Mary Ann News

Laura Linney (The Big C, The Savages) and Seth Numrich (AMC's TURN, Broadway: War Horse) will perform in the Geffen Playhouse production of Switzerland by Joanna Murray-Smith (The Female of the Species, The Gift). This co-world premiere with Sydney Theatre Company will be directed by Mark Brokaw (Broadway: Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella, The Lyons) in the Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater at the Geffen Playhouse from tonight, March 6 to April 19, 2015. Opening night is Friday, March 13.

Based on Mark Twain's classic Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Children's Theatre Company (CTC) will present Greg Banks' adaptation of Huck Finn, now through April 4, 2015. Banks, whose CTC credits include Pinocchio, Robin Hood, Antigone, Romeo and Juliet and more, will direct, with music composed by Victor Zupanc, set by Joseph Stanley, costumes by Mary Anna Culligan and lighting design by Paul Whitaker. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Based on Mark Twain's classic Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Children's Theatre Company (CTC) will present Greg Banks' adaptation of Huck Finn, tonight, March 3 - April 4, 2015.

ALTAR BOYZ opened Off-Broadway at Stage 4 of Dodger Stages on March 1, 2005. The award-winning, hit musical comedy closed after 2,032 regular performances on January 10, 2010. For two very special performances at 54 Below on March 1, 2015, actors who played the now iconic fictional Christian boy band took to the stage to celebrate the show's 10th anniversary with pizzazz, wit, and a whole lot of harmonizing.

Milwaukee Chamber Theatre (MCT) continues its 40th Anniversary season, with the Midwest premiere of THE TRAIN DRIVER by Athol Fugard. MCT Producing Artistic Director C.Michael Wright, who has collaborated with Fugard in the past, directs this hard-hitting new drama. Performances are February 25 - March 15, 2015 at the Broadway Theatre Center's Studio Theatre in Milwaukee's Historic Third Ward.

Deadline and The Hollywood Reporter have confirmed that both Dougray Scott (HEMLOCK GROVE) and Aunjanue Ellis (THE HELP) have signed on for the drama from Josh Safran.

?OPERA America is pleased to announce it has awarded grants to 11 opera companies through its Opera Fund: Audience Development grant program, which promotes deep learning experiences about new or infrequently produced American operas and music-theater works. Each grant supports audience development activities associated with a specific work being produced by an OPERA America Professional Company Member.

Based on Mark Twain's classic Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Children's Theatre Company (CTC) will present Greg Banks' adaptation of Huck Finn, March 3 - April 4, 2015. Banks, whose CTC credits include Pinocchio, Robin Hood, Antigone, Romeo and Juliet and more, will direct, with music composed by Victor Zupanc, set by Joseph Stanley, costumes by Mary Anna Culligan and lighting design by Paul Whitaker. Huck Finn premiered at CTC in the 2006-2007 season and is part of the theatre's ongoing commitment to reimagining classics for the stage.

The Pasadena Playhouse (Artistic Director Sheldon Epps and Executive Director Elizabeth Doran) announces the cast of George Bernard Shaw's PYGMALION, the fifth production of its 2014-2015 Season. PYGMALION, which began rehearsals today, will perform March 17 - April 12, 2015 with the official press night on Sunday, March 22, 2015.

Hands in the Community presents 'Betsy Wolfe and Friends' at the Visalia Fox Theatre, 300 Main Street, tonight, February 13, 2015 at 8 p.m.

NATCHEZ, Miss.

Laura Linney (The Big C, The Savages) and Seth Numrich (AMC's TURN, Broadway: War Horse) will perform in the Geffen Playhouse production of Switzerland by Joanna Murray-Smith (The Female of the Species, The Gift). This co-world premiere with Sydney Theatre Company will be directed by Mark Brokaw (Broadway: Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella, The Lyons) in the Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater at the Geffen Playhouse from March 6 to April 19, 2015. Opening night is Friday, March 13.

Milwaukee Chamber Theatre (MCT) continues its 40th Anniversary season, with the Midwest premiere of THE TRAIN DRIVER by Athol Fugard. MCT Producing Artistic Director C. Michael Wright, who has collaborated with Fugard in the past, directs this hard-hitting new drama. Performances are February 25 - March 15, 2015 at the Broadway Theatre Center's Studio Theatre in Milwaukee's Historic Third Ward.

American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) is thrilled to present Tony Award-winning composer Jason Robert Brown's (Parade, Honeymoon in Vegas, The Bridges of Madison County) powerful and intimate musical, The Last Five Years, for a special concert presentation on Friday, March 27 (8 p.m.) and Saturday, March 28 (2 p.m. and 8 p.m.).

Chicago Opera Theater (COT) presents two special Viewpoint events in conjunction with the Chicago Premiere of Tobias Picker's “Thérèse Raquin” February 20-28, 2015 at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance (205 E. Randolph Street). Chicago Opera Theater's production of “Thérèse Raquin” will be conducted by COT's General Director Andreas Mitisek and directed veteran opera director Ken Cazan. With a sensual score that mirrors the lovers' turbulent affair, this tale of torrid romance and scandal features a libretto by critically-acclaimed writer Gene Scheer. Tickets are now on sale at ?chicagooperatheater.org for $35-$125. Press are invited to attend the Friday, February 20 performance.

Ross Valley Players starts the New Year with the romantic comedy, Impressionism by Michael Jacobs.

I have very fond memories from weekends during high school driving by the lake in my hometown in my best friend's car rocking out whatever pop music was on the radio at the time (probably the Backstreet Boys or the Spice Girls or something like that). On occasion we would blast the RENT movie soundtrack (I always sang the role of Mimi… terribly I might add) with the windows down, but there was one particular cast recording that we couldn't get enough of… MAMMA MIA!

Long Beach Opera's 2015 Season of “Desire. Passion. Corruption” opens with the Los Angeles Premiere of composer Tobias Picker's sensual adaptation of Emile Zola's novel, Thérèse Raquin. LBO's new production takes place January 24 and February 1, 2015 at the Warner Grand Theatre in San Pedro.

Alysha Umphress, currently starring in the new Broadway revival of ON THE TOWN, and Tony Award-nominated composer and performer Jeff Blumenkrantz just celebrated their new album, I've Been Played: Alysha Umphress Swings Jeff Blumenkrantz with a concert at Birdland (315 W. 44th Street, New York, NY 10036). Check out photos from te special night below!

Ross Valley Players starts the New Year with the romantic comedy, Impressionism by Michael Jacobs.