George Orwell News

MidCity Productions first production of 2017 is a big one, the beloved and eerie tale of promises kept and debts to be repaid in Conor McPherson's The Seafarer.

Milwaukee Repertory Theater Artistic Director Mark Clements and Managing Director Chad Bauman are pleased to announce the 2017/18 Season with 13 productions in four venues spanning September 2017 - May 2018.  With the start of the 2017/18 Season both Artistic Director Mark Clements and Managing Director Chad Bauman will renew their contracts with Milwaukee Rep for an additional four and six years respectively.  Artistic Director Mark Clements began his tenure at Milwaukee Rep in 2010 by introducing a musical into the Quadracci Powerhouse season, creating the New Play Development program, and adapting and directing the world premiere production of A Christmas Carol this past December.   With this contract renewal through 2021 he will continue his commitment to presenting world class works on all three stages.    Managing Director Chad Bauman came to The Rep in 2013 and will continue through 2023 per his contract renewal.  In his time here he has implemented a fruitful strategic business model that supports the theater's artistic vision with a focus on quality, inclusion, citizenship, innovation, and stability.

The first days of the Trump presidency have been great for book sales, at least for one particular kind of book - doomsday 'or dystopian' book sales are skyrocketing. George Orwell's '1984' and the Sinclair Lewis 1930's classic 'It Can't Happen Here' about a gradual fascist takeover of the United States have both recently hit Amazon's Top 5 best seller list. '1984' spent three days at number one and sold so many copies that the publisher ran out of stock and is rushing to print more to meet demand.

George Orwell's seminal novel 1984 is suddenly more relevant than ever and, in a stroke of synchronicity, the casting for the Australian tour of the West End smash hit production has been announced on the same day that a Broadway season of the production has been confirmed.

Big Brother may be watching, but soon Broadway fans will have the opportunity to watch right back. In a move that is as timely as it is eerie, the lauded stage adaptation of George Orwell's classic dystopian novel 1984 will make the leap from the West End to Broadway this summer. 

Steppenwolf Theatre Company announces the complete cast for Hir, a Chicago premiere by celebrated playwright, actor, singer-songwriter and performance artist Taylor Mac.

MidCity Productions first production of 2017 is a big one, the beloved and eerie tale of promises kept and debts to be repaid in Conor McPherson's The Seafarer.

Vivienne Acheampong, Mark Edel-Hunt, Chris New and Jack Tarlton will star in the first stage adaptation of a Paul Auster novel in the UK, City of Glass, a brand new production by Tony Award-winning 59 Productions in a co-production with HOME, Manchester (4-18 March) and Lyric Hammersmith (20 April - 13 May).

Vivienne Acheampong, Mark Edel-Hunt, Chris New and Jack Tarlton will star in the first stage adaptation of a Paul Auster novel in the UK, City of Glass, a brand new production by Tony Award-winning 59 Productions in a co-production with HOME, Manchester (4-18 March) and Lyric Hammersmith (20 April - 13 May).

The nationally recognized Steppenwolf for Young Adults (SYA) brings a gripping world premiere adaptation of Walter Dean Myers' award-winning novel, Monster to the Steppenwolf stage.

In a coup for Queensland audiences, the critically acclaimed West End (UK) production of Orwell's 1984 will be brought to the massive Lyric Theatre stage at Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) for a strictly limited season in June 2017.

The House Theatre of Chicago presents their initial production in 2017, Diamond Dogs, adapted from Alastair Reynolds' science fiction adventure by Althos Low and directed by Artistic Director Nathan Allen, playing at the Chopin Upstairs Theatre, 1543 W. Division St., January 13 - March 5. 

The nationally recognized Steppenwolf for Young Adults (SYA) brings a gripping world premiere adaptation of Walter Dean Myers' award-winning novel, Monster to the Steppenwolf stage.

TheatreWorks New Milford has announced their 50th Anniversary 2017 season which includes five main-stage shows, five free staged readings, and plans for their ongoing TheatreWorks Kids (TW Kids) program.

Regional Contributing Editor, Justin picks his top ten best plays and musicals of 2016.

The House Theatre of Chicago presents their initial production in 2017, Diamond Dogs, adapted from Alastair Reynolds' science fiction adventure by Althos Low and directed by Artistic Director Nathan Allen, playing at the Chopin Upstairs Theatre, 1543 W. Division St., January 13 - March 5. 

200 years in the future, the land is ruled by the mighty 'Spotif-Eye', everyone is a freelancer with an inflexible work schedule, and the end of humankind draws near.  The dystopian musical comedy George Orwell never wrote introduces us to three sisters, a hair-obsessed Lieutenant, a mysterious Elder who speaks in song lyrics, and the one algorithmically perfect song that rules them all. Will the sweet sounds of sisterhood ring out and save humanity? Will they ever taste fresh kale juice?  Will the revolution, in fact, be harmonized?

Theatre Nova, Ann Arbor's professional playwrights' theater, now finishing up its second year of operations, is proud to announce additions to its leadership team. Founding Artistic Director, Carla Milarch, will be joined by Diane Hill and David Wolber who will both serve as Producing Artistic Directors. These experienced administrators will join the existing Theatre Nova team of Daniel C. Walker, Becky Fox, and Emilio Rodriguez in their quest to establish the group as a major theatre destination. The new, expanded team is excited to help lead the organization forward and is preparing for a number of new and exciting developments including announcing a "Supra-Season," establishing a season subscription program, continuing to improve the facility, and announcing special partnerships in the community. Theatre Nova is making a name for hot-off-the-press new works, with plays such as the new musical "Irrational" by David Wells and R. MacKenzie Lewis, and local playwright Kim Carney's poignant new work, "Katherine," along with "Mr. Joy" by Daniel Beaty, all recent critical and box office hits.

What do you feel you are owed in this world? What are you willing to do to get it? To complete the season's theme, 'But Who Am I, Really,' The Seeing Place presents one of Shakespeare's greatest stories in a way rarely seen it before: with a deep emphasis on text that's understandable, presented in modern dress to deeply connect the audience to the play's relevance today.