Henry Wishcamper News

It's 'Hooray for Captain Spaulding, The African Explorer!' and hooray for the entire cast of ANIMAL CRACKERS who pay (and play) fitting homage to the Brothers Marx in this comedy music production at Baltimore's Center Stage.

Tonight Center Stage officially kicks off the 2013-14 Season with the Opening Night of Animal Crackers, the classic toe-tapping, knee-slapping Marx Brothers musical. Under the direction of BJ Jones, Animal Crackers will run through October 13.

Now in its 10th year, Goodman Theatre's 2013 New Stages festival features five FREE new plays-two fully staged workshop productions performed in repertory plus three staged readings-in the Owen Theatre, December 7 - 22. All five plays celebrate Latino playwrights: The Upstairs Concierge, a contemporary farce about celebrity and baseball by Pulitzer Prize finalist (for The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity) Kristoffer Diaz; and The Solid Sand Below, an examination of the intoxicating nature of war which Martin Zimmerman developed during his time as a member of the Goodman's Playwrights Unit, and which was selected for the 2013 National Playwrights Conference at The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center in Connecticut. The three staged readings, which complement the two workshop productions over the December 13 - 15 "Industry Weekend," are TBA. Tickets are free, but reservations are required: 312.443.3800, GoodmanTheatre.org or visit the box office (170 N. Dearborn).

Rehearsals began Tuesday for Animal Crackers, the first production of Center Stage's 2013-14 Season. This classic American musical comedy is set to feature City Paper Best Actor Bruce Nelson as Groucho Marx playing the ineffable Captain Spaulding. Under the direction of Northlight Theatre Artistic Director BJ Jones-who previously directed Center Stage's smash production of A Skull in Connemara-Animal Crackers begins previews on September 4 and runs through October 13.

The Denver Center Theatre Company will begin selling single tickets to the upcoming 2013/14 season today, August 5.

The 10-play season includes four exhilarating world premieres selected from the 2013 Colorado New Play Summit. Karen Zacarias' adaptation of Helen Thorpe's book Just Like Us, Catherine Trieschmann's comedy The Most Deserving, Matthew Lopez's heartfelt The Legend of Georgia McBride and Marcus Gardley's adaptation of Homer's epic poem, black odyssey, will all take to the stage to dazzle Denver audiences. Also selected for the season is a Pulitzer Prize-winning drama, an adaptation of a Marx Brother's script, Shakespeare's tragic masterpiece, a powerful and poignant love story and the return of a Christmas classic.

Goodman Theatre presents four free staged readings of new plays developed in the Playwrights Unit, a season-long residency program for local writers who meet twice monthly with members of the theater's artistic staff to discuss their plays in progress. Out of this process emerges four brand new plays, which appear in FREE staged readings: Sleeping with the Prince of Darkness: The Imagined Pillow Talk of FBI Agent John O'Neill by Greg Allen (July 20 at 7:30pm); F(law)less by christopher oscar peña (July 21 at 2:30pm); Prowess by Ike Holter (July 21 at 7:30pm); and Ninth Man Out by Alice Austen (August 16 at 7:30pm).

The newly-formed Goodman Innovation Group unites top-tier entrepreneurs with young theater leaders in a collective that injects the start-up mentality into the business of the theater. The 20-member group was developed by Patricia Cox, Goodman Life Trustee and Immediate Past Chairman, along with Chicago entrepreneur Genevieve Thiers, as an opportunity to share ideas between the established non-profit arts organization and Chicago's brand new companies. The goals of the group are to engage young entrepreneurs in the vision, values and programs of Goodman Theatre; create professional development opportunities for the next generation of theater leaders; and identify initiatives emphasizing new technologies and further insights that advance the Goodman's mission and priorities.

Goodman Theatre presents four free staged readings of new plays developed in the Playwrights Unit, a season-long residency program for local writers who meet twice monthly with members of the theater's artistic staff to discuss their plays in progress. Out of this process emerges four brand new plays, which appear in FREE staged readings: Sleeping with the Prince of Darkness: The Imagined Pillow Talk of FBI Agent John O'Neill by Greg Allen (July 20 at 7:30pm); F(law)less by christopher oscar peña (July 21 at 2:30pm); Prowess by Ike Holter (July 21 at 7:30pm); and Ninth Man Out by Alice Austen (August 16 at 7:30pm).

Williamstown Theatre Festival is currently presenting ANIMAL CRACKERS, directed by Henry Wishcamper. BroadwayWorld brings you highlights below!

It may be an economy sized production, but it fills the bill as one of the funniest musical comedies ever conceived. Williamstown Theatre Festival goes all out to deliver a full course of music, theatre and dance for this venerable joyride.

Williamstown Theatre Festival is currently presenting ANIMAL CRACKERS, directed by Henry Wishcamper and opening tonight, June 27. In the video below go behind the scenes of the cast sitzprobe!

Goodman Theatre presents four free staged readings of new plays developed in the Playwrights Unit, a season-long residency program for local writers who meet twice monthly with members of the theater's artistic staff to discuss their plays in progress. Out of this process emerges four brand new plays, which appear in FREE staged readings: Prowess by Ike Holter (July 20 at 2pm); Sleeping with the Prince of Darkness: The Imagined Pillow Talk of FBI Agent John O'Neill by Greg Allen (July 20 at 7:30pm); F(law)less by christopher oscar peña (July 21 at 2:30pm); and Ninth Man Outby Alice Austen (August 16 at 7:30pm).

Williamstown Theatre Festival Artistic Director Jenny Gersten has announced further casting and additions to the 2013 summer season, which officially kicks off tomorrow, June 4, when the box office opens its doors. Brooks Ashmanskas, De'Adre Aziza, Reed Birney,Joey Slotnick, and Omar Metwally are among the actors who will take part in this summer's productions. Gersten has

Williamstown Theatre Festival Artistic Director Jenny Gersten has announced additions to the Festival's 59th Season, including Blood Play, The Debate Society's off- Broadway hit, which will play the Nikos Stage, August 7 - 18, 2013. It was also announced today that celebrated comedian (and Williamstown Theatre Festival regular) Lewis Black will return to the WTF Main Stage for My Fair Lewis, a one-night-only evening of stand-up, on Monday, July 22, and that the Festival's signature Late-Night Cabaret series - featuring Festival stars in rarely seen cabaret performances - returns to Goodrich Hall, July 11 - 13, July 25 - 27, August 8 - 10 at 10:30 PM.

The Denver Center Theatre Company announced a 10-play season including four exhilarating world premieres selected from the 2013 Colorado New Play Summit. Karen Zacarias' adaptation of Helen Thorpe's book Just Like Us, Catherine Trieschmann's comedy The Most Deserving, Matthew Lopez's heartfelt The Legend of Georgia McBride and Marcus Gardley's adaptation of Homer's epic poem, black odyssey, will all take to the stage to dazzle Denver audiences. Also selected for the season is a Pulitzer Prize-winning drama, an adaptation of a Marx Brother's script, Shakespeare's tragic masterpiece, a powerful and poignant love story and the return of a Christmas classic. 'We had such compelling and imaginative writing at this year's Colorado New Play Summit that could not be overlooked,' said Producing Artistic Director Kent Thompson. 'Our selections this year are wide-ranging and diverse and I think will bring excitement to our patrons' experience at the theatre.'

The Goodman Theatre just announced its 2013/2014 season. For tickets or more information, visit: http://www.goodmantheatre.org/upcoming-season/?id=&epslanguage=en

Artistic Director Jenny Gersten announced at a press conference in Williamstown today the roster of Main Stage and Nikos Stage productions for the 2013 Williamstown Theatre Festival (WTF) Season, the Festival's 59th season and third under Ms. Gersten's leadership.

The Princess Grace Foundation-USA (PGF-USA) has just announced that the 30(th) Anniversary Princess Grace Awards Gala will be held on Monday, October 22, 2012 at Cipriani 42(nd) Street in New York City. The Awards ceremony will include the presentation of 25 awards to emerging artists in theater, dance and film as well as Princess Grace Statue Awards to be presented to Patrick Page and Darron L West. A special honor will be presented to one of the founding Trustees, Lynn Wyatt, for her dedicated service and help in establishing the Foundation in 1982. The 30(th) Anniversary Princess Grace Awards Gala will take place in the presence of TSH The Prince and The Princess of Monaco. Legendary newswoman Paula Zahn will act as Mistress of Ceremonies for the evening. The evening will be chaired by Renee Fleming and Tim Jessell and H.R.H. Princess Firyal of Jordan. Presenting Sponsor for the Gala is Hermes; Crown Sponsor is Lily Safra. A unique live auction will feature a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Monaco for the Grand Prix and opportunities to name a Princess Grace Award. Bringing down the gavel will be Paddle8's co-founder, Alexander Gilkes.

Artistic Director Robert Falls announced today that he will direct a major revival and new adaptation of Measure for Measure, Shakespeare's darkly comic collision of vice and virtue, in Goodman Theatre's 2012/2013 season, March 9 - April 14, 2013. Also, director David Cromer announced partial casting for his production of Sweet Bird of Youth: Oscar, Emmy, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award-nominee Diane Lane appears as Princess Kosmonopolis and Finn Wittrock, who recently appeared in Broadway's Death of a Salesman with Philip Seymour Hoffman, is cast as the young-actor-turned-gigolo Chance Wayne. Complete casting to be announced soon. The production opens the Goodman's new season, September 15 - October 21; a September 24 Season Opening Benefit will take place at The Standard Club. Tickets available only on subscription; call 312.443.3800 or visit www.GoodmanTheatre.org. Individual tickets to Sweet Bird of Youth go on sale August 10; Abbott Fund, Fifth Third Bank, Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP and PwC LLP are the Corporate Sponsors Partners. Call 312.443.3811, ext. 586 for more information about the Season Opening Benefit.