Mark St. Germain News

Orlando Shakespeare Theater in Partnership with UCF dares audiences to take a risk on new plays at PlayFest from this weekend, November 1 - 3, 2014. Presented by Harriett's Charitable Trust, the fast-paced weekend is packed with lively discussions, engaging playwright panels, and new play readings, along with a keynote speech from playwright Mark St. Germain. This season's event marks the twelfth festival of new plays at the Theater.

Cohabitation was a law that prohibited different genders and races from occupying the same nighttime residence. This was Florida's contribution to the repugnant Jim Crow Laws back. 1964 wasn't just a great year because it gave us HELLO, DOLLY!, it was also the year we got the Civil Rights Act, outlawing discrimination based on race, sex, and religion. Overnight, citizens from the all over the county welcomed change, adopted acceptance, and became enlightened musical-theatre loving philanthropists.

Barbershop quartets will take center stage at New Brunswick's George Street Playhouse as they present John Markus and Mark St. Germain's a cappella musical comedy, The Fabulous Lipitones on stage beginning November 18. The cast includes You Tube sensation Rohan Kymal, and Broadway veterans Donald Corren, Wally Dunn and Jim Walton. Michael Mastro (The Subject Was Roses) returns to helm the production, and Broadway veteran Michael Lichtefeld will put the quartet through their paces as choreographer.

Matrix Theatre Company will host its second annual Preview Party to introduce the 2014 - 2015 Mainstage Season of professional theatre. This free event will take place today, October 18 from 4pm - 6pm at Matrix Theatre Company, 2730 Bagley, Detroit, MI, 48216.

Orlando Shakespeare Theater in Partnership with UCF dares audiences to take a risk on new plays at PlayFest from November 1 - 3, 2014. Presented by Harriett's Charitable Trust, the fast-paced weekend is packed with lively discussions, engaging playwright panels, and new play readings, along with a keynote speech from playwright Mark St. Germain. This season's event marks the twelfth festival of new plays at the Theater.

Lamb's Players Theatre announced their upcoming Season 2015.

Orlando Shakespeare Theater in Partnership with UCF and the Holocaust Memorial Resource & Education Center of Florida will present The Best of Enemies from today, October 15 - November 16, 2014 in the Goldman Theater.

Orlando Shakespeare Theater in Partnership with UCF announces a very special collaboration with the Holocaust Memorial Resource & Education Center of Florida. Coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the passage and signing of the Civil Rights Act, the two organizations will partner to present The Best of Enemies from today, October 15 - November 16, 2014 on the Goldman Theater stage.

Matrix Theatre Company will host its second annual Preview Party to introduce the 2014 - 2015 Mainstage Season of professional theatre. This free event will take place Saturday, October 18 from 4pm - 6pm at Matrix Theatre Company, 2730 Bagley, Detroit, MI, 48216.

Orlando Shakespeare Theater in Partnership with UCF and the Holocaust Memorial Resource & Education Center of Florida will present The Best of Enemies from October 15 - November 16, 2014 in the Goldman Theater.

Barrington Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Julianne Boyd and Managing Director Tristan Wilson, welcomes the return of Drama Desk Award-winner Jim Brochu in his new show Character Man, following his wildly successful run of Zero Hour in 2011. A musical valentine celebrating the Golden Age of the American Musical, Character Man will be presented at BSC's St. Germain Stage at the Sydelle and Lee Blatt Performing Arts Center from tonight, September 18 through 28. The press opening is Saturday, September 20 at 7:30pm.

Florida Studio Theatre announces its 14-15 Mainstage Season. Opening the season is the Tony Award winning musical Hairspray, followed by Regional Premieres of the emotionally stirring Dancing Lessons and the theatrical sensation of Fly. Finishing out the season is the Southeastern Premiere of the honest and uplifting Chapatti.

Virginia Repertory Theatre announces the opening 'Becoming Dr. Ruth' by Mark St. Germain tonight, September 12 at Hanover Tavern, 13181 Hanover Courthouse Road. The show runs through Sunday, October 19.

Barrington Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Julianne Boyd and Managing Director Tristan Wilson, announces the return of Drama Desk Award-winner Jim Brochu in his new show Character Man, following his wildly successful run of Zero Hour in 2011. A musical valentine celebrating the Golden Age of the American Musical, Character Man will be presented at BSC's St. Germain Stage at the Sydelle and Lee Blatt Performing Arts Center from September 18 through 28. The press opening is Saturday, September 20 at 7:30pm.

I had intended this to be the blog entry I'd post immediately following the closing of Dancing Lessons, the play I just finished at Barrington Stage Company, but then the #IceBucketChallenge kind of took the spotlight on that day. Hard to top that moment! But now I can circle back.

Orlando Shakespeare Theater in Partnership with UCF dares audiences to take a risk on new plays at PlayFest from November 1 - 3, 2014. Presented by Harriett's Charitable Trust, the fast-paced weekend is packed with lively discussions, engaging playwright panels, and new play readings, along with a keynote speech from playwright Mark St. Germain (Freud's Last Session and The Best of Enemies)?. This season's event marks the twelfth festival of new plays at the Theater. Tickets to individual PlayFest readings ($5) will be available to the general public on Tuesday, September 30. PlayFest Festival Passes are on sale now, and may be purchased by calling (407) 447-1700 ext. 1, online at www.orlandoshakes.org, or in person at the John and Rita Lowndes Shakespeare Center, 812 East Rollins Street.

Broadway's Paige Davis, star John Cariani and the crew of Barrington Stage's DANCING LESSONS took on the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge - check out their submission below!

I wasn't quite sure what to expect from Circuit Playhouse's production of Mark St. Germain's BEST OF ENEMIES - a civics lesson or an evening at the theatre. As I settled into my seat and gazed at the essentially bare set (a few platforms and chairs), I listened to bits and snatches of speeches and recollections by the likes of Barry Goldwater, Lyndon Johnson, Martin Luther King, and 'ordinary' people affected by the changes wrought by Civil Rights legislation and, in particular, the desegregation of schools. While waiting for the play to begin, I recalled just having seen MARY POPPINS last weekend at Playhouse on the Square; I thought of 'Just a Spoonful of Sugar' making the medicine go down - and considered Playhouse's crowd-pleasing musical version of John Waters' HAIRSPRAY, which drew theatre-hungry crowds just a few weeks ago. Waters, I thought, had the right idea: The seriousness of racial injustice was made delightfully palatable by the sweetness and humor of the songs in that show. I dreaded what was to follow. However, like the main characters of the play I was about to see, I had my own misconceptions, for BEST OF ENEMIES held many surprises for me - and all of them good.

Virginia Repertory Theatre will be presenting 'Becoming Doctor Ruth' at the Hanover Tavern from September 12th through October 19th.

Orlando Shakespeare Theater in Partnership with UCF announces partial casting for the seven productions in its 2014-2015 Signature Series. Following an extensive nationwide search, Artistic Director Jim Helsinger has handpicked a talented group of Broadway veterans and local favorites to bring the Theater's 26th Season to life.