Joe Orton News

The inmates are running the asylum! Well, not really, but it might be better if that were the case, in Joe Orton's classic sex-farce-with-a-kick What the Butler Saw, beginning its run at Fort Worth's Stage West on Thursday, July 5. Get a first look at the production in the photos below!

Actor and author Martin Foreman is premiering four one-man plays this July at the Lord Stanley Theatre in Camden. The plays form part of the 2012 Solo Festival - the annual season of one-man/one-woman shows at the Lord Stanley from 9 to 29 July.

Full casting has been announced for the UK and Ireland tour of hit comedy stage adaptation The Ladykillers. The principal cast will include Paul Bown (Professor Marcus), Clive Mantle (Major Courtney), Chris McCalphy (One-Round), William Troughton (Harry), Shaun Williamson (Louis) and Michele Dotrice as Mrs Wilberforce.

England in the 1960's may not have been able to get away with overt displays as we can today but that doesn't mean they were any less randy. And that's half the fun with Joe Orton's play, "Entertaining Mr. Sloane" currently playing at Theater Schmeater. They can't come right out and say what they all want from Mr. Sloane but the double and sometime triple entendres and skirting of the real issue makes for a naughtily fun evening.

Today we are continuing BroadwayWorld's ongoing interview series with the stars and creative team of NBC's hit musical drama series SMASH with a Broadway/Hollywood leading man who first made his mark on the stage creating a role in the Tony Award-winning TITANIC after having appeared in BLOOD BROTHERS and CAROUSEL and who has since starred in productions as diverse as SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS, DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS, NEXT TO NORMAL, SHREK and many more - the jovial and multi-talented Brian d'Arcy James. Discussing all aspects of his role on SMASH as well as cluing us in on what we can expect from Monday's highly awaited season finale, d'Arcy James and I also take a look back at his career onstage thus far and he shares fond recollections of working on TITANIC, SWEET SMELL, SHREK, NEXT TO NORMAL, TIME STANDS STILL and THE WILD PARTY Off-Broadway as well as offers his observations of his collaborators and co-stars in each endeavor. Plus, Brian also reveals his other current TV project: his character arc on Showtime's dramedy THE BIG C, starring his TIME STANDS STILL co-star Laura Linney and previous John Benjamin Hickey, that begins this Sunday and continues through the rest of this month. Additionally, we also discuss his upcoming 54 Below concerts June 26-30 - as well as his thoughtful and candid opinions on some of his favorite songwriters and his own songs. Plus, comments on his film roles in HBO's GAME CHANGE, FRIENDS WITH KIDS, an upcoming short film - and much, much more!

Deadline.com reports that Alec Baldwin will join forces once again with 'To Rome With Love' director Woody Allen in the upcoming film MAN THAT ROCKS THE CRADLE. Baldwin will join his 'Rock of Ages' co-star Russell Brand in the film from New Line.

Theater Schmeater continues its 20th Anniversary Season celebration with one of Joe Orton's quirkiest plays, ENTERTAINING MR. SLOANE, opening on May 18 and running Thursday, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8 p.m. through June 16.

Theater Schmeater is celebrating their 20th Anniversary with a season of rarely seen plays.

People.com reports that Broadway vet Alec Baldwin, 53, got engaged to yoga instructor Hilaria Thomas over the weekend. Thecouple has been dating since last summer according to the report.

Naked Before God will be presented by Circle X Theatre Company between MAR 24 - APR 28, 2012.

Actress Olivia d'Abo is BWW's Best Lead Actress Award winner for Entertaining Mr. Sloan. She is best known for TV's The Wonder Years and Law and Order: Criminal Intent. Few may know that she is also an accomplished musician. In our chat, d'Abo speaks fiercely about her passions, showing just how consummate a performer she truly is.

Graham Linehan's hit adaptation of the classic 1955 Ealing comedy The Ladykillers, directed by Sean Foley, will embark on a 26 week tour of Ireland and the UK in 2012, beginning on 14 September at Theatre Royal Plymouth. The production will then tour to Canterbury, Sheffield, Birmingham, Southampton, Cambridge, Nottingham, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Glasgow, Malvern and Bath in 2012, with further dates for 2013 to be announced.

Sonoma State University Department of Theatre Arts & Dance today announced LOOT, which is being described as 'Oscar Wilde meets Monty Python in this outrageous, hilarious romp of a whodunit as seen through the jaded eyes of mid-20th century English playwright Joe Orton. This greedy, sexy, tawdry (yet stylish) comic masterpiece goes to the next level when religious fervor and a deceased mother become cover-ups for a bank heist gone wrong. Throw in an inept detective and you have a classic satirical critique of the bourgeoisie.'

Tim McInnerny, Samantha Bond and Georgia Moffett will be joining Omid Djalili in Joe Orton's great British comedy WHAT THE BUTLER SAW, which will open at the Vaudeville Theatre on Wednesday 16 May, following previews from Friday 4 May, for a strictly limited season, ending on Saturday 25 August.

Sonoma State University Department of Theatre Arts & Dance today announced LOOT, which is being described as 'Oscar Wilde meets Monty Python in this outrageous, hilarious romp of a whodunit as seen through the jaded eyes of mid-20th century English playwright Joe Orton. This greedy, sexy, tawdry (yet stylish) comic masterpiece goes to the next level when religious fervor and a deceased mother become cover-ups for a bank heist gone wrong. Throw in an inept detective and you have a classic satirical critique of the bourgeoisie.'

Omid Djalili returns to the West End stage to star as Dr Rance in Joe Orton's comedy WHAT THE BUTLER SAW directed by Sean Foley. The new production will open at the Vaudeville Theatre on Wednesday 16 May, following previews from Friday 4 May, for a strictly limited season, ending on Saturday 25 August.

Sonoma State University Department of Theatre Arts & Dance today announced LOOT, which is being described as 'Oscar Wilde meets Monty Python in this outrageous, hilarious romp of a whodunit as seen through the jaded eyes of mid-20th century English playwright Joe Orton. This greedy, sexy, tawdry (yet stylish) comic masterpiece goes to the next level when religious fervor and a deceased mother become cover-ups for a bank heist gone wrong. Throw in an inept detective and you have a classic satirical critique of the bourgeoisie.'

Joe Orton's insanely insane world is no better displayed than in his What the Butler Saw now onstage at the Odyssey Theatre. A terrifically energized cast make the play soar under the astute guidance of director Alan Patrick Kenny through March 11.

The New Yorker today features an article that highlights the favorite albums of Broadway veteran Alec Baldwin, which feature the musical of musical theatre legend Stephen Sondheim. Baldwin writes: 'Stephen Sondheim is responsible for many of the greatest musicals of the past half century; this odd, ultimately haunting collection of set pieces is my favorite. Take your pick between the original recording, with the great Victor Garber and Jonathan Hadary, or the 2006 revival with Michael Cerveris and Denis O'Hare. (Honorable mention: the original cast recording of "Les Miserables," with the remarkable Colm Wilkinson.)'

Theater Schmeater is celebrating their 20th Anniversary with a season of rarely seen plays.