Joe Orton News

Multitalented British actress and director, best known for portraying the Agatha Christie detective Miss Marple, Geraldine McEwan, has died at age 82. The BAFTA Award-winner's family says she died on January 30, due to complications from a stroke suffered in October.

Aurora Theatre Company continues its 23rd season with the Bay Area Premiere of Nicky Silver's (Pterodactyls, Raised in Captivity) scathingly funny Broadway hit THE LYONS. Tony-nominated director Barbara Damashek, who helmed Aurora Theatre Company's productions of American Buffalo, Fat Pig, and Private Jokes, Public Places, returns to direct THE LYONS, featuring Ellen Ratner (After the Revolution, Awake and Sing!), Will Marchetti (Knock Knock), Nicholas Pelczar (Dublin Carol, Marius), Jessica Bates (After the Revolution), Joe Estlack (Shotgun Players, Magic Theatre), and Edris Cooper-Anifowoshe (Brava Theater, TheatreWorks, Magic Theatre). THE LYONS plays January 30 through March 1 at the Aurora Theatre in Berkeley. For tickets ($32-60) and information the public can call (510) 843-4822 or visit auroratheatre.org. For mature audiences.

Rough Haired Pointer present The Diary of a Nobody following their critically-acclaimed world premiere of Joe Orton's Fred & Madge. Evelyn Waugh called The Diary of a Nobody by George and Weedon Grossmith 'the funniest book in the world' and now, following a sell-out success last summer, this fast-moving theatrical spectacular returns as the first show of the King's Head Theatre season. It stars Charles Pooter, an average Victorian city clerk - with his attempts to be somebody, this nobody is highly entertaining (Time Out).

Award-winning British playwright Joe Orton's riotous farce 'What the Butler Saw' opened last weekend on November 23 at the Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum. 'What the Butler Saw' continues through December 21. Click below to watch a fun montage of scenes from the show!

Joe Orton's insanely insane world in 1960s England is no better displayed than in his third and final play What the Butler Saw now onstage at the Mark Taper Forum through December 21. A terrifically energized cast are on hand as is seasoned director John Tillinger, but things got off to a somewhat slow start opening night and really did not start to cook until Act II. It might be the width and depth of the Taper stage, which is not easy to cross that rapidly. I saw a production a couple of years back at the Odyssey, and the space being half the size, entrances and exits were quicker as was the tempo of the whole play.

Award-winning British playwright Joe Orton's riotous farce 'What the Butler Saw' opened yesterday, November 23, 2014, at the Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum. 'What the Butler Saw' continues through December 21. BroadwayWorld has photos from the opening night festivities below!

Award-winning British playwright Joe Orton's riotous farce 'What the Butler Saw' opens Sunday, November 23, 2014, at 7 p.m. at the Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum. 'What the Butler Saw' is currently in previews, and performances continue through December 21.

Award-winning British playwright Joe Orton's riotous farce 'What the Butler Saw' begins previews tonight, November 12, 2014, at 8 p.m. at the Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum. Opening is set for November 23 and performances continue through December 21.

Award-winning British playwright Joe Orton's riotous farce 'What the Butler Saw' begins previews tonight, November 12, 2014, at 8 p.m. at the Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum. Opening is set for November 23 and performances continue through December 21.

Award-winning British playwright Joe Orton's riotous farce 'What the Butler Saw' begins previews Wednesday, November 12, 2014, at 8 p.m. at the Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum. Opening is set for November 23 and performances continue through December 21.

Casting is set for award-winning British playwright Joe Orton's riotous farce "What the Butler Saw," opening at the Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum on November 23, 2014. Rehearsals begin October 14, previews begin November 12 and performances run through December 21.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company Artistic Director Martha Lavey engages in conversation with John Lahr about his latest book, Tennessee Williams: Mad Pilgrimage of the Flesh in a special one-night-only event, Monday, October 13 at 7pm in the Downstairs Theatre. Lahr, who served as senior drama critic for The New Yorker for more than two decades, recently released his twentieth book, an authoritative, extraordinary biography on Tennessee Williams that invites intimate access into the mind of a playwright whose work reshaped the American theater. The conversation will include a Q&A, followed by a book signing in the lobby. Tickets are $10 and are available through Audience Services (1650 N Halsted), at 312-335-1650 or at steppenwolf.org.

Rough Haired Pointer and Adam Spreadbury-Maher present the professional world premiere of JOE ORTON'S FRED & MADGE at The Hope Theatre, Islington, this month.

Rough Haired Pointer and Adam Spreadbury-Maher present the professional world premiere of JOE ORTON'S FRED & MADGE at The Hope Theatre, Islington, this September.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company Artistic Director Martha Lavey engages in conversation with John Lahr about his latest book, Tennessee Williams: Mad Pilgrimage of the Flesh in a special one-night-only event on Monday, October 13 at 7pm in the Downstairs Theatre.

Today we celebrate the life and career of legendary actor, producer and director Richard Attenborough in honor of his death this week at the age of 90.

According to Deadline, HBO has added Winona Ryder, Alfred Molina, and John Bernthal to its six-hour miniseries SHOW ME A HERO, based on the book by Lisa Belkin. Ther project, which comes from THE WIRE's David Simon, has already enlisted Oscar Isaac and Catherine Keener.

Dialogue with Three Chords (D3C) kicks off their fourth year of staging original plays in Greenwich Village by presenting a season of unproduced plays from its first three years. 'These are the plays that didn't fit,' explains playwright and D3C co-founder Stephen Gracia, 'a Joe Orton influenced noir piece, a surreal play about a plague that corrupts faith, and a night of first kisses and new religions at the water's edge.' The Fall 2014 season begins on Thursday, August 28 at 8pm at Mr. Dennehy's on 63 Carmine Street. Emmy-winning composer Michal Towber starts the season off as the musical guest for the season opening performance, bringing her brand of punk rock pop to the proceedings. Admission is free, with a $3 suggested donation.

Shakespearean and Broadway actor Charles Keating, perhaps best known for his role as villain Carl Hutchins on the daytime drama 'Another World,' has died at his home in Weston, Conn. at the age of 72.

Cellar Door presents HOT STEAMS by Zach Wegner as part of the 18th annual New York International Fringe Festival - FringeNYC. For tickets, visit http://www.fringenyc.org/basic_page.php?ltr=H#HotSte.