Joanna Murray-Smith News

THE FEMALE OF THE SPECIES is deadlier - and funnier - than the male, in the sharp new comedy by Joanna Murray-Smith opening at The Court on March 27.

THE FEMALE OF THE SPECIES is deadlier - and funnier - than the male, in the sharp new comedy by Joanna Murray-Smith opening at The Court on March 27.

Incoming Artistic Director Mark Clements announced Milwaukee Repertory Theater's 2010/11 season at a special Season Announcement Event held in The Rep's Quadracci Powerhouse. The season includes two American Premieres, a classic of American theater, a play featuring triple threat Australian star Caroline O'Connor and the first ever full-scale musical to be staged on The Rep's Quadracci Powerhouse stage.

Hearing Margot Mason's (Annette Bening) brash opening words on the phone to her publisher 'F*** You!', people will either automatically turn on or turn off to Joanna Murray-Smith's The Female of the Species about the misadventures of a fictional best-selling feminist writer plagued by writer's block. This is an egomaniac who's used to getting her own way in every aspect of her life until an intruder turns her 'self-absorbed' world upside down. Farce is wildly exaggerated comedy, and as such, makes audience laugh out loud because they can see themselves onstage. The Female of the Species has enough laughter for three plays and still manages to be thought-provoking about contemporary gender misconceptions. Men and women are supposed to behave a certain way and when they don't...both are human after all, so why not ease up and view the whole issue with some humility.

Annette Bening, who plays the famed feminist in playwright Joanna Murray-Smith's comedy The Female of the Species, will be sharing the Geffen Playhouse stage with a diverse group of acclaimed actors: David Arquette (Scream, Never Been Kissed), Tony Award nominee Mireille Enos (Big Love, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf on Broadway), Merritt Wever (Nurse Jackie), Julian Sands (A Room with a View, Boxing Helena) and Josh Stamberg (Drop Dead Diva). The production is helmed by Geffen Playhouse Artistic Director Randall Arney and begins in previews on February 2 with an official opening night of Wednesday, February 10, 2010.

Annette Bening, who plays the famed feminist in playwright Joanna Murray-Smith's comedy The Female of the Species, will be sharing the Geffen Playhouse stage with a diverse group of acclaimed actors: David Arquette (Scream, Never Been Kissed), Tony Award nominee Mireille Enos (Big Love, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf on Broadway), Merritt Wever (Nurse Jackie), Julian Sands (A Room with a View, Boxing Helena) and Josh Stamberg (Drop Dead Diva). The production is helmed by Geffen Playhouse Artistic Director Randall Arney and begins in previews on February 2 with an official opening night of Wednesday, February 10, 2010.

The Actors Fund will present its annual gala on April 12 at the Marriot Marquis. Receiving The Actors Fund Medal of Honor this year is film and stage actress Annette Bening. Producer Kevin McCollum and entrepreneur Jonathan Tisch will also be honored.

On January 17, Birdland will host Stage and screen star Caroline O'Connor in concert, The Girl From Oz: An Evening With Caroline O'Connor, at 6pm.

Broadway veteran Allen Fitzpatrick ('Les Miserables', 'Sweet Smell of Success', 'Damn Yankees', 'Passion', 'The Scarlet Pimpernel', '42nd Street') will star as Gus. Broadway, Off-Broadway and television actress Elizabeth Hess ('M Butterfly', 'Beggars in the House of Plenty' and television's 'Law and Order' and 'Clarissa Explains it All') will portray Honor, the central character of this drama. Jessica Rothert, who will appear as Sophie and Heidi-Marie Ferren, who portrays Claudia, will round out the cast.

Annette Bening, who plays the famed feminist in playwright Joanna Murray-Smith's comedy The Female of the Species, will be sharing the Geffen Playhouse stage with a diverse group of acclaimed actors: David Arquette (Scream, Never Been Kissed), Tony Award nominee Mireille Enos (Big Love, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf on Broadway), Merritt Wever (Nurse Jackie), Julian Sands (A Room with a View, Boxing Helena) and Josh Stamberg (Drop Dead Diva). The production is helmed by Geffen Playhouse Artistic Director Randall Arney and begins in previews on February 2 with an official opening night of Wednesday, February 10, 2010.

On January 17, Birdland will host Stage and screen star Caroline O'Connor in concert, The Girl From Oz: An Evening With Caroline O'Connor, at 6pm.

Artistic Directors Andrew Upton and Cate Blanchett today unveiled their 2010 program for Sydney Theatre Company offering audiences fresh explorations of classic texts, new works and adaptations, an accent on international collaborations and introductions to new artists and companies from around Australia.

ACT - A Contemporary Theatre announces its 2010 Mainstage season, comprised of five plays, plus a one-time only, add on Charter Membership option for Subscribing Members, giving them access to year-round Central Heating Lab programs for only $50.

Casting has just been announced for Vassar & New York Stage and Film Powerhouse Theater's three musicals of the 25th anniversary season.

Vassar & New York Stage and Film's Powerhouse Theater announces the cast for the first of three Mainstage productions of the 25th anniversary season: Ninety, by Joanna Murray-Smith, directed by Maria Mileaf, beginning performances June 30 and running through July 12, and new additions to the star-filled line-up for the 25th anniversary gala benefit, 'Silver Celebration under the Stars,' June 27.

Finian's Rainbow, which just ended a critically acclaimed five-performance run at New York City Center's Encores! series last weekend, will move to Broadway's St. James Theatre in the fall. Producers David Richenthal and Jack Viertel announced that the show, which hasn't been seen on Broadway since 1960 (it premiered in 1947), will be adapted from the Encores! concert presentation into a full production.

The Geffen Playhouse adds Bill Cain?s new play Equivocation to its 2009/2010 lineup as well as confirms director John Rando to helm Matthew Modine Saves the Alpacas. The Geffen Playhouse?s 2009 / 2010 season boasts award-winning actors (including Annette Bening, Laurence Fishburne and Matthew Modine), acclaimed directors (Randall Arney, Gil Cates, Leonard Foglia and John Rando) and contemporary new works, including two world premieres, a North American premiere and a West Coast premiere.

The Geffen Playhouse's 2009 / 2010 season boasts award-winning actors (including Annette Bening, Laurence Fishburne and Matthew Modine), acclaimed directors (including Geffen Playhouse's own Gil Cates and Randall Arney), and contemporary new works, including two world premieres, a North American premiere and a West Coast premiere.

The winners are being announced as they happen for this year's Laurence Olivier Awards, London's equivalent of the Tonys. The awards, which were created in 1976 were given out on Sunday March 8, 2009 in a ceremony at the Grosvenor House Hotel.

What happens when a safe, middle class, middle aged marriage suddenly stalls? When the opportunity arises for one life to be renewed but at the expense of the happiness and security of others? HONOUR, at The Court Theatre from 21st February is a provocative, witty challenge to our notions of domestic honour, homely decency and our belief that love will prevail. Joanna Murray-Smith wrote HONOUR in 1995 during a writing programme at Colombia University in New York. She wanted to explore a 'woman who is left at the very point in her life when she ought to be reaping the benefits of her sacrifice', and recognised that 'a story as familiar as this was only going to work if it dug more complexly beyond the stereotypical version'.