Marianna Bassham News

From March 2-31, 2018, SpeakEasy Stage Company will proudly present the Boston premiere of the charming and life-affirming solo show EVERY BRILLIANT THING.

Occasionally the name Anton Chekhov invokes the same kind of anxiety one may get from Shakespeare or other heavy literary writers who we feel like we should go see to appear educated/ arty, but who no one really enjoys. Unfortunately, that makes people forget one of the reasons Chekhov and Shakespeare are great--they know how to balance humor and drama in that way that feels very human and well-rounded. It activates all the parts of the viewer's brain, and leaves one feeling thoroughly entertained and thought-provoked at the end. The Gamm's production of UNCLE VANYA, translated and directed by Curt Columbus' manages to communicate volumes, while keeping everything accessible and relatable. The moments of humor are genuine and serve to heighten the tension in other scenes. Gamm regulars will have seen these actors in a dozen other roles over the years, yet they all managed to adopt their new personas in a way that feels so genuine it's like this world has always existed, and the audience managed to wander in at exactly the right time.

Actors' Shakespeare Project takes on Julius Caesar, Shakespeare's classic drama about politics and power.

Underground Railway Theater will present Nick Payne's Constellations from September 7 - October 8, 2017. Constellations is directed by Scott Edmiston.

KING ELIZABETH makes for wonderful theater. The narrative is equally enjoyable and thought-provoking, the cast impeccable -- this production is a crowning achievement for The Gamm.

This thrilling new version of Schiller's classic Mary Stuart pits the ousted queen of Scotland against the reigning queen of England in a titanic battle of wills.

Two dozen nominations of outstanding actors, directors, designers and ensembles were announced today by The Boston Theater Critics Association (BTCA), with winners to be revealed at the 35th Annual Elliot Norton Awards on Monday, May 15, 2017 at 7 PM, at Huntington Theatre Company's BU Theatre.  

The Sandra Feinstein-Gamm Theatre (The Gamm) closes its 2016-2017 season with the world premiere of King Elizabeth, a new version of Friedrich Schiller's Mary Stuart, freely adapted and directed by Gamm Artistic Director Tony Estrella. Featuring Gamm Resident Actor Jeanine Kane (Hannah Jarvis in Arcadia, Lady Macbeth in Macbeth) as Elizabeth I and Boston-based actor Marianna Bassham (Blanche Dubois in A Streetcar Named Desire, Hedda Tesman in Hedda Gabler) as Mary Stuart Queen of Scots, King Elizabeth promises to be an enlightening, entertaining and timely exploration of leadership and gender politics.

From January 6 to February 4, 2017, SpeakEasy Stage Company will present the New England Premiere of HAND TO GOD, the devilishly smart new comedy about good and evil, sex and sin, written by Robert Askins. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the company in rehearsal below!

From January 6 to February 4, 2017, SpeakEasy Stage Company will proudly present the New England Premiere of HAND TO GOD, the devilishly smart new comedy about good and evil, sex and sin, written by Robert Askins.

From January 6 to February 4, 2017, SpeakEasy Stage Company will present the New England Premiere of HAND TO GOD, the devilishly smart new comedy about good and evil, sex and sin, written by Robert Askins. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the company in rehearsal below!

From January 6 to February 4, 2017, SpeakEasy Stage Company will proudly present the New England Premiere of HAND TO GOD, the devilishly smart new comedy about good and evil, sex and sin, written by Robert Askins.

Actors' Shakespeare Project (ASP) has earned its reputation for performing the works of William Shakespeare with clarity and focus on language, emphasis on the characters' journeys, and a commitment to remain actively itinerant. The 13th season will exemplify ASP's vision for presenting Shakespeare, with productions of HAMLET, THE TEMPEST (Directed by Allyn Burrows; December 1, 2016 - January 8, 2017; Willet Hall at United Parish, Brookline), Christopher Marlowe's EDWARD II (Directed by David R. Gammons; February 22 - March 19, 2017, Charlestown Working Theater), and A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM (Directed by Patrick Swanson, May 10 - June 4, 2017, Multicultural Arts Center, Cambridge). For more information visit actorsshakespeareproject.org.

The Huntington Theatre Company presents the world premiere of I Was Most Alive with You written and directed by Craig Lucas (Prelude to a Kiss at the Huntington and An American in Paris on Broadway) and performed both in English and American Sign Language. Performances began Friday, May 27 and continue through June 26, 2016 at the South End / Calderwood Pavilion at the BCA. Check out photos below!

The Huntington Theatre Company presents the world premiere of I Was Most Alive with You written and directed by Craig Lucas (Prelude to a Kiss at the Huntington and An American in Paris on Broadway) and performed both in English and American Sign Language. Performances begin Friday, May 27 and continue through June 26, 2016 at the South End / Calderwood Pavilion at the BCA. 

The 20th Annual Independent Reviewers of New England (IRNE) Awards were held on April 11 at the Holiday Inn Boston/Brookline. Founded by Beverly Creasey of the Journal Newspapers and Larry Stark of the TheaterMirror in 1997, the IRNE Awards recognize the extraordinary wealth of talent in the Boston theatre community. 

Two powerhouse American musicals, THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS and THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY;  two acclaimed contemporary plays, GRAND CONCOURSE and SIGNIFICANT OTHER; and the riotous Broadway comedy HAND TO GOD will each enjoy their New England premiere as part of SpeakEasy Stage Company's 2016-2017 Season, the company's Founder and Producing Artistic Director Paul Daigneault announced today.

The Independent Reviewers of New England (IRNE) today announced the nominees for the 20th Annual IRNE Awards, which honors the best of the previous year's actors, directors, choreographers, designers and companies across the full spectrum of large, mid-size and fringe theater companies.

Rhode Island's theater community had much to celebrate in 2015.  Outstanding productions graced stages from the East Bay to South County, up-and-coming theatrical companies left their mark on the arts scene, and excellent concerts and dance events made for some of the best performances of the year.

Happy Holidays! It's the last week to vote for the 2015 BroadwayWorld Rhode Island Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of December 18. Nominations were reader-submitted and after the nomination period ended, BroadwayWorld's local editors proofed the list for eligibility and errors. Voting runs through December 31!