Mark Twain News

Arvada Center Summer Calendar of Events, June - August 2009 (All events, unless otherwise stated, take place at the Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities, 6901 Wadsworth Blvd., Arvada, CO 80003)

Gingold Theatrical Group's PROJECT SHAW 'The INCA of PERUSALEM' with Two Other Extremely Rare and Tantalizing One-Acts! 'ARTHUR AND THE ACETONE' & 'INTERLUDE AT THE PLAYOUSE' by George Bernard Shaw. Monday · APRIL 20

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts announces four invited productions and the Short Play Festival as part of the 41st annual Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF), April 14-18, 2009. Selected participants from eight regional festivals held in January and February at colleges and universities across the country are invited to showcase their talents at the nation's center for the performing arts, to be considered for scholarships and awards and to participate in master classes with some of the best artists in their field.

The Minneapolis Musical Theatre (MMT) celebrates a major milestone as it announces the lineup for its 10th full season of productions. Dubbed its 'Great, Big, Surprising 10th Anniversary Season', MMT has put together a slate of 2009-2010 productions that are sure to delight audiences of all ages.

Gingold Theatrical Group's PROJECT SHAW 'The INCA of PERUSALEM' with Two Other Extremely Rare and Tantalizing One-Acts! 'ARTHUR AND THE ACETONE' & 'INTERLUDE AT THE PLAYOUSE' by George Bernard Shaw. Monday · APRIL 20

The West Coast premiere of a newly discovered comedy by the master of American humor is next up at International City Theatre. ICT artistic director Shashin Desai directs Is He Dead?, adapted by David Ives from a play by Mark Twain that remained unpublished and unproduced for over 100 years. The four-week run takes place at ICT's home in the Long Beach Performing Arts Center, May 1 through May 24. Low-priced previews begin April 28.

ELIZABETH AND EDWARD By Aubrey Hampton makes its world premiere April 2-19, 2009 Part Pageant, Part Burlesque! A new play by Gorilla Theatre founder Aubrey Hampton, Elizabeth and Edward romps through Elizabethan England and beyond. Marlowe, Bacon, and the man we call 'Shakespeare' meet Queen Elizabeth I, Edward DeVere - and even Chaplin, Freud and Mark Twain!

Bill Cosby has been awarded the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. The Kennedy Center will present the comedian with this award on October 26th at the Center's concert hall. Along with the accompanying festivities, the award ceremony will be filmed for later broadcast on PBS.

When is anyone morally sanctioned to take another's life? Is redemption possible for anyone who has committed the sin of murder? These questions lie at the heart of Fyodor Dostoyevsky's Crime and Punishment-the classic, celebrated Russian novel of motive and murder, perhaps the greatest and most insightful crime story ever written. Thrillingly adapted for only three actors, this absorbing and highly theatrical drama will unfold in a heart-stopping 90 minutes at the Jungle Theater, March 27 - May 3.

When is anyone morally sanctioned to take another's life? Is redemption possible for anyone who has committed the sin of murder? These questions lie at the heart of Fyodor Dostoyevsky's Crime and Punishment-the classic, celebrated Russian novel of motive and murder, perhaps the greatest and most insightful crime story ever written. Thrillingly adapted for only three actors, this absorbing and highly theatrical drama will unfold in a heart-stopping 90 minutes at the Jungle Theater, March 27 - May 3.

Crown Center Schedule of Events April - December 2009 Through April 19 Backwards In High Heels American Heartland Theatre, Crown Center Shops, Level 3. This biographical musical dances through the extraordinary life of Ginger Rogers. The evening glides and swirls through such memorable standards as 'Fascinating Rhythm,' 'Change Partners,' 'Embraceable You,' 'A Fine Romance' and 'We're in the Money.' A wonderful tribute, a wonderful evening of music and dance! A Kansas City premiere. 816-842-9999 or AHTKC.com.

Composer, singer and mandolin player Chris Thile and The Punch Brothers bring their unique sound - a creative fusion of bluegrass, jazz and classical music - to the Phillips Center for the Performing Arts on Wednesday, March 25 at 7:30 p.m.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts announces four invited productions and the Short Play Festival as part of the 41st annual Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF), April 14-18, 2009. Selected participants from eight regional festivals held in January and February at colleges and universities across the country are invited to showcase their talents at the nation's center for the performing arts, to be considered for scholarships and awards and to participate in master classes with some of the best artists in their field.

Hal Holbrook in 'Mark Twain Tonight' Saturday, March 21 - 7:30pm A LIVING, BREATHING, AMERICAN MASTERPIECE! The actor was Hal Holbrook. The man was Mark Twain. It is, quite simply, one of the most acclaimed and enduring performances in the history of theatre. Nearly 50 years ago, a young actor took the stage in a tiny off-Broadway theatre and introduced the world to a man they'd never forget. The actor was Hal Holbrook. The man was Mark Twain. (Mark Twain biography attached).

ELIZABETH AND EDWARD By Aubrey Hampton makes its world premiere April 2-19, 2009 Part Pageant, Part Burlesque! A new play by Gorilla Theatre founder Aubrey Hampton, Elizabeth and Edward romps through Elizabethan England and beyond. Marlowe, Bacon, and the man we call 'Shakespeare' meet Queen Elizabeth I, Edward DeVere - and even Chaplin, Freud and Mark Twain!

Lincoln Center Theater (under the direction of Andre Bishop, Artistic Director, and Bernard Gersten, Executive Producer) has announced its 2009 Fall productions of two new plays which will mark the Broadway and New York debuts for their respective playwrights: IN THE NEXT ROOM or The Vibrator Play, by Sarah Ruhl, directed by Les Waters; and BROKE-OLOGY a new play by Nathan Louis Jackson, directed by Thomas Kail. IN THE NEXT ROOM or The Vibrator Play, which will be presented on Broadway while LCT's Tony Award winning production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's SOUTH PACIFIC continues its run at the Vivian Beaumont Theater, will begin previews on Thursday, October 22 and open on Thursday, November 19 at a Shubert theater to be announced.

Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities will hold auditions for 'Big River: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn' on Monday, March 16 and Tuesday, March 17, 2009 at the Arvada Center. This production will be directed and choreographed by Stephen Bourneuf. Musical Director is David Nehls. Producer is Rod A. Lansberry. Denver auditions will be held on March 16 and March 17, 2009. Auditions are by appointment only and can be scheduled by calling (720) 898-7200.

Michael Donald Edwards, Asolo Repertory Theatre's producing artistic director, announced today his selections for the 2009-2010 season of plays, his fourth season with the company. Asolo Rep's 51ST season kicks off in October with CONTACT, an exciting new musical produced by Asolo Rep in collaboration with the Sarasota Ballet. Other titles on the schedule are THE PERFUME SHOP, SEARCHING FOR EDEN: THE DIARIES OF ADAM AND EVE, THE LIFE OF GALILEO, HEARTS, MANAGING MAXINE, DANCING BACKWARDS IN HIGH HEELS: THE GINGER MUSICAL, and THE LAST FIVE YEARS.

ON THE BOARDS THIS WEEK at *Cascia Hall Performing Arts Center* 2520 S. Yorktown Ave. UTICA Entrance *The Will Roger's Follies* March 5-7th 7:00pm March 8th at 2:00pm Tickets are $5 & $10 For Tickets: 918-596-7109 www.myticketoffice.com

Theater News from Broadway and the Baltimore/Washington Area