Portia News

The New Jewish Theatre's 2018-19 season continues with an adaptation of The Merchant of Venice - Aaron Posner's District Merchants, an Uneasy Comedy. The production will be directed by St. Louis Theatre Circle Award winner, Jacqueline Thompson, and runs January 24 - February 10, 2019.

The MacDowell Colony has awarded fellowships to 86 artists from 18 states and nine countries. Fellows will arrive from Texas, Maine, and Montana, and from as far as Chile, Australia, China, and Israel. They are working in seven disciplines, and 29 percent identify as culturally diverse. The fellowships are for upcoming late winter and spring residencies at one of the nation's leading contemporary arts organizations. 

As the century was about to turn when Shakespeare first unveiled his tragic masterpiece, Julius Caesar - it's believed to have been written around 1599 - political turmoil was afoot in Britain as worries mounted about who would succeed the aging virgin queen on the throne upon her demise. Thus, all the political intrigue and conspiratorial backbiting of Elizabeth I's reign no doubt proved fertile enough to inspire Shakespeare's epic tale of the demise of the Roman leader.

Deadline reports that Michael Rooker (Guardians of the Galaxy 1 & 2, The Walking Dead, HBO's True Detective Season 3), Charlotte McKinney (Flatliners, Baywatchremake), Parisa Fitz-Henley (Luke Cage, Jessica Jones), and Austin Stowell (Catch 22, Battle of the Sexes) will join Fantasy Island. The  adaptation of the ABC series will begin production in Fiji next week.

Something Rotten! roared into town this week. And judging from the high-energy opening night, audiences won't be lifting their noses at this hybrid Shakespeare/Musical production. The title itself is a quotation from one of Shakespeare's best-known plays and includes the ubiquitous use of exclamation points in titles of musicals. Additionally, this particular quote points to some of the plot points in the storyline.

Louisville is going back to the Renaissance!

The Media Theatre announces the cast for its upcoming production of 'Julius Caesar', on stage January 30 through February 24, 2019.

Williamstown Theatre Festival has announced that the annual WTF Gala will include special appearances by Eden Espinosa (WTF's Lempicka, Wicked), Tony Award nominee Jessica Hecht (WTF's The Closet, "Friends"), and 2018 Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Martyna Majok (WTF's Cost of Living).

The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center, John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, National New Play Network, and Stage Directors & Choreographers Foundation have announced open applications for the fifth round of fellows of the National Directors Fellowship (NDF). Applications from early-career professional directors will be accepted online January 14 at 11am EST to January 18 at 11:59EST at the O'Neill website (www.theoneill.org/ndf).

Something Rotten! is Something Awkwardly Awesome

The New Jewish Theatre's 2018-19 season continues with an adaptation of The Merchant of Venice - Aaron Posner's District Merchants, an Uneasy Comedy. The production will be directed by St. Louis Theatre Circle Award winner, Jacqueline Thompson, and runs January 24 - February 10, 2019.

Last week saw the gala performance of THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS at Trinity Theatre, Tunbridge Wells. The audience was filled with volunteers and community leaders from the local area, as well as the theatre sponsors and press. Get a sneak peak of the new production photographs below!

The Staten Island Children's Museum is the recipient of some "HELP" from the Northfield Bank Foundation.

Playwright Matthew MacKenzie returns to The Theatre Centre with the world premiere of AFTER THE FIRE, directed by Brendan McMurtry-Howlett and featuring Sheldon Elter, January 10-19, 2019 for nine performances only. AFTER THE FIRE is being presented at the same time one year after the world premiere of MacKenzie's award-winning Bears took Toronto by storm.

Tackling the roles in THE MERCHANT OF VENICE, proved to be no easy task for the students at The University of Texas. The heart of the show is a story of prejudice, social standing and ultimately redemption. A young Venetian, Bassanio needs money desperately to woo wealthy heiress Portia into marriage. Asking his friend Antonio for the funds, Antonio in turn borrows money from a local Jewish lender named Shylock. Apart of their contract (with a bit of dark humor), the loan must be repaid in three months or Shylock may exact a pound of flesh from Antonio. Spoilers, he doesn't repay the loan in time and chaos ensues between Shylock and our gentlemen. With many suitors vying for Portia's attention, a tricky quest of caskets is the obstacle to her hand. Other characters intertwine themselves in marriage on both sides of the prejudice further complicating Shylock's relationship with her daughter, escalating her desperation and feelings of betrayal. Adding a modern interpretation to Bassanio and Antonio's friendship into lovers and elevating Portia to reality star status - UT put forth a one of a kind exposition of this classic story.

Irreverent Shakespeare Project presents Julius Caesar, directed by Heather Ann Gottlieb, produced by Steven Brandon, Mark Laird, Bradley Gosnell, Rachel Rios and Ari Stidham. An all-female cast of eleven tackles the Bard's political drama, a tragic tale of conspiracy and intrigue.

The Staten Island Children's Museum, in partnership with the GRACE Foundation of New York, will host a "Sensory Friendly Family Fun Night" on Thursday, November 29 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm for children and families impacted by Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

Kinky Boots, the winner of every major Best Musical award, is pleased to announce further tour dates for 2019 as part of its UK and Ireland tour. The tour will be at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre in Dublin between 19 August – 31 August.

Anchorage Concert Association's annual presentation of The Nutcracker is a beloved holiday tradition for many Alaska families. Before the public performances begin Thanksgiving weekend, a special community dress rehearsal brings clients of more than 100 social service agencies together for a magical journey to the Land of the Sweets.

Theatrefront announces the world premiere of MULES, from award-winning playwrightsBeth Graham and Daniela Vlaskalic (Drowning Girls), directed by Theatrefront artistic director Vikki Anderson, running February 15 - March 2, 2019 at Streetcar Crowsnest.