Classic Stage Company announced today a search for a new Executive Director, following the announcement of the forthcoming departure of Jessica R. Jenen, who will leave the company to return to the commercial theater world.
Sarah Tuft's 110 Stories shines a light into the human spirit - revealing hope, humor and compassion in the midst of the tragedy of 9/11. The production has welcomed Samuel L. Jackson, Jeremy Piven, Annabella Sciorra, and Kathleen Turner, among others, to join its illustrious cast and will premiere on September 8, 2011 at the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts at New York University in Manhattan.
Never more apparent than at this very moment in history, the operatic emotions, over-the-top theatrics and outrageous outspokenness of the 1983 SCARFACE, new on Blu-ray this week, burst forth from screens both large and small, depending on your preferred venue. And, with the fiery, ferocious fearlessness that Brian DePalma so astutely and assuredly weaves his web of debauchery and demons of the soul, heart and mind with - its apotheosis residing in Al Pacino's legendary essaying of the title role - the world finally seems ready to see SCARFACE for what it really is: a classic American film. No, there are not many modern day classics and there certainly have not been over the last thirty years since its release, but SCARFACE is unquestionably now part of the great pantheon of American films - just as much as CITIZEN KANE, CABSABLANCA and THE GODFATHER before it - and with Fathom's re-release of the film in movie theaters for one night only last week, the impact of the film as felt in its true artistic home was something akin to transcendental. Indeed, I was lucky enough to check out the HD print in a showing in Ithaca, NY, last week, which was also accompanied by an ultra-informative and revealing behind-the-scenes look at the production and subsequent legacy of the near-thirty-year-old film which is also available in an even more expanded form on the new Blu-ray - including new interviews with Brian DePalma, Al Pacino, Steven Bauer, Robert Loggia, Martin Bregman, as well as comments from fellow filmmakers and fans like Eli Roth (who shares a particularly hilarious anecdote about reciting Lopez's monologue for classmates in sixth grade). The new Blu-ray is packed to the brim with Special Features - including this brand new hour-long making-of documentary to go along with the hours of bonuses ported over from many of the prior DVD releases. Yet, above all of these other virtues, the reason you must own SCARFACE on Blu-ray is not just because the HD remastering of the image is pristine, the 7.1 sound is perfect and the Special Features are overwhelmingly enjoyable, but - most of all - it is because SCARFACE is American movie-making at its finest - and most emotionally, visually and outwardly operatic. It sings. And stings. And zings. And, bring it - all.
Cymbeline is back! Two sold-out weeks last January for Fiasco Theater's production of Cymbeline wasn't nearly long enough to satisfy the demands of a theatre-going public hungry for, as Ben Brantley of The New York Times wrote, 'the comedy, poignancy and unlikely magic of Cymbeline.'
Shakespeare's final play, The Tempest, will be the final MainStage production of Hartford Stage's 48th season. The selection is the first by Hartford Stage's new Artistic Director, Darko Tresnjak, who partners with Managing Director Mike Stotts to lead the Tony Award-winning theatre. Tresnjak will direct the production, which will run at Hartford Stage May 10 - June 3, 2012; it will be his 21st professional Shakespeare production.
Sarah Tuft's 110 Stories shines a light into the human spirit - revealing hope, humor and compassion in the midst of the tragedy of 9/11. The production has welcomed Samuel L. Jackson, Jeremy Piven, Annabella Sciorra, and Kathleen Turner, among others, to join its illustrious cast and will premiere on September 8, 2011 at the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts at New York University in Manhattan.
Suffolk University and Boston Playwrights' Theatre present Robert Brustein's Mortal Terror, directed by Daniela Varon from September 15 through October 2 at the Modern Theatre at Suffolk University, 525 Washington Street, Boston.
Berkshire Playwrights Lab will present a staged reading of Matt Hoverman's 'The Glint' directed by Matthew Penn on Wednesday, August 10 at 7:30pm at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center. The reading will feature actors Leslie Lyles, Kate MacCluggage, James Murtaugh, and Richard Poe. Admission is free, but reservations are suggested. For tickets, call 413.528.0100 or visit the Mahaiwe Box Office (14 Castle Street, Great Barrington, Mass.).
Berkshire Playwrights Lab will present a staged reading of Matt Hoverman's 'The Glint' directed by Matthew Penn on Wednesday, August 10 at 7:30pm at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center. The reading will feature actors Leslie Lyles, Kate MacCluggage, James Murtaugh, and Richard Poe. Admission is free, but reservations are suggested. For tickets, call 413.528.0100 or visit the Mahaiwe Box Office (14 Castle Street, Great Barrington, Mass.).
Classic Stage Company's acclaimed production of UNNATURAL ACTS, a new play created by members of the Plastic Theatre, conceived and directed by Tony Speciale, will close on Sunday, July 31 at CSC (136 East 13th Street).
Summer afternoons just got a whole lot cooler. The Fantasticks will offer free backstage tours following all weekend matinee performances now through Labor Day.
Bradley Dean, who recently appeared as Carl-Magnus opposite Bernadette Peters in the Broadway revival of A Little Night Music, will begin performances as El Gallo, the charming and manipulative narrator in The Fantasticks, on Monday, July 25, 2011. Edward Watts, who currently plays the role, will give his final performance on July 24.
Due to extraordinary demand, Classic Stage Company's acclaimed production of UNNATURAL ACTS, a new play created by members of the Plastic Theatre, conceived and directed by Tony Speciale, will extend for one final week through Sunday, July 31 at CSC (136 East 13th Street).
Bradley Dean, who recently appeared as Carl-Magnus opposite Bernadette Peters in the Broadway revival of A Little Night Music, will begin performances as El Gallo, the charming and manipulative narrator in The Fantasticks, on Monday, July 25, 2011. Edward Watts, who currently plays the role, will give his final performance on July 24.
Cymbeline is back! Two sold-out weeks last January for Fiasco Theater's production of Cymbeline wasn't nearly long enough to satisfy the demands of a theatre-going public hungry for, as Ben Brantley of The New York Times wrote, 'the comedy, poignancy and unlikely magic of Cymbeline.'
Neil Berg's new cabaret show, RISE UP: The Theater Songs of Neil Berg, comes to Feinstein's, hosted by Rob Evan, and featuring a star-studded cast, including current Wicked star Mandy Gonzalez, and special guest, Academy Award-winner F. Murray Abraham, and others!