John Barrymore News

Welcome to the mysterious Grand Hotel, an elegant hotel located in Berlin in the 1920s. This lively musical tells the story of a weekend at the hotel and the eccentric characters that are staying there. From the skeptical doctor to the fatally ill bookkeeper to the fading prima ballerina, there is a character for everyone in this hit musical. The Palm Canyon Theatre presents the hit Broadway Musical GRAND HOTEL for two weekends beginning April 5.

Two River Theater continues its 25th Anniversary Season with the celebrated American classic The Belle of Amherst, a biographical drama starring Maureen Silliman as poet Emily Dickinson.

In this riveting two-man play, William Luce brings us a glimpse into the world and artistic process of  actor John Barrymore.

Shakespeare Theatre Company's Artistic Director Michael Kahn invites theatre-lovers to a series of intimate conversations about life in the D.C. theatre scene as he prepares to retire from the STC stage. Open, unrehearsed, and off the record, invited speakers will swap anecdotes and share memories about Michael Kahn's 33-years at Shakespeare Theatre Company. Following his career trajectory, the discussions will focus on three distinct eras in STC's history by mapping D.C.'s changing theatre scene. The first Michael Kahn and Friends: Off the Record will focus on the formation of The Shakespeare Theatre Company in its first location: Folger Theatre (1986-1992).

The Naples Players (TNP) present their FREE annual Shakespeare-on-the-Plaza with the classic comedy, A Midsummer Night's Dream, which runs every Saturday and Sunday, February 16 - March 10, 2019 outside on the Baker Stage in The Naples Players Sugden Plaza.

 Audiences are thoroughly enjoying themselves at Bucks County Playhouse's production of Broadway's hilarious romantic comedy "I Hate Hamlet." The production, which runs through December 1 and was hailed by The New York Times as "Unapologetically silly…hilarious!" is directed by Marc Bruni ("Beautiful: The Carol King Musical").

For most New York playgoers, the words "Shakespeare In The Park" will immediately bring to mind the free performances at Central Park's outdoor Delacorte Theater, created decades ago by The Public Theater's visionary founder, Joseph Papp.

Westport Country Playhouse will present a Script in Hand playreading of "I Hate Hamlet," the comedy that conjures the ghost of actor John Barrymore, on Monday, November 5, at 7 p.m.  Barrymore will be played by four-time Tony Award winner Boyd Gaines. Written by Paul Rudnick, the reading will be directed by Anne Keefe, Playhouse associate artist and curator of the playreading series. Tickets are $20 each.

Tony award-winner, Elizabeth Ashley ("Take Her She's Mine") and Tony nominee Tom Hewitt ("The Rocky Horror Show") will headline a refreshed production of Paul Rudnick's witty, laugh out loud comedy, "I Hate Hamlet" at Bucks County Playhouse, November 9 - December 1. The play marks Ashley's return to the Playhouse after co-starring opposite Robert Redford in the pre-Broadway production of Neil Simon's "Barefoot in the Park."

The award-winning Equity professional East Lynne Theater Company presents two events in time for Halloween: 'Poe by Candlelight' on Saturday, October 20 at 8:00p.m. and the classic silent thriller, 'Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,' accompanied by Wayne Zimmerman on the organ, on Sunday, October 21 at 7:30p.m., both at The First Presbyterian Church, 500 Hughes Street in Cape May, where the theater is in residence.

CBS today announced an all-star lineup of Drew Barrymore, RuPaul Charles, James Corden and Faith Hill for THE WORLD'S BEST, a new global talent competition series from two of the most prolific unscripted producers in television, Mike Darnell (“American Idol” and “Ellen's Game of Games”) and Mark Burnett (SURVIVOR, “The Voice”).

I Hate Hamlet, by Paul Rudnick, first hit the stage in 1991. Set in actor John Barrymore's apartment, the play introduces the audience to Andrew Rally, a television actor considering an attempt at playing Hamlet. The characters, which include a television star, a Hollywood director, an agent, a realtor, John Barrymore himself, and a theatre-obsessed virgin girlfriend, are delightful, and the show is packed with humor. The Broadway run of the show was cut short when one of the actors was intentionally injured on stage. I Hate Hamlet opened at Oyster Mill Playhouse on Friday, August 17th.

Local summer theater company Taconic Stage Co. (TSC) presents Lillian, a play about Lillian Hellman by William Luce, starring Diedre Bollinger and directed by TSC founder and Artistic Director Carl Ritchie.

Porchlight Music Theatre's Mainstage 2018 - 2019 season launches with Gypsy, A Musical Fable, October 12 - November 25, at The Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn Street, with book by Arthur Laurents, music by Jule Styne and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim.

As any English teacher can tell you, not everyone loves Shakespeare. For some it's like eating Brussels sprouts; it's something you know you should do but you aren't certain why and you certainly don't enjoy the process.

Free For All, one of the capital's cherished annual traditions, will return this summer to Shakespeare Theatre Company (STC), offering two weeks of free performances of the Company's 2016 production of Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet. Directed by STC Associate Artistic Director Alan Paul, whose hit production of Camelot has extended through July 8 due to popular demand, the production will run at Sidney Harman Hall (610 F St NW) from August 21-September 2, providing more than 12,000 people the chance to see the play free of charge.

Composer, musician, author and educator Jack Curtis Dubowsky is on a torrid run of activity in 2018 with scheduled performances, speaking engagements and several new compositions.  These include the Jack Curtis Dubowsky Ensemble (JCDE) performance at The Art Theatre Long Beach in May as well as a talk at the Voyager Institute, composing an original score to a film about an artistic iconoclast and composing a new music piece for ensemble to be performed at the Etchings Festival in France.  

A classic tap-happy musical and a new production of a legendary Broadway comedy are highlights of Bucks County Playhouse's 2018 Season. Executive Producer Robyn Goodman, Producing Director Alexander Fraser and Producers Stephen Kocis and Josh Fiedler announced details of the season, which will kick off at the historic Playhouse in New Hope, Pennsylvania on May 19.

Composer, musician, author and educator Jack Curtis Dubowsky is on a torrid run of activity in 2018 with scheduled performances, speaking engagements and several new compositions.  These include the Jack Curtis Dubowsky Ensemble (JCDE) performance at The Art Theatre Long Beach in May as well as a talk at the Voyager Institute, composing an original score to a film about an artistic iconoclast and composing a new music piece for ensemble to be performed at the Etchings Festival in France.  

Art Directors Guild (ADG) and American Cinematheque kick off the 2018 ADG Film Society Screening Series with a A Tribute To CEDRIC GIBBONS, MGM'S Oscar®-winning Supervising Art Director, featuring a special screening of GRAND HOTEL (1932). A conversation will follow exploring the legacy of Gibbons' work and spotlighting in the Golden Age of Hollywood socialites. A short tribute film will be shown depicting the range of Gibbons extraordinary work and his enduring contributions to design and Art Deco in cinema. The ADG Film Society Series is sponsored by The Hollywood Reporter.