Portia News

Lesser America (Half Moon Bay, The Bachelors, Carnival Kids, Trevor) presents the New York Premiere of IN A WORD by Lauren Yee, winner of the 2016 Francesca Primus Prize and a finalist for the ATCA/Steinberg Award. Directed by Tyne Rafaeli (The Bridges of Madison County national tour, Actually at Geffen Playhouse), previews begin June 16 at Cherry Lane Theatre, where Lesser America continues its run as the inaugural Company in Residence.

Following their triumphant sold-out gala fundraising concert of The Color Purple last Sunday featuring major stars from shows including Dreamgirls, the British Theatre Academy today announces a double bill of musicals this summer at London's Ambassadors Theatre.

What happens to a family when its head has lost his grasp on reality and the family has no idea? The fault lines in this intergenerational conflict are exposed in Tragedie of Lear, arguably William Shakespeare's most compelling tragedy. In his directorial debut, Dora-nominated actor Ash Knight explores this startlingly timely masterpiece through the lens of mental health.

The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey (STNJ) opens its 2017 season with a stunning production of William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, a show that has not been performed by the company in 17 years. Directed by Robert Cuccioli, the excellent staging and stellar cast makes this 16th century dark comedy enthralling.

A jocular song and dance fanfare of melodious merriment and merriment, it's full of quippy one liners and farcical entertainment.

The 2017 57th annual Free Kentucky Shakespeare Festival in Central Park kicks off its professional season with a comedy, a history, and a tragedy.  The season begins with Much Ado About Nothing on May 31st, then Richard II on June 15th, followed by Julius Caesar on July 29h. Each production will run for two weeks and then all three productions will rotate in repertory July 11-23. All three productions will be performed in a single night starting at 4:30PM on July 22nd for the fourth annual Bard-A-Thon. 

The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center, National New Play Network, The Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival, and Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation jointly announce the selection of five directors from a nationwide pool of applicants for the 2017 National Directors Fellowship: Sherri Eden Barber

Theater of Others continues its fearless foray into the plays of Shakespeare and his contemporaries with Thomas Middleton and Thomas Dekker's 1611 comedy, The Roaring Girl, or Moll Cutpurse.  Moll is a dramatization of the life of Mary Frith, a carouser, cross-dresser, pickpocket, and street brawler in the lower depths of 17th century London.  Gaby Schneider directs a cast of fourteen at the Theater of Others' home, the Kelly Cullen Community Auditorium, 220 Golden Gate Avenue in San Francisco. The Roaring Girl, or Moll Cutpurse runs Thursdays through Sundays, June 16-July 2.  As with all Theater of Others productions, admission is Pay-What-You-Will.

The popular family comedy ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT will return for a fifth season to Netflix in 2018.

All-new episodes from season two of HOLLYWOOD MEDIUM WITH TYLER HENRY begin Today, May 17 at 8pm ET/PT on E!

ABC continues its commitment to distinctive storytelling with the announcement of its 2017-18 slate of programming. Channing Dungey, president, ABC Entertainment, will unveil the network's new lineup to the advertising and media communities this afternoon at Lincoln Center's David Geffen Hall in New York City.

Rehearsals are underway at Sheffield Theatres for Artistic Director Robert Hastie's inaugural production, Julius Caesar (Wed 17 May - Sat 10 June). It will be the first time that Shakespeare's fast-paced, gripping thriller will have been seen on the Crucible stage. Watch a new trailer for the modern production below!

Following his celebrated performances as Macbeth, Julius Caesar, Coriolanus and King Lear for the Royal Shakespeare Company, RSC Associate Artist Greg Hicks takes on the role of the tyrant king Richard in Shakespeare's RICHARD III, opening tonight 15 May at the Arcola Theatre. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

TVLine has reported that Jason Bateman has officially decided to return to the banana stand for Season 5 of the cult hit comedy, Arrested Development.

KPOE'S VICTORY GIRLS FUNDRAISER is an evening of songs from the WW2 era, sung by some well-known, and some not so well-known, theater artists.

Ars Nova has announced the line-up for its 10th Annual ANT Fest (June 5-29), four non-stop, throw-down weeks of live entertainment mayhem, featuring fresh material from the next wave of dynamic, indie-theater makers. All New Talent, all the time.

NBC has ordered a second season of its freshman comedy GREAT NEWS, starring two-time Tony Award winner Andrea Martin (PIPPIN, MY FAVORITE YEAR.) Season 2 will consist of 13 episodes.

Multiple sources have confirmed to TV Line reports that SCANDAL's upcoming seventh seventh will be its last.

Rehearsals are underway at Sheffield Theatres for Artistic Director Robert Hastie's inaugural production, Julius Caesar (Wed 17 May - Sat 10 June). It will be the first time that Shakespeare's fast-paced, gripping thriller will have been seen on the Crucible stage. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the company in rehearsal below!

The three Alisons of FUN HOME will take the Hobby Center stage next week as the Tony-winning musical opens in Houston. Today we catch up with the college-aged Medium Alison, Abby Corrigan, to talk about trust, travel and the showstopper 'Changing My Major,' soon to be added to your Broadway playlist (if it's not there already).