John Steinbeck News

California's dozens of scenic wine regions offer a wide variety of experiences and wines to enjoy. To help visitors explore them all, Wine Institute's California Wines Road Trip series highlights a different region each month. For November, take a trip to Monterey County, a region famous for scenic beauty, world-famous golf, and its unique geological featurethe undersea "Blue Grand Canyon"which has a profound influence on the region's climate and wines.

Bay Street Theater & Sag Harbor Center for the Arts have announced the eighth year of the Literature Live! program. This year's Literature Live! presents THE SCARLET LETTER adapted for the stage by Scott Eck and Joe Minutillo from the American classic novel by Nathaniel Hawthorne.

The Gift Theatre, Chicago's most intimate and pioneering Equity ensemble theatre, presents the world premiere of Melissa Ross' haunting and heartfelt mystery A Life Extra Ordinary. Ensemble member John Gawlik directs a cast featuring ensemble members Cyd Blakewell (Annabel), John Kelly Connolly (Bill), Paul D'Addario(Tom), Darci Nalepa (Polly), Lynda Newton (Grace), Jay Worthington (Jeff), and making his Gift Theatre debut, Rudy Galvan (Sam). A Life Extra Ordinary opens Today, October 6 at The Gift Theatre, 4802 N. Milwaukee Avenue. Press performance is onMonday, October 3 at 7:30PM.

Rehearsals are underway for the Steppenwolf-commissioned world premiere production of Erika Sheffer's The Fundamentals, directed by ensemble member Yasen Peyankov, who also directed Sheffer's Russian Transport at Steppenwolf in 2014.

PARK CITY, Utah, Sept. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ Pulitzer Publishing International announces its upcoming book: Pulitzer, Me, and Wells Fargo, by Bo Bernhardt. It's a true first account expose of the ordinary man who was destroyed at the hands of our nation's banks during the Great Recession of 2008 and of the ongoing corruption inside the walls of Wells Fargo, the world's largest bank. This book will prove Wells Fargo's current woes are merely the tip of the iceberg and whose actions, current and past, are orchestrated.

The Gift Theatre's Artistic Director Michael Patrick Thornton is proud to announce that 4802-the new play research and development wing of The Gift named after its storefront address located on N Milwaukee Ave in Jefferson Park-is now accepting applicants. In 4802, Chicago-based artists and artistic teams will be given residencies in the Gift Theatre's 40-seat storefront, providing dedicated tailor-made time, space, and support for their work. 

The Gift Theatre, Chicago's most intimate and pioneering Equity ensemble theatre, presents the world premiere of Melissa Ross' haunting and heartfelt mystery A Life Extra Ordinary. Ensemble member John Gawlik directs a cast featuring ensemble members Cyd Blakewell (Annabel), John Kelly Connolly (Bill), Paul D'Addario(Tom), Darci Nalepa (Polly), Lynda Newton (Grace), Jay Worthington (Jeff), and making his Gift Theatre debut, Rudy Galvan (Sam). A Life Extra Ordinary opens Thursday, October 6 at The Gift Theatre, 4802 N. Milwaukee Avenue. Press performance is onMonday, October 3 at 7:30PM.

THE KITE RUNNER, Khaled Hosseini's international bestselling novel and film, is a powerful story of friendship spanning cultures and continents, following one man's journey to find redemption.

The Toronto International Film Festival® adds 2 Galas and 14 Special Presentations to its highly anticipated Galas and Special Presentations lineups.

War Paint has become the most successful musical in Goodman Theatre's history, extended (for a second and final time) through August 21.

The Gift Theatre, Chicago's most intimate and pioneering Equity ensemble theatre, presents the world premiere of Melissa Ross' haunting and heartfelt mystery A Life Extra Ordinary. Ensemble memberJohn Gawlik directs a cast featuring ensemble members Cyd Blakewell (Annabel), John Kelly Connolly (Bill), Paul D'Addario (Tom), Darci Nalepa (Polly), Lynda Newton (Grace), Jay Worthington (Jeff), and making his Gift Theatre debut, Rudy Galvan (Sam). A Life Extra Ordinary opens Thursday, October 6 at The Gift Theatre, 4802 N. Milwaukee Avenue. Press performance is on Monday, October 3 at 7:30pm.

Vintage Theatre presents 'Frankie and Johnny in Claire de Lune' July 29- September 4, Vintage Theatre, 1468 Dayton St., Aurora 80010. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.; Sundays at 2:30 p.m.; Monday, August 15 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $24 - $30 and available online at www.vintagetheatre.org or by calling 303-856-7830. Group discounts for 6+ are available. * For mature audiences. Contains nudity and sexual situations.

Never having seen this on stage but having read the novella some time ago, at the time acknowledging it as one of the most memorable stories I have ever read, seeing Steinbeck's words and emotions transposed on stage by the Monomoy Theatre, bringing to the life this simultaneously sad and touchingly hopeful plot by such talented individuals, really made the impact of Of Mice and Men that much stronger. In my opinion, it enhances this plot to the extent of it being particularly memorable for some time to come for all who are fortunate enough to see this production.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company announced today the complete cast for Erika Sheffer's The Fundamentals, a smart and searing look at America's corporate culture through the story of a Manhattan hotel maid with higher aspirations. Directed by ensemble member Yasen Peyankov, the cast features ensemble members Alana Arenas (Millie), Caroline Neff (Stellan) and Alan Wilder (Abe) with Audrey Francis(Eliza) and Armando Riesco (Lorenzo). Peyankov and Sheffer last collaborated on Steppenwolf's 2014 Chicago premiere of Russian Transport, which also featured ensemble member Alan Wilder. Previews begin November 10, 2016 and the show runs through December 23, 2016 in Steppenwolf's Upstairs Theatre, 1650 N Halsted.Single tickets ($20 - $89) go on sale Friday, August 5 at 11am. 2016/17 season subscriptions and memberships are currently on sale through Audience Services at 312-335-1650 or steppenwolf.org.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company announced today the complete cast for Erika Sheffer's The Fundamentals, a smart and searing look at America's corporate culture through the story of a Manhattan hotel maid with higher aspirations.

Vintage Theatre presents 'Frankie and Johnny in Claire de Lune' July 29- September 4 at Vintage Theatre, 1468 Dayton St., Aurora 80010. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.; Sundays at 2:30 p.m.; Monday, August 15 at 7:30 p.m.

The Costa Mesa Playhouse presents the first production of its 52nd season, John Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men," running July 29 through August 21, 2016.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company presents the Chicago premiere of Stephen Adly Guirgis's 2015 Pulitzer Prize-winning drama, BETWEEN RIVERSIDE AND CRAZY, directed by ensemble member Yasen Peyankov, who also directed last season's critically acclaimed Grand Concourse. The rowdy dark comedy stars acclaimed London-born actor Eamonn Walker as ex-cop Pops and ensemble member James Vincent Meredith as his ex-con son Junior. Previews are currently underway for an opening night on July 10; the production runs through August 21, 2016 in Steppenwolf's Downstairs Theatre (1650 N Halsted St). BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Steppenwolf Theatre Company presents the Chicago premiere of BETWEEN RIVERSIDE AND CRAZY, a rowdy dark comedy written by 2015 Pulitzer Prize winner Stephen Adly Guirgis and directed by ensemble member Yasen Peyankov.

Michael Fleck's TIDE POOLS ~ a creative, contemplative, and lovely 'paean' to Steinbeck ~ is one of eight engaging short plays on themes comical and whimsical and all relevant in Theatre Artists Studio's ninth annual festival of innovations, New Summer Shorts.