Morris Panych News

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater kicks off the 2014/15 season with the world premiere of Morris Panych's The Shoplifters, a biting comedy about society's haves and have-nots and how much they might actually have in common. Noted Canadian playwright and director Panych, a two-time recipient of the Governor General's Literary Award, makes his Arena Stage debut with an expertly drawn cast of oddball characters and a high-stakes battle of wills involving a career shoplifter whose life of petty crime is halted by an overzealous rookie security guard and his ambivalent mentor. The Shoplifters runs September 5-October 19, 2014 in the Kreeger Theater. Check out the trailer below!

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater kicks off the 2014/15 season with the world premiere of Morris Panych's The Shoplifters, a biting comedy about society's haves and have-nots and how much they might actually have in common. Noted Canadian playwright and director Panych, a two-time recipient of the Governor General's Literary Award, makes his Arena Stage debut with an expertly drawn cast of oddball characters and a high-stakes battle of wills involving a career shoplifter whose life of petty crime is halted by an overzealous rookie security guard and his ambivalent mentor. The Shoplifters runs September 5-October 19, 2014 in the Kreeger Theater. Check out a sneak peek below!

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater kicks off the 2014/15 season with the world premiere of Morris Panych's The Shoplifters, a biting comedy about society's haves and have-nots and how much they might actually have in common. Noted Canadian playwright and director Panych, a two-time recipient of the Governor General's Literary Award, makes his Arena Stage debut with an expertly drawn cast of oddball characters and a high-stakes battle of wills involving a career shoplifter whose life of petty crime is halted by an overzealous rookie security guard and his ambivalent mentor. The Shoplifters runs September 5-October 19, 2014 in the Kreeger Theater.

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater kicks off the 2014/15 season with the world premiere of Morris Panych's The Shoplifters, a biting comedy about society's haves and have-nots and how much they might actually have in common. Noted Canadian playwright and director Panych, a two-time recipient of the Governor General's Literary Award, makes his Arena Stage debut with an expertly drawn cast of oddball characters and a high-stakes battle of wills involving a career shoplifter whose life of petty crime is halted by an overzealous rookie security guard and his ambivalent mentor. The Shoplifters runs September 5-October 19, 2014 in the Kreeger Theater.

Following the phenomenal success of his Spring tour earlier this year, Alan Davies has announced a further tour this Autumn of his brand new show, Little Victories.

Tony-nominated actress Jayne Houdyshell (Broadway's Romeo and Juliet, Follies, Wicked, Well) will kick off Arena Stage's 2014/15 season in her D.C. stage debut starring as Alma in Morris Panych's world-premiere comedy The Shoplifters, September 5 - October 19, 2014.

Today, Artistic Producer Arkady Spivak announced plans for Talk Is Free Theatre's upcoming season. It will include a wide range of new and forgotten classics from the world repertoire, as well as a visit from an original Canadian musical.

Copa de Oro Productions and the Segal Centre for Performing Arts have secured the rights to the English-language adaptation of Belles-Soeurs, the Quebec musical sensation based on the play by Michel Tremblay. BELLES SŒURS: THE MUSICAL will premiere to Montreal audiences as part of the Segal Centre's 2014-2015 Season from October 19 - November 9, 2014.

Arena Stage Artistic Director Molly Smith reveals the 2014/15 season lineup for the company's 65th season and fifth year in the Mead Center for American Theater. As a national center focused on showcasing American voices and artists, this season is designed with range through productions that are emotional, uplifting, funny and thought-provoking.

Artistic Director Richard Rose and General Manager Gideon Arthurs proudly rolled out Tarragon Theatre's 8-play 2014-15 season today, filled with adventurous theatrical experiences both on and off the stage, and set Tarragon up for a fresh, affordable and seductive reinvention of the theatre-going experience. Tarragon's 44th season, dubbed 'Lies, Sex & What Comes Next', features works from some of Canada's greatest talents alongside brilliant artistry from Germany for a roster that showcases five world premieres of Canadian plays, two English-language premieres of cutting-edge German works and a brand new, home-grown Shakespeare adaptation.

David Essex will be rolling up his sleeves when he returns to the stage next year to play the lead role in a new play, The Dishwashers at Birmingham Repertory Theatre.

Here in Portland, Maine, in the last two months a young actor has been creating a sensation in two tour de force performances of two vastly different comedies. Thirty-four year-old Dustin Tucker, who now makes his home in Maine's largest city, is having what many would consider a breakout year - starring first in Morris Panych's dark theatre of the absurd, Vigil, and then reprising his hilarious turn as David Sedaris' Elf Crumpet in the Santaland Diaries, both at Portland Stage.

Despite its location far, far north, and its relatively sparse population compared to cultural capitals, Maine boasts a rich regional theatre climate. There are quite a few thriving, adventurous, permanent professional companies, as well as an excellent contingent of community theatres. This year offered a wealth of exciting choices. Here is my personal list for 2013, grouped by theatre company and show:

Following the phenomenal success of the Australian and UK Tours of Life Is Pain in 2012 (his first live Stand-up show for more than a decade), a critically acclaimed tour of New Zealand and two nights at London's Hammersmith Apollo earlier this year, Alan Davies - the much-loved star of iconic television series such as Jonathan Creek and QI - will tour the UK again this Autumn due to popular demand.

The Portland Stage production of Canadian playwright Morris Panych's black comedy, Vigil, is a provocative and challenging mounting of an often off-putting play. That the company once again has the courage to undertake a work that has had mixed success in the U.S. and clearly pushes the limits of dark, macabre humor is a testament to the Maine stage's commitment to innovation and integrity. That said, the afternoon in the theatre is not an easy one, even for an experienced reviewer like myself. But then, of course, Panych does not intend it to be. His play, which tells the story of Kemp, a young man who receives a summons to attend the bedside of his dying Aunt, only to find that she is not yet ready to make that journey. In the months that Kemp and Grace share her tiny, bleak apartment, they come to confront the terrifying and messy process of dying, the agony of loneliness, the scars of Kemp's childhood, and the ultimate meaning of caring and compassion.

David Essex will be rolling up his sleeves when he returns to the stage next year to play the lead role in a new play, The Dishwashers at Birmingham Repertory Theatre.

Cherry Creek Theatre presents Morris Panych's 'Vigil' October 4 - 27 at the Shaver-Ramsey Showroom, 2414 East 3rd Ave. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $28 Adult; $25 Student/Senior and are available by calling 303-800-6578 or online at www.cherrycreektheatre.org

Following the phenomenal success of the Australian and UK Tours of Life Is Pain in 2012 (his first live Stand-up show for more than a decade), a critically acclaimed tour of New Zealand and two nights at London's Hammersmith Apollo earlier this year, Alan Davies - the much-loved star of iconic television series such as Jonathan Creek and QI - will tour the UK again this Autumn due to popular demand.

TAPESTRY BRIEFS, the professional, fully staged show resulting from Tapestry New Opera's 17th annual 10-day intensive Composer - Librettist Laboratory (LibLab), will take place today, September 19 - 22 at the Ernest Balmer Studio in the Distillery Historic District, 9 Trinity Street, Studio 316.

TAPESTRY BRIEFS, the professional, fully staged show resulting from Tapestry New Opera's 17th annual 10-day intensive Composer - Librettist Laboratory (LibLab), will take place September 19 - 22 at the Ernest Balmer Studio in the Distillery Historic District, 9 Trinity Street, Studio 316.