Jeffrey Wright News

The Acting Company's 40th Anniversary Ruby Ball was held on December 3, 2012 at Capitale, and James Houghton, Founding Artistic Director of the Signature Theatre and the Richard Rodgers Director of Juilliard's Drama Division, accepted the John Houseman Award recognizing his profound commitment to the development of American actors and an audience for the theater. Earl Weiner, Board Chairman of both The Acting Company and the Theater Development Fund (TDF) received the Warburg Humanitarian Award for his outstanding philanthropic endeavor and leadership. Check out photos from the event below!

Sundance Institute announced today the films selected to screen in the out-of-competition Premieres and Documentary Premieres sections of the 2013 Sundance Film Festival, January 17-27 in Park City, Salt Lake City, Ogden and Sundance, Utah.

At The Acting Company's 40th Anniversary Ruby Ball tonight, December 3, 2012 at Capitale, James Houghton, Founding Artistic Director of the Signature Theatre and the Richard Rodgers Director of Juilliard's Drama Division, will accept the John Houseman Award recognizing his profound commitment to the development of American actors and an audience for the theater.

At The Acting Company's 40th Anniversary Ruby Ball on Monday, December 3, 2012 at Capitale, James Houghton, Founding Artistic Director of the Signature Theatre and the Richard Rodgers Director of Juilliard's Drama Division, will accept the John Houseman Award recognizing his profound commitment to the development of American actors and an audience for the theater. Earl Weiner, Board Chairman of both The Acting Company and the Theater Development Fund (TDF) will receive the Warburg Humanitarian Award for his outstanding philanthropic endeavor and leadership. According to Barbara Fleischman, Gala Chair, Harriet Harris(Thoroughly Modern Millie, upcoming in Cinderella) and Dr. Kate Levin, Commissioner of New York City's Department of Cultural Affairs, will present the awards; Jim Dale will host, Kate Baldwin (Finian's Rainbow, upcoming in Giant) will perform and tributes will be offered by Angela Lansbury, Kevin Kline, Patti LuPone, Rainn Wilson, Dana Ivey, Hamish Linklater, Joe Dowling, Director of The Guthrie and Michael Kahn, Artistic Director of Washington's Shakespeare Theater. Four hundred guests complete an industry-filled audience of producers, directors, entertainers and other notables including The Honorable Thomas Kean, record producer Clive Davis,director/choreographer Susan Stroman, TV personality Pia Lindstrom, Juilliard President Joseph Polisi, composerMary Rodgers Guettel and The Broadway League's Charlotte St. Martin. Tickets from 212-258-3111.

Now, a cable network insider tells us exclusively that the film will instead be an HBO television production, with a budget in the neighborhood of $15 million dollars. There is no word yet on a timeline for the project, or if the announced starry cast are staying aboard the project.

Signature Theatre is pleased to announce the next wave of upcoming supplemental programs, which allow more intimate and direct access to a playwright's vision and process. Just as the layout of The Pershing Square Signature Center encourages a dialogue between different plays and audiences, these supplemental programs invite theatregoers to go deeper into the world of a play, and the world of the artists behind it.

The Board of Directors of The Old Globe today announced the appointment of Barry Edelstein as Artistic Director. A nationally-recognized director, producer, author and educator, Edelstein will work together with Managing Director Michael G. Murphy to lead San Diego's flagship arts institution. Both Edelstein and Murphy will report jointly to the Board of Directors. Currently the Director of The Public Theater's Shakespeare Initiative in New York City, Edelstein will assume the artistic directorship of The Old Globe on Nov. 1 and will reside full-time in San Diego in January 2013.

Marin Theatre Company continues its 2012/13 Season with Suzan-Lori Parks's Pulitzer Prize-winning play Topdog/Underdog, which runs from tonight, September 27 to October 21.

Margot Harley, co-founder and Producer of The Acting Company has announced the appointment of Ian Belknap to the position of Artistic Director. "We're a Company of young actors - founded forty years ago with the young Kevin Kline, Patti LuPone, David Schramm and David Ogden Stiers right out of Juilliard - and it is appropriate that we begin our next 40 years with a vibrant young talent as our artistic leader," said Ms. Harley, who moves from Producing Artistic Director to Producer. John Houseman, Alan Schneider, Jack O'Brien, Michael Kahn, Gerry Gutierrez, Zelda Fichandler, Ms. Harley and now Mr. Belknap complete the list of impressive talents to serve as Artistic Director of The Acting Company founded in 1972 and oft-considered the leading nationally touring repertory theater in the country.

Lionsgate has announced that Jeffrey Wright has been cast in the role of Beetee in The Hunger Games: CATCHING FIRE, the much anticipated film adaptation of Suzanne Collins' worldwide smash hit novel 'Catching Fire.' Hailing from District 3, Beetee earns the nickname 'Volts' because of his electronics expertise.

Marin Theatre Company continues its 2012/13 Season with Suzan-Lori Parks's Pulitzer Prize-winning play Topdog/Underdog, which runs from September 27 to October 21.

HBO/Cinemax has released the 2012-13 programming overview.

Yesterday, June 26, Kevin Kline and Dianne Wiest performed 'I take your hand in mine ... the love letters of Anton Chekhov to Olga Knipper', a play by Carol Rocamora, in a staged reading benefiting The Acting Company at The Kaye Playhouse. BroadwayWorld was on hand for the intimate curtain call and brings you photo coverage below.

The Public Theater presented Kevin Kline as Romeo and Meryl Streep as Juliet in a one-night-only benefit reading of ROMEO AND JULIET last night on the 50th Anniversary of the opening of the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. Check out BroadwayWorld.com's exclusive pictures of the after party below, featuring Jesse L. Martin, David Pittu, Julia Stiles and many more familar faces.

The Public Theater presented Kevin Kline as Romeo and Meryl Streep as Juliet in a one-night-only benefit reading of ROMEO AND JULIET last night on the 50th Anniversary of the opening of the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. Check out BroadwayWorld.com's exclusive pictures of the curtain call below.

The Public Theater today presents Kevin Kline as Romeo and Meryl Streep as Juliet in a one-night-only benefit reading of ROMEO AND JULIET - the 50th Anniversary of the opening of the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. The cast will also feature F. Murray Abraham (Friar Laurence); Christine Baranski (Nurse); John Cullum (Capulet); Raul Esparza (Sampson, Apothecary, Watchman 1); David Harbour (Abraham, Capulet Servant, Paris' Page); Bill Irwin (Montague); Jesse L. Martin (Gregory, Friar John, Watchman 2); Sandra Oh (Lady Montague); Phylicia Rashad (Lady Capulet); Jerry Stiller (Peter); Michael Stuhlbarg (Paris); Christopher Walken (Mercutio); Sharon Washington (Stage Directions); Sam Waterston (Benvolio); and Jeffrey Wright (Tybalt).

The Public Theater announced today that Shakespeare in the Park alumni F. Murray Abraham, Christine Baranski, John Cullum, David Harbour, Bill Irwin, Sandra Oh, Phylicia Rashad, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Sharon Washington will join Kevin Kline as Romeo and Meryl Streep as Juliet in a one-night-only benefit reading of ROMEO AND JULIET on Monday, June 18 - the 50th Anniversary of the opening of the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. Over the past five decades, more than five million people have enjoyed over 150 productions of Shakespeare and other classical works and musicals at the Delacorte.

Yesterday, June 4, Broadway veterans united for a fundraiser with President Barack Obama and special guest President Bill Clinton at the New Amsterdam Theater, titled- BARACK ON BROADWAY. Featuring direction by George C. Wolfe, the event was hosted by Margo Lion, Thomas Schumacher, Michael David, Lauren Mitchell, Roger Berlind, and Paul Boskin. Rob Berman was music director and John Guare acted as script consultant.

When I reviewed New Line Theatre's production of HIGH FIDELITY in 2008, I decided to start off in the spirit of Nick Hornby by giving my readers the top five reasons they should see this wonderful musical. Well, here are the Top Five reasons you should see High Fidelity, either for the very first time, or again, in 2012 (in reverse order, naturally). Number Five: because the cast members that remain the same are still superb in their roles, and the new additions make it even more entertaining. Number Four: because the music of Tom Kitt and the lyrics of Amanda Green are pure ear candy that cribs cool bits from classic rock and soul. Number Three: because this time it's in a different venue that allows for a grander scenic design, as well as a larger area for the fun choreography. Number Two: because seeing the musical still beats sitting through the movie, which didn't really capture Hornby's novel completely. And the Number One reason to see this revival production of HIGH FIDELITY: IT ABSOLUTELY ROCKS!