Marsha Norman News

A new season rich with laughter and compelling drama was announced today for the Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum by Michael Ritchie, CTG Artistic Director.

Mercury Theater Chicago's production of THE COLOR PURPLE, based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker, opened last night, Monday, August 26 at 7:30p.m., and will continue through October 27, 2013. THE COLOR PURPLE stars Trisha Jeffrey (Broadway's Rent, All Shook Up, and Little Shop of Horrors and the first National Tour of Sister Act) as 'Celie,' Jasondra Johnson (Crowns at Goodman Theatre) as 'Sophia,' and Adrienne Walker (Marriott Theatre's Dreamgirls) as 'Shug.' This highly anticipated production is led by multiple Jeff Award winners L. Walter Stearns (Director), Eugene Dizon (Musical Director), and Brenda Didier (Choreographer). Check out a look back at last night's festivities below!

The Dramatists Guild of America recently held their Second National Conference Having Our Say: Our History, Our Future, on August 22-25, 2013 in Chicago, IL. The conference included keynote speeches, legal and business seminars, workshops, and conversations with theatre elite. Participating Council and visiting artists include Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Gretchen Cryer, Rebecca Gilman, Carol Hall, Winnie Holzman, David Ives, Lisa Kron, Martha Lavey, Bobby Lopez, Terrence McNally, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Marsha Norman, Theresa Rebeck, Stephen Schwartz, Jeff Sweet, John Weidman, George C. Wolfe, and Charlayne Woodard. Check out a look back at the national conference below!

The Dramatists Guild of America is pleased to announce their Second National Conference Having Our Say: Our History, Our Future, which will be held from today, August 22-25, 2013 in Chicago, IL.

Mercury Theater Chicago, 3745 N Southport Ave., presents the Broadway musical THE COLOR PURPLE, based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker, opening Monday, August 26 at 7:30p.m., and running through October 27, 2013. THE COLOR PURPLE stars Trisha Jeffrey (Broadway's Rent, All Shook Up, and Little Shop of Horrors and the first National Tour ofSister Act) as 'Celie,' Jasondra Johnson (Crowns at Goodman Theatre) as 'Sophia,' and Adrienne Walker (Marriott Theatre's Dreamgirls) as 'Shug.' Check out a first look at the cast below!

The Bridges of Madison County will begin previews on Monday, January 13, 2014 and officially open on Thursday, February 27, 2014at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre (236 West 45th Street). Tickets can be purchased at Telecharge.com or by calling (212) 239-6200.

Angelina Fiordellisi, Founding Artistic Director of Cherry Lane Theatre, announces the following productions for the company's 2013-14 season:

Just last week, Oprah Winfrey chatted with The New York Daily News about her long-professed desire to take to the stage. Now according to the New York Times, the media mogul is looking into bringing John Doyle's current reimagined production of THE COLOR PURPLE, which is currently playing at the Menier Chocolate Factory, to Broadway.

In honor of the conclusion of the 2013 Williamstown Theatre Festival, the staff, including interns, apprentices, and more crafted an elaborate 'Lip Dup' to the tune of Queen's 'Don't Stop Me Now.' Check it out below!

The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts announces its Inaugural Season beginning with performances by the Martha Graham Dance Company, which open the 500-seat Goldsmith Theater on November 8 and 9, 2013, followed by the play Parfumerie by Miklos Laszlo, adapted by Edward P. Dowdall and directed by Mark Brokaw, from November 26 to December 22, 2013. The romantic tale Parfumerie inspired the films The Shop Around the Corner, In the Good Old Summertime, and Nora Ephron's You've Got Mail, as well as the Broadway musical She Loves Me. As a special program, an exhibition on perfume entitled Timeless Scents: 1370-2013, a history of iconic fragrances through the ages is being created especially for The Wallis by Chandler Burr, former New York Times scent critic.

Mercury Theater Chicago, 3745 N Southport Ave., presents the Broadway musical THE COLOR PURPLE, based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker, previewing tonight, August 14, opening Monday, August 26 at 7:30p.m., and running through October 27, 2013.

Mercury Theater Chicago, 3745 N Southport Ave., presents the Broadway musical THE COLOR PURPLE, based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker, previewing tonight, August 14, opening Monday, August 26 at 7:30p.m., and running through October 27, 2013.

Production dates for The Color Purple are September 6-15 in the Wilson Mainstage Auditorium at South Bend Civic Theatre, 403 N. Main Street in South Bend. Performances times are 8:00 PM, Friday and Saturday evenings, 7:30 PM Wednesday and Thursday, 3:00 PM Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $21 Friday, Saturday and Sunday, $18 Wednesday and Thursday. For tickets call 574-234-1112 or go online at www.sbct.org. Sponsors for the production are Villing and Company, the Community Foundation of St. Joseph County and NIPSCO.

Williamstown Theatre Festival Artistic Director Jenny Gersten has announced the opening of the seventh and final production of the 2013 season: Blood Play, the smash hit by the Obie Award-winning company The Debate Society, opens tonight on the Nikos Stage and plays through August 18, following tonight's preview performance.

Producers Jeffrey Richards, Stacey Mindich, and Jerry Frankel have just announced that tickets are now on sale to the public for The Bridges of Madison County, the new musical, based on the best selling novel by Robert James Waller.

Mercury Theater Chicago, 3745 N Southport Ave., presents the Broadway musical THE COLOR PURPLE, based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker, previewing August 14, opening Monday, August 26 at 7:30p.m., and running through October 27, 2013. THE COLOR PURPLE stars Trisha Jeffrey (Broadway's Rent, All Shook Up, and Little Shop of Horrors and the first National Tour of Sister Act) as 'Celie,' Jasondra Johnson (Crowns at Goodman Theatre) as 'Sophia,' and Adrienne Walker (Marriott Theatre's Dreamgirls) as 'Shug.' This highly anticipated production is led by multiple Jeff Award winners L. Walter Stearns (Director), Eugene Dizon (Musical Director), and Brenda Didier (Choreographer).

Williamstown Theatre Festival Artistic Director Jenny Gersten announced today the full cast and creative team for the last production of the 2013 season: Blood Play, the smash hit by The Debate Society will be presented on the Nikos Stage from tonight, August 7 - 18, 2013 (opening Thursday, August 8 at 7:30 p.m.).

Williamstown Theatre Festival just opened the sixth production of the 2013 Main Stage season: The World Premiere musical, The Bridges of Madison County, on the Main Stage. Playing through August 18, the show began preview performances on August 1. BroadwayWorld was there for opening night and you can check out photos from the after party below!

Williamstown Theatre Festival Artistic Director Jenny Gersten announces the opening of the sixth production of the 2013 Main Stage season: The World Premiere musical, The Bridges of Madison County, opens tonight and plays on the Main Stage through August 18, following preview performances that began August 1. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

The Bridges of Madison County, a new musical, based on the best selling novel by Robert James Waller, will begin performances on Monday, January 13, 2014, at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre (236 West 45th Street), with an opening night late February 2014. The story takes us deep into the heart of our country and tells the very moving story of a beautiful young woman leaving Italy and suddenly living in Iowa... and her joyful discovery of love. Below, go inside the sitzprobe for the pre-Broadway run at Williamstown Theatre Festival!