Portia News

Michael Riedel reports in the New York Post this morning that Broadway Producer Jeffrey Richards will be producing a Broadway transfer of The Public's Merchant of Venice, which will play Shakespeare in the Park at the Delacorte this summer starring Al Pacino. Richards has suffered a mostly disappointing 2010 so far, being the leading force behind this season's All About Me and Enron, both of which only lasted a mere few weeks on Broadway. Richards and his producing partner, Jerry Frankel are, however, also behind the successful Race, which has already recouped on Broadway.

The Perry-Mansfield New Works Festival (June Lindenmayer, Executive Director; Andrew Leynse, Artistic Director), with sponsorship from The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust, has announced the line-up for the 2010 summer season of theatre and dance at the venerable performing arts camp and school in Steamboat Springs, CO.

The American Repertory Theater, Huntington Theatre Company, and the Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston have joined forces for the first time to create Emerging America - an annual festival devoted to supporting and launching new voices in American theater.

Jesse Tyler Ferguson, who will be appearing in both THE MERCHANT OF VENICE and THE WINTER'S TALE at Shakespeare in the Park shows this summer at the Delacorte Theatre sat down alongside costar Lily Rabe to discuss the shows and their experiences working on them.

5 Additional GLAAD Media Award winners were announced at the 21st Annual GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles on April 17th. Winners included GLEE, 'A Single Man,' and the Los Angeles play, LYDIA, by Octavio Solis. The awards were presented at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza.

Community Bank and Casa Mañana's Children's Theatre will close their production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella at Casa Mañana Theatre, April 18. When her Fairy Godmother transforms her rags into a beautiful gown and sends Cinderella to the Royal Ball in a pumpkin chariot, not even her wicked stepmother and evil stepsisters can keep her from finding true love.

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), the nation's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) media advocacy and anti-defamation organization, will honor those committed to promoting equality and tolerance at the 21st Annual GLAAD media awards in ceremonies taking place in New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco. By recognizing and honoring media for outstanding images of the LGBT community, the GLAAD Media Awards serve as a benchmark for the media industry and complement GLAAD's work to bring LGBT images and stories to Americans.

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), the nation's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) media advocacy and anti-defamation organization, will honor those committed to promoting equality and tolerance at the 21st Annual GLAAD media awards in ceremonies taking place in New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco. By recognizing and honoring media for outstanding images of the LGBT community, the GLAAD Media Awards serve as a benchmark for the media industry and complement GLAAD's work to bring LGBT images and stories to Americans.

The American Repertory Theater, Huntington Theatre Company, and the Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston have joined forces for the first time to create Emerging America - an annual festival devoted to supporting and launching new voices in American theatre. From May 14 through 16, Emerging America brings some of the country's most promising performers, writers, companies and directors to Boston for a weekend filled with energy, imagination, creativity and drama.

Select cast and crew members of Disney's THE LION KING will host UMCULO WEBHUBESI (the lion sings tonight) - a concert featuring South African music and dance. This very special one-time event will be held on Monday, April 12 at The Trocadero located at 1003 Arch Street Philadelphia, PA. Tickets are currently on sale for $25 including a post-performance reception with the cast.

Tennessee Shakespeare Company, the Mid-South's professional classical theatre, will end its unique production of William Shakespeare's tragedy Julius Caesar on April 11 in Germantown.

New Georges has announced that the company has received a three-year, $90,000 grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation which supports the creation of an artistic director's discretionary fund. This grant is intended to help New Georges maintain financial stability during these volatile economic times, and thereby continue to do excellent artistic work, take risks, commit to new plays/artistic projects, and invest in artists over time.

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.

Studio 42's Studio Sessions: The Reading Series, a regular multi-disciplinary showcase of emerging talent, will present the second half of 'Four UNPRODUCABLE Plays Daring to Be Heard,' at Jimmy's 43 (43 East 7th Street).

Casting has been announced for Studio 42's Studio Sessions: The Reading Series, a regular multi-disciplinary showcase of emerging talent. 'Four UNPRODUCABLE Plays Daring to Be Heard,' will be performed at Jimmy's 43 (43 East 7th Street).

Select cast and crew members of Disney's THE LION KING will host UMCULO WEBHUBESI (the lion sings tonight) - a concert featuring South African music and dance. This very special one-time event will be held on Monday, April 12 at The Trocadero located at 1003 Arch Street Philadelphia, PA. Tickets are currently on sale for $25 including a post-performance reception with the cast.

The cast of Priscilla and Beverly Hills Bakery celebrate the shows 1st birthday in the West End, having completed over 425 performances at the Palace Theatre since its opening last year.

Tennessee Shakespeare Company, the Mid-South's professional classical theatre, continues its Second Stage Season this spring with a unique production of William Shakespeare's tragedy Julius Caesar playing March 23 - April 11 in Germantown for nine public performances only.

Community Bank presents Casa Mañana's Children's Theatre production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella at Casa Mañana Theatre, April 2 - 18. When her Fairy Godmother transforms her rags into a beautiful gown and sends Cinderella to the Royal Ball in a pumpkin chariot, not even her wicked stepmother and evil stepsisters can keep her from finding true love.

John Brannoch, cast member of the current production of PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT in London, recently compiled a 'Meet the Cast' of the current West End production.