Matthew Penn News

The cast is set for Rumpy Pumpy!, playing the King's Head Theatre, 115 Upper Street, Islington, London N1 1QN from tonight 28th March, Today 4th April & Thursday 9th April 2015 and the Landor Theatre, 70 Landor Road, London SW9 9PH from Tuesday 14th - Sunday 19th April 2015.

Rumpy Pumpy! comes to the King's Head Theatre, 115 Upper Street, Islington, London N1 1QN from Saturday 28th March, Saturday 4th April & Thursday 9th April 2015 and the Landor Theatre, 70 Landor Road, London SW9 9PH from Tuesday 14th - Sunday 19th April 2015. Scroll down for a sneak peek at the cast in rehearsal!

The cast is set for Rumpy Pumpy!, playing the King's Head Theatre, 115 Upper Street, Islington, London N1 1QN from Saturday 28th March, Saturday 4th April & Thursday 9th April 2015 and the Landor Theatre, 70 Landor Road, London SW9 9PH from Tuesday 14th - Sunday 19th April 2015.

Shakespeare & Company has announced its lineup for the 2015 summer season, which includes three Shakespeare plays, Henry V, The Comedy of Errors and Hamlet, plus the Regional Premiere of Red Velvet by Lolita Chakrabarti, and the World Premiere of Jane Anderson's Mother of the Maid, starring Tina Packer. In addition, the summer season includes The Unexpected Man by Yasmina Reza, and opens with the provocative new play by Sarah Treem, The How and the Why.

For those who think that Christopher Durang's popular VANYA AND SONIA AND MASHA AND SPIKE is a strawhat comedy, this production proves it's goat real heart too, just as in any Chekhov play.

With a healthy dose of hilarity, heart and humility Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike joins the Bernstein repertory with director Matthew Penn at the helm. Christopher Durang's Tony-award winning homage to Chekhov leaves no stone unturned when it comes to family dynamics, sibling rivalries, love, lust, hopes and dreams in this razor sharp comedy. The stalwart cast includes audience favorites Tod Randolph and Elizabeth Aspenlieder, and S&Co. newcomers Jim Frangione, Angel Moore, Mat Leonard and Olivia Saccomanno. Performances run in the Elayne P. Bernstein Theatre August 6 - September 14. Press Opening is Friday, August 15 at 8:00pm. To RSVP or for interview opportunities contact Communications & Press Director Elizabeth Aspenlieder: aspenlieder@shakespeare.org.

Casting for Shakespeare & Company's upcoming Summer Performance Season was finalized last week which includes a roster of audience favorites, critics' top picks and a bevy of newcomers joining the Company's ranks in this celebratory season in honor of the 450th anniversary of Shakespeare's birth. See play titles, casting, Press Openings and full schedules for each production listed below.

Pioneer Theatre Company ushers in its new play reading series, called Play-By-Play, with True Art by Jessica Provenz, February 28 and March 1, 2014. Guest artist Julie Kramer directs the production.

Berkshire Playwrights Lab will present a staged reading of Christina Gorman's Far From the Trees, directed by Tim Raphael, tonight, August 21 at 7:30pm at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center (14 Castle Street, Great Barrington, Mass.). There is no charge for admission, however, Berkshire Playwrights Lab suggests a $10.00 donation to help offset its programming costs. For reservations, call 413.528.0100 or visit the Mahaiwe box office in person.

Anything is sweeter than this mother and daughter story.

Emergent Arts will present the second installment of The UFO Show (Unidentified Funny Objects), an evening of standup storytelling and original songs, tonight, August 8 at 8pm at The Mix Studio Theatre, 8 North Washington Street, Ypsilanti, Michigan.

Berkshire Playwrights Lab will present a staged reading of Richard Dresser's The Handyman, directed by Joe Cacaci, today, August 7 at 7:30pm at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center (14 Castle Street, Great Barrington, Mass.).

Berkshire Playwrights Lab will present a staged reading of Richard Dresser's The Handyman, directed by Joe Cacaci, on Wednesday, August 7 at 7:30pm at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center (14 Castle Street, Great Barrington, Mass.). The cast will include Wendie Malick, currently co-starring in TV Land's Hot in Cleveland, Berkshire Playwrights Lab Co-Artistic Director Jim Frangione, and two other actors TBA. There is no charge for admission, however, Berkshire Playwrights Lab suggests a $10.00 donation to help offset its programming costs. For reservations, call 413.528.0100 or visit the Mahaiwe box office in person.

Shakespeare & Company is proud to introduce Award winning playwright Martin McDonagh's work to its Bernstein Theatre repertoire with The Beauty Queen of Leenane. Directed by Matthew Penn, who also makes his debut with the Company, The Beauty Queen of Leenane features the indomitable Founding Artistic Director Tina Packer, long-time Company actor Elizabeth Aspenlieder, and newcomers Edmund Donovan and David Sedgwick. Steeped with razor sharp wit, humor and humanity, The Beauty Queen of Leenane runs August 8-September 15 in the Bernstein Theatre, 70 Kemble Street, Lenox MA.

Berkshire Playwrights Lab will present a staged reading of Michael Brady's Titles, directed by Giovanna Sardelli, on Wednesday, July 24 at 7:30pm at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center (14 Castle Street, Great Barrington, Mass.). There is no charge for admission, however, Berkshire Playwrights Lab suggests a $10.00 donation to help offset its programming costs. For reservations, call 413.528.0100 or visit the Mahaiwe box office in person.