Nicholas Wright News

One of the theater world's most prestigious playwriting prizes, the Yale Drama Series Prize, was given to Janine Nabers for her play Serial Black Face at the 8th annual Yale Drama Series Award Ceremony last night, Thursday, September 11, 2014 at Lincoln Center Theater. The award recipient was chosen by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Marsha Norman, who served as the judge for the 2013 and 2014 competitions. Check out a look back below!

On September 9th 2014, opening night of the NATIONAL BALLET OF CANADA's six-day run at the Koch Theater in Lincoln Center presented by the Joyce Theater Foundation, I found myself enchanted by most of Christopher Wheeldon's choreography for the evening-length production of "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland". I was also delighted overall with the inventive score by Joby Talbott as well as the elaborate costumes and sets by Bob Crowley. The dancing was first rate, too. What wasn't so wonderful was the silly love story that dramaturge Nicholas Wright felt compelled to introduce into Lewis Carroll's deservedly iconic childhood tale of a plucky young heroine off on her own for a great adventure in dreamland.

Pat Barker's Booker-nominated novel, Regeneration, has been adapted for the stage by Olivier Award-winning playwright Nicholas Wright (His Dark Materials, Vincent in Brixton), opening at Royal & Derngate, Northampton from 29 August to 20 September, with press night on 2 September, prior to a national tour.

The Koerner Quartet has announced its first public season, launching this fall with the brilliant program - From Spillville to St. Petersburg - on Sunday, September 28, 2014 at 2pm in the Koerner Recital Hall at the Vancouver Academy of Music (VAM). The Vancouver-based ensemble in-residence at VAM has expanded beyond its successful academic concentration to present a public series of four breathtaking classical concerts in the Koerner Recital Hall. Since its founding in 2012, the quartet has been in-demand by enthusiasts - captivated by their impeccable technique, unparalleled musicianship, and bold programming.

Digital Theatre is delighted to announce its next title; Richard Eyre's five-star, multi award-winning revival production of Ibsen's Ghosts starring Olivier Award-winners Lesley Manville and Jack Lowden will be available to buy and watch online around the world from Thursday 18 September 2014.

Pat Barker's Booker-nominated novel, Regeneration, has been adapted for the stage by Olivier Award-winning playwright Nicholas Wright (His Dark Materials, Vincent in Brixton), opening at Royal & Derngate, Northampton from 29 August to 20 September, with press night on 2 September, prior to a national tour. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the company in rehearsal below!

As the world premiere stage adaptation of Pat Barker's Regeneration, which tells the story of Sassoon and Owen, prepares to embark on a national tour, producers have teamed up with TheatreCloud.com (www.theatrecloud.com) to launch a major poetry competition.

Nuffield Creative and Executive Director, Sam Hodges, announces the company's 50th anniversary season marked by the appointment of a team of new Associate Actors, to join the current team of Associates.

The WEST END THEATRE SERIES is delighted to announce its third title; Richard Eyre's five-star, multi award-winning revival production of Ibsen's Ghosts. The Almeida Theatre production will be screened in over 200 cinemas across the UK and Ireland for one night only, today 26 June '14 (www.westendtheatreseries.com).

The WEST END THEATRE SERIES is delighted to announce its third title; Richard Eyre's five-star, multi award-winning revival production of Ibsen's Ghosts. The Almeida Theatre production will be screened in over 200 cinemas across the UK and Ireland for one night only, Thursday 26 June '14 (www.westendtheatreseries.com).

Pulitzer Prize winner Marsha Norman has selected playwright Janine Nabers as the winner of the 2014 Yale Drama Series for her play Serial Black Face, chosen from 1638 entries from 41 countries. As winner of the competition, Serial Black Face will be published by Yale University Press, receive a staged reading at Lincoln Center Theater's Claire Tow Theater, and Ms. Nabers will be presented with the David Charles Horn Prize, a cash award of $10,000.

Washington National Opera (WNO), led by Artistic Director Francesca Zambello, today announced its 2014-2015 season. It includes the company premiere of Daniel Catán's Spanish-language Florencia in the Amazon, a brand-new production of Puccini's classic La bohème, the company premiere of Rachel Portman's family opera The Little Prince, an English-language production of Poulenc's 20th-century drama Dialogues of the Carmelites, a revival of Wagner's epic The Flying Dutchman, and an acclaimed new-to- Washington staging of Rossini's Cinderella. A third season of the American Opera Initiative, including the world premiere of Penny by two alumni of the program, continues WNO's efforts to commission new works and expand the American repertory. Highlights from the 2014-2015 season will be performed by the WNO Orchestra and special guests at a free preview concert on Wednesday, May 14, 2014 at 6 p.m. in the Kennedy Center Opera House.

Provocative, intelligent and cathartic, A HUMAN BEING DIED THAT NIGHT is the kind of play that every South African should see.

Peter Polycarpou, Gary Wilmot and Colin Stinton join the cast of the West End transfer of Chichester Festival Theatre's sparkling production of the Broadway smash hit musical, The Pajama Game, directed by Richard Eyre. Peter Polycarpou and Colin Stinton reprise their roles as Vernon Hines and Hasler, with Gary Wilmot taking over the role of Vernon Hines from 2 June. They join the previously announced Joanna Riding and Michael Xavier. The Pajama Game opens at the Shaftesbury Theatre on 13 May, with previews from 2 May, playing until 13 September 2014.

The Performing Arts Center at the World Trade Center ('the PAC') today announces the establishment of a core team of artistic leaders: David Lan (Artistic Director of London's Young Vic) as Consulting Artistic Director; Lucy Sexton (artist, producer, and Director of the New York Dance & Performance Awards (aka The Bessies)) as Associate Artistic Director; and Andy Hayles, Managing Partner of Charcoalblue (London's National Theatre, Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre, and the future home of Brooklyn's St. Ann's Warehouse), as theater design consultant. Stephen Daldry (director of the films The Hours, Billy Elliot, The Reader and Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, and of Billy Elliot the Musical, and former Artistic Director of London's Gate Theatre and Royal Court Theatre) has joined the PAC's Board of Directors. The artistic team is collaborating with the PAC's staff, board and numerous consultants to create a place that is unique on the cultural landscapes of New York, the United States and the world.

Eric Abraham and the Fugard Theatre will present A HUMAN BEING DIED THAT NIGHT, a play by Nicholas Wright, in a tour that opens at the Fugard Studio Theatre in Cape Town, before transferring to the Market Theatre in Johannesburg, after which the show will be performed in a formal London season at the Hampstead Theatre in May 2014.

Following a critically acclaimed, sold-out run, Chichester Festival Theatre's sparkling production of the Broadway smash hit musical, The Pajama Game, directed by Richard Eyre, transfers to the West End on 1 May playing until 13 September 2014.

Washington National Opera (WNO) continues its 2013-2014 season with the world premiere of a new holiday family opera: The Lion, The Unicorn, and Me, today, December 14-22 in the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater.

Building on the successes of recent years at Northampton's Royal & Derngate, new Artistic Director James Dacretoday announced details of his first Made In Northampton season.