Portia News

Even as its shows reach New York and London, Berkeley Repertory Theatre begins another season of fearless theatre here at home: Emmy- and Tony Award-winning actor Mandy Patinkin stars in the world-premiere production of Compulsion on Berkeley Rep's intimate Thrust Stage. Acclaimed director Oskar Eustis returns to the Bay Area with Rinne Groff's latest play, a kaleidoscopic collision of history and culture that combines stellar acting with marvelous marionettes. Compulsion, a world-premiere co-production from Berkeley Rep, The Public Theater, and Yale Repertory Theatre, begins previews on September 13, opens September 16, and closes October 31.

Dreamlight Theatre Company presents HERE'S THE THING… An evening of original music and lyrics by Micah Young

A Noise Within (ANW), the acclaimed classical repertory theatre company, presents Noel Coward's timeless comedic gem Blithe Spirit, directed by Damaso Rodriguez, which opens Saturday, October 9 and closes Friday, December 17, 2010 (previews begin Saturday, October 2).

Lynn Nottage's Pulitzer Prize winning play Ruined, a powerful portrayal of the triumph of the human spirit in the war-torn Democratic Republic of Congo, opens at the Geffen Playhouse on September 15. Ruined, a co-production with Seattle's Intiman Theatre, is the most acclaimed play of 2009 garnering best play honors with a Lucille Lortel Award, Obie Award, New York Drama Critics' Circle Award, Drama Desk Award, Outer Critics Circle Awards, and the inaugural Horton Foote Prize for Outstanding New American Play, in addition to the Pulitzer Prize for drama. Directed by Intiman Theatre Artistic Director Kate Whoriskey, who helmed the acclaimed original production, the company includes Quincy Tyler Bernstine (Salima), Cherise Boothe (Josephine), Russell G. Jones (Christian) and Condola Rashad (Sophie), all of whom originated their roles in the Goodman Theatre/Manhattan Theatre Club world-premiere production, and Portia, who took over the leading role of Mama Nadi during the extended run in New York.

The nominees for the 2010 GREGORY AWARDS have been announced, and tickets are now on sale for the 2010 Gregory Awards Ceremony at ACT on Monday, October 25, 2010.

Michael Riedel reports in the New York Post this morning that Al Pacino's star power has earned The Merchant of Venice the winners spot for the fall's highest advance generating show. The production, which opens at the Broadhurst Theatre on November 7, 2010, has reportedly taken in approximately $4M, beating out all incoming fall plays and musicals.

Lynn Nottage's Pulitzer Prize winning play Ruined, a powerful portrayal of the triumph of the human spirit in the war-torn Democratic Republic of Congo, opens at the Geffen Playhouse on September 15. Ruined, a co-production with Seattle's Intiman Theatre, is the most acclaimed play of 2009 garnering best play honors with a Lucille Lortel Award, Obie Award, New York Drama Critics' Circle Award, Drama Desk Award, Outer Critics Circle Awards, and the inaugural Horton Foote Prize for Outstanding New American Play, in addition to the Pulitzer Prize for drama. Directed by Intiman Theatre Artistic Director Kate Whoriskey, who helmed the acclaimed original production, the company includes Quincy Tyler Bernstine (Salima), Cherise Boothe (Josephine), Russell G. Jones (Christian) and Condola Rashad (Sophie), all of whom originated their roles in the Goodman Theatre/Manhattan Theatre Club world-premiere production, and Portia, who took over the leading role of Mama Nadi during the extended run in New York.

Building on the record-breaking success of 'The Real Housewives' franchise, Bravo is heading to one of the most glamorous cities in the world for its newest installment, 'The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.' The highly anticipated series premieres on Thursday, October 14 at 10 p.m ET/PT. The series follows six of the most affluent women in the country as they enjoy the lavish lifestyle that only Beverly Hills can provide.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson), Jeffrey Richards and Jerry Frankel announced the opening date today for the summer's biggest hit, Daniel Sullivan's critically acclaimed production of THE MERCHANT OF VENICE. Al Pacino will reprise his celebrated performance as Shylock on Broadway for 78 performances only, beginning Tuesday, October 19 at the Broadhurst Theatre (235 W. 44th Street) and running through Sunday, January 9. Opening Night will be Sunday, November 7 at 6:45 p.m.

La Jolla Playhouse announces the cast for its upcoming production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, directed by Playhouse Artistic Director Christopher Ashley, playing in the Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre July 20 - August 22, 2010 (press opening: July 27 at 7:00 pm).

Even as its shows reach New York and London, Berkeley Repertory Theatre begins another season of fearless theatre here at home: Emmy- and Tony Award-winning actor Mandy Patinkin stars in the world-premiere production of Compulsion on Berkeley Rep's intimate Thrust Stage. Acclaimed director Oskar Eustis returns to the Bay Area with Rinne Groff's latest play, a kaleidoscopic collision of history and culture that combines stellar acting with marvelous marionettes. Compulsion, a world-premiere co-production from Berkeley Rep, The Public Theater, and Yale Repertory Theatre, begins previews on September 13, opens September 16, and closes October 31.

The Public Theater has announced additional casting for the 2010 Shakespeare in the Park summer season featuring THE WINTER'S TALE, directed by Michael Greif, and THE MERCHANT OF VENICE, directed by Daniel Sullivan, in repertory June 9-August 1.

Once upon a time...Rodgers and Hammerstein took a simple fairytale and made it into a captivating musical. Cabrillo Music Theatre's lovely production of their now classic Cinderella has all the right ingredients to enthrall audiences of all ages that can truthfully answer the question 'Do You Love Me Because I'm Beautiful?' with a resounding YES!

La Jolla Playhouse presents its production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, directed by Playhouse Artistic Director Christopher Ashley, playing in the Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre July 20 - August 22, 2010 (press opening: July 27 at 7:00 pm).

Logo announced today that it has acquired the off-cable syndication rights to the groundbreaking dramatic series 'Nip/Tuck' in a four-year licensing agreement with Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution. This deal marks the premiere for the series in syndication. The agreement includes all 100 episodes spanning the complete seven seasons of the Golden Globe(R) Award-winning and multiple Emmy(R) Award-nominated drama.

The Intiman Theatre scores a hit with their third show of the season, Lynn Nottage's "Ruined". But then with a Pulitzer Prize winning play with many of the original cast returning how could you go wrong?

In July sixth's New York Times, Helen Hunt spoke with Patrick Healy about joining the Barrow Street Theatre production of OUR TOWN as its first female 'Stage Manager.'

Lynn Nottage's Ruined, a powerful portrayal of the triumph of the human spirit in a war-torn country, will be co-produced this season by Intiman Theatre (opening July 9, 2010) and the Geffen Playhouse (opening September 15, 2010), the only two theatres in the country to host original cast members and the design team of director Kate Whoriskey's acclaimed world-premiere production.

The Public Theater presents THE WINTERS TALE as part of this summer's Shakespeare in the Park series at the Delacorte Theatre. The show began performances on June 9 and runs through August 1. BroadwayWorld was on hand for the curtain call and opening night party for the production, which runs in repertory with THE MERCHANT OF VENICE this summer.

THE MERCHANT OF VENICE, directed by Daniel Sullivan, began performances for Shakespeare in the Park on Saturday, June 12. The Public Theater began Shakespeare in the Park performances of A Winter's Tale, directed by Michael Greif on June 9. Both shows will play in repertory through Sunday, August 1 at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park.