John Rando News

The Drama League (Executive Artistic Director Gabriel Stelian-Shanks) has announced full casting for DirectorFest 2016: The 33rd Annual Directors Festival, an evening of four short plays staged by The Drama League Directors Project Fall Directing Fellows Candis C. Jones, James Dean Palmer, Jesca Prudencio, and Shaun Patrick Tubbs.

Barrington Stage Company (BSC), the award-winning theatre in Downtown Pittsfield, MA, under the leadership of Artistic Director Julianne Boyd and Managing Director Tristan Wilson, swept the First Annual Berkshire Theatre Awards last night, winning 20 out of possible 25 awards. Winners of the awards-nicknamed "The Berkies"-were first announced on Monday, October 17, 2016, and awards were presented Sunday, November 13 at a ceremony held at Mr. Finn's Cabaret (36 Linden St) in Pittsfield, MA.

It was appropriate that two-time Tony Award winner William Finn was present at The First Annual Berkshire Theatre Award ceremony held in Pittsfield MA. on  Sunday November 13th. Mr. Finn won a Tony for The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee which was home grown up in The Berkshires at Barrington Stage Company. Although he didn't have any work in contention for the prestigious award, Finn did accept a few 'Berkies' for some artists who could not receive their awards in person.

Mile Square Theatre, Hudson County's leading professional theatre, presents a very special fundraising event, The 2nd Annual MST Broadway Cabaret. Current stars from Broadway will perform songs from Broadway past and present on the Mile Square Theatre stage. Proceeds from the event will benefit MST's 2017 season.

The Drama League has announced Tony Award and Oscar winner F. Murray Abraham (Amadeus), Emmy Award winner Hank Azaria ('The Simpsons'), Tony Award winner Christopher Durang (Vanya and Sonya and Masha and Spike), Tony Award winning Broadway Producer Daryl Roth (Kinky Boots), Tony Award nominees Kate Baldwin (Hello, Dolly!), Drama Desk nominee John Bolton (Curtains), along with Lea DeLaria ('Orange is the New Black') and Peri Gilpin ('Frazier'), have joined the roster of special guest performers for The 33rd Annual Drama League Centennial Musical Celebration of Broadway honoring Tony and Emmy Award winner David Hyde Pierce to be held on Monday evening, November 7, 2016 at The Plaza (768 Fifth Avenue) in New York City.

Just last night, the Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation (SDC Foundation) celebrated the 27th Annual Joe A. Callaway Award winners for Direction and Choreography at the Laurie Beechman Theatre. The evening was hosted by former Callaway Award-winning Jack O'Brien and Callaway Award finalist Joshua Bergasse.

The Drama League's 2016 Gala Charity Auction has launched at www.biddingforgood.com/thedramaleague, featuring over fifty once-in-a-lifetime prize packages.

Dopo il grande successo di pubblico e di critica ottenuto nel tour italiano del 2013 e le date internazionali ad Edimburgo e Parigi, l'opera pop "Siddhartha The Musical" riprende il suo tour mondiale e dal 4 al 13 novembre arriva in Messico, a Guadalajara (TEATRO MONCAYO - PALCCO).

The winners of the First Annual Berkshire Theatre Awards have been announced. Seventeen arts journalists voted on 120 nominees in 25 categories chosen from artists in the 75 live theatre productions mounted in Berkshire County and adjacent areas between October 1, 2015 and September 30, 2016.

In the last twelve months, more than 300,000 people attended a live theatre production in or around Berkshire County. With 75 stage productions employing hundreds of professionals, making theatre is an important cog in the area's cultural economy. In fact, many consider the region a hot spot for Broadway bound shows, and a popular summer destination for theatre-goers from around the nation.

On October 24, the Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation (SDC Foundation) will celebrate the 27th Annual Joe A. Callaway Award winners for Direction and Choreography at the Laurie Beechman Theatre. The evening will be hosted by former Callaway Award-winning Jack O'Brien and Callaway Award finalist Joshua Bergasse.

KIDS WHO CARE is proud to announce a one-night only performance of alumni Jay Armstrong Johnson's personal, eclectic solo concert on Friday, October 21, 2016 at 7:30 PM. Last seen in New York at Feinstein's/54 Below, this intimate event will arrive at the home of Kids Who Care in the W.E. Scott Theatre (1300 Gendy, Fort Worth, TX 76107). Known for his thrilling vocal prowess, Jay has wowed Broadway audiences in On The Town, Hands on a Hardbody, Hair, and Catch Me If You Can. Johnson starred opposite Emma Thompson in the New York Philharmonic's Sweeney Todd and his performance in Encores' The Most Happy Fella was hailed by The New York Times as "a standout." Television audiences know him as Dr. Will Olsen from last season in the hit ABC drama Quantico.

Direct from London and an international tour, Complicite's acclaimed production of The Encounter, conceived, directed and performed by Simon McBurney, opened just last night at Broadway's John Golden Theatre (252 West 45th Street). The production began performances on September 20 and will play a limited engagement through January 8, 2017.

The Drama League has announced the roster of special guest performers for the 33rd Annual Musical Celebration of Broadway honoring Tony and Emmy Award winner David Hyde Pierce to be held on Monday evening, November 7, 2016 at The Plaza (768 Fifth Avenue) in New York City.

Following the success of last season's new DEMO series, Damian Woetzel continues to unite artists from across fields around a common theme in a performance on October 10, 2016 at 8:00 p.m. in the Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater. This installment of the multi-genre series brings together acclaimed artists for a special one-night performance to celebrate their heroes and artistic inspirations. The cast of Heroes features soprano Jacqueline Bolier, singer/songwriter Kate Davis, Broadway and New York City Ballet star Robert Fairchild, tap dance powerhouse Jared Grimes, acclaimed ballerina Carla Korbes, visual art curator, author, and historian Sarah Lewis, Memphis jookin' dance pioneer Lil Buck (last seen as part of DEMO: Place), the MusiCorps Wounded Warrior Band, and jazz prodigy Matthew Whitaker.

The Cat in the Hat accompanying himself on the piano? Yes, and the accordion, harmonica, melodica and ukulele as well. That's what families will see when the Bay Area Children's Theatre (BACT) presents Seussical, TYA, a streamlined, kid-friendly version of the exuberant Broadway musical that brings to life everyone's favorite Dr. Seuss characters, including Horton the Elephant, Gertrude Mc Fuzz, Mayzie LaBird and other inhabitants of the captivating worlds imagined by the late, great American writer and illustrator Theodor Seuss Geisel. 

The Drama League announced today that Tony and Emmy Award winner David Hyde Pierce will be the honoree of the 33rd Annual Musical Celebration of Broadway, to be held on Monday evening, November 7, 2016 at The Plaza (768 Fifth Avenue) in New York City.

Steven Baruch, Marc Routh, Richard Frankel and Tom Viertel confirmed today that there will be invited presentations of selections from the musical this September, in anticipation of a Broadway production to be announced.

The Pirates of Penzance is possibly the most popular comic operetta and its history of adoration has been consistent since its premier in 1879. Revivals of The Pirates of Penzance were ubiquitous throughout the 20th Century with Joseph Papp's production in 1980 becoming the most lauded. This version featured new musical arrangements which pulled the operetta closer to musical theatre, making it accessible for contemporary audiences all while remaining respectful to the original version. Other adaptators have tried their hands only to fall short. Pirates (or, Gilbert and Sullivan Plunder'd) was a failed experiment that set the story in the caribbean and transformed the Pirate King into a pseudo-Captain Jack Sparrow.

Atlantic Theater Company just announced casting for the world premiere musical The Band's Visit, directed by Lortel and Obie Award winner David Cromer and featuring a book by Drama Desk Award nominee Itamar Moses, an original score by three-time Tony Award nominee David Yazbekand choreography by Lee Sher.