Karen Grassle News

Shakespeare & Company has announced The Conservatory at Shakespeare & Company's winter production of King John, directed by longtime Company artist, and star of this summer's critically acclaimed production of Cassandra Speaks, Tod Randolph. Now in its sixth year, the Conservatory, a 13-week professional actor training program includes 10 - 16 promising actors from across the country and around the globe. This year's program features a group of 16 who will join forces in Shakespeare's rarely produced King John for three special performances in the Tina Packer Playhouse.

Shakespeare & Company has announced The Conservatory at Shakespeare & Company's winter production of King John, directed by longtime Company artist, and star of this summer's critically acclaimed production of Cassandra Speaks, Tod Randolph. Now in its sixth year, the Conservatory, a 13-week professional actor training program includes 10 - 16 promising actors from across the country and around the globe. This year's program features a group of 16 who will join forces in Shakespeare's rarely produced King John for three special performances in the Tina Packer Playhouse.

Shakespeare & Company Artistic Director Tony Simotes proudly announces the benefit performance of Broadway in the Berkshires Monday, August 15th at 6:00pm, Founders' Theatre, 70 Kemble Street , Lenox , MA . Proceeds will go to Shakespeare & Company's internationally-acclaimed Education and Training Programs. Producer and Company member, Deborah Grausman (actor and founder of Berkshire Musical Theater Workshop) has assembled an all-star cast and first-rate creative team for this spectacular, not to be missed, one-night event. Broadway's Chip Zien (Into the Woods-the original Baker, Les Miserables, The Country Girl, People in The Picture, Falsettos, Grand Hotel, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Boys from Syracuse, etc.) will host. Director Sam Scalamoni (Disney's Beauty and the Beast, Lestat) and Music Director Paul Staroba (A Little Night Music, Next to Normal, Grey Gardens) will head up the creative team.

Aurora Theatre Company continues its 18th season with Henrik Ibsen's rarely-produced masterwork JOHN GABRIEL BORKMAN, in a new version by David Eldridge. Aurora Theatre Company founding Artistic Director Barbara Oliver, who directed the company's hit production of Ibsen's The Master Builder, returns to helm this fiercely relevant drama, featuring Bay Area stage veteran James Carpenter (The Master Builder) in the title role, and stage and television actress Karen Grassle (Little House on the Prairie) in her Aurora debut.

Berkeley's acclaimed Aurora Theatre Company presents the third Aurora Script Club meeting of the season with Arthur Miller's All My Sons. Aurora Theatre Company Education Director Michael Mansfield hosts this moderated discussion series. The focus for this evening will be the idea of individualism, examining Aurora Theatre Company's production of Henrik Ibsen's family drama John Gabriel Borkman (1896) and its aristocratic version of the 'Industrial Dream' in light of Miller's family drama about the middle-class and the 'American Dream,' penned 50 years later.

Aurora Theatre Company will host its third Aurora Script Club meeting of the season - Arthur Miller's All My Sons on Monday, April 19, 7:30pm.

Over the past few seasons, Alice Raver has gained a reputation as one of the 'go-to actresses' for Actors Bridge Ensemble, appearing in some of the company's most compelling new works, including this season's production of Judevine and my personal favorite, Sarah Ruhl's Dead Man's Cell Phone, in which she played the tart-tongued Hermia. It was clearly a case of going against type: You would be hard-pressed to meet anyone, onstage or off, who's nicer than Alice Raver. Perhaps that's why her performance in Dead Man's Cell Phone was so exhilaratingly fun - both for audiences and Raver, herself: 'I loved playing Hermia in Dead Man Cell Phone because the ensemble was so wonderful and the play was both funny and thought-provoking.'

Aurora Theatre Company continues its 18th season with Henrik Ibsen's rarely-produced masterwork JOHN GABRIEL BORKMAN, in a new version by David Eldridge. Aurora Theatre Company founding Artistic Director Barbara Oliver, who directed the company's hit production of Ibsen's The Master Builder, returns to helm this fiercely relevant drama, featuring Bay Area stage veteran James Carpenter (The Master Builder) in the title role, and stage and television actress Karen Grassle (Little House on the Prairie) in her Aurora debut.

Aurora Theatre Company has rescheduled its third Aurora Script Club meeting of the season - Arthur Miller's All My Sons, Monday, April 19, 7:30pm instead of the previously announced April 26.

Berkeley's acclaimed Aurora Theatre Company presents the third Aurora Script Club meeting of the season with Arthur Miller's All My Sons. Aurora Theatre Company Education Director Michael Mansfield hosts this moderated discussion series. The focus for this evening will be the idea of individualism, examining Aurora Theatre Company's production of Henrik Ibsen's family drama John Gabriel Borkman (1896) and its aristocratic version of the 'Industrial Dream' in light of Miller's family drama about the middle-class and the 'American Dream,' penned 50 years later.

If you have fond memories of the Laura Ingalls Wilder Little House books or the popular 1970's TV series, steer clear of the Canon Theatre because your expectations sure to be foiled. The same applies if you are a musical theatre fan out to see this new musical adapted from the novels. Despite a few fine performances the show as a whole just does not work. * 1/2 (OUT OF 5)

Aurora Theatre Company continues its 18th season with Henrik Ibsen's rarely-produced masterwork JOHN GABRIEL BORKMAN, in a new version by David Eldridge. Aurora Theatre Company founding Artistic Director Barbara Oliver, who directed the company's hit production of Ibsen's The Master Builder, returns to helm this fiercely relevant drama, featuring Bay Area stage veteran James Carpenter (The Master Builder) in the title role, and stage and television actress Karen Grassle (Little House on the Prairie) in her Aurora debut.

Representing the print and electronic media, 23 members of the San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle announce the winners of 37 Drama awards and 37 Musical awards from 257 nominated actors, designers, productions, and more reviewed in 2008. Over 400 productions were seen in 2008 by Circle critics reviewing theatre from San Jose to Santa Rosa, San Francisco to Concord.

Here are the Nominations for Outstanding Awards from the San Francisco Bay Theatre Area Critics Circle. Winners will from each catagory will be announced in approximately two weeks. A Gala Cocktail party will be held for the winners in each catagory at A.C.T. Columbia Room on May 4th. AEA Members are noted in * For 'Entire Production' and 'Best Ensemble' AEA Theatres are * THEATRES OVER 300 DRAMA

Arthur Miller's The Ride Down Mount Morgan is currently playing at the San Francisco Playhouse through November 4.