L. Peter Callender News

The African American Shakespeare Company will present August Wilson's Jitney for the first time ever. Directed by AASC Artistic Director L Peter Callender, it reflects his long-simmering and personal vision of the play. As to why a company dedicated to Shakespeare would perform a play by a two-time Pulitzer winning contemporary playwright, African-American Shakespeare Company Artistic Director L. Peter Callender-who directed an award-winning version in 2016 at The American Stage Theater in Florida says-'I think of August Wilson as the Shakespeare of our time. I love Wilson's honesty, the 'anthropological aspect' of listening to real people and capturing the rhythms of their speech.'

Aurora Theatre Company presents the West Coast Premiere of Keith Josef Adkins'SAFE HOUSE. African-American Shakespeare Company Artistic Director L. Peter Callender, who appeared in the Aurora Theatre Company productions of "Master Harold…and the boys," Breakfast With Mugabe, The Soldier's Tale, and Permanent Collection, makes his Aurora directing debut with SAFE HOUSE, featuring Lance Gardner, David Everett Moore, Dawn L. Troupe, Cassidy Brown, Jamella Lagara Cross, and Dezi Soley. SAFE HOUSE plays November 4 through December 4at the Aurora Theatre in Berkeley. For tickets and information the public can call (510) 843-4822 or visit auroratheatre.org.

Critics and audiences agree: 'MASTER HAROLD'... and the boys are magnificent. Aurora Theatre Company announces that it will add an additional 4 performances of Athol Fugard's (Blood Knot, My Children! My Africa!) modern classic 'MASTER HAROLD'... and the boys to the previously announced 7 performance extension. Former San Jose Repertory Theatre Artistic Director Timothy Near helms 'MASTER HAROLD'... and the boys, featuring L. Peter Callender (Breakfast With Mugabe, The Soldier's Tale and Permanent Collection), Adrian Roberts (Breakfast With Mugabe), and Andrew Humann (Shotgun Players, San Francisco Playhouse, Berkeley Playhouse). 'MASTER HAROLD'... and the boys now plays through July 31st (added performances: Thursday, July 28, 8pm; Friday, July 29, 8pm; Saturday, July 30, 8pm; Sunday, July 31, 2pm) at the Aurora Theatre Company in Berkeley. For tickets and information the public can call (510) 843-4822 or visit auroratheatre.org.

San Jose Stage Company Artistic Director Randall King today announced the company's 34th season. Audiences will be transported around the world to Africa, Ireland, the Middle East and back to America in an emotionally-charged, outrageously funny and enlightening exploration of race, identity, politics and cultural understanding. 

Aurora Theatre Company closes its 24th season with Athol Fugard's (Blood Knot, My Children! My Africa!) modern classic 'MASTER HAROLD'... and the boys. Former San Jose Repertory Theatre Artistic Director Timothy Near makes her Aurora directing debut with 'MASTER HAROLD'... and the boys, featuring L. Peter Callender (Breakfast With Mugabe,The Soldier's Tale and Permanent Collection), Adrian Roberts (Breakfast With Mugabe), and Andrew Humann (Shotgun Players, San Francisco Playhouse, Berkeley Playhouse). 'MASTER HAROLD'... and the boys plays June 17 through July 17 at the Aurora Theatre in Berkeley. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the cast in costume below!

TheatreWorks Silicon Valley continues its 2015/2016 season with David Auburn's brilliant contemporary drama Proof, winner of the Tony Award for Best Play and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. This riveting masterpiece tells the still timely tale of a young woman caught in a quest for legitimacy in the male dominated world of high-level science. It is a mystery of family instability and fledgling romance, an exhilarating, funny, and fulfilling tribute to the humanity that permeates our world of equations, equivocations, and codes. Proof will be directed by TheatreWorks Associate Artistic Director Leslie Martinson and features a talented cast including L. Peter Callender, Michelle Beck, Ashley Bryant, and Lance Gardner.

TheatreWorks Silicon Valley continues its 2015/2016 season with David Auburn's brilliant contemporary drama Proof, winner of the Tony Award for Best Play and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. This riveting masterpiece tells the still timely tale of a young woman caught in a quest for legitimacy in the male dominated world of high-level science. It is a mystery of family instability and fledgling romance, an exhilarating, funny, and fulfilling tribute to the humanity that permeates our world of equations, equivocations, and codes. Proof will be directed by TheatreWorks Associate Artistic Director Leslie Martinson and features a talented cast including L. Peter Callender, Michelle Beck, Ashley Bryant, and Lance Gardner. Performances will be presented October 7 - November 1 (press opening October 10) at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro Street (at Mercy), Mountain View. For tickets ($19-$80) and information the public may visit www.TheatreWorks.org or call (650) 463-1960.

Due to popular demand, Aurora Theatre Company announces that it will add a second extension week of performances of the West Coast Premiere of Fraser Grace's provocative BREAKFAST WITH MUGABE. Jon Tracy, who directed Aurora's productions of Gidion's Knot and The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity, helms BREAKFAST WITH MUGABE, featuring L. Peter Callender (The Soldier's Tale, Permanent Collection), Dan Hiatt (Wittenberg, The Arsonists), Leontyne Mbele-Mbong (African-American Shakespeare Company, Lamplighters), and Adrian Roberts (TheatreWorks, California Shakespeare Theater). BREAKFAST WITH MUGABE plays now through December 20 (added performances: Tuesday, December 16, 7pm; Wednesday, December 17, 8pm; Thursday, December 18, 8pm; Friday, December 19, 8pm; Saturday, December 20, 8pm) at the Aurora Theatre in Berkeley. For tickets ($32-50) and more information the public can call (510) 843-4822 or visit auroratheatre.org.

Critics and audiences agree -a second helping of BREAKFAST WITH MUGABE is in order. Aurora Theatre Company announces that it will add an additional 7 performances of the West Coast Premiere of Fraser Grace's provocative new play.

San Francisco's African-American Shakespeare Company has announced the lineup for its 19th season. The season marks African-American Shakespeare Company's fourth season under the artistic leadership of acclaimed Bay Area actor and director L. Peter Callender.

Marin Theatre Company, in a co-production with Virginia Stage Company, stages the regional premiere of Matthew Lopez's Civil War drama The Whipping Man in Mill Valley from March 28 to April 21, 2013. MTC's artistic director Jasson Minadakis directs the production. Featuring popular Bay Area actors L. Peter Callender, Nicholas Pelczar and Tobie Windham, as well as the design team from MTC's 2011 San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Award nominated production of Tennessee Williams's The Glass Menagerie, this co-production rehearsed and ran at VSC in Norfolk, Virginia, from February 26 to March 17, 2013, before tonight's move to MTC. Opening night at MTC is tonight, April 2.

Marin Theatre Company, in a co-production with Virginia Stage Company, will stage the regional premiere of Matthew Lopez's Civil War drama The Whipping Man in Mill Valley from March 28 to April 21, 2013. MTC's artistic director Jasson Minadakis directs the production. Featuring popular Bay Area actors L. Peter Callender, Nicholas Pelczar and Tobie Windham, as well as the design team from MTC's 2011 San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Award nominated production of Tennessee Williams's The Glass Menagerie, this co-production will rehearse and run at VSC in Norfolk, Virginia, from February 26 to March 17, 2013, before moving to MTC. Opening night at MTC is on Tuesday, April 2.

San Francisco's African-American Shakespeare Company continues its 2012-13 season with Tennessee Williams's Pulitzer Prize-winning play CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF. African-American Shakespeare Company Artistic Director L. Peter Callender (A Raisin in the Sun, Twelfth Night) helms this scintillating interpretation of Williams's timeless play. Called 'an indestructible American classic' by Variety, CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF plays tonight, January 26 through February 17 (press opening: tonight, January 26) at the Buriel Clay Theater at the African American Art and Culture Complex in San Francisco.

The Whipping Man by Matthew Lopez will make its Bay Area premiere with the Marin Theatre Company in a production co-produced by Virgina Stage Company, in association with Lorraine Hansberry Theatre. Directed by Jasson Minadakis, the show will feature L. Peter Callender,* Nicholas Pelczar* and Tobie Windham* and will run March 28 - April 21.

San Francisco's African-American Shakespeare Company continues its 2012-13 season with Tennessee Williams's Pulitzer Prize-winning play CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF. African-American Shakespeare Company Artistic Director L. Peter Callender (A Raisin in the Sun, Twelfth Night) helms this scintillating interpretation of Williams's timeless play. Called 'an indestructible American classic' by Variety, CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF plays January 26 through February 17 (press opening: January 26) at the Buriel Clay Theater at the African American Art and Culture Complex in San Francisco.

San Francisco's African-American Shakespeare Company has announced the lineup for its 18th season. The season marks African-American Shakespeare Company's third season under the artistic leadership of acclaimed actor and director L. Peter Callender. The season opens in December with an enchanting holiday production of CINDERELLA; this new take on the timeless fairytale has become a seasonal favorite for families and children of all ages. The season continues in March with William Shakespeare's quintessential comedy MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR. Closing the season in April is Tennessee Williams's Pulitzer Prize-winning CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF. Productions will be staged at the Buriel Clay Theater at the African American Art & Culture Complex in San Francisco. Subscriptions for the 2012-13 season go on sale May 12.

San Francisco's African-American Shakespeare Company has announced the lineup for its 18th season. The season marks African-American Shakespeare Company's third season under the artistic leadership of acclaimed actor and director L. Peter Callender. The season opens in December with an enchanting holiday production of CINDERELLA; this new take on the timeless fairytale has become a seasonal favorite for families and children of all ages. The season continues in March with William Shakespeare's quintessential comedy MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR. Closing the season in April is Tennessee Williams's Pulitzer Prize-winning CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF. Productions will be staged at the Buriel Clay Theater at the African American Art & Culture Complex in San Francisco. Subscriptions for the 2012-13 season go on sale May 12.