The time: 1661. The place: London, England. It was illegal for women to perform onstage in any capacity. Women's roles were played by male actors, and there was no one more illustrious than Edward Kynaston (Ben Rovner), whose atypical livelihood came to an abrupt standstill. This is told via a splendid theatrical style of the period in Jeffrey Hatcher's superbly written Compleat Female Stage Beauty, currently receiving an outstanding production at Crown City Theatre.
Kathleen Turner returns to Long Wharf Theatre during the 2012-13 season, to star in and direct The Killing of Sister George, a new adaptation by Jeffrey Hatcher of the play by Frank Marcus.
On June 16th Iron Age Theater and the NAACP Youth Council of Norristown will celebrate the freeing of the slaves in a theatrically dynamic way. The third annual Juneteenth event will take guests on a walking tour of downtown Norristown with a series of stops where professional actors from the region will present scenes, monologues or historical documents accenting the theme of freedom and slavery. Norristown celebrates Juneteenth as part of the towns year long bicentennial events.
City Theatre has announced four exciting, original plays set for MOMENTUM, the theatre's annual festival of new plays at different stages. Whether the theme is growing old or simply growing up, this selection of works in development engages with universal topics-familial obligation and love; the pursuit of fame; race and relationships; coming of age; and the ever-raging debate between science and religion.
Crown City Theatre presents Jeffrey Hatchers' Compleat Female STAGE BEAUTY. The official press opening is tonight, May 31. The show runs through July 1.
Hennepin Theatre Trust presents the new theatrical event Standing On Ceremony: The Gay Marriage Plays, running tonight, May 31-June 16, 2012 at the New Century Theatre. Showcasing funny, heartfelt "mini works" that celebrate the courage to be in a relationship-any relationship, Standing On Ceremony's smart and witty vignettes were penned by playwrights whose credits include two Pulitzer Prizes, four Obies, one Emmy and three Tony nominations. Wendy Knox of Frank Theatre will direct a stellar cast of six Twin Cities actors including Laura Adams, Shawn Hamilton Brown, Aimee K. Bryant, Jim Lichtscheidl and Mark Rhein, with one more actor to be announced soon. With this production, the Trust is working in cooperation with Minnesotans United for All Families, the official statewide campaign working to defeat the constitutional amendment that would exclude gays and lesbians from marriage in Minnesota.
On the heels of their 2011 Best Production Awards sweep for Small Engine Repair (Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle, LA Weekly, Ovation, and Garland Awards), Rogue Machine have announcesd the first production of their new season. Seen for the first time on the West Coast, Mark Roberts' Where The Great Ones Run, includes an award winning cast of actors led by Jeff Kober from tonight, May 26 at Rogue Machine, 5041 Pico Blvd., LA, CA 90019.
American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) Young Conservatory Director Craig Slaight has announced the West Coast premiere of Show Choir! Show Choir! The Musical plays May 26-June 9, 2012, at The Theater at Children's Creativity Museum (formerly Zeum Theater), located at 221 Fourth Street, San Francisco. Tickets are $20.50 and are available by calling the A.C.T. Box Office at 415.749.2228 or online at www.act-sf.org.
In Shakespeare's time, all female roles were played by men (often boy apprentices), who learned to create an idealized version of femininity onstage. This practice continued throughout the Jacobean era until the theatres were closed by Oliver Cromwell in 1642. When Charles II returned from his exile on the continent in 1661, the theatres reopened and actors initially resumed the tradition of men-as-women. But the new monarch had an appreciation for women onstage and the old practice was quickly abolished.
City Theatre announces four exciting, original plays set for MOMENTUM, the theatre's annual festival of new plays at different stages. Whether the theme is growing old or simply growing up, this selection of works in development engages with universal topics-familial obligation and love; the pursuit of fame; race and relationships; coming of age; and the ever-raging debate between science and religion.
American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) Young Conservatory Director Craig Slaight has announced the West Coast premiere of Show Choir! Show Choir! The Musical plays May 26-June 9, 2012, at The Theater at Children's Creativity Museum (formerly Zeum Theater), located at 221 Fourth Street, San Francisco. Tickets are $20.50 and are available by calling the A.C.T. Box Office at 415.749.2228 or online at www.act-sf.org.
Pittsburgh's City Theatre presents POP!- a rock musical about Andy Warhol. This brand new show stars Anthony Rapp (Rent, Dazed and Confused) as Andy Warhol and is directed by Brad Rouse (Hedwig at City Theatre) and choreographed by Billy Porter (Broadway star and international recording artist). The show runs at City Theatre tonight, May 5 through May 27, 2012.
Buffalo Theatre Ensemble (BTE) continues its 25th Anniversary Season with BTE Associate Artistic Director Amelia Barrett's staging of Jeffrey Hatcher and Mitch Albom's "Tuesdays with Morrie" at the MAC at College of DuPage, tonight, May 4 through May 27.
As part of the multi-day Norristown Arts Hill Festival, Walla Fest returns to the Centre Theater stage with a evening of music, art and film today, May 4. Walla Fest expands its horizons with a show full of regionally acclaimed bands.
Crown City Theatre presents Jeffrey Hatchers' Compleat Female STAGE BEAUTY. Previews begin May 25, with an official press opening of May 31. The show runs through July 1.
First Folio Theatre, at Mayslake Peabody Estate, 31st St. & Rt. 83, begs the question, "Are you afraid of ghosts?" with its production of Henry James' psychological thriller THE TURN OF THE SCREW. In this stage adaptation by Jeffrey Hatcher, two actors, led by Director Alison C. Vesely, bring all of James' eccentric characters and spine-tingling moments to life; further heightened by the theaters intimate setting within a remote West Suburban Estate. Now in its 15th season of bringing high quality performances of Shakespeare and other classics to the Chicagoland suburbs, First Folio Theatre closes THE TURN OF THE SCREW tonight, April 29th.
As part of the multi-day Norristown Arts Hill Festival, Walla Fest returns to the Centre Theater stage with a evening of music, art and film on May 4. Walla Fest expands its horizons with a show full of regionally acclaimed bands.
Gregory Boyd, Artistic Director of the Tony Award-winning Alley Theatre, announces its new season of exciting plays created by a diverse group of playwrights who have collectively earned three Pulitzer Prizes, multiple Tony and Olivier Awards, a Golden Globe Award, and an Academy Award.
Hennepin Theatre Trust presents the new theatrical event Standing On Ceremony: The Gay Marriage Plays, running May 31-June 16, 2012 at the New Century Theatre. Showcasing funny, heartfelt "mini works" that celebrate the courage to be in a relationship-any relationship, Standing On Ceremony's smart and witty vignettes were penned by playwrights whose credits include two Pulitzer Prizes, four Obies, one Emmy and three Tony nominations. Wendy Knox of Frank Theatre will direct a stellar cast of six Twin Cities actors including Laura Adams, Shawn Hamilton Brown, Aimee K. Bryant, Jim Lichtscheidl and Mark Rhein, with one more actor to be announced soon. With this production, the Trust is working in cooperation with Minnesotans United for All Families, the official statewide campaign working to defeat the constitutional amendment that would exclude gays and lesbians from marriage in Minnesota.
