Oscar Wilde News

Renowned Oscar Wilde expert Alan Stanford, PICT's interim Producing Artistic Director, will direct his adaptation of the great Irish playwright's comedy, Lady Windermere's Fan. Wilde's play, first produced in 1892 in London, satirizes the morality of Victorian society. Stanford has moved the setting forward in time to 1947; in post-World-War II London, Wilde's language and ridicule of high-society still resonate. Oscar Wilde was not so much a writer of polite English comedy, but rather a biting Irish satirist who lampooned the social absurdities and prejudices of the English upper classes, prejudices that lasted well into the Twentieth Century. This production, which runs tonight, July 11 through July 27, is PICT's third show of the season, and features a cast of 17 actors.

California Shakespeare Theater continues its 2013 season with Oscar Wilde's comedy, Lady Windermere's Fan, directed by Oregon Shakespeare Festival company member Christopher Liam Moore in his Bay Area directorial debut. Lady Windermere's Fan plays at the Bruns Amphitheater August 14 through September 8.

The Boy Sonata, written and performed by Justin Sayre will recieve it's New York debut at this Year's HOT! Festival hosted by Dixon Place on Monday, July 22nd at 7:30. The Boy Sonata, written in 5 parts, details seminal moments in the life of it's central character, 'The Boy.' Mimicking Sonata Form, the series of monologues travel with the boy from ages 6 to 17, each pinpointing a day, an hour, or a moment when things become much more beautifully and tragically complicated. The Boy Sonata is a heartbreakingly funny tribute to the voice of a child as he develops his individual understanding of a world.

The Importance of Being Earnest runs August 7-25, 2013, at the Off-Broad Street Theater at First Baptist Church, located at 1636 Sansom St. in Philadelphia. Tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for seniors and $15 for students and are available by calling the Mauckingbird Theatre Company box office at (215) 923-8909 or online at www.mauckingbird.org.

Fresh from the success of Night of a Thousand Judys, The Meeting* hosted by Justin Sayre - the acclaimed comedy/variety show hailed as "rambunctious, uproarious and unpredictable" by The Wall Street Journal, "delicious and delightfully droll" by The New York Post, and "hilarious and sardonic" by The Village Voice - will move to 54 BELOW for a six month run starting on July 24.

To conclude its 45th season, Berkeley Repertory Theatre welcomes back a pair of acclaimed collaborators: Sarah Ruhl and Les Waters, the creators of Eurydice, Three Sisters, and In the Next Room (or the vibrator play), return to Berkeley Rep with another tale of love and longing in Dear Elizabeth.

Many people remember Christopher Peacock as a familiar face on London television screens. For ten years as crime reporter on ITV's London Tonight he criss-crossed the capital covering such significant events as the murder of Stephen Lawrence, IRA bombings and the death of Diana, Princess of Wales.

Co-founders John Stoops, Tim Evans, and Marc Grapey announce the inaugural season of Three Oaks Theater Festival, a new summer theater festival that will bring three limited-engagement runs of highly-acclaimed, professional Chicago-based productions and a World Premiere to audiences in Harbor Country, Michigan. Three Oaks Theater Festival is presented in association with Harbor Arts with special thanks to The Pokagon Fund.

The 22nd Annual San Francisco Fringe Festival runs for 14 days, September 6-21, 2013, at the EXIT Theatreplex, 156 Eddy Street, in downtown San Francisco. This year, the run is longer (14, rather than 12 days) and extended to include three weekends. The only days the theatre is dark are Mondays.

On July 12, TheatreWorks New Milford will host the world premiere of the musical comedy EARNEST OR WHAT'S IN A NAME?, an original adaptation of Oscar Wilde's 'The Importance of Being Earnest' in the style of Gilbert and Sullivan. Book, Lyrics, and Music are by New Milfordresident, Leonard Diamond. The show opens at 8 p.m. for a four-week run.

Dixon Place has announced the 22nd Annual HOT! Festival of Queer Culture, running today, July 2 - August 3, 2013.

A season of timeless beauty and fun begins today, June 28th, at the Santa Fe Opera. Discover this summer's new, rarely performed and longtime favorites in stylish productions presented by an unforgettable group of artists and musicians. It's world-class opera in an incredible setting.

The first attention-grabbing trailer and official eye-popping promotional poster graphics for Andrew Lloyd Webber's highly anticipated new musical STEPHEN WARD have been unveiled, as has a flashy new website for the forthcoming period-set West End tuner.

Co-founders John Stoops, Tim Evans, and Marc Grapey proudly announce the inaugural season of Three Oaks Theater Festival, a new summer theater festival that will bring three limited-engagement runs of highly-acclaimed, professional Chicago-based productions and a World Premiere to audiences in Harbor Country, Michigan. Three Oaks Theater Festival is presented in association with Harbor Arts with special thanks to The Pokagon Fund.

Seattle Theatre Group (STG)'s mission is to make diverse performing arts and education an integral part of our region's cultural identity while keeping three historic venues, The Paramount, Moore and Neptune, alive and vibrant. STG presents a range of performances from Broadway, off-Broadway, dance and jazz, to comedy, concerts of all genres, speakers and family shows - at these three iconic theatres in Seattle and venues throughout the Puget Sound region and in Portland, Oregon. STG announces the following concerts going on sale this week.

Richard Eyre will direct the world premiere of Stephen Ward, opening in the West End later this year. Tickets go on sale on 28 June 2013 for the production which will preview at the Aldwych Theatre from 3 December 2013 with press night on 19 December 2013 and is currently booking to 1 March 2014.

Oscar Wilde's scintillating wit and romantic archetypes fill one of the most celebrated comedies of all time. The Importance of Being Earnest opens on the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival's main stage Friday, July 12, with previews July 10 and 11, and runs through August 4. The Importance of Being Earnest will play in repertory with Measure for Measure.

The Deconstructive Theatre Project presents The Orpheus Variations, conceived by Adam J. Thompson and developed collaboratively among company members. Adam J. Thompson directs cast members Jessica Annunziata, Jen Browne, Stephen Conroy, Amanda Dieli, Sarah Isaacson, Meghan E. Kennedy, Robert Kitchens, and Peter Van Hyning. Five performances will be held at HERE, 145 6th Avenue (1 blocks south of Spring) in NYC from tonight, June 27-30, 2013.

Many people remember Christopher Peacock as a familiar face on London television screens. For ten years as crime reporter on ITV's London Tonight he criss-crossed the capital covering such significant events as the murder of Stephen Lawrence, IRA bombings and the death of Diana, Princess of Wales.

Westport Country Playhouse will stage the British farce, "Loot," a wickedly funny send-up of larcenous, lascivious behavior among the English middle classes, written by Joe Orton and directed by David Kennedy, Playhouse associate artistic director, playing from July 16 through August 3. The play won the coveted Evening Standard Award for Best Play in 1967.