John Langs News

Washington Ensemble Theatre has announced its new partnership with ACT - A Contemporary Theatre. The two theatres will now work in tandem to bring the popular reading series The Construction Zone to Seattle audiences who love to witness and participate in the development of new plays.

This is not a play. You are informed that as soon as you step into the oppressive world of New Century Theatre Company's current production of "Franz Kafka's The Trial" adapted by Kenneth Albers. And it's true; it's not so much a play as it is an existential experience as the bureaucracy of this world sorts even the audience as they enter (be sure to come in with the people you want to sit with). And what follows is a cool and finely crafted descent down the rabbit hole from one of Seattle's best theater companies.

ACT - A Contemporary Theatre announces a jam packed spring and summer of shows that cover a broad range of contemporary performance. ACT presents a world premiere of Seattle playwright Katie Forgette's Assisted Living opening in late April. Then ACT gets its feet WET by teaming up with Washington Ensemble Theatre and delves deep into the works of new authors with the intimate Construction Zone reading series. June brings proven hit shows to the boards with the regional premiere of the Broadway smash success Other Desert Cities, and master comedian improviser and impersonator extraordinaire Frank Ferrante returns for his critically acclaimed tribute to Groucho Marx in An Evening With Groucho. The sizzling examination of modern feminism Rapture, Blister, Burn takes flight in July, and August will see the return of Seattle favorites The Love Markets for their big upcoming CD release. Summer wraps up when new Associate Artistic Director John Langs directs Will Eno's Middletown, a whimsical and curious play that examines a constellation of ideas about life, death, and everything in the middle.

Washington Ensemble Theatre has announced its new partnership with ACT - A Contemporary Theatre. The two theatres will now work in tandem to bring the popular reading series The Construction Zone to Seattle audiences who love to witness and participate in the development of new plays.

The critically acclaimed New Century Theatre Company (NCTC) enters their fifth season by producing the world premiere of Kenneth Albers (Oregon Shakespeare Festival) recent adaptation of Franz Kafka's THE TRIAL. NCTC will take this story to new heights by presenting this powerful play inside Seattle's historic INS Building.

American Players Theatre (APT) announces its 2013 Season, which runs June 8 to October 20, 2013, and includes the first indoor Shakespeare production of the company's history: an intimate adaptation of Antony and Cleopatra by heralded off-Broadway actor and playwright James DeVita and director Kate Buckley, presented in the 200-seat Touchstone Theatre. DeVita, one of APT's Core Company members, recently completed a critically acclaimed run of his solo show In Acting Shakespeare at the Pearl Theater in New York.

American Players Theatre (APT) announces its 2013 Season, which runs June 8 to October 20, 2013, and includes the first indoor Shakespeare production of the company's history: an intimate adaptation of Antony and Cleopatra by heralded off-Broadway actor and playwright James DeVita and director Kate Buckley, presented in the 200-seat Touchstone Theatre. DeVita, one of APT's Core Company members, recently completed a critically acclaimed run of his solo show In Acting Shakespeare at the Pearl Theater in New York.

The critically acclaimed New Century Theatre Company (NCTC) enters their fifth season by producing the world premiere of Kenneth Albers (Oregon Shakespeare Festival) recent adaptation of Franz Kafka's THE TRIAL. NCTC will take this story to new heights by presenting this powerful play inside Seattle's historic INS Building.

ACT - A Contemporary Theatre single tickets go on sale to the public for all 2013 Mainstage shows February 12, 2013. ACT is offering 50 percent off of adult price tickets for all Mainstage preview shows throughout the season for one-day only February 12. ACT also shares a glimpse of the casting for the first half of the upcoming Mainstage season.

ACT has announced some of the casting for the first half of the upcoming Mainstage season. ACT's own Artistic Director Kurt Beattie gets back on the boards alongside Jeff Steitzer, Marianne Owen, Julie Briskman, and Laura Kenny in Assisted Living. In Other Desert Cities the critically acclaimed Marya Sea Kaminski makes her ACT debut going head to head with television actress Pamela Reed (Parks and Recreation, Kindergarten Cop) who is a UW Drama alumni and Washington resident. Many other notable local actors will be returning to ACT or making their debut including Jessica Skerritt, Matt Owen, Lori Larsen, Suzy Hunt, Aaron Blakely, and Kirsten Potter to name a few. See the current listing of committed artistic and production talent below.

Circle X Theatre Co. has announced that its critically-acclaimed, smash-hit, world premiere musical, BAD APPLES, written by Jim Leonard, music and lyrics by Rob Cairns and Beth Thornley, directed by John Langs, choreography by Cassandra Daurden, and musical direction by Rob Cairns and Beth Thornley will be adding eight performances and EXTENDING through Saturday, February 2 at Atwater Village Theatre, 3269 Casitas Ave. in Los Angeles, 90039.

New Century Theatre Company (NCTC) has announced that Darragh Kennan will assume the full position of Artistic Director for the company. He will continue to share leadership duties with Managing Director, Jamie Herlich. Former Co-Artistic Director, Hans Altwies, remains an active company member and now serves as Secretary on their Board of Directors. While he has stepped down as co-Artistic Director, a post which he has had since the company's inception in 2008, he is still very much a part of the company and will continue to be present in everything related to NCTC in the coming years.

Based on the actual atrocities committed circa 2004 onward at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq, Bad Apples is another bold undertaking by Circle X, one that is scathingly real and at the same time exhilarating theatre. Two soldiers Specialist Charles Graner - named Chuck Shepard (James Black) in the play and his fiance Lynndie England - here named Pvt. Lyndsay Skinner (Kate Morgan Chadwick) were convicted in courts martial, imprisoned and dishonorably discharged for torture, abuse, and sexual crimes including rape of Iraqi prisoners.

It is with both heavy hearts and deep gratitude that the staff, board, and community of artists of Symphony Space honor the memory of Founding Artistic Director Isaiah Sheffer, who died on Thursday evening of last week from complications after a stroke. He was 76 years old.

ACT - A Contemporary Theatre presents its 37th annual production of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, adapted by Gregory A. Falls. This year, A Christmas Carol is directed by John Langs, who was recently named ACT's new Associate Artistic Director. Stage veterans and Seattle favorites R. Hamilton Wright (Recent winner of The Gregory Falls Award, for lifetime achievement; returns for his 4th run as Scrooge) and Jeff Steitzer (has performed Scrooge thrice at ACT; Broadway credits: Inherit The Wind; Mary Poppins; also, Voice of God Multiplayer Announcer for all HALO video games) alternating in the role Ebenezer Scrooge. In 2012, Charles Dickens is celebrated for his 200th year.

A Shakespearean tale of one of the most famous couples in all of history performed by some of the best actors in town and directed by one of Seattle's best directors. You'd think it'd be a slam dunk success wouldn't you? Well, you'd be right. And even with a few moments that missed the mark for me and a show that could still use a little tightening, this almost three and a half hour production of "Antony and Cleopatra" from Seattle Shakespeare Company grabbed my attention and wouldn't let go.

ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA by William Shakespeare is directed by John Langs at the Intiman Playhouse, 201 Mercer Street, Seattle, Wash. The show opened last night, Friday, November 2, 2012 and will close on Sunday, November 18, 2012. Get a first look at the production in the photos below!