McCarter Theatre Center News

New Jersey Theatre Alliance ("the Alliance") is thrilled to present four unique FREE theatre events in March as part of the 21st annual Stages Festival, the state's largest festival of theatre.

"The story you are about to witness is one of romance, tragedy, primal murder and the urge for revenge." These words, spoken by the famous Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot open Agatha Christie's MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS, the latest production at Hartford Stage (in collaboration with the McCarter Theatre Center), and set the scene for what is soon to be a fast-paced and extremely entertaining evening of theatre. The play, newly adapted by Ken Ludwig (LEND ME A TENOR, CRAZY FOR YOU, MOON OVER BUFFALO) at the request of the Agatha Christie estate, takes the story from Christie's bestselling 1934 novel and breathes new life into the tale of an unlikely group of strangers on the lavish Orient Express and the murder that shines the spotlight on each of them.

The epic story returns. Tony Kushner's two-part play, ANGELS IN AMERICA makes its way back to Broadway tonight! A cast led by Tony nominee Andrew Garfield and two-time Tony winner Nathan Lane will begin previews tonight at the Neil Simon Theatre with Part 1: Millennium Approaches. Get to know the cast below as they begin Broadway performances!

Three of New Jersey's top corporations, Bank of America, The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey, and PSEG Foundation, have once again joined forces with the New Jersey State Arts Council to support the 21st annual  Stages Festival ("Stages"). Stages will offer over 90 theatre performances and programs for children and adults free of charge or at significantly discounted rates. Events will take place at theatres, art centers, libraries, schools, and other community venues from March 1st to the 31st, across the state.

Due to high ticket demand, Hartford Stage announced today that it is adding four additional performances to the run of Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express, adapted for the stage by Ken Ludwig and directed by Emily Mann. The show now runs through Sunday, March 25. 

Michael Kahn today announces Shakespeare Theatre Company's 2018-2019 Season. With two world premieres from celebrated playwrights, a multiple Tony Award-winning presentation, a dynamic adaptation of a classic novel, two Shakespeare plays and a group of acclaimed directors and artists, it is an ambitious grand finale for STC Artistic Director Michael Kahn, who will retire from the company at the end of the Season.

New Jersey Theatre Alliance ("the Alliance") and its partners and funders are pleased to present the 21st annual Stages Festival ("Stages"), a statewide, month-long festival of theatre offering over 90 theatre performances and programs for children and adults free of charge or at significantly discounted rates. Events will take place at theatres, arts centers, libraries, schools, and other community venues throughout the state during the month of March.

The 2017-18 Ruth Easton New Play Series at the Playwrights' Center continues March 5 and 6 with Core Writer Meg Miroshnik's new play 'Quiver.' The readings begin at 7 p.m. at the Playwrights' Center, located at 2301 E. Franklin Avenue in Minneapolis. They are free, but reservations are recommended and can be made at pwcenter.org.

Fifteen years after its world premiere at McCarter Theatre Center, Crowns is returning. When Yolanda's brother is killed on the streets of Chicago, the shaken teenager is sent to live with her grandmother in South Carolina, where she embarks on a journey toward discovering her place in the world, and in her family. Produced in association with Long Wharf Theatre, Crowns runs March 13 - April 1 in McCarter's Matthews Theatre.

The Old Globe today announced that its 2018-2019 Season will kick off with the world premiere of the new musical Heart of Rock and Roll, inspired by the songs of Huey Lewis and the News, featuring a book by Jonathan Abrams and story by Tyler Mitchell and Jonathan Abrams. It will be directed by Gordon Greenberg with choreography by Lorin Latarro and music supervision, arrangements, and orchestrations by Brian Usifer. Heart of Rock and Roll will bepresented by special arrangement with Tyler Mitchell, W. Leo Kiely, Bill Kiely, Whitney Kiely Moehle, and Tamar Climan. Mr. Lewis released a brief video to Rolling Stone about the show (with a surprise guest cameo)-click here to see for yourself!

In March more than 130 community engagement practitioners, educators and artists from 26 states and 76 organizations will convene at Milwaukee Repertory Theater for the Intersections Summit, a first of its kind conference for regional theaters.

STONES IN HIS POCKETS, running at McCarter Theatre Center through February 11, has a cast of two. But Irish actors Garret Lombard and Aaron Monaghan portray dozens of characters in Marie Jones' hit play about villagers in County Kerry thrust into excitement and heartache when a Hollywood movie comes to town to film.

Lincoln Center Theater (under the direction of Andre Bishop) has announced complete casting for its upcoming production of Lerner & Loewe's MY FAIR LADY. As previously reported, Lauren Ambrose will be playing as Eliza Doolittle and Harry Hadden-Paton will play Henry Higgins, alongside Norbert Leo Butz as Alfred P. Doolittle and Diana Rigg as Mrs. Higgins. Just announced are: Allan Corduner as Colonel Pickering, Jordan Donica as Freddy Eynsford-Hill, Linda Mugleston as Mrs. Pearce, and Manu Narayan as Zoltan Karpathy.

The Huntington Theatre Company presents the irresistible comedy, Bad Dates, featuring Haneefah Wood (Cassandra in Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike at the Huntington and Blanche in Fox TV's Grease Live! ), written by Theresa Rebeck (creator of NBC's Smash and the Elliot Norton and IRNE Award-winning play Mauritius, produced at the Huntington in 2006), and directed by Jessica Stone (director of Ripcord and Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike at the Huntington). Performances run from January 26 through February 25, 2018 at the Avenue of the Arts / Huntington Avenue Theatre.

The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County (@ArshtCenter) is proud to present the South Florida premiere of SMALL MOUTH SOUNDS (@SmallMouthPlay), the Obie Award-winning, critically-acclaimed play by Bess Wohl. Playing February 16 - March 4, 2018 in the intimate Carnival Studio Theater (Ziff Ballet Opera House), SMALL MOUTH SOUNDS continues the Center's 2017-2018 Theater Up Close Series.

From award-winning playwright and Princeton University Lecturer in Theatre Nathan Alan Davis (The Princeton and Slavery Plays, Nat Turner in Jerusalem) comes the first in a trilogy of new plays about a multi-generational African-American family. After the recent death of her husband, Gail works hard to keep her rural Illinois household running and to ensure her daughter, mother-in-law, and grandson are happy and healthy while coming to terms with her own mortality. Protect the Beautiful Place is a poignant exploration of how we define the idea of home and the choices we make to protect the ones we love.

The Huntington Theatre Company presents the powerful drama Skeleton Crew, by Dominique Morriseau (Detroit '67 and Paradise Blue) and directed by Megan Sandberg-Zakian (Nat Turner in Jerusalem at New York Theatre Workshop and The Convert at Underground Railway Theater). Skeleton Crew runs from March 2 through March 31, 2018 at the South End / Calderwood Pavilion at the BCA.

This winter, YAMATO: The Drummers of Japan bring their 'genuinely theatrical experience' (TheTimes) to the United States for a 30-city tour of THE CHALLENGERS. The US appearances - from January 18-March 19, 2018 - are part of their 2017-2018 world tour celebrating the Taiko troupe's 25th anniversary.

The Shakespeare Theatre Company (STC) announces the cast and creative team for Hamlet, directed by STC Artistic Director Michael Kahn and featuring acclaimed actor Michael Urie as the tortured Danish prince. Shakespeare's most celebrated tragedy will run January 16-February 25, 2018 at Sidney Harman Hall.

McCarter Theatre Center is starting 2018 with a strong shot of Irish humor as it presents Marie Jones' Stones in His Pockets, January 12 February 11 in the Berlind Theatre.