Jean Cocteau Repertory News

Phoenix Theatre Ensemble presents Elise Stone in MEDEA & The Furies Directed by Karen Case Cook

The Independent Eye presents an inspired two-person take on William Shakespeare's KING LEAR. Played out within the confines of an aluminum cage, King Lear and The Fool are accompanied by nearly 30 life-sized, hand, and finger puppets operated by actors and master puppeteers Conrad Bishop and Elizabeth Fuller. KING LEAR plays April 10 through 26 (Press opening: April 10) at The Emerald Tablet (80 Fresno Street) in San Francisco. For tickets ($20, 25) and more information, the public may visit brownpapertickets.com.

The Independent Eye presents William Shakespeare's KING LEAR. Lear is the puppeteer of his own puppet show. In his mind, he is the only real human in his motherless kingdom of power and commodity, where love is merchandise for barter, quantifiable by the number of knights under his command.

Definition Theatre Company has announced the second show of its 2014/15 season, an adaptation of Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House. Directed by Writers Theatre Artistic Director Michael Halberstam, A Doll's House runs April 3 - May 3, 2015; the press performance is on Thursday, April 9 at 7:30pm. Performances are scheduled Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm and Sundays at 4:00pm at the Chopin Theatre (1543W Division Street). Tickets, $25, are on sale now at definitiontheatre.org.

Artistic Director Michael Halberstam and Executive Director Kathryn M. Lipuma announce an extension of the Midwest Premiere of Isaac's Eye by Lucas Hnath, directed by Artistic Director Michael Halberstam. The show, which began performances on September 2, will now play through December 21, 2014, at Books on Vernon, 664 Vernon Ave, Glencoe.

Artistic Director Michael Halberstam and Executive Director Kathryn M. Lipuma announce Writers Theatre's opener to its 2014/15 season: the Midwest Premiere of Isaac's Eye by Lucas Hnath, directed by Artistic Director Michael Halberstam. The show runs September 2 - December 7, 2014 at Books on Vernon, 664 Vernon Ave Ave, Glencoe. The Press Openings are Wednesday, September 10, 2014 and Thursday, September 11, 2014, at 7:30pm.

The Colony Theatre will present the second production of its historic 40th Anniversary season, the West Coast Premiere of WHAT I LEARNED IN PARIS by Pearl Cleage. The production stars Tony winner L. Scott Caldwell, and is directed by Saundra McClain. WHAT I LEARNED IN PARIS will preview on Wednesday, September 3; Thursday, September 4; andFriday, September 5 at 8:00pm. It will open on Saturday, September 6 at 8:00pm and continue through Sunday, October 5 at The Colony Theatre, 555 North Third Street in Burbank.

Artistic Director Michael Halberstam and Executive Director Kathryn M. Lipuma announce Writers Theatre's opener to its 2014/15 season: the Midwest Premiere of Isaac's Eye by Lucas Hnath, directed by Artistic Director Michael Halberstam. The show runs September 2 - December 7, 2014 at Books on Vernon, 664 Vernon Ave Ave, Glencoe. The Press Openings are Wednesday, September 10, 2014 and Thursday, September 11, 2014, at 7:30pm.

The combined Boards of Olney Theatre Center for the Arts and Olney Theatre Corporation, led by President Jennifer Kneeland, are pleased to announce the appointment of Deborah Ellinghaus as Managing Director, beginning August 26, 2014.

UCSB's LAUNCH PAD program was featured in the March 2013 issue of American Theatre magazine as an innovative model of new play development in the US. While professional theatres are not always able to take a risk on producing new work, the university offers a playwright the chance to see the play produced in a safe environment with students who are deeply engaged and hungry to learn how this process works. Since its inception in 2005, the department has developed and produced 9 plays with the playwright in residence.

Artists in Partnership (AIP), a non-profit cultural arts organization, will host its 12th Annual Cabaret Festival May 15-18 at the Long Beach Public Library, 111 West Park Avenue, Long Beach, NY. All performances are FREE to the public. The festival will be a celebration of the cabaret genre honoring the Great American Songbook with performances by renowned local and New York City-based artists.

Artists in Partnership (AIP), a non-profit cultural arts organization, will host its 12th Annual Cabaret Festival May 15-18 at the Long Beach Public Library, 111 West Park Avenue, Long Beach, NY. All performances are FREE to the public. The festival will be a celebration of the cabaret genre honoring the Great American Songbook with performances by renowned local and New York City-based artists.

Artistic Director Michael Halberstam and Executive Director Kathryn M. Lipuma announce Writers Theatre's World Premiere production of Days Like Today, with music and lyrics by Alan Schmuckler and book by Laura Eason, directed by Artistic Director Michael Halberstam, music direction by Doug Peck and choreography by Tommy Rapley. The production runs May 6-July 13, 2014 at 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe. The press opening is May 22, 2014 at 7:30pm.

King Lear's fate is sealed in Shakespeare's play: to be tragically reunited with the one daughter he loves. But what would be the fate of his faithful Fool? That question lies at the heart of 'The Fool's Lear,' a new play by Randy Neale, which will have its New York premiere May 5 to 25 as a featured production of Phoenix Theatre Ensemble's Tenth Anniversary Spring Rep season at The Wild Project 195 E. 3rd Street (at Ave. B). This new, funny, poignant comedic drama follows the journey of the Fool and his King as they ply a path along side Shakespeare's great tragedy, exploring hilarious and harrowing byways between its scenes. Grant Neale directs and plays The Fool and Craig Smith plays The King in a play which South Carolina critics called a delight and a must-see comic drama.

The Lyric Stage Company of Boston presents DEATH OF A SALESMAN, running February 14 - March 15, 2014. The play, by Arthur Miller, will be directed by Spiro Veloudos.

The New York Times reports that Honey Waldman, who along with her husband refurbished a movie house in Nyack and a bank in the East Village into two theaters, passed away on December 8, 2013, due to heart failure. She was 87.

Holiday cheer will abound at Cleveland Play House (CPH) with an all-new production of the beloved holiday classic, A Christmas Story running from Nov. 29th - Dec. 22nd in the Allen Theatre at PlayhouseSquare. In honor of the 30th anniversary of the unforgettable film, CPH enthusiastically breathes new life into this classic story about Ralphie and his ultimate Christmas wish. Having delighted audiences for 30 years on both the big and small screens, this incredible production is brought to vivid life on stage for Northeast Ohio audiences. Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased by calling (216) 241-6000 or online at www.clevelandplayhouse.com. CPH is pleased to have University Hospitals as the Presenting Sponsor of A Christmas Story, along with Benesch, Nordson and FirstMerit as Supporting Sponsors.

November 7-10, Pontine Theatre kicks off its 36th season with performances by California-based artists, Conrad Bishop and Elizabeth Fuller, in their original production, GIFTS at Pontine's West End Studio Theatre, 959 Islington St, Portsmouth NH. Mr. Bishop and Ms. Fuller are the founding directors of The Independent Eye Theatre, located in Sabastopol, California. Performances are offered on Thursday and Friday at 7:30pm, Saturday at 4pm, and Sunday at 2pm. Tickets are $24 and may be purchased online: www.pontine.org. Tickets may also be purchased at the door (cash & checks only) a half-hour prior to each performance, based on availability. Guest artist accommodations for this production are provided by Best Western Plus Wynwood Hotel & Suites.

Theater 2020, Brooklyn Heights' professional theater company continues its outreach to the Brooklyn community with their FREE "Hearthside Reading Series." The September reading features two one act comedies, "The Thrice Three Muses" by Lynn Marie Macy & "Harold" by Theodore Herstand. The plays, which both present comic situations reflecting how people handle "maturing," will take place on Saturday, September 21, 2013 in the first floor theater room at the Brooklyn Heights branch of the Brooklyn Public Library, and feature professional actors from the company. Running time is approximately 75 minutes, and refreshments will be served. No reservations are necessary.

Nomad Theatrical in association with Variations Theatre Group will present POLANSKI POLANSKI, about the life of controversial film director Roman Polanski. Performances begin tomorrow, September 5 at The Chain Theatre.