Laurence Olivier News

Bijan Sheibani will direct Federico Garcia Lorca's The House of Bernarda Alba running at the Almeida Theatre from 19 January - 10 March 2012, with press night on 26 January at 7pm.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) announced today casting for its 25th Anniversary Season production of The Feast: an intimate Tempest, an original CST commission and artistic collaboration with Redmoon.

The Shakespeare Theatre Company welcomes former STC Associate Director PJ Paparelli who will direct and put a new twist on Shakespeare's earliest romantic comedy, The Two Gentlemen of Verona.

The Shakespeare Theatre Company welcomes former STC Associate Director PJ Paparelli who will direct and put a new twist on Shakespeare's earliest romantic comedy, The Two Gentlemen of Verona.

The Open Fist Theatre Company has announced the next production in their 2012 season, MOON OVER BUFFALO, written by Ken Ludwig and directed by Bjørn Johnson, featuring fight choreography by B.H. Barry.

Broadway's landmark musical event THE LION KING is pleased to welcome PATRICK R. BROWN as Scar, beginning performances Monday, January 16. Making his Broadway debut, Brown previously played the role of Scar in the Singapore production of THE LION KING. Produced by Disney Theatrical Productions, THE LION KING is playing at Broadway's Minskoff Theatre (200 West 45th Street). For tickets, show information and performance schedule, call Ticketmaster's Disney on Broadway hotline at 866-870-2717 or visit online, LionKing.com.

Michael Attenborough will direct Eduardo de Filippo's Filumena in a new English version by Tanya Ronder running at the Almeida from 15 March - 12 May 2012, with press night on 22 March at 7pm. Designs are by Robert Jones, with lighting by Tim Mitchell and sound by John Leonard. Filumena is sponsored by Pinsent Masons.

The Open Fist Theatre Company has announced the next production in their 2012 season, MOON OVER BUFFALO, written by Ken Ludwig and directed by Bjørn Johnson, featuring fight choreography by B.H. Barry.

Cleveland Play House (CPH) will to produce Jeffrey Hatcher's backstage comedy Ten Chimneys as the inaugural production in the new Second Stage, one of only three fully outfitted, flexible theatres in the nation.

York native, Ken Ludwig is an award-winning playwright of international acclaim. His six shows on Broadway and six in London's West End have not only made his name synonymous with modern comedy but also earned him the Laurence Olivier Award, three Tony Award nominations and two Helen Hayes Awards. February 3-12, York Little Theatre, York's oldest and largest community theatre, is proud to focus attention on York's historic and vibrant arts community by presenting Ken Ludwig's classic comedy farce, Leading Ladies, which is set in York, PA.

Britain's best loved comedy cabaret trio, Fascinating Aïda are to play their first?West?End season since 2003 when their acclaimed Fascinating Aïda Cheap Flights show lands at Charing Cross Theatre for a five-week season from Monday 5th December - Saturday 7th January.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) announced today the return of British film and stage actor Simon Callow to Chicago for CST's 25th Anniversary engagement of his acclaimed Being Shakespeare-a virtuosic solo performance that weaves together excerpts from William Shakespeare's plays and poems, breathing new life into his unforgettable characters and the real man behind the legend.

The Original Theatre Company is bringing Timberlake Wertenbaker's award-winning play, Our Country's Good to Rose Theatre Kingston this January. The production tours nationally from January 25th to April 27th, starring Aden Gillett and Philip Whitchurch.

Alive Theatre is set to present Orson's Shadow by Austin Pendleton, directed by Ricci Dedola, the first in the 2012 Collaborative series at the Long Beach Playhouse's Studio Theatre.

The 2009 Tony Award-winning Best Musical, Billy Elliot the Musical, will play its final performance on Broadway today at the Imperial Theatre (246 West 45th Street). The show that Time Magazine called 'the best musical of the decade,' Billy Elliot will have played 40 preview and 1,304 regular performances. The production recouped its $18 million investment in only 14 months over 492 performances and on Broadway, the show has been seen by 1,659,867 theatergoers to date. Featuring music by Elton John, book and lyrics by Lee Hall, choreographed by Peter Darling and directed by Stephen Daldry, Billy Elliot began previews Wednesday, October 1 and opened to critical acclaim on November 13, 2008.

The Shakespeare Theatre Company welcomes former STC Associate Director PJ Paparelli who will direct and put a new twist on Shakespeare's earliest romantic comedy, The Two Gentlemen of Verona.

The Shakespeare Theatre Company welcomes former STC Associate Director PJ Paparelli who will direct and put a new twist on Shakespeare's earliest romantic comedy, The Two Gentlemen of Verona.

Hugh Jackman will return to Broadway during the 2013/2014 season starring as America's greatest showman in HOUDINI, an original musical. Making his Broadway debut as librettist, Academy Award and six-time Emmy Award winner Aaron Sorkin will collaborate with three-time Academy Award and four-time Grammy Award winner Stephen Schwartz. Directed by three-time Tony Award winner Jack O'Brien, HOUDINI is presented by film and theatre producer Scott Sanders and David Rockwell. Mr. Rockwell will also design the sets for HOUDINI. Additional HOUDINI casting, creative team and design team to be announced at a later date.

Today we are taking a look at the very best theatre-related entities in a variety of different categories - books, music, television, film, and, of course, theatre - as we look back on 2011 and all of the many marvelous moments of excitement, passion, joy and exultation that only theatre and theatre-related projects can possibly hope to provide. From Stephen Sondheim's LOOK, I MADE A HAT on the bookshelves of every Broadway baby worth their weight in sequins to Neil Patrick Harris and Patti LuPone in Sondheim's COMPANY on the big screen courtesy of Fathom to the stunning Broadway revival of FOLLIES starring Bernadette Peters and its tremendous new cast album, all the way to the thrills and chills of Andrew Lloyd Webber's PHANTOM OF THE OPERA LIVE AT THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL on the big screen and Blu-ray to the BOOK OF MORMON breaking Broadway records and even TV's best drama and comedy, both from mastermind Ryan Murphy - GLEE and AMERICAN HORROR STORY. Plus, we also have top film picks in the categories of Drama and Comedy, as well as the best of the best of them all, with Lars Von Trier's apocalyptic masterpiece MELANCHOLIA, George Clooney's play adaptation THE IDES OF MARCH and the 80s music video stylized thriller/drama DRIVE topping the list. All of that and a whole lot more awaits in this all-encompassing look back at the theatrical highlights in all entertainment realms in 2011, as well as a look ahead to what we cannot wait for in 2012!

El Portal Theatre in association with producers Jay Irwin and Pegge Forrest proudly present a very special New Year's Eve celebration December 31, 2011 with an all-star lineup for two performances only at 4 pm and 10 pm. The all stars are headed by Sam Harris with Todd Schroeder at the piano, 2010 Tony Winner Levi Kreis, 2011 Ovation Winner Lesli Margherita and David Burnham one of Broadway's bright lights.