Michael Wood News

Karen Dalton, a play with music written by Evan Enderle, will receive an industry reading tomorrow, Thursday, November 4, 2021 at 3:00pm at The Flea's Siggy Theater (20 Thomas Street), directed by Portia Krieger (Fun Home) with live guitar and banjo accompaniment.

Megan Doyle and Creston Whittington announced today that Karen Dalton, a play with music written by Evan Enderle, will receive an industry reading on Thursday, November 4, 2021 at 3:00pm at The Flea’s Siggy Theater (20 Thomas Street), directed by Portia Krieger (Fun Home) with live guitar and banjo accompaniment.

The adaptation is a 90-minute version with a music score excerpted from the 1960's and 70's pop songbook. It is among the first professional live theatre productions in the DC area next month.

The return of the performing arts across the region over the past few weeks has given Berkshire theatre goers much to celebrate.  With the opening production of KING LEAR, Shakespeare & Company increases the list of reasons, “when power to flattery bows”.

Olney Theatre Center kicks off the decade with a production of Quiara Alegría Hudes' newest musical, Miss You Like Hell on the Mainstage (January 29 - March 1, 2020). Hudes, a Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and Lin-Manuel Miranda's collaborator on the book and film of In The Heights, wrote the book and shares credit for the lyrics with folk-rock star Erin McKeown who also wrote the music. Lisa Portes and Breon Arzell make their Olney Theatre debuts as director and choreographer, respectively. Press is invited to attend the performance on Saturday, February 1 at 8:00 pm.

The New London Barn Playhouse Board of Directors has announced the election of four new Board members and a new President. David Bashaw of Newbury, Maggie Ford of New London, Kim Packard of New London and Tom Stark of Elkins have been voted as members of the Board of Directors, and Pam Perkins of New London has been elected as President of the Board.

Shakespeare & Company is proud to have been honored with six Berkshire Theatre Critics Awards. At a ceremony held in Pittsfield last week, the Board of the Berkshire Theatre Critics Association presented 23 Berkshire Theatre Awards. This was the fourth year the awards have been presented to honor and celebrate the excellence and diversity of theatre in the greater Berkshire region.

Turntables turn to turmoil in the heart of Detroit when a mysterious woman enters the lives of siblings Chelle and Lank. Underground basement parties are the talk of the town as the spirit of Motown breaks barriers across neighborhoods. As race riots erupt in their beloved city, tensions escalate at home. How will this family keep it together as their community falls apart? 

Turntables turn to turmoil in the heart of Detroit when a mysterious woman enters the lives of siblings Chelle and Lank. Underground basement parties are the talk of the town as the spirit of Motown breaks barriers across neighborhoods. As race riots erupt in their beloved city, tensions escalate at home. How will this family keep it together as their community falls apart?

Cue Zero Theatre Company 'shakes up' Shakespeare in their limited run performance of 'Shaken-speare: A Midsummer Night's Dream'.

Olney Theatre Center presents its biggest, most technically challenging musical to-date when it produces Singin In The Rain, November 8, 2019 - January 5, 2020, directed by Marcos Santana. Santana, who directed and choreographed In The Heights, which won the 2018 Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Musical Production, is joined by choreographer Grady Bowman who choreographed 2017's My Fair Lady. Press is invited to attend the performance on Thursday, November 14 at 8:00pm. Keeping with its tradition of partnering with community oriented non-profits during its holiday productions, Olney Theatre will be accepting donations of new or gently used coats to be distributed to community members in-need by One Warm Coat.

The brothers reflect on their lives revealing bad parenting, neglect, abandonment and a series of life events that have left the two relatively young men badly broken. When Lincoln suffers yet another setback, he returns to his previous vices and the life lessons each of the brothers has learned well, are once again set into play - this time upon each other. The result is an overwhelming piece of riveting drama that is raw, deeply emotional, and must be experienced to be appreciated.

Shakespeare & Company presents MacArthur a?oeGeniusa?? Award recipient Suzan-Lori Parks' pulitzer prize-winning play, Topdog/Underdog directed by the distinguished Regge Life, who helmed the Company's acclaimed razor sharp comedy God of Carnage in 2017.

The entire cast proves themselves to be exemplary delivering long complicated dialogue that remains true to the old English, not with trite overdone accents but with polished voices and presentation that helps to make each unique, authentic, and engaging. Although the language can be challenging at times, the actors use of body language and near flawless diction helps greatly. Their musicality is both noteworthy and impressive.

Shakespeare & Company presents William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, directed by Company Artistic Director, Allyn Burrows. This classic showcases a rich, affecting, and deeply funny story of longing, love, and laughter which paints Shakespeare at his peak. Performances run from July 2 to August 4th in the Tina Packer Playhouse.

When I left the Studio Theatre at the Horowitz Visual and Performing Arts Center at Howard Community College in Columbia where the Rep Stage is housed, I went up to Director Joseph W. Ritsch with a big smile on my face. He told me he wanted to end their season with a comedy that audiences would enjoy. Well, mission accomplished!

Rep Stage, the professional regional theatre in residence at Howard Community College (HCC), closes its 26th season with "The 39 Steps," a comedy adapted by Patrick Barlow, from the novel by John Buchan. Based on the Alfred Hitchcock masterpiece, this fast-paced spoof of the classic 1935 film is a joy for anyone who loves the magic of theatre.

Cross Pollinate Productions will present the Australian premiere of MJ Kaufman's Sensitive Guys, a ruthless social satire about political correctness, gender politics and rape culture. Showing from the 30th of April to the 11th of May, Sensitive Guys will be the the fifth instalment of JackRabbit Theatre's takeover of KXT, and one that will exhilarate and challenge its audience.

Rep Stage, the professional regional theatre in residence at Howard Community College (HCC), closes its 26th season with "The 39 Steps," a comedy adapted by Patrick Barlow, from the novel by John Buchan. Based on the Alfred Hitchcock masterpiece, this fast-paced spoof of the classic 1935 film is a joy for anyone who loves the magic of theatre.

In celebration of Black History Month, SHOWTIME will premiere TEDDY PENDERGRASS: IF YOU DON'T KNOW ME, exploring the rise of legendary soul singer Teddy Pendergrass, the first male African American artist to record five consecutive platinum albums. Set against the backdrop of 1960s America, and his comeback after a life-changing accident, Pendergrass' untold and ultimately inspiring story premieres this Today, February 8 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Capturing Pendergrass' rise to fame the film includes rarely before seen archival footage and features revealing interviews with his family, friends and colleagues alongside industry legends, Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff. To watch and share a clip from TEDDY PENDERGRASS: IF YOU DON'T KNOW ME, go to: https://youtu.be/BQQHO9w7Giw.