McCarter Theatre News

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts calendar of events for the fall months has just been released. All events are subject to change without notice.

SAMMY, a new musical about the life of Sammy David Jr. currently in previews at The Old Globe, is gearing up for it's much anticipated opening on October 2nd and the buzz has begun. After all, what $2.5-million production about an icon with a 13-piece orchestra and list of award-winning actors wouldn't generate excitement?

The world premiere of Rajiv Joseph's (Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo) Gruesome Playground Injuries features Selma Blair (Hellboy, Hellboy 2: The Golden Army, Storytelling, Legally Blonde, NBC's Kath & Kim) playing Kayleen and Brad Fleischer (Center Theatre Group's premiere of Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo, Broadway's Coram Boy, Off Broadway's Streamers) playing Doug.

SLEEPING BEAUTY WAKES, which unfolds entirely through song, reunites GrooveLily with Tony Award-winning librettist Rachel Sheinkin, perhaps best known for her book to The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. They previously collaborated on the inventive holiday tale STRIKING 12(inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Match Girl), which came to Edison Theatre in 2007.

Page 73 Productions (Liz Jones and Asher Richelli, Executive Directors) and New Georges (Susan Bernfield, Artistic Director; Sarah Cameron Sunde, Associate Director) will present the world premiere of Heidi Schreck's riveting new play "Creature," directed by Leigh Silverman. This Off Broadway engagement will be performed at the Ohio Theatre, 66 Wooster Street (between Spring and Broome Streets). Previews begin on Tuesday, October 27, and the official Opening Night will be Monday, November 2 at 7:00 p.m. Performances will run through November 21.

Page 73 Productions (Liz Jones and Asher Richelli, Executive Directors) and New Georges (Susan Bernfield, Artistic Director; Sarah Cameron Sunde, Associate Director) will present the world premiere of Heidi Schreck's riveting new play 'CREATURE,' directed by Leigh Silverman.

SAMMY, a new musical about the life of Sammy David Jr. currently in previews at The Old Globe, is gearing up for it's much anticipated opening on October 2nd and the buzz has begun. After all, what $2.5-million production about an icon with a 13-piece orchestra and list of award-winning actors wouldn't generate excitement?

La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts and McCoy Rigby Entertainment in association with The Welk Resorts Theatre are proud to present the first production of La Mirada Theatre's 2009-2010 season of shows, Cathy Rigby and Michael Learned starring in the funny and moving, STEEL MAGNOLIAS, written by Robert Harling and directed by La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts Producing Artistic Director Brian Kite. STEEL MAGNOLIAS will begin performances on Friday, October 2 (with a press opening on Saturday, October 3) and will run through Sunday, October 18 at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Boulevard in La Mirada.

La Jolla Playhouse is pleased to announce the complete cast of its world-premiere musical Bonnie & Clyde, music by Frank Wildhorn (Jekyll & Hyde, The Scarlet Pimpernel), lyrics by Tony Award-winner Don Black (Sunset Boulevard, Song and Dance), book by Ivan Menchell (The Cemetery Club, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang), with direction and musical staging by Jeff Calhoun (Deaf West's Big River and Pippin, Grease!), playing November 10 - December 20, 2009 in the Playhouse's Mandell Weiss Theatre.

That Time Magazine called her 'America's greatest ballerina ever' has never been challenged. Suzanne Farrell, former prima ballerina of the New York City Ballet and longtime muse to legendary choreographer George Balanchine, formed her own company in 2000 under the aegis of the Kennedy Center to preserve the rich dance tradition established by her mentor, who created many of his works for her.

Having Our Say is currently coming to life at the McCarter Theatre Center at 91 University Place in Princeton, NJ. The play, which took the stage September 11, 2009, will have its say at the theatre through October 18.

The William & Eva Fox Foundation and Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for American professional, not-for-profit theatre, are pleased to announce the five recipients for the fourth round of the Fox Foundation Resident Actor Fellowships.

SAN DIEGO REPERTORY THEATRE kicks off the 2009-2010 Season with the whirlwind musical LONG STORY SHORT. Written by BRENDAN MILBURN and VALERIE VIGODA of the band GROOVELILY, this audacious musical takes audiences on a beautiful journey through one couple's 50 year relationship.

Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus' global smash hit musical MAMMA MIA! will welcome Patrick Boll, Alyse Alan Louis, David Andrew Macdonald and Eric William Morris to the Winter Garden Theatre on Tuesday, September 22, 2009.

TheatreWorks, the nationally acclaimed theatre of Silicon Valley, presents the ferociously funny, utterly unreliable memoir, Yellow Face, from the Tony Award-winning author of M. Butterfly, David Henry Hwang. Part fact, part fiction, this revealing backstage comedy chronicles the playwright?s struggle to define racial identity in the mixed-up melting pot of contemporary America. Broadway and Off-Broadway star Francis Jue will reprise his Obie-Award winning role as the playwright?s father alongside New York-based actor Pun Bandhu and Bay Area theatre veterans Robert Ernst, Amy Resnick, and Howard Swain. Thomas Azar and Tina Chilip make their TheatreWorks debuts. Founding Artistic Director Robert Kelley will direct. Yellow Face plays August 26 through September 20 (press opening August 29), at TheatreWorks at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts. For tickets and information, the public may call 650-463-1960, or visit www.theatreworks.org.

Old Globe Executive Producer Lou Spisto today announced the complete cast and creative team for the world premiere of Sammy, a new musical based on the life of Sammy Davis, Jr. with book, music and lyrics by Leslie Bricusse, and additional songs by Bricusse and Anthony Newley. Directed by Keith Glover with choreography by Keith Young and music supervision by Ian Fraser, Sammy will run in the Old Globe Theatre Sept. 19 - Nov. 8. Previews run from Sept. 19 - Oct. 1. Opening night is Oct. 2 at 8:00 p.m.

Having Our Say is currently coming to life at the McCarter Theatre Center at 91 University Place in Princeton, NJ. The play, which took the stage September 11, 2009, will have its say at the theatre through October 18.

Yale Repertory Theatre (James Bundy, Artistic Director; Victoria Nolan, Managing Director) opens its 2009-2010 season with THE MASTER BUILDER by Henrik Ibsen, translated by Paul Walsh, directed by Evan Yionoulis at the University Theatre (222 York Street), September 18-October 10. Opening night is Thursday, September 24.

Yale Repertory Theatre (James Bundy, Artistic Director; Victoria Nolan, Managing Director) opens its 2009-2010 season with THE MASTER BUILDER by Henrik Ibsen, translated by Paul Walsh, directed by Evan Yionoulis at the University Theatre (222 York Street), September 18-October 10. Opening night is Thursday, September 24. Tickets go on sale today, August 31.

Yale Repertory Theatre (James Bundy, Artistic Director; Victoria Nolan, Managing Director) opens its 2009-2010 season with THE MASTER BUILDER by Henrik Ibsen, translated by Paul Walsh, directed by Evan Yionoulis at the University Theatre (222 York Street), September 18-October 10. Opening night is Thursday, September 24.