Oscar Wilde News

Today in 1939, The Importance of Being Earnest opened at the Vanderbilt Theatre, where it ran for 61 performances. Written by Oscar Wilde, the show was first performed on 14 February 1895 at St. James's Theatre in London, it is a farcical comedy in which the protagonists maintain fictitious personae in order to escape burdensome social obligations. Working within the social conventions of late Victorian London, the play's major themes are the triviality with which it treats institutions as serious as marriage, and the resulting satire of Victorian ways. Its high farce and witty dialogue have helped make The Importance of Being Earnest Wilde's most enduringly popular play.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) announced today the return of British film and stage actor Simon Callow to Chicago for CST's 25th Anniversary engagement of his acclaimed Being Shakespeare-a virtuosic solo performance that weaves together excerpts from William Shakespeare's plays and poems, breathing new life into his unforgettable characters and the real man behind the legend.

Simon Callow will be returning to London's Trafalgar Studios 1 this March to reprise his highly acclaimed show BEING SHAKESPEARE for a strictly limited season from 7 to 31 March, before heading across the seas to appear at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York and then at the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre at the Broadway Playhouse. In BEING SHAKESPEARE, Simon brings to life Shakespeare's unforgettable characters as well as the real man behind the legend. The play had a record-breaking run in the West End last summer, following a hugely successful tour and staging at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2010.

Schauspielhaus Zürich Presents AN IDEAL HUSBAND from January 9 to February 29, 2012.

Ricky Gervais, who is hosting the 69th annual "Golden Globes," sat down with Matt Lauer for an exclusive interview that will air on NBC's DATELINE on Sunday, January 8 at 7pm ET. In the interview, Gervais talks to Lauer about the "Golden Globes," and says "I do it my way. I get final edit on everything. And everything I do turns out like I wanted… And they don't know what I'm gonna say. And they won't know what I'm gonna say till I say it."

Melissa McCarthy will be honored with an Oscar Wilde award at the popular Irish party held during Oscars week. She joins Michelle Williams as an honoree at the seventh annual "Oscar Wilde: Honoring the Irish in Film" which will on be held on February 23rd at Bad Robot, JJ Abrams' Santa Monica production company.

Ricky Gervais, who is hosting the 69th annual "Golden Globes," sat down with Matt Lauer for an exclusive interview that will air on NBC's DATELINE on Sunday, January 8 at 7pm ET. In the interview, Gervais talks to Lauer about the "Golden Globes," and says "I do it my way. I get final edit on everything. And everything I do turns out like I wanted… And they don't know what I'm gonna say. And they won't know what I'm gonna say till I say it."

Acclaimed actress Jessica Chastain, winner of 2011 New York, Los Angeles and Chicago Film Critics and National Board of Review Awards and recently nominated for Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Awards, will make her Broadway debut starring in the Tony Award®-winning play The Heiress.

The Meeting* hosted by Justin Sayre, called "a riotously funny and campy variety show" by Next Magazine, and 'a rollicking, wry affair complete with funny political commentary on current events' by Gay City News, will present their newest edition on Thursday, January 19 at 9:30 PM. The Meeting* - the monthly gathering of the I.O.S. (International Order of Sodomites) - is a gay romp through politics (sexual and otherwise), social news, music, comedy skits, and other important life-changing information.

The Arvada Center will open Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest directed by the Center's Artistic Producer, Rod A. Lansberry on Tuesday, January 24, 2012.

The Canadian Opera Company has announced the following upcoming events.

Crown Center has announced their Schedule of Events from January 2012 - December 2012.

While continuing a long run in its home base at the Las Vegas Hilton, SANDY HACKETT'S RAT PACK SHOW celebrates New Year's Eve in grand style with two shows (6 p.m. and 10 p.m.) at The Paramount Theatre in Aurora, IL.

Walnut Street Theatre, America's oldest theatre and the State Theatre of Pennsylvania, has just announced its landmark 204th season of live entertainment and its 30th season as a not-for-profit producing theatre company. This season, President and Producing Artistic Director Bernard Havard celebrates his 30th year at the Walnut as well. Under his direction the self-producing regional theatre has become not only the most popular theatre company in Philadelphia, but also the most subscribed theatre company in the world, boasting over 56,000 subscribers!

Crown Center has announced their Schedule of Events from January 2012 - December 2012.

Roundabout Theatre Company has just announced a new Off-Broadway production of Simon Gray's comedy-drama The Common Pursuit directed by Moises Kaufman. The Common Pursuit will begin performances May 4, 2012 and officially open on May 24, 2012 at the Harold and Miriam Steinberg Center for Theatre / Laura Pels Theatre (111 West 46th Street). This is a limited engagement through July 29, 2012.

Inspired by a yearlong project documenting life in NYC, aMios Theatre Company presents LongShotz: Arrivals and Departures, two separate evenings of six brand new short plays that explore first and final looks at the city of New York.

The non-profit US-Ireland Alliance has announced that actress Michelle Williams will be honored with an Oscar Wilde award. Williams, who has received rave reviews including Best Actress awards from numerous critics groups for her portrayal as Marilyn Monroe in MY WEEK WITH MARILYN, will be honored on Febuary 23, 2012 at the seventh annual 'Oscar Wilde: Honoring the Irish in Film.'

L.A. Theatre Works has partnered with INscribe Digital, a digital services provider of global ebook distribution, content conversion and marketing services to the publishing community via its ONE Digital platform, to globally distribute their enhanced eBook content, which allows readers to listen simultaneously on their digital devices The announcement was made today by INscribe EVP & GM, Anne Kubek.