James Noone News

Tuesday, November 4 Started the day REALLY early with packing. They're moving me to housing right next to the theater. The Pennsylvanian is a lovely place but it's a HIKE and the weather is about to turn cold, so I'm really glad to be getting closer to work. After the move we did some trouble areas of the play and tightened the up considerably. Then I did an interview with Bill O'Driscoll from the City Paper. Forgot to mention, I did interviews with Sharon of the Post-Gazette and Alice Carter from the Tribune last week. Both were very enjoyable. We did a run through in the afternoon and it was the first time the first act had come together. The show is an ensemble piece so almost the entire cast is onstage all the time. This means everyone has to be on their toes ALL THE TIME or cues will be missed. This was the first time everyone kept the ball in the air for the entire first act. The second act wasn't as fortunate… one step at a time.

Obie Award winner Melia Bensussen (Luck of the Irish, Circle Mirror Transformation) returns to the Huntington Theatre Company to direct Awake and Sing!, Clifford Odets' stirring American classic about a working-class Jewish family striving for a better future. Performances at the Avenue of the Arts / BU Theatre begin tonight, November 7 and continue through Sunday, December 7, 2014.

Award-winning British playwright Joe Orton's riotous farce 'What the Butler Saw' begins previews Wednesday, November 12, 2014, at 8 p.m. at the Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum. Opening is set for November 23 and performances continue through December 21.

In my cranky old age, I have become virtually phobic about all means of public transportation, an odd affectation for someone who has spent his entire life zooming from one theater to another across several countries. My dear friend, Nick Noone knows this about me, so when he learned that I was about to start rehearsing my new play, L'HOTEL at the Pittsburgh Public Theatre, he offered to drive me both to and from. He did this in spite of the fact that he lives nowhere near Pittsburgh or New York City. This has prompted me to refer to him as Mother Teresa del Auto Spirito.

Obie Award winner Melia Bensussen (Luck of the Irish, Circle Mirror Transformation) returns to the Huntington Theatre Company to direct Awake and Sing!, Clifford Odets' stirring American classic about a working-class Jewish family striving for a better future. Performances at the Avenue of the Arts / BU Theatre begin Friday, November 7 and continue through Sunday, December 7, 2014.

Off-Broadway's award-winning Irish Repertory Theatre has announced the cast for this season's annual holiday offering. Tony Award winner Alice Ripley will lead the cast of the New York premiere of A CHRISTMAS MEMORY, a musical based on the classic Truman Capote short story.

The Tony-winning actor's largely autobiographical drama is about growing up black, gay and Christian.

Casting is set for award-winning British playwright Joe Orton's riotous farce "What the Butler Saw," opening at the Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum on November 23, 2014. Rehearsals begin October 14, previews begin November 12 and performances run through December 21.

The Pearl Theatre Company and Gingold Theatre Group will soon present Shaw's Major Barbara, running November 4 through December 14, 2014. Check out phtoos of the company below!

Pittsburgh Public Theater's 40th anniversary Season of Legends continues with the world premiere of L'Hotel, written by Broadway veteran Ed Dixon and directed by The Public's Producing Artistic Director, Ted Pappas. L'Hotel runs November 13 - December 14, 2014 at the O'Reilly Theater, Pittsburgh Public Theater's home in the heart of Downtown's Cultural District. For tickets call 412.316.1600 or visit ppt.org.

Primary Stages in association with Susan Dietz, presents the world premiere of While I Yet Live by the Tony-winning star of Kinky Boots and Angels in America, Billy Porter, and directed by Tony Award nominee Sheryl Kaller. While I Yet Live plays a limited, six-week engagement, now through October 31 at Primary Stages at The Duke on 42nd Street - a NEW 42ND STREET® project (229 West 42nd Street). Opening night is Sunday, October 12 at 5PM. Check out a first look at the cast in action below!

Primary Stages in association with Susan Dietz (Fela!, Mothers and Sons), presents the world premiere of While I Yet Live by the Tony-winning star of Kinky Boots and Angels in America, Billy Porter, and directed by Tony Award nominee Sheryl Kaller (Mothers and Sons, Next Fall, Adrift in Macao). While I Yet Live plays a limited, six-week engagement, tonight, September 24, through October 31 at Primary Stages at The Duke on 42nd Street - a NEW 42ND STREET project (229 West 42nd Street). Opening night is Sunday, October 12 at 5PM.

Primary Stages has announced that the world premiere of While I Yet Live will begin performances on Wednesday, September 24 at 7PM. Producers have decided to delay the start of previews due to technical issues.

Primary Stages in association with Susan Dietz (Fela!, Mothers and Sons), present the world premiere of While I Yet Live by the Tony-winning star of Kinky Boots and Angels in America, Billy Porter, and directed by Tony Award nominee Sheryl Kaller (Mothers and Sons, Next Fall, Adrift in Macao). Poor Behavior plays a limited, six-week engagement September 23 - October 31 at Primary Stages at The Duke on 42nd Street - a NEW 42ND STREET project (229 West 42nd Street). Opening night is Sunday, October 12 at 7PM. The company recently met the press and BroadwayWorld's Randy Rainbow was there for the big event. Check out a behind the scenes look below!

Primary Stages in association with Susan Dietz (Fela!, Mothers and Sons), present the world premiere of While I Yet Live by the Tony-winning star of Kinky Boots and Angels in America, Billy Porter, and directed by Tony Award nomineeSheryl Kaller (Mothers and Sons, Next Fall, Adrift in Macao). Poor Behavior plays a limited, six-week engagement September 23 - October 31 at Primary Stages at The Duke on 42nd Street - a NEW 42ND STREET project (229 West 42nd Street). Opening night is Sunday, October 12 at 7PM. The company met the press on September 12, and BroadwayWorld brings you photos from the event below!

What is this thing called love?

Westport Country Playhouse will stage Alan Ayckbourn's romantic comedy, 'Things We Do for Love,' today, August 19 through Sunday, September 7, directed by Tony Award nominee John Tillinger, a veteran director of many Ayckbourn plays on Broadway and at the Playhouse.

Primary Stages in association with Susan Dietz (Fela!, Mothers and Sons), present the world premiere of While I Yet Live by the Tony-winning star of Kinky Boots and Angels in America, Billy Porter, and directed by Tony Award nominee Sheryl Kaller (Mothers and Sons, Next Fall, Adrift in Macao). Poor Behavior plays a limited, six-week engagement September 23 - October 31 at Primary Stages at The Duke on 42nd Street - a NEW 42ND STREET project (229 West 42nd Street). Opening night is Sunday, October 12 at 7PM.

Westport Country Playhouse will stage Alan Ayckbourn's romantic comedy, "Things We Do for Love," Tuesday, August 19 through Sunday, September 7, directed by Tony Award nominee John Tillinger, a veteran director of many Ayckbourn plays on Broadway and at the Playhouse.

The Glimmerglass Festival has announced its 2015 Festival, which will celebrate the company's 40th anniversary. The 2015 Festival will feature Mozart's The Magic Flute, Verdi's Macbeth, Vivaldi's Cato in Utica and Bernstein's Candide. The productions will run in repertory in the Alice Busch Opera Theater on Otsego Lake in Cooperstown July 10 through August 23. These mainstage offerings will be complemented by lectures, concerts and other special events.