Jean Vilar News

According to a poll taken in 2016, a little more than half of all British people have seen or read Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. That number dips just below half for Macbeth and Midsummer. The Tempest rounds out the Top 10 at 22% engagement. Deep down in this list at 7%, tucked between Merry Wives of Windsor and Love's Labour's Lost, is Richard II. This obscurity was seen as a feature not a bug for Jean Vilar when he opened the first Festival d'Avignon with Richard II in 1947. Since this performance, the play has become something of a hallmark of French theatre. This year, Christophe Rauck adds his own directorial vision at the Festival's Gymnase du Lycée Aubanel with Micha Lescot in the title role.

While describing the marginalization of theatre artists in early Christian society my theatre history professor once said, 'It must be a kind of witchcraft or at least magic. You are making something there that wasn't there before from your mere presence!' These words rang in my ears as I watched Simon Falguière's Le Nid de Cendres, a 13 hour long miracle currently running at The Festial d'Avignon's mercifully comfortable La Fabrica theatre. Separated into seven segments from 11 in the morning until midnight and after eight years of construction, the ambition of Falguière's company Le K is obvious. Though what astounds more than the run time is that this ambition is paired with boundless imagination, cutting wit, and deep generosity.

A South African dance performance by choreographer Dada Masilo was pulled from the programme prior to opening opening night after members of the troupe tested positive for COVID-19.

This month Artistic Director Olivier Py unveiled the poster for the 73rd Festival d'Avignon, which will take place in the medieval city between July 4th and 23rd. Painted by Syrian artist Miryan Haddad, the work is a vibrant contrast to the previous festival's forlorn group of melancholy, monochrome children. Exploding with energy, the painting is a dreamscape, which features a portal, framing a sunlit lake. Like the Festival theme, odyssey, it promises adventure, danger, and hope. This concept of 'odyssey' is not locked in the ancient world, but extends to contemporary experiences, particularly the lives of refugees, as well as the state of theatre itself as a journey into the unknown.

Diferentes códigos dancísticos se han fusionado en un peculiar montaje que busca exaltar el sentimiento del amor por medio de la representación de parejas que se encuentran, se buscan, se atraen y se desgarran.

Agnès Varda is to receive an honorary Palme d'or during the Closing Ceremony of the 68th Festival de Cannes.

Theatre francais de Toronto is thrilled to welcome for the first time to Toronto Belgian comedy superstar Bruno Coppens in Mes Singeries vocales (Horsing Around 50). This uproarious mix of cabaret and stand-up will be presented at the Berkeley Street Theatre from today, March 26 to 30.

Théâtre français de Toronto is thrilled to welcome for the first time to Toronto Belgian comedy superstar Bruno Coppens in Mes Singeries vocales (Horsing Around 50). This uproarious mix of cabaret and stand-up will be presented at the Berkeley Street Theatre from March 26 to 30.

Parma-based Artemis Danza, one of the most beloved dance companies in Italy, makes it United States debut with its highly acclaimed production of 'Traviata' at the Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts, 915 East 60th Street, for one performance tonight, Nov. 14 at 8 p.m. Under the leadership of Monica Casadei, the company's acclaimed adaptation of Giuseppe Verdi's 'La Traviata,' based on Alexandre Dumas play 'La Dame aux Camelias,' is presented as part of a celebration of the bicentenary of Giuseppe Verdi's birth and the year of Italian Culture in the United States. Tickets ($15) are now on sale.

Parma-based Artemis Danza, one of the most beloved dance companies in Italy, makes it United States debut with its highly acclaimed production of "Traviata" at the Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts, 915 East 60th Street, for one performance Thursday, Nov. 14 at 8 p.m. Under the leadership of Monica Casadei, the company's acclaimed adaptation of Giuseppe Verdi's "La Traviata," based on Alexandre Dumas play "La Dame aux Camelias," is presented as part of a celebration of the bicentenary of Giuseppe Verdi's birth and the year of Italian Culture in the United States. Tickets ($15) are now on sale.

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater announces the full company for Charles Randolph-Wright's world premiere drama Love in Afghanistan. Randolph-Wright, a Resident Playwright through Arena Stage's American Voices New Play Institute and director of Motown the Musical currently on Broadway, joins forces with director Lucie Tiberghien (MCC Theater's Don't Go Gentle) to bring to life the tale of two fantastically different people discovering love in the most unlikely of places: war-torn Afghanistan. One, an emerging hip-hop artist, the other, a high-level Afghan interpreter, both fight to navigate the pitfalls of romance, religious differences and political unrest. Love in Afghanistan runs tonight, October 11-November 17, 2013 in the Arlene and Robert Kogod Cradle.

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater announces the full company for Charles Randolph-Wright's world premiere drama Love in Afghanistan. Randolph-Wright, a Resident Playwright through Arena Stage's American Voices New Play Institute and director of Motown the Musical currently on Broadway, joins forces with director Lucie Tiberghien (MCC Theater's Don't Go Gentle) to bring to life the tale of two fantastically different people discovering love in the most unlikely of places: war-torn Afghanistan. One, an emerging hip-hop artist, the other, a high-level Afghan interpreter, both fight to navigate the pitfalls of romance, religious differences and political unrest. Love in Afghanistan runs October 11-November 17, 2013 in the Arlene and Robert Kogod Cradle.

For years, Muhlenberg College theater students have looked forward to working with Kevin Crawford, a professor at the Accademia dell'Arte in Arezzo, Italy. Now, Crawford brings his unique brand of physical theater to the Muhlenberg Mainstage with Ben Jonson's over-the-top comedy 'Bartholomew Fair.'

For years, Muhlenberg College theater students have looked forward to working with Kevin Crawford, a professor at the Accademia dell'Arte in Arezzo, Italy. Now, Crawford brings his unique brand of physical theater to the Muhlenberg Mainstage with Ben Jonson's over-the-top comedy 'Bartholomew Fair.'

Jonah Bokaer, who has been making artistic waves on the international dance circuit since he began choreographing almost ten years ago, will be seen both close-up and afar in these coming months: outdoors at the Avignon Festival in France (tonight, July 20-July 22, 24-26) and indoors at the Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival in Becket, MA (August 1-5) when he and Bolshoi Ballet star David Hallberg perform together in the world premiere of Bokaer's "CURTAIN."

Jonah Bokaer, who has been making artistic waves on the international dance circuit since he began choreographing almost ten years ago, will be seen both close-up and afar in these coming months: outdoors at the Avignon Festival in France (July 20-22, 24-26) and indoors at the Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival in Becket, MA (August 1-5) when he and Bolshoi Ballet star David Hallberg perform together in the world premiere of Bokaer's "CURTAIN."

La Jolla Playhouse has announced the cast and creative team for its upcoming production of Blood and Gifts, by J.T. Rogers, directed by Lucie Tiberghien, running in the Mandell Weiss Forum June 12 - July 8.