Melissa Beck News

An award-winning cast, including Academy Award winners F. Murray Abraham and Timothy Hutton, Emmy Award winners and Academy Award nominees James Garner and Stockard Channing and popular character actors Wayne Knight ('Seinfeld') and George Wendt ('Cheers,' Second City) will bring Charles Dickens' beloved tale of miserly Ebenezer Scrooge and his visit from the three Ghosts of Christmas to life on the stage of Chicago's Civic Opera House from Dec. 22- 27. Tickets will go on sale Friday, Oct. 16 at 10 a.m.

The National Wildlife Federation has teamed with the upcoming feature film WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE to launch Be Out ThereTM, a national campaign to get families and kids to spend daily time outdoors for their health, happiness, and well-being. Directed by Spike Jonze and based on Maurice Sendak's classic book, WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE is an adventure for every generation in the story of a young boy who feels misunderstood at home and escapes to the island of the Wild Things. As an education partner for the film, the National Wildlife Federation shows kids how they can escape into nature and learn about the wild things wherever they live.

As previously announced, on October 12, nearly 150 theaters nationwide will stage readings of the epilogue piece to 2000's The Laramie Project, entitled The Laramie Project: 10 Years Later, in honor of the 11th anniversary of Matthew Shepard's death. Two regional companies that have announced productions include Washington DC's Arena Stage and Who Wants Cake in Michigan.

What better way to celebrate the Halloween season than with an evening both scary and literary? Crawl out of your crypts and drag your corpses down to the LITERARY LEGENDS HALLOWEEN BASH on Friday, October 23rd at the Gazebo Café at the historic French Market. The haunting starts when the clock strikes 8pm and goes until the witching hour (midnight).

Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company is spending SEASON 30, it's 30th season of producing provocative new plays in the nation's capital, looking forward to the future of 30 more years, with a few glances back to celebrate some of the theatre's noteworthy achievements. Programs during the course of SEASON 30 include exploring new ways to engage with audiences and the DC community at large, as well as growing the theatre's new play development initiatives, all in keeping with Woolly's mission to 'ignite an explosive engagement between theatre artists and the community.'

Philip G. Bennett, Dean of Adult Education at Beowulf Alley Theatre, announces two adult education programs beginning in October, 2009. The first is an introductory symposium, Stanislavski's Ultimate Acting Technique (An introduction to Stanislavski's greatest discovery) on Saturday, October 24, 2009, 10:00am to 1:00pm. The course, for actors, directors, and instructors of acting, is called 'Stanislavski's Lost Term...And How to Use the Method of Physical Actions and Active Analysis.' The fee for this 3-hour course is $25 for active participants (wear comfortable clothing for movement) and $15 for observers.

Queens Theatre in the Park (QTP) continues the 2009/2010 Theatre Series with the world premiere of AGAINST THE RISING SEA by Kelly Masterson. Presented in association with Cobalt Blue Productions, LTD & Joe Cacaci Productions, and running from October 15 - 25, 2009 the show comes to life in the Claire Shulman Playhouse Main Stage Theatre at Queens Theatre in the Park.

The Eclipse Theatre only needs $270 to the Board of Director's Challenge Grant of $2,500.

What happens when you give puppets the power? When you blend an ICE raid with a Cuban lullaby? What happens when actors and audience mingle as the Royal Typewriter factory burns? That is The Parkville Project in the making: a devised multimedia performance piece developing before your eyes at Barca Restaurant in Parkville.

Although fall is in the air, the Bay Street Theatre is keeping it warm with KidStreet Live Performances and more great classic films on Friday and Saturday evenings at The Picture Show. Tickets range from $5 to $15 for all activities.

The Power Couple of Burlesque (GiGi La Femme and Doc Wasabassco) presents REVEALED, a cutting-edge burlesque show with a sinfully dirty twist. This unique and extra-sultry night features the sexiest, most notorious burlesque performers in New York City, as you've never seen them before. REVEALED promises you more bang for your buck than any other show in town. What surprises will the girls have in store for us this month? Come find out and experience an evening of salacious striptease and skin, where the climax of each number leaves everything...REVEALED.

The Holy Trinity Greek School will host a Greek theatrical group's presentation of Euripides Greek tragedy, 'Troades -Trojan Women,' a play that honors Greek civilization and the genre of ancient tragedy.

The Tank: Home for Emerging Arts presents THE UNTITLED KONDABOLU BROTHERS EXPERIMENT Wednesday, October 21 and Wednesday, December 9.

Broadway Classroom will present its next workshop in the new 'Putting it All Together' series on Saturday, December 5, 2009. Taught by Broadway stars Melissa Rae Mahon (CHICAGO, THE PRODUCERS, 42ND STREET) and Sean McKnight (CURTAINS), this innovative 3½-hour workshop includes audition techniques, musical theatre song and movement, and a Q&A with Broadway professionals, as well as lunch at Applebees and a ticket to see SHREK THE MUSICAL.

Broadway Classroom will present its next workshop in the new 'Putting it All Together' series on Saturday, January 23, 2010. Taught by Broadway stars Melissa Rae Mahon (CHICAGO, THE PRODUCERS, 42ND STREET) and Sean McKnight (CURTAINS), this innovative 3½-hour workshop includes audition techniques, musical theatre song and movement and a Q&A with Broadway professionals, as well as lunch at Planet Hollywood, and a ticket to see IN THE HEIGHTS.

The 5th Avenue Theatre has announced a partnership with Treehouse, a local non-profit dedicated to helping foster kids in King County. From now through November 1, the Theatre is sponsoring Coats for Kids to collect coat donations for kids living in foster care. Patrons who bring new or like-new coats to the Theatre will receive a 2-for-1 ticket coupon for select performances of JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR or WHITE CHRISTMAS.

Michael James is going back to his roots with production of 'Man of La Mancha' by Theo Ubique at Cabaret Theatre. The theater produces its shows in association with James. His father, Hal James, was one of the original producers of the first Broadway production.

Broadway Classroom will present its next workshop in the new 'Putting it All Together' series on Saturday, January 23, 2010. Taught by Broadway stars Melissa Rae Mahon (CHICAGO, THE PRODUCERS, 42ND STREET) and Sean McKnight (CURTAINS), this innovative 3½-hour workshop includes audition techniques, musical theatre song and movement and a Q&A with Broadway professionals, as well as lunch at Planet Hollywood, and a ticket to see IN THE HEIGHTS.

THE WEREWOLF OF THE FULL MOON, a new thriller by Dennis Wickline, continues the 16th season of Broadway Onstage Live Theatre. Opening on Friday, October 23 and running Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm and select Sundays at 2pm, the thriller introduces the audience to a new and reimagined world of werewolves and mysteries.

ShenanArts presents COTTON PATCH GOSPEL, an old story told in a new way with music that will lift your spirit and touch the heart. It's perfect for the entire family