Jim Helsinger News

Orlando Shakespeare Theater in Partnership with UCF is proud to present a timeless retelling of William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar from March 19 - April 20, 2014. The classic drama comes to life on the intimate Goldman Theater stage under the direction of Tina Packer, founder and former Artistic Director of Shakespeare & Company, "a troupe that has kept the Berkshires ringing with the sound of blank verse for

Orlando Shakespeare Theater in Partnership with UCF is thrilled to present the epic theatrical event The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, Parts I and II. Written by David Edgar and adapted from the novel by Charles Dickens, the production is produced in Collaboration with Theatre UCF. Co-directed by Artistic Director Jim Helsinger and Theatre UCF Chair/Artistic Director Christopher Niess, The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, Parts I & II is presented in rotating repertory from January 22 to March 9, 2014 at the John and Rita Lowndes Shakespeare Center in Loch Haven Park. Tickets ($17-$40) are available by calling (407) 447-1700, online at http://orlandoshakes.org, or in person at 812 East Rollins St., Orlando, FL 32803. Dinner and hotel packages are also available at http://www.orlandoshakes.org/nickleby.

For the eighth straight year, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company offers a full season of holiday cheer in just 90 minutes with 'Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some!)'. This hilarious production is a non-stop holiday romp through everyone's favorite Christmas stories performed by just four actors in ninety minutes. Justin McCombs and Sara Clark, both now eighth year veterans of the company, return to poke fun at the holiday season, joined by Billy Chace, a seventh year company member. Miranda McGee, fifth year company member, returns to put her own special spin on Santa. CSC Artistic Associate, Jeremy Dubin, returns to the director's chair. This production is one of the most popular events in Cincinnati Shakespeare Company history breaking attendance and sales records every year. All tickets are $28, making this show an afford holiday treat. Audiences are encouraged to get their tickets soon!

Cincinnati Shakespeare Company's longest running 8 year smash hit, Every Christmas Story Ever Told again has done it again! Before even opening this Sunday night, several performances have already SOLD OUT. To help meeting this increasing demand, Cincinnati Shakespeare has added an additional performance of Every Christmas Story Ever Told on Saturday Dec. 21 at 2pm!

For the eighth straight year, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company is thrilled to offer a full season of holiday cheer in just 90 minutes with "Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some!)". This hilarious production is a non-stop holiday romp through everyone's favorite Christmas stories performed by just four actors in ninety minutes. Justin McCombs and Sara Clark, both now eighth year veterans of the company, return to poke fun at the holiday season, joined by Billy Chace, a seventh year company member. Miranda McGee, fifth year company member, returns to put her own special spin on Santa. CSC Artistic Associate, Jeremy Dubin, returns to the director's chair. This production is one of the most popular events in Cincinnati Shakespeare Company history breaking attendance and sales records every year. All tickets are $28, making this show an afford holiday treat. Audiences are encouraged to get their tickets soon!

Orlando Shakespeare Theater in Partnership with UCF warms Central Florida audiences with the holiday cheer of Joe Landry's It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play. Performed as a 1940s live radio broadcast and directed by Florida Rep's founding Producing Artistic Director, Robert Cacioppo, It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play begins tonight, December 4 and runs through December 29, 2013 at the John and Rita Lowndes Shakespeare Center in Loch Haven Park.

Orlando Shakespeare Theater in Partnership with UCF smashes attendance records with this Fall's production of A Night in New Orleans: A Magic Tree House Adventure. Surpassing the previous record-holder, Charlotte's Web produced in 2003-2004, A Night in New Orleans entertained an impressive 15,252 patrons. Based on the popular Magic Tree House book series by Mary Pope Osborne, A Night in New Orleans was written by Murray Horwitz and Will Osborne, and directed by Steve MacKinnon. The production featured an ensemble cast and a live jazz band, and ran from October 17 through November 23, 2013 at the John and Rita Lowndes Shakespeare Center in the cultural Loch Haven Park.

For the eighth straight year, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company is thrilled to offer a full season of holiday cheer in just 90 minutes with "Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some!)". This hilarious production is a non-stop holiday romp through everyone's favorite Christmas stories performed by just four actors in ninety minutes. Justin McCombs and Sara Clark, both now eighth year veterans of the company, return to poke fun at the holiday season, joined by Billy Chace, a seventh year company member. Miranda McGee, fifth year company member, returns to put her own special spin on Santa. CSC Artistic Associate, Jeremy Dubin, returns to the director's chair. This production is one of the most popular events in Cincinnati Shakespeare Company history breaking attendance and sales records every year. All tickets are $28, making this show an afford holiday treat. Audiences are encouraged to get their tickets soon!

Orlando Shakespeare Theater in Partnership with UCF warms Central Florida audiences with the holiday cheer of Joe Landry's It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play. Performed as a 1940s live radio broadcast and directed by Florida Rep's founding Producing Artistic Director, Robert Cacioppo, It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play begins December 4 and runs through December 29, 2013 at the John and Rita Lowndes Shakespeare Center in Loch Haven Park. Tickets ($17-$40) may be purchased by calling the Box Office at (407) 447-1700 or online at http://orlandoshakes.org.

Orlando Shakespeare Theater in Partnership with UCF is thrilled to present the epic theatrical event The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, Parts I and II. Written by David Edgar and adapted from the novel by Charles Dickens, the production is produced in Collaboration with Theatre UCF. Co-directed by Artistic Director Jim Helsinger and Theatre UCF Chair/Artistic Director Christopher Niess, The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, Parts I & II is presented in rotating repertory from January 22 to March 9, 2014 at the John and Rita Lowndes Shakespeare Center in Loch Haven Park. Tickets ($17-$40) are available by calling (407) 447-1700, online at http://orlandoshakes.org, or in person at 812 East Rollins St., Orlando, FL 32803. Dinner and hotel packages are also available at http://www.orlandoshakes.org/nickleby.

Follow beloved Magic Tree House characters, Jack and Annie, on the most haunted night of the year - the eve of All Saints' Day - as they search for a young Louis Armstrong. Can the duo set him on the path to becoming the King of Jazz? Complete with a live jazz band, this new musical will transport audiences back to 1915 New Orleans where the streets are filled with music and the night is filled with ghosts!

This is the quintessential October production and its star John P. Keller the perfect storyteller. Original to Orlando, DRACULA: THE JOURNAL OF JONATHAN HARKER was written by Orlando Shakes Artistic Director, Jim Helsinger and is possibly the most creative retelling of the classic tale.

Orlando Shakespeare Theater in Partnership with UCF sends chills down Central Florida audiences' spines with Dracula: The Journal of Jonathan Harker. Adapted from Bram Stoker's novel by Orlando Shakes Artistic Director Jim Helsinger and directed by Michael Carleton, Dracula: The Journal of Jonathan Harker begins tonight, October 9 and runs through November 10, 2013 at the John and Rita Lowndes Shakespeare Center in Loch Haven Park.

Orlando Shakespeare Theater in Partnership with UCF has announced its recent award of $15,000 from the Universal Orlando Foundation. Combining the Theater's pre-existing Imaginations Alive! program with Magic Tree House author Mary Pope Osborne's Classroom Adventures, the Theater's Imaginations Alive!/Classroom Adventure dual program will use the funding to provide tickets and educational programming to Title I 3rd and 4th grade classrooms in Orange County free of charge.

The Coterie embraces the spirit of Halloween with its production of Dracula: The Journal of Jonathan Harker, a unique, one-actor tour-de-force performance based on the classic Gothic novel, Dracula, by Bram Stoker. Directed by Jeff Church, Dracula: The Journal of Jonathan Harker runs October 9 - 27, 2013.

Just in time for Halloween, DRACULA: THE JOURNAL OF JONATHAN HARKER, is an original adaptation by Orlando Shakes very own Jim Helsinger from the Bram Stoker novel Dracula. Jonathan Harker must make a delivery to Castle Dracula and is captured by the mysterious Count. Can Jonathan survive the ordeal and will he be able to stop the powerful undead creature of the night?

Orlando Shakespeare Theater in Partnership with UCF warms Central Florida audiences with the holiday cheer of Joe Landry's It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play. Performed as a 1940s live radio broadcast and directed by Florida Rep's founding Producing Artistic Director, Robert Cacioppo, It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play begins December 4 and runs through December 29, 2013 at the John and Rita Lowndes Shakespeare Center in Loch Haven Park. Tickets ($17-$40) may be purchased by calling the Box Office at (407) 447-1700 or online at http://orlandoshakes.org.

THE TAMING OF THE SHREW is one of Shakespeare's most famous comedies. In popular culture the play was translated into the 1999 movie 10 Things I Hate About You starring Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles. To keep the content entertaining Orlando Shakespeare Theater staged this production in the wild west, which fit the material perfectly.

Orlando Shakespeare Theater in Partnership with UCF sends chills down Central Florida audiences' spines with Dracula: The Journal of Jonathan Harker. Adapted from Bram Stoker's novel by Orlando Shakes Artistic Director Jim Helsinger and directed by Michael Carleton, Dracula: The Journal of Jonathan Harker begins October 9 and runs through November 10, 2013 at the John and Rita Lowndes Shakespeare Center in Loch Haven Park. Tickets, priced at $17-$40, are on sale now at (407) 447-1700 orhttp://orlandoshakes.org.

The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare will be directed by Jim Helsinger for Orlando Shakespeare Theater. The show opens tonight, September 11, and runs through October 6, 2013.