Jason O'Connell News

The COOP and Baruch Performing Arts Center announce the world premiere of Barbara Hammond's TERRA FIRMA, which begins performances tonight at Baruch Performing Arts Center (55 Lexington Avenue).

Two River Theater (Artistic Director John Dias, Managing Director Michael Hurst) presents Cyrano by Jason O'Connell and Brenda Withers, adapted from the play Cyrano de Bergerac by Edmond Rostand, directed by Meredith McDonough in a co-production with Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival. Cyrano opens to the press on Friday, September 27 at 7pm and continues through Sunday, October 13 in Two River's Rechnitz Theater, 21 Bridge Avenue, Red Bank, NJ.

Two River Theater (Artistic Director John Dias, Managing Director Michael Hurst) presents Cyrano by Jason O'Connell and Brenda Withers, adapted from the play Cyrano de Bergerac by Edmond Rostand, directed by Meredith McDonough in a co-production with Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival. Cyrano opens to the press on Friday, September 27 at 7pm and continues through Sunday, October 13 in Two River's Rechnitz Theater, 21 Bridge Avenue, Red Bank, NJ. Tickets are available from 732.345.1400 or tworivertheater.org.

Two River Theater, under the leadership of Artistic Director John Dias and Managing Director Michael Hurst, launches its 2019/20 Season with Cyrano by Jason O'Connell and Brenda Withers, adapted from the play Cyrano de Bergerac by Edmond Rostand, directed by Meredith McDonough in a co-production with Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival. Performances will begin in Two River's Rechnitz Theater, 21 Bridge Avenue, on Saturday, September 21 and continue through Sunday, October 13. The opening night performance is Friday, September 27 at 7pm. Tickets are available from 732.345.1400 or tworivertheater.org. 

Like its title, CYRANO is a shortened adaptation of Edmond Rostand's 'Cyrano de Bergerac.' Presented outdoors at the Winthrop Amphitheater, the Shakespeare Carolina production is an engaging intro to this classic - if you can comfortably plow through the distractions of a wayward sound system.

CYRANO - Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival, Boscobel House and Gardens, Garrison, NY, in repertoire through August 30

The COOP is a new theatre company founded by Artistic Director Andrus Nichols and Playwright in Residence Kate Hamill. Conceived out of the desire to create a community of NYC based artists who are interested in making extraordinary theatre and committed to fostering a culture of collaboration, experimentation, and trust, The COOP produce both old plays reinvigorated through a new lens, and new plays that resonate with timeless themes and universal truths.

Syracuse Stage has once again brought a creative and entertaining play to its audience. This time around it is Kate Hamill's modern take on the Jane Austen 1813 classic novel Pride and Prejudice. Hamill's creative and comedic Pride and Prejudice is certainly not what you might expect. The high energy comedic production is full of wonderful surprises under the impressive direction of Jason O'Connell.

Two River Theater continues its 25th Anniversary Season with Michael Frayn's Noises Off, directed by Sarna Lapine.

Two River Theater continues its 25th Anniversary Season with Michael Frayn's Noises Off, directed by Sarna Lapine.

The Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival announces the complete lineup for the 2019 Summer Season, including Shakespeare's boisterous MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING and adventure-laden CYMBELINE, alongside the New York premiere of CYRANO, a new adaptation of Edmond Rostand's Cyrano de Bergerac written by Jason O'Connell and Brenda Withers. HVSF will also produce its first-ever musical, the Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine classic, INTO THE WOODS.

Wheelhouse Theater Company and its Founding Members Matt Harrington, David Kenner, Michael Schantz, and Jeffrey Wise announced today that due to popular demand, the company will stage a special return engagement of Kurt Vonnegut's rarely produced play HAPPY BIRTHDAY, WANDA JUNE October 18th - November 29th at The Duke on 42nd Street, a NEW 42ND STREET project, 229 West 42nd Street in Manhattan. The New York Times Critics' Pick production, which garnered unanimous rave reviews this past Spring at the Gene Frankel Theatre, offers up dynamic and often hilarious insight into a capitalist society's attempts to make socio-cultural progress in a world polarized by its moral and political outrage…or lack thereof. Jeffrey Wise will direct the production that will run through Today, November 29th. The official opening is set for Tuesday, October 23rd. For more information, visit http://www.wheelhousetheater.org

A look into one man's obsession with movies about another man's obsession with dressing up like a rodent and punching people, The Dork Knight traces the ups and downs of actor Jason O'Connell's personal and professional life as seen through the prism of his love/hate relationship with the Batman movies. Featuring numerous "cameos" from the bat-voices in his head, O'Connell takes us on a trip down cinematic memory lane that begins with the 1989 Michael Keaton blockbuster, and strolls past George Clooney's bat-nipples, Christian Bale's bat-growl, and a couple of iconic Jokers en route to (sigh) Batfleck. This funny, intimate memoir demonstrates how one's "inner geek" can guide and inspire in good times and in bad.

It's Christmas in July at Syracuse Stage with a special offer to the first 10 performances of the holiday favorite 'Elf the Musical' and the release of single tickets for sale to all shows in the 2018/2019 season.

Timeless tale re-imagined with contemporary spin by Jason O'Connell and Brenda Withers. Jeremiah Kissel makes GSC debut in title role opposite Andrea Goldman, under the direction of Artistic Director Robert Walsh.

Perry Street Theatricals and Jonathan Demar in association with Frederick M. Zollo and Diane Procter present The Saintliness of Margery Kempe by John Wulp, which opened just last night at New York City's The Duke on 42nd Street (located on 229 West 42nd Street, between 7th and 8th Avenues). 

Gloucester Stage Company continues its 39th season of professional theater with the New England premiere of Jason O'Connell and Brenda Withers' Cyrano from July 13 through August 11 at Gloucester Stage Company, 267 East Main Street, Gloucester, MA. Gloucester Stage Artistic Director Robert Walsh directs this adaptation of Rostand's 1897 classic, Cyrano de Bergerac. According to Walsh, 'Cyrano, a new adaptation of the famous play by Edmond Rostand (Cyrano de Bergerac), by Brenda Withers & Jason O'Connell, is a fast-paced, contemporized version featuring a small cast breathing fresh life into this large-scale classic.  Witty, clever, insouciant and fully enjoying the poetic bravura through a modern-day lens and very approachable language, this New England premiere will be perfect for Gloucester Stage!  A beautiful tale told with panache.'

4th Wall Theatre Company announces an exciting line up of four Houston premieres for the company's eighth season. The 2018 - 2019 season includes two plays written by men and two by women, and brings a large amount of artistic diversity to the 4th Wall stage.

A special talk back featuring Richard Clark, the Composer, Conductor and longtime friend of Kurt Vonneget will be held after the Saturday, April 28th 2:00 p.m. matinee of Wheelhouse Theater's revival of Happy Birthday, Wanda June at the Gene Frankel Theater, 24 Bond Street. Following the performance, Mr. Clark will take part in a talk-back where he will speak about his friendship with Mr. Vonnegut as well as his experience collaborating on the opera of Happy Birthday, Wanda June.