Hamish Linklater News

Classic Stage Company has announced complete casting for their upcoming production of Shakespeare's A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, which begins previews at CSC on Wednesday, April 4 for a limited engagement through Sunday, May 20. Joining two-time Tony Award winner Bebe Neuwirth (Hippolyta/Titania) and acclaimed film/television/stage star Christina Ricci (Hermia) in the cast are Jordan Dean (Demetrius), Nick Gehlfuss (Lysander), David Greenspan (Flute/Fairy), Halley Wegryn Gross (Helena), Anthony Heald (Theseus/Oberon), Erin Hill (Starveling/Fairy), Chad Lindsey (Snout/Fairy), Taylor Mac (Egeus/Puck), James Patrick Nelson (Snug/Fairy), Steven Skybell (Bottom) and Rob Yang (Quince/Fairy). Directed by Tony Speciale (Unnatural Acts), A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM has its official opening Sunday, April 29.

Classic Stage Company's upcoming production of Bertolt Brecht's GALILEO (translated by Charles Laughton) starring Academy Award winner F. Murray Abraham, which begins previews Tuesday evening, February 1, will extend by one additional week through Sunday, March 18.

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick, will next season present new production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's Tony Award-winning musical PASSION, to be directed by John Doyle (the Tony Award-winning revivals of Sondheim's Sweeney Todd and Company). PASSION is slated to begin performances in February, 2013.

Two-time Tony Award nominee, Emmy Award and Golden Globe winner Alan Rickman (Private Lives, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, the Harry Potter franchise) is currently making his eagerly-anticipated return to Broadway starring in the World Premiere of SEMINAR, a new comedy by Pulitzer Prize finalist and Peabody Award winner Theresa Rebeck (Mauritius, The Understudy, Omnium Gatherum, The Family of Mann, Spike Heels, NBC's upcoming 'Smash').

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick, will present Academy Award winner F. Murray Abraham in a new production of Bertolt Brecht's GALILEO, translated by Charles Laughton, and directed by Kulick, beginning performances Wednesday, February 1 at CSC (136 East 13th Street) for a limited engagement through Sunday, March 11. The official press opening for GALILEO is Sunday, February 12. Tickets for GALILEO go on sale to the public today, Tuesday, January 3.

Classic Stage Company's new production of Anton Chekhov's tragicomic masterpiece THE CHERRY ORCHARD, featuring John Turturro (Lopakhin), Dianne Wiest (Ranevskaya), Ken Cheeseman (Pischick), Daniel Davis (Gaev), Alvin Epstein (Fiers), Josh Hamilton (Trofimov), Slate Holmgren (Yasha), Roberta Maxwell (Charlotta), Juliet Rylance (Varya), Michael Urie (Yepikhodov), Elisabeth Waterston (Dunyasha) and Katherine Waterston (Anya), has extended its upcoming engagement through Friday, December 30. Previews begin Wednesday, November 16 at CSC (136 East 13th Street). THE CHERRY ORCHARD is directed by Andrei Belgrader, with a translation by John Christopher Jones. The official press opening is scheduled for Sunday, December 4 at 7pm.

Not to be outdone by their female counterparts, the men of Broadway can boast a banner year. Norbert Leo Butz won a second Tony for Catch Me If You Can, Harry Potter mega-star Daniel Radcliffe made his debut in a Broadway musical to tremendous acclaim, Matt Stone, Trey Parker and Robert Lopez rocked Broadway to its core with the Rialto's latest certified Blockbuster, The Book of Mormon, and Pee-Wee Herman came to the stage at last.

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick, has announced that acclaimed actress Christina Ricci will join two-time Tony Award winner Bebe Neuwirth in the company's upcoming production of William Shakespeare's A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM. Directed by Tony Speciale, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM will begin performances Wednesday, March 28 and play a limited engagement through Sunday, May 6. Neuwirth will play the role of Titania and Ricci the role of Hermia. Additional casting will be announced early in the new year. Tickets will go on sale to the general public February 6. CSC is currently presenting the highly-acclaimed, sold-out production of Anton Chekhov's THE CHERRY ORCHARD (through January 8 only) and will next present Academy Award winner F. Murray Abraham in Bertolt Brecht's GALILEO, directed by Brian Kulick, beginning performances Wednesday, February 1.

Classic Stage Company's acclaimed, sold-out production of Anton Chekhov's tragicomic masterpiece THE CHERRY ORCHARD, featuring John Turturro and Dianne Wiest, among an esteemed cast, will extend by one additional week through Sunday, January 8. THE CHERRY ORCHARD is directed by Andrei Belgrader, with a translation by John Christopher Jones.

Acclaimed playwright Theresa Rebeck and cast members from her new hit Broadway comedy SEMINAR will participate in a special in-store event at The Drama Book Shop (250 West 40th Street) on Wednesday afternoon, December 14 starting at 5PM. Ms. Rebeck will be joined by cast members Tony Award nominee Lily Rabe, Obie Award winner Hamish Linklater, film and television star Jerry O'Connell and actress Hettienne Park for a Q&A panel about the play.

The Acting Company will present a staged reading of CHARLEY'S AUNT on December 12. The event will take place at 7pm at the Mainstage Theatre. Written by Brandon Thomas, the reading will be directed by Ian Belknap, and feature the talents of Stephen Bogardus, Santino Fontana, and Michael Urie.

BATTLESHIP is coming to theaters on May 18, 2012 from Universal Pictures. The Sci-fi action film is directed by Peter Berg and marks the acting debut for superstar Rihanna in which she plays a weapons specialist on one of the ships.

The Acting Company will present a staged reading of CHARLEY'S AUNT on December 12. The event will take place at 7pm at the Mainstage Theatre. Written by Brandon Thomas, the reading will be directed by Ian Belknap, and feature the talents of Stephen Bogardus, Santino Fontana, and Michael Urie.

If you're looking for a quick roundup of this week's theatre events, look no further - here are some of the best articles the week had to offer!

Two-time Tony Award nominee, Emmy Award and Golden Globe winner Alan Rickman is making his eagerly-anticipated return to Broadway starring in the World Premiere of SEMINAR, a new comedy by Pulitzer Prize finalist and Peabody Award winner Theresa Rebeck. The show opened on Broadway last week, Sunday, November 20th and Broadway Beat was inside the after party to chat with the company!

Two-time Tony Award nominee, Emmy Award and Golden Globe winner Alan Rickman is making his eagerly-anticipated return to Broadway starring in the World Premiere of SEMINAR, a new comedy by Pulitzer Prize finalist and Peabody Award winner Theresa Rebeck. The show opened on Broadway last night, Sunday, November 20th. Check out photos of the starry opening night arrivals - including appearances by the cast of SMASH - below!