Laurence Olivier News

CenterStage North Theatre presents for its May 2010 Coffee and Comedy show 'Glorious!' by Peter Quilter. Set at tables of 8 with Dessert and Coffee served at intermission. Shows are Friday May 7th at 8pm, Saturday May 8th at 8pm, Sunday May 9th at 2pm, Thursday May 13th at 8pm, Friday May 14th at 8pm, Saturday May 15th at 2pm and Saturday May 15th at 8pm

A Red Orchid Theatre Artistic Director Kirsten Fitzgerald announces the extension of Mike Leigh's Abigail's Party, directed by Shade Murray and featuring A Red Orchid Ensemble Members Kirsten Fitzgerald, Danny McCarthy, Mierka Girten and Larry Grimm, with Natalie West. The hit production now runs through April 25, 2010, at A Red Orchid Theatre, 1531 N. Wells.

Shakespeare's immortal 'To be, or not to be' takes on a whole new meaning (and medium) as classical stage and screen actors David Tennant and (recently-knighted) Sir Patrick Stewart reprise their roles for a modern-dress, film-for-television adaptation of the Royal Shakespeare Company's (RSC) 2008 stage production of Hamlet.

The 2009 production of Hello, Dolly! won three Laurence Olivier Awards at this year's ceremony, taking awards for Best Musical Revival, Best Actress in a Musical (Samantha Spiro) and Best Theatre Choreography (Stephen Mear).

Acclaimed Tony Award nominated actor Sir Patrick Stewart will return to Broadway in David Mamet's 'A Life in the Theatre'. Stewart will portray the lead character of 'Robert', a role he previously played in the 2005 production at London's Apollo Theatre. 'A Life in the Theatre' will be directed by Neil Pepe. Additional cast will be announced at a later date. Rehearsals will begin on August 23, 2010.

New England audiences were treated to the uncensored, uncut and as unpredictable as ever, comedian Billy Connolly in June 2007 at the American Repertory Theatre. Now he returns to Boston with his hilarious, oxygen-depriving new show BILLY CONNOLLY LIVE! for two performances only on May 6 & 7, 2010 (8pm) at the Citi Performing Arts Center Shubert Theatre, 265 Tremont Street in Boston's Theater District.

Along with previously announced Michael Ball, also starring in the U.K. Tour of Hairspray will be Laurie Scarth, Liam Doyle, and Danny Bayne. The tour begins at the Cardriff Millenium Centre and will begin March 30th, immediately following its West End closing. The tour is scheduled to run through January 2011 with stops in Glasgow, Southampton, Wolverhampton, Leeds, Manchester, Plymouth, Liverpool, Sunderland, Milton Keynes, Oxford, Birmingham, Bradford and Edinburgh. For a full schedule or to purchase tickets, visit http://www.hairspraythemusical.co.uk.

Stephen Sondheim is widely acknowledged as the most innovative, most influential, and most important composer and lyricist in modern Broadway history. He is the winner of an Academy Award, numerous Tony Award, multiple Grammy Awards and a Pulitzer Prize. Some of his other accolades include a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Kennedy Center Honors (1993), the National Medal of Arts (1996), the American Academy of Arts and Letters' Gold Medal for Music (2006) and a special Tony Awardâfor Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre (2008).

WICKED, recently voted London's 'Most Popular Show' (2010 Laurence Olivier Awards) and 'Best West End Show' (2010 Whatsonstage.com Awards), welcomes its brand new London cast from tonight (29 March, 2010).

Glorious! is based on the true story of Florence Foster Jenkins, the legendary New York heiress and socialite who wanted to be a great operatic diva despite having one of the worst singing voices in history.

Queens Theatre in the Park (QTP) presents An Evening with Lucie Arnaz on Saturday, April 3, 2010 at 8pm in the Claire Shulman Playhouse Main Stage Theatre at Queens Theatre in the Park, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Flushing, NY. Tickets are $37 and are available at www.queenstheatre.org or by phone at 718-760-0064.

American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) Artistic Director Carey Perloff announced the lineup of the company's 44th subscription season today. Recently commended for its 'sophisticated artistry' (The New York Times) and its 'intellectual passion [and] guts' (Los Angeles Times), A.C.T. has put together an eclectic mix of plays with big theatrical visions and ideas, from reimagined classics to bold new plays.

PlayhouseSquare and Baldwin-Wallace College will partner to present the American premiere of Chess - The London Stage Version at PlayhouseSquare's 14th Street Theatre April 30 - May 2.

The Old Vic announced today the final 100 participants selected to take part in The TS Eliot US/UK Exchange, a programme to nurture the best young British and American theatre practitioners.

American Heartland Theatre in Crown Center has announced its 2010-2011 Season, celebrating the theatre's 24th season of productions. AHT continues its tradition of providing variety in live theatre by showcasing 1 two-time Tony award winning comedy, 4 Kansas City Premieres, 1 AHT favorite and 1 Richard Rodgers Award Winner in its upcoming season.

San Francisco's African-American Shakespeare Company closes its 15th season with an incendiary interpretation of William Shakespeare's OTHELLO.

Adapted from the hit play by award-winning novelist, playwright and screenwriter John Mortimer (Rumpole of Bailey), A Voyage Round My Father, debuts on DVD from Acorn Media on April 27, 2010.

Select cast and crew members of Disney's THE LION KING will host UMCULO WEBHUBESI (the lion sings tonight) - a concert featuring South African music and dance. This very special one-time event will be held on Monday, April 12 at The Trocadero located at 1003 Arch Street Philadelphia, PA. Tickets are currently on sale for $25 including a post-performance reception with the cast.

American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) continues its 2009-10 season with famed British theater maker Alan Ayckbourn's hilarious rumination on love and marriage, Round and Round the Garden, directed by Tony Award winner John Rando (Urinetown, The Musical, The Wedding Singer on Broadway; Urinetown, Rich and Famous at A.C.T.).

Casting has been announced for the Philadelphia engagement of Disney's THE LION KING. Philadelphia's most eagerly awaited return will once again leap onto the Academy of Music stage from Tuesday, March 23 to Saturday, April 24.