John Pielmeier News

Encore Theatre is celebrating their 20th anniversary with a season of "Classic Works from the Past Seasons." Proving that they are well capable of tackling complex pieces, they are sailing into 2014 with John Pielmeier's AGNES OF GOD. The play, which opened on Broadway in 1982 and eventually inspired the 1985 film, provides a stark examination of faith, innocence, compassion, and humanity. Encore Theatre beautifully captures the spirit of this production, giving audiences a gripping and emotional theatre going experience.

On Her Shoulders will present a staged reading of The Years Between by Daphne Du Maurier, directed by Mary McGinley and edited by Susan Jonas. The Play in Context, a special component contextualizing the script in its historical time and place, will be delivered by Dr. Jonas at the top of the evening. Doors open at 6:30pm for a 6:45pm curtain; tickets are free to the public. The performance is at the New School, Wollman Hall, 65 West 11th Street. R.S.V.P to OnHerShouldersReservations@gmail.com

Each year, the New York Landmarks Conservancy recognizes distinguished New Yorkers who have made extraordinary contributions to the City and honors them as Living Landmarks at a gala in the fall. This year The New York Landmarks Conservancy will honor Ann L. Buttenwieser, Joel Grey, Robert I. Grossman, MD, William vanden Heuvel (Lew Rudin Award), Mary Wells Lawrence, and Brooke Shields on November 14, at the Plaza. The special celebration will be hosted by Living Landmark Liz Smith.

There's no place like home and there's no place like the Fine Arts Center for the 2013-2014 theatre season, featuring the iconic musical, The Wizard of Oz.

Arizona Theatre Company announced today that David Ira Goldstein, ATC's Artistic Director since 1992, will be leaving the Company in December of 2013. In his 21 seasons as artistic director, Goldstein led the Company to unprecedented levels of attendance, critical acclaim, community support, educational outreach and national prominence. During his tenure, he produced over 200 plays, workshops, readings and presentations in Phoenix and Tucson, while personally directing more than 40 mainstage productions ranging from classics to new plays to musicals.

Surflight Theatre, under the leadership of Executive Director Ken Myers presents Fred Grandy (TV's The Love Boat) and Christian Pedersen in Anthony Shaffer's Tony Award-winning thriller Sleuth, as part of the theater's 64th Season from May 8 through 18.

Brooke Shields has been announced as the director of the Hollywood Bowl's upcoming production of CHICAGO, which holds the record as the third longest running show in Broadway history. Rob Fisher has also been announced as the conductor of the production. Shields starred in CHICAGO both on Broadway and in London's West End and this marks her directing debut. Fisher's association with the show began with the 1996 Broadway revival and he continues to be supervising music director of CHICAGO productions around the globe.

There's no place like home and there's no place like the Fine Arts Center for the 2013-2014 theatre season, featuring the iconic musical, The Wizard of Oz.

Celebration Arts presents Agnes of God, a drama by John Pielmeier, at 4469 D Street, Sacramento, Calif. The production opens tonight, March 28, 2013, playing shows Today, Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. through April 28, 2013.

Celebration Arts presents Agnes of God, a drama by John Pielmeier, at 4469 D Street, Sacramento, Calif. The production opens March 28, 2013, playing shows Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. through April 28, 2013.

Welcome to middle age... proceed with caution! Diane Cary, Jane Kaczmarek and Sharon Sharth star as three successful women who challenge themselves to find love and personal fulfillment in the middle years of life. Steven Robman directs the ensemble cast, which also includes Gregory Harrison, James Lancaster and Joel Polis, in the world premiere of The Snake Can by Kathryn Graf (Hermetically Sealed). Performances run tonight, January 19 through February 24, presented by Indie Chi Productions at the Odyssey Theatre in West Los Angeles.

Welcome to middle age... proceed with caution! Diane Cary, Jane Kaczmarek and Sharon Sharth star as three successful women who challenge themselves to find love and personal fulfillment in the middle years of life. Steven Robman directs the ensemble cast, which also includes Gregory Harrison, James Lancaster and Joel Polis, in the world premiere of The Snake Can by Kathryn Graf (Hermetically Sealed). Performances run January 19 through February 24, presented by Indie Chi Productions at the Odyssey Theatre in West Los Angeles.

American Theater Company presents two American classics never-before-paired on a single night in The Catholic Repertory: Doubt and Agnes of God, directed by ATC Artistic Director PJ Paparelli and featuring Ensemble Member Sadieh Rifai, Lance Baker, Penelope Walker and Kate Skinner. The productions open tonight, October 5 and run through November 4, 2012. Get a first look at both productions in the photos below!

American Theater Company presents two American classics never-before-paired on a single night- The Catholic Repertory: Doubt & Agnes of God - directed by ATC Artistic Director PJ Paparelli and featuring Ensemble Member Sadieh Rifai, Lance Baker, Penelope Walker and Kate Skinner. The productions, which will be performed together nightly Thursday through Sunday, will run starting September 27 and must close November 4, 2012 at American Theater Company, 1909 W. Byron St. Press Opening is tonight, October 5, 2012 at 7:30PM: Doubt begins at 7:30PM and Agnes of God begins at 9:15PM.

American Theater Company announces two American classics never-before-paired on a single night- The Catholic Repertory: Doubt & Agnes of God - directed by ATC Artistic Director PJ Paparelli and featuring Ensemble Member Sadieh Rifai, Lance Baker, Penelope Walker and Kate Skinner. The productions, which will be performed together nightly Thursday through Sunday, will run starting September 27 and must close November 4, 2012 at American Theater Company, 1909 W. Byron St. Press Opening is Friday, October 5, 2012 at 7:30PM: Doubt begins at 7:30PM and Agnes of God begins at 9:15PM.

American Theater Company announces two American classics never-before-paired on a single night-The Catholic Repertory: Doubt & Agnes of God-directed by ATC Artistic Director PJ Paparelli and featuring Ensemble Member Sadieh Rifai, Lance Baker, Penelope Walker and Kate Skinner.

American Theater Company announces two American classics never-before-paired on a single night- The Catholic Repertory: Doubt & Agnes of God - directed by ATC Artistic Director PJ Paparelli and featuring Ensemble Member Sadieh Rifai, Lance Baker, Penelope Walker and Kate Skinner. The productions, which will be performed together nightly Thursday through Sunday, will run starting September 27 and must close November 4, 2012 at American Theater Company, 1909 W. Byron St. Press Opening is Friday, October 5, 2012 at 7:30PM: Doubt begins at 7:30PM and Agnes of God begins at 9:15PM.

American Theater Company announces two American classics never-before-paired on a single night-The Catholic Repertory: Doubt & Agnes of God-directed by ATC Artistic Director PJ Paparelli and featuring Ensemble Member Sadieh Rifai, Lance Baker, Penelope Walker and Kate Skinner.

It's quite a shame when a well-written, absorbing play has three strikes against it from the onset. Such is the case with The Exorcist by John Pielmeier. The best-selling novel by William Peter Blatty and the 1973 boxoffice blockbuster film of the same name were so powerfully gripping and unforgettable that, with the play coming along 40 years later, for those of us that lived through the nightmare to end all nightmares, we've been there, seen that. For those of a newer, unfamiliar generation, it won't have enough special effects. Wisely, for my generation, the spinning head and green vomit in the original film are not recreated onstage. But, as a result, many may tune out or turn off preferring a midnight screening of the film on Netflix. As I already said, a shame, as Pielmeieir's script is psychologically thrilling on its own, so apt for the mature, questioning adult mind, and the production is extremely well directed by John Doyle and superbly acted by a first-rate ensemble headed by Brooke Shields in her best and most remarkable performance to date. But is all of this enough? Probably not.

The Geffen Playhouse's world premiere stage adaptation of The Exorcist features Brooke Shields and Richard Chamberlain in the iconic roles of Chris MacNeil and Father Merrin, respectively, as well as Broadway actor David Wilson Barnes as the troubled young priest Father Damien Karras, Tony Award nominee Harry Groener takes on the role of Chris' charismatic director Burke Dennings and UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television graduate Emily Yetter plays the young Regan MacNeil.