Ian McKellen News

Four pages of the only known surviving play script containing The Bard's handwriting.

Leapin' lizards! With more than 400 performances under her belt, the new U.S. National Tour of ANNIE will play the National Theatre for one week only, March 15 - 20, 2016. Directed by original lyricist and director Martin Charnin for the 19th time, this production of ANNIE is a brand new physical incarnation of the iconic 1977 Tony Award-winning original.

Theatre vets and best buds Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart are bringing Harold Pinter's NO MAN'S LAND, in which they recently starred on Broadway, to Wyndham's Theatre this autumn!

In a major theatrical event marking the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare's death, BAM, the Royal Shakespeare Company, and The Ohio State University present the US Premiere of Shakespeare's History plays in KING AND COUNTRY: SHAKESPEARE'S GREAT CYCLE OF KINGS. Following performances at the Barbican, and in China in Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong, the plays are directed by RSC Artistic Director Gregory Doran and performed in repertory at the BAM Harvey Theater from Mar 24 through May 1, 2016.

The Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough, announces a Summer Festival of entertainment for 2016, including three world premieres of plays by Alan Ayckbourn and Torben Betts; the world premiere of a classic family favorite adapted by Vicky Ireland; a major revival of an Ayckbourn classic comedy; and a 25th anniversary production of a musical revue featuring the songs of one of the world's best-loved songwriting duos.

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? This weekend's big news: THE ROBBER BRIDEGROOM officially raises the curtain this Sunday!

MIRAMAX(R) and El Rey Network announced today the start of production on the third season of its dark and highly-addictive original drama, FROM DUSK TILL DAWN: THE SERIES.

Artists/educators/activists Willa J. Taylor and Bobby Biedrzycki of Goodman Theatre's Education and Engagement team have been invited to present an interactive workshop at South by Southwest Education (SXSWedu) an internationally renowned convergence of creative artists and educators, in Austin, Texas, next week.

MEDIA GROUP ('beIN MEDIA') announced today that it has acquired 100% of MIRAMAX , one of the most distinguished and recognizable brands in entertainment and synonymous with award-winning and original content.

London is never short of theatre temptations, whether splashy West End shows, epic dramas or bold fringe offerings. From a computer-created musical to tabletop Shakespeare, here are some of this week's most eye-catching openings. Don't forget to check back for BroadwayWorld's reviews, and if you need more ticket-booking inspiration, here is last week's round-up.

The Public Theater announced today that David Hare's PLENTY will receuve its first major New York revival as part of The Public's 2016-17 season. Directed by five-time Tony Award nominee David Leveaux and featuring Academy and Olivier Award winner Rachel Weisz, the award-winning post-World War II drama about a former secret agent first premiered at The Public in 1982 and then transferred to Broadway in 1983 to receive a Tony nomination for Best Play.

James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director of York Theater Company has announced that as part of its Developmental Reading Series, it will present Erik Ransom's 'More Than All the World' an epic musical inspired by Christopher Marlowe's 'Edward II' directed by Rachel Klein ('Around the World in 80 Days', 'The Anthem') with music direction and arrangements by Andy Peterson ('Atomic'). The reading will take place on March 15th at 2PM.

Lorin Latarro talks about her choreography in the new Broadway musical, WAITRESS.

Red Bull Theater today announced the cast for Richard Brinsley Sheridan's The School For Scandal, directed by Marc Vietor: Dana Ivey (Tony Award nominee for Butley, The Rivals, The Last Night of Ballyhoo, Sunday in the Park with George, Heartbreak House); Mark Linn-Baker (My Favorite Year, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, A Year with Frog and Toad, 'Perfect Strangers'); Frances Barber (internationally renowned West End actress: King Lear and The Seagull with Ian McKellen at BAM, the Donmar's Julius Caesar at St Ann's Warehouse, 'Doctor Who,' Prick Up Your Ears, and the Pet Shop Boys musical Closer to Heaven); and Henry Stram (Titanic, The Grey Zone), along with Helen Cespedes, Christian Conn, Christian DeMarais, Jacob Dresch, Ramsey Faragallah, Ryan Garbayo, Bradley Gibson, Nadine Malouf, Ben Mehl, and Derek Smith ('Tis Pity She's a Whore, The Green Bird - Tony Award nomination). 

On Saturday night, before the Stage Q production of 'Psycho Beach Party', I got the opportunity to chat with 'Psycho Beach Party' playwright Charles Busch and his cabaret partner/pianist Tom Judson about their Sunday evening show in downtown Madison as well as Charles' history as a playwright and performer.

Sheffield Theatres' associate director Charlotte Gwinner returns to directing duties at the Crucible with Waiting For Godot. This version of Samuel Beckett's classic features a stark, yet somewhat beautiful set from designer Simon Daw that sits on the boundary between art and nature; life-and-death; beauty and terror-a visual metaphor for many of the themes of the play.

Aidan Quinn (Michael Collins, Practical Magic, Legends of the Fall, Broadway's A Streetcar Named Desire, and currently appearing in CBS' Elementary) joins Patrick Breen (Madam Secretary, The Normal Heart), Julia Murney (Wicked, The Wild Party), Valorie Curry (The Following, Twilight, American Pastoral), Sam Underwood (Dexter, Homeland, The Following) and Fundamental Theater Project in celebration of their honorary patron, Sir Peter Shaffer (Equus, Amadeus, Royal Hunt of the Sun) and in support of their mission of fostering emerging voices in the theater.

Rehearsals begin Monday, February 8 for the spring Broadway production of Waitress, following its sold-out limited engagement at the American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) at Harvard University in Cambridge, MA. 

The Royal Theatrical Support Trust (RTST), and Sheffield Theatres are delighted to announce a new award scheme for emerging directors: the RTST Director Award Scheme.

The North American tour of the new stage adaptation of THE WIZARD OF OZ will play the National Theatre for two weeks only, May 3 - 15, 2016.