Ian McDiarmid News

The Almeida Theatre announces its new season: Almeida Greeks.

On the night before a class assignment is due, Caroline and Anthony plumb the mysteries of Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass - unaware that a much deeper mystery has brought them together. The Los Angeles premiere of I and You by Lauren Gunderson, winner of the 2014 Harold and Mimi Steinberg/American Theatre Critics Association New Play Award, opens on April 11 at the Fountain Theatre, directed by Robin Larsen.

Launching the Fountain Theatre's 25th Anniversary Season, Simon Levy directs Kristin Carey, Ryan Doucette, Joanna Strapp - and some very unusual, one-of-a-kind dolls - in the Los Angeles premiere of Reborning by Zayd Dohrn. How far would you go to create a family? A darkly funny psychological thriller that takes an unsettling look at work, motherhood and the power of healing, Reborning opens at the Fountain Theatre on Jan. 24. Check out photos from the show below!

Launching the Fountain Theatre's 25th Anniversary Season, Simon Levy directs Kristin Carey, Ryan Doucette, Joanna Strapp - and some very unusual, one-of-a-kind dolls - in the Los Angeles premiere of Reborning by Zayd Dohrn. How far would you go to create a family? A darkly funny psychological thriller that takes an unsettling look at work, motherhood and the power of healing, Reborning opens at the Fountain Theatre on Jan. 24.

Gary Naylor sees an extraordinary production of Shakespeare's most controversial play, one full of ambiguity and vicious cruelty, both physical and mental.

The Almeida Theatre has announced its new Winter-Spring 2014-15 season, featuring Rupert Goold's celebrated RSC production of THE MERCHANT OF VENICE, starring Ian McDiarmid as Shylock and Susannah Fielding reprising her role as Portia; Robert Icke directing Tobias Menzies in an intimate staging of Wallace Shawn's THE FEVER AT THE MAY FAIR HOTEL; the World Premiere of Mike Bartlett's play GAME, directed by Sacha Wares and designed by Miriam Buether in a radical reconfiguration of the theater; and Simon Stephens reimagining Bizet's CARMEN in the UK premiere of CARMEN DISRUPTION, helmed by Michael Longhurst.

Check out these pictures from the rehearsals for The Merchant of Venice, directed by Rupert Goold and playing at the Almeida!

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Today's big news: Bette Midler releases her new album IT'S THE GIRLS, BY THE WATER begins off-Broadway and more!

Full casting is today announced for Rupert Goold's The Merchant of Venice at the Almeida Theatre. Former Almeida Artistic Director Ian McDiarmid will play Shylock alongside Susannah Fielding and Scott Handy, who reprise their roles as Portia and Antonio. The company includes Vinta Morgan, Vincenzo Nicoli, Finlay Robertson, Raphael Sowole, Tim Steed, Jonathan Tafler, Anthony Welsh, Tom Weston-Jones and original RSC cast members Jamie Beamish, Rebecca Brewer, Caroline Martin and Emily Plumtree.

Full casting is today announced for Rupert Goold's The Merchant of Venice at the Almeida Theatre. Former Almeida Artistic Director Ian McDiarmid will play Shylock alongside Susannah Fielding and Scott Handy, who reprise their roles as Portia and Antonio. The company includes Vinta Morgan, Vincenzo Nicoli, Finlay Robertson, Raphael Sowole, Tim Steed, Jonathan Tafler, Anthony Welsh, Tom Weston-Jones and original RSC cast members Jamie Beamish, Rebecca Brewer, Caroline Martin and Emily Plumtree.

Set in Appalachia and written entirely in verse, Biguenet's charming and mesmerizing solo play introduces us to a wacky, bizarre old woman living in an odd little shack deep in the woods… who just happens to be a witch. Creepily funny and frightening, Jenny O'Hara takes us back to our childhoods when, in our innocence, we first wrestled with good and evil. As she unveils her life, we journey with her down a shadowy path somewhere between our material world and the realm of fantasy. But we soon find out this is no Hansel and Gretel fairytale; in BROOMSTICK, justice has been meted out swiftly and harshly by the Witch during her entire lifetime.

The Almeida Theatre has announced its new Winter-Spring 2014-15 season, featuring Rupert Goold's celebrated RSC production of THE MERCHANT OF VENICE, starring Ian McDiarmid as Shylock and Susannah Fielding reprising her role as Portia; Robert Icke directing Tobias Menzies in an intimate staging of Wallace Shawn's THE FEVER AT THE MAY FAIR HOTEL; the World Premiere of Mike Bartlett's play GAME, directed by Sacha Wares and designed by Miriam Buether in a radical reconfiguration of the theater; and Simon Stephens reimagining Bizet's CARMEN in the UK premiere of CARMEN DISRUPTION, helmed by Michael Longhurst.

The world premiere of Alecky Blythe's new play inspired by the 2011 London riots, directed by Joe Hill-Gibbins, LITTLE REVOLUTION, will play the Almeida Theatre. This is Alecky's first new London production after the success of London Road at the National Theatre.

In addition to the new villains who will be featured in Disney's upcoming STAR WARS films, STAR WARS VII and VIII, the original STAR WARS villain will make a return appearance. According to Latino-Review.com, the apparently not deceased Emperor Palpatine will be in the newest STAR WARS films. No word yet who will play the Emperor, but it will not be the original actor, Ian Mcdiarmid.

Casting is announced for Our Town at the Almeida Theatre. Award-winning US actor-director David Cromer will direct and perform in this intimate version of Thornton Wilder's iconic American play. The cast will also include Michael Ajao, Paul Bigley, Arthur Byrne, Sidney Cole, Kate Dickie, Laura Elsworthy, Anna Francolini, Matthew Jacobs-Morgan, Daniel Kendrick, Simon Lennon, Jessica Lester, Richard Lumsden, Annette McLaughlin, Christopher Staines, Rhashan Stoneand David Walmsley.

Casting is announced for the world premiere of Alecky Blythe's new play inspired by the 2011 London riots, directed by Joe Hill-Gibbins. This is Alecky's first new London production after the success of London Road at the National Theatre.

In commemoration of the 100 th Anniversary of the start of World War I, BBC Worldwide North America will, in a unique departure, premiere three historic films in theaters across the U.S. this August

BAKERSFIELD MIST, Stephen Sachs' study on authenticity, delivers a theatre masterclass from Kathleen Turner and Ian McDiarmid at one of the West End's smallest theatres - The Duchess.

Kathleen Turner and Ian McDiarmid star in new play, Bakersfield Mist by Stephen Sachs, directed by Polly Teale, which just opened at the Duchess Theatre on 27 May. Inspired by true events, this new play by Stephen Sachs asks vital questions about what makes art and people truly authentic.

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Today's big news: Atlantic Theater Company's OUR NEW GIRL opens off-Broadway tonight, and BAKERSFIELD MIST, starring Kathleen Turner, kicks off in the West End!