John Houseman News

The Nevada Conservatory Theatre (NCT) will present the new musical 'ACE' in a fully-staged concert setting for two performances only today and tomorrow, August 22 and 23, 2015 at 1 p.m. in the Judy Bayley Theatre.

On an all-new THEATER TALK, journalist Ben Yagoda discusses the history of the record industry in his new book, The B Side: The Death of Tin Pan Alley and the Rebirth of Great American Song (Riverhead Books), and Margot Harley, Co-Founder and Producing Director of The Acting Company, shares rich stories of the company's history upon her retirement after 43 years of inspired artistic leadership.

Symphony Space will usher in a new series of works for its 2015-16 season, thanks to new artistic director Andrew Byrne.

HARLEM SUMMER SHAKESPEARE, now in its 11th Season, is pleased to announce the world premiere production of SHAKESPEARE'S PRIMARY, written and directed by Alexa Kelly, at The Indoor Theatre, Riverbank State Park, 679 Riverside Drive (at 145th Street). Performances are FREE and begin tonight, July24 , 8 pm.and continue through Sunday, August 23.  

Chester Theatre Company will present the New England Premiere of HALCYON DAYS, by acclaimed Irish playwright Deirdre Kinahan. Performances of the witty, touching comedy about reawakening to life's possibilities will run from tonight, July 9, through July 19.

The Nevada Conservatory Theatre (NCT) will present the new musical "ACE" in a fully-staged concert setting for two performances only on Saturday and Sunday, August 22 and 23, 2015 at 1 p.m. in the Judy Bayley Theatre.  This special concert presentation is a benefit for the NCT with all proceeds going to help fund the ongoing work of the prestigious cultural institution.

The Old Globe's presentation of Kiss Me, Kate, the classic musical comedy featuring a book by Sam and Bella Spewack and an iconic score by Cole Porter, begins tonight, July 1, on the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage in the Old Globe Theatre, part of the Globe's Conrad Prebys Theatre Center.

Chester Theatre Company will present the New England Premiere of HALCYON DAYS, by acclaimed Irish playwright Deirdre Kinahan. Performances of the witty, touching comedy about reawakening to life's possibilities will run from July 9-19.

The complete cast and creative team have been announced for The Old Globe's presentation of Kiss Me, Kate, the classic musical comedy featuring a book by Sam and Bella Spewack and an iconic score by Cole Porter.

HARLEM SUMMER SHAKESPEARE, now in its 11th Season, is pleased to announce the world premiere production of SHAKESPEARE'S PRIMARY, written and directed by Alexa Kelly, at The Indoor Theatre, Riverbank State Park, 679 Riverside Drive (at 145th Street). Performances are FREE and begin Friday, July24 , 8 pm.and continue through Sunday, August 23.  

Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for theatre, announces that at the 25th TCG National Conference: Game Change in Cleveland this weekend, June 18-20, the following awards will be presented:

Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for theatre, announces that at the 25th TCG National Conference: Game Change in Cleveland from June 18-20, the following awards will be presented.

There's something intrinsically dramatic about a formidable artist/instructor who, because of whatever circumstances, finds that he or she has to step down a rung on the ladder of fame in order not to slip from that ladder altogether. It isn't necessarily a new theme that Theresa Rebeck tackles in the acid-etched comedy SEMINAR, directed by Irene Crist and currently running at Circuit Playhouse. While watching it, I was reminded of other works dealing with artists who, out of necessity, must share their genius (and sharpen their verbal talons) on eager, ambitious upstarts. Not too long ago, there was a production of John Logan's RED, about the artist Mark Rothko and his fictional assistant. Nor should we forget Terrence McNally's MASTER CLASS, with diva Maria Callas holding a voice master class with students trembling under her aura. Other, similar (if fictional) titles leap to mind: Consider that holy terror from THE PAPER CHASE, 'Professor Kingsfield' (John Houseman), intimidating Timothy Bottoms' frustrated law student. To these master instructors we can now add the imperious 'Leonard' (deliciously played by Michael Detroit, who, as a real-life instructor, has an innate understanding of the interplay between teacher and student), a famous novelist who has been to the well of inspiration once too often and is now (for $5000 per student) reluctantly willing to train his weary eyes on material that more often than not elicits blistering barbs of criticism; and a varied and pretentious lot they are - the affluent 'Kate' (whose spacious and expensive apartment furnishes the setting for the seminar meetings, and whose six-year struggle with a story is rather like a plane that bumps along a runway and can't quite take flight); the name-dropping 'Douglas,' who has written something fit for THE NEW YORKER (ordinarily an impressive feat - except when Leonard derides its 'detached intelligence'); the opportunistic 'Izzy,' who isn't beyond parlaying her particular affinity for sex into a form of self-promotion; and, finally, the disproving 'Martin,' whose intellectual probity causes him to roll his eyes at the pretentiousness of people like Douglas.

 Margot Harley, who co-founded The Acting Company with John Houseman in 1972, will step down as its Producer effective the end of this year.  The Acting Company began with the first graduating class of Juilliard's Drama Division, which included Kevin Kline, Patti LuPone, David Schramm and David Ogden Stiers.  "They were classically trained, superbly talented and had worked together for four years," stated Ms. Harley.

The American Theatre Wing and the Village Voice are thrilled to announce that James Houghton, the Founding Artistic Director of Signature Theatre, will receive a special OBIE Award for Sustained Achievement at the 60th Annual OBIE Awards, which will be held on Monday, May 18, 2015 at Webster Hall (125 East 11th Street).

The Film Society of Lincoln Center previously announced that Barbra Streisand (recipient of the 40th Chaplin Award) would present the 42nd Chaplin Award to Academy Award-winner Robert Redford, director, actor, producer, environmentalist, and founder of the Sundance Film Festival and Institute, honored at Lincoln Center tonight, April 27.

Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts (PTPA) will present Broadway superstar Patti LuPone in her hit show 'Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda' tonight, April 18, at 8 p.m.

'Love is the tie that binds,' so they say, but sometimes family ties are a little too tight for young adults who are trying to leave home and make their way in the world. Hale Centre Theatre's next live theatre offering, Over The River and Through the Woods, explores how two very loud sets of grandparents connive to keep their 29-year old grandson, Nick, from transferring from New Jersey, to a dream job in Seattle. Tickets are on sale now for the uproarious comedy slated to run tonight, April 17 through May 22 in West Valley City.

Sixteen New York Stage and Television regulars join Patti LuPone and Bobby Cannavale to complete the cast of The Rose Tattoo-Monday, April 27at 7pm-directed by Doug Hughes at Broadway's Samuel J. Friedman Theatre. A benefit performance for The Acting Company, The Rose Tattoo is one of Tennessee Williams' greatest works winning multiple Tony Awards, including Best Play.

T. Fellowship, in association with Columbia University School of the Arts, announces that applications for the third annual T. Fellowship will be accepted through May 15, 2015.