Michael Frayn News

Tony-Winning performer Patti LuPone takes the stage for an evening of Broadway favorites at Mayo Performing Arts Center on Saturday, March 21, 2015 at 8 pm. Tickets are $49-89.

Theatre Memphis' Next Stage has girded its loins and taken on the challenge of staging Michael Frayn's dense and difficult COPENHAGEN, and it must have known from the outset that such an esoteric piece will offer rewards to a select audience. The very title itself (though certainly appropriate) is not exactly audience-inviting; and the language, redolent with physics jargon and theories, is tantamount to watching a foreign film or listening to an opera without subtitles. Indeed, I had been warned by a very erudite theatregoer who had just seen it the previous night that there would be an exodus after intermission: There was. In spite of all this, the play can be richly rewarding for those who remain seated - even those whose only previous experience with physics came in the form of the woefully miscast Denise Richards as research physicist 'Dr. Christmas Jones' in the 'James Bond' adventure THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH (my jaw dropped at that one - as it did recently while watching Jennifer Lopez assay the role of an instructor of classics in THE BOY NEXT DOOR . . . with 'Minnie Mouse'-voiced Kristen Chenowith as an Assistant Principal!)

Mad Cow Theatre has just announced the return of the Science Play Festival, running February 27 - March 1.

HINT OF LIME PRODUCTIONS, in association with The King's Head Theatre, presents MRS ROOSEVELT FLIES TO LONDON. Written and performed by ALISON SKILBECK, directed by LUCY SKILBECK. The show runs April 14 to May 9 at The King's Head Theatre. Press night April 15 at 7.00pm.

Patti LuPone's appearances at 54 Below have already achieved the status of legend. Experiencing the great diva in the intimate atmosphere of 54 Below is not only a never-to-be-forgotten experience but is one you will want to repeat again and again.

Artistic Director Daniel Evans presents Sheffield's Sarah Kane Season.

Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) is pleased to announce the performance schedule for the world premiere of Significant Other, a new play by Joshua Harmon (Bad Jews) directed by Trip Cullman (Murder Ballad).

Hampstead Theatre and The Peter Wolff Trust are delighted to announce two new plays for Hampstead Downstairs: The Wasp by Morgan Lloyd Malcolm, directed by Tom Attenborough and Deposit by Matt Hartley, directed by Lisa Spirling.

Copenhagen, a Tony Award winner for Best Play, explodes onto the Next Stage at Theatre Memphis and runs February 13 - March 1, 2015.

Due to popular pre-sale demand, Aurora Theatre Company announces that it will again extend Lanford Wilson's Pulitzer Prize-winning TALLEY'S FOLLY, the second fully staged production to be performed in the company's second stage performance space, Harry's UpStage.

SAN FRANCISCO, January 20 - 2-time Tony and 2-time Grammy Award-winning vocalist Patti LuPone brings her new concert Far Away Places to San Francisco on Monday, February 23 at Davies Symphony Hall. Joined by her five-piece band, LuPone's performance features renditions of songs by an eclectic list of songwriters including Stephen Sondheim, Cole Porter, Willie Nelson, Kurt Weill, Edith Piaf, Frederick Hollander, and the Bee Gees. The original live show of Far Away Places opened the Manhattan music venue 54 Below in 2012, a live recording of which was released in 2013.

Artistic Director Daniel Evans today announces the full casting for the Sarah Kane Season.

Luna Stage begins 2015 with a revival of A Perfect Ganesh, Terrence McNally's beautiful story of love and redemption. A Perfect Ganesh opens to previews on Thursday January 29, 2015 and runs Thursdays through Sundays through February 22nd. Opening night is Saturday January 31, 2015. Select performances are followed by Talkbacks with the creative team. Tickets range from $25-$35. Group sales available. $10 Student Rush tickets available one half-hour before curtain. Individual tickets can be purchased at lunastage.org, or at the box office Tues.-Fri. 10am-3pm (973-395-5551).

Hampstead Theatre and The Peter Wolff Trust are delighted to announce two new plays for Hampstead Downstairs: The Wasp by Morgan Lloyd Malcolm, directed by Tom Attenborough and Deposit by Matt Hartley, directed by Lisa Spirling.

Roundabout Theatre Company will conclude its limited engagement of Tom Stoppard's Tony Award-winning play, The Real Thing, on January 4, 2015.

Roundabout Theatre Company presents the New York premiere of Tom Stoppard's Indian Ink, directed by Carey Perloff.

Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) is pleased to announce the cast for the Roundabout Underground world-premiere production of Little Children Dream of God, a new play by Jeff Augustin, directed by Giovanna Sardelli, will feature Gilbert Cruz (Manuel), Dashiell Eaves (Trevor), Carl Hendrick Louis (Toussaint and Man), Maurice Jones (Joel), Chris Myers (Vishal), Deirdre O'Connell (Carolyn), Carra Patterson (Sula) and Crystal Lucas-Perry (Madison).

Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) just announced dates for Michael Frayn's comedy Noises Off, starring Tony® and Emmy® Award winner Andrea Martin as 'Dotty.' Jeremy Herrin will direct the new Broadway production as part of Roundabout Theatre Company's 50th anniversary season. Noises Off will begin previews on Thursday, December 17, 2015 and open officially on Thursday, January 14, 2016 on Broadway. This will be a limited engagement.

Continuing the company's tradition for dedicating seasons to playwrights whose work has influenced a generation, this year Sheffield will stage the complete works of the playwright Sarah Kane, with productions of Blasted, directed by Richard Wilson, and Crave and 4.48 Psychosis, directed by Charlotte Gwinner.

In 1970, Michael Frayn, the English playwright who would go on to write NOISES OFF, was standing backstage in the wings watching a performance of another farce he had written, "The Two of Us." Of this performance, he said, 'It was funnier from behind than in front, and I thought that one day I must write a farce from behind.' By the late 70s, Frayn had taken a crack at the concept with a short-lived one-act play called "Exits" before fleshing out and expanding the piece into the hilarious three-act NOISES OFF, now brilliantly staged at the Morgan-Wixson in Santa Monica.