Mark Dornford-May News

In this taut 2013 theatrical adaptation of Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela's award winning-book, the apartheid regime's most notorious assassin and head of its death squad, Eugene de Kock (played by Matthew Marsh), sits opposite psychologist Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela (played Noma Dumezweni) in Pretoria Central Prison in 1997. Gobodo-Madikizela is a member of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission determined to understand his actions. She questions de Kock, who is sentenced to two life terms plus 212 years for crimes against humanity, murder, conspiracy to murder, attempted murder, assault, kidnapping, illegal possession of firearms, and fraud.

Following a career as an stand-up comedian, actor and writer, Mark Roberts is set to premiere New Country, his eighth play, at the Cherry Lane Theatre on May 16-June 20. Best known for his TV work on Two and a Half Men and Mike & Molly, Roberts trained as an actor and began his theater career in 1982 outside Chicago, where he first worked with New Country's director David Harwell.

Amused Moose Soho presents exceptional comedy from a great bunch of splendidly skilful stand-ups at Soho's only multi-award winning comedy club, in our intimate performance space that the comedians love at 'Above The Arts', just one minute from Leicester Square tube.

The Metropolitan Opera may have its spectacular Julie Taymor production of THE MAGIC FLUTE, but the real fun in town is the Mozart at the new Victory Theatre on West 42nd Street, where the South African Isango Ensemble is in residence.

g its Off-Broadway debut at The New Victory Theater from today, November 1 - November 9, Isango Ensemble's Young Vic production of The Magic Flute: Impempe Yomlingo reimagines Mozart's masterpiece opera with a South African context. Featuring township percussion, an orchestra of marimbas and a cast of more than thirty vibrant voices from the townships surrounding Cape Town, and winner of the 2008 Olivier Award for Best Musical Revival and a Globes de Cristal for Best Opera, this Magic Flute dazzles with drama, comedy and the sublime joy of finding true love.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) presents Isango Ensemble's The Magic Flute (Impempe Yomlingo), bringing thirty actors and musicians from South Africa to Chicago as part of CST's celebrated World's Stage Series. The Magic Flute reimagines Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's most beloved operatic work, incorporating African singing, pulsating beats and spirited storytelling into this 223-year-old classic. Based in Cape Town, the vibrant company of the Isango Ensemble unites the diverse nation of Africa by reinventing classics from the Western theater canon within a South African setting. Adapted and directed by Isango co-founder Mark Dornford-May, The Magic Flute took London by storm, garnering London's prestigious Laurence Olivier Award. The production will be performed at Skyline Stage on Navy Pier (next door to CST) for a limited engagement, September 25-28, 2014. Check out highlights below!

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) presents Isango Ensemble's The Magic Flute (Impempe Yomlingo), bringing thirty actors and musicians from South Africa to Chicago as part of CST's celebrated World's Stage Series. The Magic Flute reimagines Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's most beloved operatic work, incorporating African singing, pulsating beats and spirited storytelling into this 223-year-old classic. Based in Cape Town, the vibrant company of the Isango Ensemble unites the diverse nation of Africa by reinventing classics from the Western theater canon within a South African setting. Adapted and directed by Isango co-founder Mark Dornford-May, The Magic Flute took London by storm, garnering London's prestigious Laurence Olivier Award. The production will be performed at Skyline Stage on Navy Pier (next door to CST) for a limited engagement, today, September 25-28, 2014.

The month-long, citywide festival UBUNTU: Music and Arts of South Africa concludes in early November with events ranging from concerts at Carnegie Hall to music, theater, and film screenings at partner venues throughout New York City.

Making its Off-Broadway debut at The New Victory Theater from November 1 - November 9, Isango Ensemble's Young Vic production of The Magic Flute: Impempe Yomlingo reimagines Mozart's masterpiece opera with a South African context. Featuring township percussion, an orchestra of marimbas and a cast of more than thirty vibrant voices from the townships surrounding Cape Town, and winner of the 2008 Olivier Award for Best Musical Revival and a Globes de Cristal for Best Opera, this Magic Flute dazzles with drama, comedy and the sublime joy of finding true love.

Offering a South African spin on Mozart's beloved opera, the Isango Ensemble brings simple stagecraft and a unique musical flair to Washington for a limited run. Performing in repertory with Shakespeare's VENUS AND ADONIS for a limited run, Isango displays their expert ensemble in a must-see production. THE MAGIC FLUTE - IMPEMPE YOMLINGO distills the characters, story and music from one of the most popular operas in the Western repertoire.

The Isango Ensemble, brought to Washington as part of The Shakespeare Theatre Company's Presentations Series focusing on works from around the world, is based in Cape Town, South Africa, and is made up of performers from the surrounding area, who were sought out and brought together in 2000 by Director and co-founder Mark Dornford-May. Isango looks at Western works through an African lens, and what they bring to this 400 year old classic work is both ancient and contemporary, simple and lush, quiet and thunderous, straightforward and nuanced. Weaving the African rhythms, music, vocalizations and instrumentation with Venus and Adonis, uses a deeply human, very grounded style to tell a vaunted story of the love of a goddess for a mere mortal.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) presents Isango Ensemble's The Magic Flute (Impempe Yomlingo), bringing thirty actors and musicians from South Africa to Chicago as part of CST's celebrated World's Stage Series. The Magic Flute reimagines Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's most beloved operatic work, incorporating African singing, pulsating beats and spirited storytelling into this 223-year-old classic. Based in Cape Town, the vibrant company of the Isango Ensemble unites the diverse nation of Africa by reinventing classics from the Western theater canon within a South African setting. Adapted and directed by Isango co-founder Mark Dornford-May, The Magic Flute took London by storm, garnering London's prestigious Laurence Olivier Award. The production will be performed at Skyline Stage on Navy Pier (next door to CST) for a limited engagement, September 25-28, 2014.

The opening day of Marvel's GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY appears to have far exceeded even Disney's estimates.

The Shakespeare Theatre Company brings two productions by the Isango Ensemble to Washington, D.C., as part of STC's 2014-2015 Presentation Series. The Isango Ensemble's unique performances reset Western theatre classics within a South African township, utilizing music, dance and elements of South African heritage. The Ensemble will perform an adaption of Mozart's opera The Magic Flute- Impempe Yomlingo and Shakespeare's epic love poem Venus and Adonis in repertory at the Lansburgh Theatre September 12-21, 2014. Tickets for non-subscribers will be available starting August 1, when individual tickets for the 2014-2015 STC Season go on sale.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) announces today the 2014/15 World's Stage Series-bringing the most fresh and innovative work from theater companies around the world to Chicago and touring CST-developed productions to festivals abroad. From Australia, South Africa, France, England, Scotland and Belgium, this season's offerings for Chicago audiences feature productions from eight internationally acclaimed theater companies. In keeping with the mission of the World's Stage program to serve as an international cultural ambassador for Chicago, the Theater is also touring CST-produced work abroad to Australia, New Zealand and Canada.

Dancing With the Stars pro Mark Ballas took a serious fall while rehearsing his upcoming freestyle routine to be performed during tonight's season finale

Check out the upcoming events at the Courthouse Center for the Arts. Details below!

Check out the upcoming events at the Courthouse Center for the Arts. Details below!

Playwright Mark St. Germain, author of Freud's Last Session, will be paying Cape May Stage a special visit Saturday, September 21 and Sunday, September 22. In two very special talk-backs after the 8 p.m. performances, St. Germain will illuminate audiences to the inspiration for the show and the process of tackling the radically different positions of the two main characters. Audiences will get the opportunity to pose questions and engage in discourse with St. Germain, accompanied by light refreshments in the intimate setting of the Robert Shackleton Playhouse.