Mark Twain News

Sometimes it seems there is so much theater happening that it's difficult to keep track of it all. From personal experience, despite all the datebooks, smart phones, tablets, desktop computers and laptops...it's hard to keep everything straight in this wacky business of the show.

Sometimes it seems there is so much theater happening that it's difficult to keep track of it all. From personal experience, despite all the datebooks, smart phones, tablets, desktop computers and laptops...it's hard to keep everything straight in this wacky business of the show. Thus, we are happy to present a new feature: The Nashville Theater Calendar, a comprehensive - maybe even exhaustive (lord knows we're exhausted from putting it together, gathering all the info from all over the interwebs!) - listing of theatrical openings for the 2015/16 season. We'll update the calendar every Monday, clearing out the shows that have closed and adding additional information on the shows still to come.

The 65th Music Circus season continues with the dynamic musical Big River, Mark Twain's masterwork "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" brought to toe-tapping musical life by the genius behind "King of the Road," Roger Miller. Performances are Tuesday, June 23 through Sunday, June 28.

Carlisle Hart, LLC presents Sideshow Theatre Company, Chicago's preeminent theater company for presenting familiar stories in unorthodox ways, in a commercial remount of their wildly successful, sold-out smash hit production of STUPID f**kING BIRD. Aaron Posner's comic spin on Chekhov's The Seagull is directed by artistic director Jonathan L. Green, from July 23 through August 30, 2015 with Press Opening Saturday, July 25 at 7:30pm at Victory Gardens Zacek McVay Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave. in Chicago.

Basketball Hall of Famer Dick Vitale, one of the most accomplished and impactful personalities in the history of sports television, has agreed to a new contract extension with ESPN that will carry through the 2017-18 season.

This June Melbourne Cabaret Festival will play host to Natasha York's critically acclaimed one woman show 'These Things Take Wine', at the new Alex Theatre Complex this June. As the title would suggest this show is full of puns, tipsy tales, and a whole wine-inspired soundtrack including classics by Nina Simone, Amy Winehouse, Nancy Sinatra and even Michael Jackson. York pours her heart out in this comedy cabaret filled with power tools, balloon animals and decisions made under the influence.

Sometimes it seems there is so much theater happening that it's difficult to keep track of it all. From personal experience, despite all the datebooks, smart phones, tablets, desktop computers and laptops...it's hard to keep everything straight in this wacky business of the show. Thus, we are happy to present a new feature: The Nashville Theater Calendar, a comprehensive - maybe even exhaustive (lord knows we're exhausted from putting it together, gathering all the info from all over the interwebs!) - listing of theatrical openings for the 2015/16 season. We'll update the calendar every Monday, clearing out the shows that have closed and adding additional information on the shows still to come.

KENT, Ohio

Laurel Valley Productions in association with Creative Arts Lab and Jeux de Mots presents TRAVELING PAPERS, a lively theatrical adventure exploring our connections to travel, conceived and adapted by Barbara Bosch and Martin Tackel. Barbara Bosch^ directs a cast of eight including Gwen Arment*, John Camera*, Kyle Doherty, Gwen Eyster, Peter Husovsky*, Macy Idzakovich, and Jillian Stevens. TRAVELING PAPERS will run at The Lion Theatre on Theatre Row, 410 West 42nd Street (bet. 9th and 10th Avenues), New York City for fifteen performances, tonight, June 3, through June 20, 2015. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Downtown York's historic Strand-Capitol Performing Arts Center's new line-up of shows is on sale now to members. New shows include some familiar faces back by popular demand as well as acts never before seen in York. 

Laurel Valley Productions in association with Creative Arts Lab and Jeux de Mots presents TRAVELING PAPERS, a lively theatrical adventure exploring our connections to travel, conceived and adapted by Barbara Bosch and Martin Tackel. Barbara Bosch^ directs a cast of eight including Gwen Arment*, John Camera*, Kyle Doherty, Gwen Eyster, Peter Husovsky*, Macy Idzakovich, Jillian Stevens, and Antonio Edwards Suarez*. TRAVELING PAPERS will run at The Lion Theatre on Theatre Row, 410 West 42nd Street (bet. 9th and 10th Avenues), New York City for fifteen performances, tonight, June 3, through June 20, 2015.

First Floor Theater (FFT) is thrilled to announce its third annual literary festival, KAFKAPALOOZA, a festival of nine world premiere plays, by some of Chicago's most exciting playwrights, inspired by the life and work of Franz Kafka. Over the past two years, the FFT LitFest has brought together some of Chicago's greatest writers, including Seth Bockley, Philip Dawkins, Bonnie Metzgar, Ike Holter, Morgan McNaught, and Paul Oakley Stovall, to respond to literary greats The Brothers Grimm and Mark Twain.

Sometimes it seems there is so much theater happening that it's difficult to keep track of it all. From personal experience, despite all the datebooks, smart phones, tablets, desktop computers and laptops...it's hard to keep everything straight in this wacky business of the show.

Street Theatre Company will be holding auditions for the ClassAct Dramatics youth production, BIG BAD MUSICAL, for ages 7 to 15 today, May 30, 10-2pm at Tulip Street United Methodist Church in East Nashville.

South Bend Civic Theatre welcomes master banjo player Michael J. Miles for one weekend only May 29-30, as he performs an evening of music and memories of the American experience.

After auditioning performers in New York City, Los Angeles and Sacramento, California Musical Theatre has confirmed casting for all six shows in the 65th Music Circus season. The stellar cast for the season is loaded with Broadway veterans, some of whom are making their Music Circus debuts, Tony nominees and audience favorites from previous Music Circus productions.

Raucously witty and devilishly ribald, love and money are at stake in David Ives' hilarious, rhyming 'translaptation' of The Heir Apparent by Jean-Francois Regnard. Comedic director extraordinaire Matt Walker directs the Los Angeles premiere of Regnard's newly rediscovered 18th century comic masterpiece for a June 19 opening at International City Theatre. Two low-priced previews are set for June 17 and 18.

Mercury Theater Chicago, 3745 N. Southport Avenue, is pleased to announce the extension of RING OF FIRE: THE MUSIC OF JOHNNY CASH through August 30. The musical tribute has received rave reviews from critics and audiences alike and has broken sales records for Mercury Theater Chicago. "A good time with a great American artist!" exclaimed Chris Jones of the Chicago Tribune. He also praised Kent M. Lewis' portrayal of Johnny Cash saying, "Lewis does not wear the cloak of the Man in Black; he inhabits him" and Hedy Weiss of the Chicago Sun-Times Highly Recommends the production saying it's "A show ablaze with fire and unmitigated fun!"

Variety reports that Netflix has ordered a second season of its new original series GRACE AND FRANKIE.

The award-winning Equity professional East Lynne Theater Company's popular 'Tales of the Victorians' returns for its twenty-sixth year! Take tea at a lovely inn, indulge in homemade tasty treats, and listen to stories by famous American authors like O. Henry, Mary Wilkins Freeman, Mark Twain, and Zora Neale Hurston, read by ELTC performers and friends, for only $10.00. Children are always welcome, and ages 12 and under are free. As usual most of the 'Tales' are in Cape May, but as of last year, a North Wildwood location has been added.