Joel Drake Johnson News

Berkeley's acclaimed Aurora Theatre Company announced today the official completion of the company's Addison Street expansion wing, The Nell and Jules Dashow Wing, named in honor of lead donor Deborah Ruth's parents.

Chicago Dramatists has a special block of orchestra tickets on reserve to A STEADY RAIN, the hottest upcoming Broadway show starring Daniel Craig and Hugh Jackman and directed by Tony-Award nominee John Crowley. With stars of this caliber, tickets are in high demand, but Chicago Dramatists will be hosting a benefit performance on November 14th. A STEADY RAIN, the smash hit production by Chicago Dramatists Resident Playwright, Keith Huff, thrilled audiences during its two critically and publicly acclaimed runs in Chicago and will open in New York City this September.

Aurora Theatre Company has selected the directors for the company's fifth Global Age Project festival of new works: Margo Hall - an award winning actor/director/playwright, Hall most recently directed The Story, by Tracy Scott-Wilson, a SF Playhouse/Lorraine Hansberry Co-Production, and Sonny's Blues, a story by James Baldwin, for Word for Word.

Next up for award winning Rogue Machine (following their critically acclaimed inaugural season featuring the premiere of Jeffrey Hatcher's COMPLEAT FEMALE STAGE BEAUTY, Brett Neveu's AMERICAN DEAD and John Pollono's RAZORBACK) is: HALF OF PLENTY by Steppenwolf playwright Lisa Dillman.

Next up for award winning Rogue Machine (following their critically acclaimed inaugural season featuring the premiere of Jeffrey Hatcher's COMPLEAT FEMALE STAGE BEAUTY, Brett Neveu's AMERICAN DEAD and John Pollono's RAZORBACK) is: HALF OF PLENTY by Steppenwolf playwright Lisa Dillman.

Berkeley's acclaimed Aurora Theatre Company proudly announces the lineup for its 18th season. The company will present a season focusing on "Family and Fortune," opening in August with AWAKE AND SING!, Clifford Odets' legendary Depression-era drama, directed by veteran Bay Area actress and director Joy Carlin.

Due to overwhelming popular demand, Berkeley's Aurora Theatre Company announces that it has extended its critically acclaimed West Coast Premiere of BETRAYED, winner of the 2008 Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Play. Filled with dignity, humor, and outrage, this provocative theatrical adaptation of journalist George Packer's eye-opening 2007 essay in The New Yorker follows three Iraqi translators who risk their lives to aid the American war effort. Robin Stanton (Permanent Collection, The Busy World is Hushed) helms this thought-provoking production, featuring Bobak Cyrus Bakhtiari, Keith Burkland, Denmo Ibrahim, Alex Moggridge, Amir Sharafeh, Khalid Shayota, and James Wagner. BETRAYED plays now through March 8, with added performances March 4-8, at the Aurora Theatre in Berkeley. For tickets ($40-42) and information the public can call (510) 843-4822 or visit auroratheatre.org.

Due to overwhelming popular demand, Berkeley?s Aurora Theatre Company announces that it has added two additional performances to the previously announced extension week of the company's critically acclaimed West Coast Premiere of BETRAYED, winner of the 2008 Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Play.

On Friday, March 6, directly following the 8pm performance of BETRAYED at the Aurora Theatre, Upwardly Global will host a panel discussion that will feature two Iraqi refugees. On Saturday, March 7, directly following the 8pm performance of BETRAYED at the Aurora Theatre, The List Project will host a panel discussion featuring The List Project founder and director Kirk Johnson (the real-life 'Prescott' in BETRAYED).

On Friday, March 6, directly following the 8pm performance of BETRAYED at the Aurora Theatre, Upwardly Global will host a panel discussion that will feature two Iraqi refugees. On Saturday, March 7, directly following the 8pm performance of BETRAYED at the Aurora Theatre, The List Project will host a panel discussion featuring The List Project founder and director Kirk Johnson (the real-life 'Prescott' in BETRAYED).

Due to overwhelming popular demand, Berkeley?s Aurora Theatre Company announces that it has added two additional performances to the previously announced extension week of the company's critically acclaimed West Coast Premiere of BETRAYED, winner of the 2008 Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Play.

Due to overwhelming popular demand, Berkeley's Aurora Theatre Company announces that it has extended its critically acclaimed West Coast Premiere of BETRAYED, winner of the 2008 Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Play. Filled with dignity, humor, and outrage, this provocative theatrical adaptation of journalist George Packer's eye-opening 2007 essay in The New Yorker follows three Iraqi translators who risk their lives to aid the American war effort. Robin Stanton (Permanent Collection, The Busy World is Hushed) helms this thought-provoking production, featuring Bobak Cyrus Bakhtiari, Keith Burkland, Denmo Ibrahim, Alex Moggridge, Amir Sharafeh, Khalid Shayota, and James Wagner. BETRAYED plays now through March 8, with added performances March 4-8, at the Aurora Theatre in Berkeley. For tickets ($40-42) and information the public can call (510) 843-4822 or visit auroratheatre.org.

Berkeley's acclaimed Aurora Theatre Company announces the four plays chosen as winners for the Global Age Project (GAP), the company's new works initiative that promotes the creation of forward-looking theatre: The First Grade by Joel Drake Johnson; Birnham Woods by Wendy MacLeod; Right? by Dan Hoyle; and and when we awoke there was light and light by Laura Jacqmin. The selected plays will be presented as staged readings in a four-week festival at the Aurora Theatre, Mondays, February 2-23, 7:30pm, coinciding with the company's fully-staged West Coast Premiere of George Packer's provocative Lucille Lortel-winning play Betrayed (January 23-March 1).

Berkeley's acclaimed Aurora Theatre Company concludes its American trilogy with the West Coast Premiere of BETRAYED, winner of the 2008 Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Play. Filled with dignity, humor, and defiance, this provocative theatrical adaptation of journalist George Packer's eye-opening 2007 essay in The New Yorker follows three Iraqi translators who risk their lives to aid the American war effort. BETRAYED plays at the Aurora Theatre in Berkeley January 23 through March 1. Robin Stanton (Permanent Collection, The Busy World is Hushed) helms this astonishing play, featuring Bobak Cyrus Bakhtiari, Keith Burkland, Denmo Ibrahim, Alex Moggridge, Amir Sharafeh, Khalid Shayota, and James Wagner. For tickets and information ($28-50) the public can call (510) 843-4822 or visit auroratheatre.org.

Berkeley's acclaimed Aurora Theatre Company announces the four plays chosen as winners for the Global Age Project (GAP), the company's new works initiative that promotes the creation of forward-looking theatre: The First Grade by Joel Drake Johnson; Birnham Woods by Wendy MacLeod; Right? by Dan Hoyle ; and and when we awoke there was light and light by Laura Jacqmin. The selected plays will be presented as staged readings in a four-week festival at the Aurora Theatre, Mondays, February 2-23, 7:30pm, coinciding with the company's fully-staged West Coast Premiere of George Packer's provocative Lucille Lortel-winning play Betrayed (January 23-March 1). Each GAP reading will be followed by an audience discussion of the contemporary issues raised in each work. Additionally, the company announces that it has received a $20,000 grant from the Phyllis C. Wattis Foundation to support the Global Age Project. For information on GAP events (free and open to the public) an d Betrayed, the public may call (510) 843-4822 or visit auroratheatre.org.

Berkeley's acclaimed Aurora Theatre Company concludes its American trilogy with the West Coast Premiere of BETRAYED, winner of the 2008 Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Play. Filled with dignity, humor, and defiance, this provocative theatrical adaptation of journalist George Packer's eye-opening 2007 essay in The New Yorker follows three Iraqi translators who risk their lives to aid the American war effort.

Berkeley's acclaimed Aurora Theatre Company concludes its American trilogy with the West Coast Premiere of BETRAYED, winner of the 2008 Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Play. Filled with dignity, humor, and defiance, this provocative theatrical adaptation of journalist George Packer's eye-opening 2007 essay in The New Yorker follows three Iraqi translators who risk their lives to aid the American war effort. BETRAYED plays at the Aurora Theatre in Berkeley January 23 through March 1. Robin Stanton (Permanent Collection, The Busy World is Hushed) helms this astonishing play, featuring Bobak Cyrus Bakhtiari, Keith Burkland, Denmo Ibrahim, Alex Moggridge, Amir Sharafeh, Khalid Shayota, and James Wagner. For tickets and information ($28-50) the public can call (510) 843-4822 or visit auroratheatre.org.

Berkeley's acclaimed Aurora Theatre Company announces the four plays chosen as winners for the Global Age Project (GAP), the company's new works initiative that promotes the creation of forward-looking theatre: The First Grade by Joel Drake Johnson; Birnham Woods by Wendy MacLeod; Right? by Dan Hoyle; and and when we awoke there was light and light by Laura Jacqmin. The selected plays will be presented as staged readings in a four-week festival at the Aurora Theatre, Mondays, February 2-23, 7:30pm, coinciding with the company's fully-staged West Coast Premiere of George Packer's provocative Lucille Lortel-winning play Betrayed (January 23-March 1).

Eurydice, a bold, slyly comic, visually fascinating take on the classic Orpheus myth by Sarah Ruhl, is enjoying an ambitious revival by Victory Gardens Theater, to open the 35th season at Chicago's #1 presenter of new plays.

Today, the Jefferson Awards announced the 150 nominations in 35 categories for Chicago Equity theatrical productions which opened between August 1, 2007 and July 31, 2008. Beginning with this season, the Jeff Awards is acknowledging the work of Large and Midsize theatres in separate categories for productions and technical elements.