John Douglas Thompson News

Theater history buffs have two reasons to seek out a production of RED VELVET, Lolita Chakrabarti's historical drama. First, it sketches in part of the true story of the first great black classical actor, Ira Aldridge. Second, it depicts the beginning of the shift from old-fashioned 19th century declamatory acting style to something closer to the naturalism of the 20th century, a naturalism that still dominates today's stages.

American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) continues its 2015-16 season with AH, WILDERNESS!, Eugene O'Neill's passionate coming-of-age classic. AH, WILDERNESS! is a tender portrait of a sensitive teenage poet whose experience of first love leads him into the raptures of romantic poetry and the pain of heartbreak.

Shakespeare & Company presented the first full American production of Red Velvet, written by Lolita Chakrabarti, directed by Daniela Varon, and starring OBIE Award-winning actor John Douglas Thompson last night and Broadwayworld's Stephen Sorokoff was there. This powerful and emotional drama joins the Tina Packer Playhouse repertory and runs through September 13. Check out photos from the production below!

A.C.T. favorite and Academy Award nominee, David Strathairn (Underneath the Lintel at A.C.T.; film: 'Good Night, and Good Luck,' 'Lincoln,' 'The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel'), returns to American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) for a special three-week engagement of Joseph Dougherty's Chester Bailey (May 25-June 2, 2016) at A.C.T.'s Strand Theater.

American Conservatory Theater continues its 2015-16 season with Monstress, two world-premiere one-act plays about love, longing, and the American dream. Based on the short stories by Lysley Tenorio, Monstress was adapted for the stage by Bay Area playwrights Philip Kan Gotanda and Sean San Jose.

Theatre for a New Audience, Founding Artistic Director Jeffrey Horowitz, announces its 2015-16 season, Inimitable Voices, Four plays by Shakespeare and Major American and European authors, at Polonsky Shakespeare Center, 262 Ashland Place.

Theater with a View is bringing a production of Circle Mirror Transformation by Annie Baker to Pottstown, PA. The play will open Thursday, July 23 for an eight-performance run outdoors at Sycamore Hill, the home of Drs. Veronica Covalesky and Nick Leasure, at 481 Ebelhare Road. Directed by Seth Reich, the production features a cast of New York actors.

Red Bull Theater will present the penultimate Revelation Reading of the season, Richard Brinsley Sheridan's The School for Scandal, directed by Marc Vietor, with musical direction by Brian Trenis. The School for Scandal will feature Charles Busch, Everett Quinton, and Paxton Whitehead, along with Bill Army, Helen Cespedes, Alan Coates, Christian DeMarais, Peter Eyre, Kevin Isola, Richard Holmes, Amelia Pedlow, Gayle Rankin, Derek Smith, and more.  One night only - Monday, June 29th at Cherry Lane Theater (38 Commerce Street). 

John Douglas Thompson gives a tour de force multiple-character solo performance in SATCHMO AT THE WALDORF at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts. It is easy to see why the New York Times described Thompson as one of the most compelling classical stage actors of his generation after witnessing his remarkable ability to totally transform himself into three very distinct and richly defined characters: jazz great Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong, his mob-connected and career-long manager Joe Glaser, and fellow jazz musician Miles Davis.

The American Theatre Wing and the Village Voice just announced the winners of the 60th Annual OBIE Awards.

Acclaimed classical actor John Douglas Thompson will receive the Samuel H. Scripps Award for Extraordinary Commitment to Promoting the Power of Language In Classical and Contemporary Theatre at Theatre for a New Audience's Spring Gala Celebrating Shakespeare's Birthday. The celebration, Monday, May 11, is at Capitale, 130 Bowery on the Lower East Side.

After critically acclaimed productions in New York City and London, American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) will close its 2014-15 season with the West Coast premiere of renowned playwright Caryl Churchill's internationally praised work, Love and Information (June 3-August 9, 2015).

The Drama League has announced the 2015 Drama League Awards Nominees this morning - check out the complete list!

Shakespeare & Company has finalized casting for its 38th performance season, and released a complete schedule of Opening Night dates. The announcement was made this week by Interim Artistic Directors Ariel Bock and Jonathan Croy, along with a positive report from Interim Managing Director Stephen D. Ball on the Company's box office successes to date. Shakespeare & Company's season opens on May 22 with The How and The Why, by Sarah Treem.

Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts ('The Wallis') presents the Long Wharf Theatre and Shakespeare & Company Production of Satchmo at the Waldorf by Terry Teachout, directed by Long Wharf Theatre Artistic Director Gordon Edelstein and starring Obie winner John Douglas Thompson in a tour de force multiple-character solo performance, arriving in Los Angeles following hit sold-out runs at the Long Wharf Theatre, Shakespeare & Company and Off-Broadway. The engagement plays May 26 through June 7, 2015, in the Lovelace Studio Theater; press opening is May 27.

National Corporate Theatre Fund (NCTF) and Chairman James S. Turley will lead a celebration to support American theatre at the annual Chairman's Awards Gala on Monday, April 13th at The Pierre New York (2 East 61st Street at Fifth Avenue) at 6:30pm. The Chairman's Awards Gala supports the creation of theatrical works and arts education at theatres across America.

American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) Artistic Director Carey Perloff announced today the full cast for the upcoming production of Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler's rapturous and seductive musical, A Little Night Music.

Continuing its 2014-15 season, American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) will present Let There Be Love, an intimate and disarmingly honest play from Kwame Kwei-Armah, one of England's most distinguished contemporary playwrights.

Red Bull Theater's next Revelation Reading, John Marston's The Dutch Courtesan, directed by Michael Sexton, featuring Hamish Linklater and Lily Rabe, along with Matthew Amendt, Michael Braun, Lucas Caleb Rooney, Autumn Dornfeld, Cameron Folmar, Don Guillory, Daniel K. Isaac, David Manis, Kathryn Meisle, Rachel Mewbron, Steven Rattazzi, Kate Skinner, and more, will take place March 2nd at 7:30 pm at the Lucille Lortel Theater, 121 Christopher Street.