Aaron Posner and Teller, of the magic duo Penn & Teller. This inventive reimagining features the music of Tom Waits and Kathleen Brennan, as well as choreography from the pioneering dance troupe Pilobolus led by Associate Artistic Director Matt Kent.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) announces the full casting and creative team for Shakespeare's spectacular tale of revenge and romance-The Tempest, staged by award-winning directors Aaron Posner and Teller, of the magic duo Penn & Teller.

Signature Theatre has announced the cast and creative team for the world premiere production of Cake Off, a new musical by Sheri Wilner (Kingdom City), Julia Jordan (Murder Ballad) and Adam Gwon (Signature's The Boy Detective Fails). Directed by Signature's Director of New Works Joe Calarco (Signature's Gypsy, Shakespeare's R&J) this hilarious new musical is a battle-of-the-sexes set at the 50th Annual Millberry Cake-Off competition. Cake Off runs September 29 - November 22 in the ARK Theatre.

The Folger Shakespeare Library continues its collaboration with Picturehouse Entertainment to bring the Royal Shakespeare Company from Shakespeare's hometown of Stratford-upon-Avon to Washington, D.C. with a screening of THE MERCHANT OF VENICE on Saturday, September 12th at 7:00pm.

The Douglas Morrisson Theatre 2015-2016 Revelations Season kicks off with the regional premiere of Lynn Nottage's biting satire about racial stereotyping in Hollywood: BY THE WAY, MEET VERA STARK.  By The Way, Meet Vera Stark will have 15 performances, including one preview, tonight, August 27, through September 20, 2015, at the Douglas Morrisson Theatre, 22311 N. Third St. in Hayward, CA.

Folger Theatre starts the 2015/16 season with a limited engagement of texts&beheadings/ElizabethR, a world premiere play which explores England's Queen Elizabeth I.  Produced in conjunction with the international theater collective Compagnia de' Colombari, the play is created and directed by Karin Coonrod (Henry VI at the Public Theater and Julius Caesar at Theatre for A New Audience) and will be presented as a part of Washington, D.C.'s city-wide Women's Voices Theater Festival. texts&beheadings/ElizabethR is on stage at Folger Theatre for 16 performances, September 19 - October 4, 2015.

Burning Coal Theatre Company of Raleigh, NC announces its 2015/2016 season of plays. In its 19th season, the theatre, housed in the historic Murphy School auditorium at 224 Polk Street, will host the Brooklyn based Only Child Aerial Theatre's Production of Asylum created by Nicki Miller and Kendall Rileigh and directed by Nicki Miller (October 15 - November 1, 2015), The Wiz by William F Brown, Charles Smalls and Luther Vandross, directed by Randolph Curtis Rand (December 3 - December 20, 2015), The US premier of Blue Sky by Clare Bayley, directed by Gus Heagerty and co-produced by CAM/Raleigh (January 28 - February 14, 2016 at CAM/Raleigh), and the American premier of Spoonface Steinberg by Lee Hall, the writer of Billy Elliot, directed by Jerome Davis (April 7 - April 24, 2016).

Olney Theatre Center, a Mid-Atlantic destination for extraordinary theater performance and education, opens its 2015-2016 season with Noel Coward's Hay Fever, running September 2 - September 27, 2015 on the Mainstage, directed by Artistic Associate Eleanor Holdridge.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) announces the full casting and creative team for Shakespeare's spectacular tale of revenge and romance-The Tempest, staged by award-winning directors Aaron Posner and Teller, of the magic duo Penn & Teller.