Rae Smith News

West End's production of Hairspray and Rupert Goold's Macbeth were among the top winners at the 2007 Evening Standard Awards Ceremony, held Tuesday November 27; Richard Wilson hosted.

The National Theatre of Great Britain's critically acclaimed production of Conor McPherson's The Seafarer will open Thursday, November 15 at the Booth Theatre (222 West 45th Street). The production, to be directed by McPherson, stars Conleth Hill, Ciarán Hinds, Sean Mahon, David Morse, and Jim Norton.

The National Theatre of Great Britain's critically acclaimed production of Conor McPherson's The Seafarer begins previews today, Tuesday, October 30 at the Booth Theatre; directed by McPherson, stars Conleth Hill, Ciarán Hinds, Sean Mahon, David Morse, and Jim Norton.

The National Theatre of Great Britain's critically acclaimed production of Conor McPherson's The Seafarer will begin rehearsals today, Friday, September 28.

The National Theatre's production of 'The Seafarer' by Conor McPherson makes its Broadway transfer October 30 at the Booth Theatre, starring Ciarán Hinds, Conleth Hill, David Morse, Richie Coster, and Jim Norton.

Simon Russell Beale, Zoe Wanamaker and Alex Jennings will star in productions for London's National Theatre during the 2007 fall season.

The 52nd Annual Village Voice Obie Awards were presented this evening at a ceremony hosted by Cynthia Nixon and T.R. Knight at the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts on the campus of New York University

Neil Bartlett's reimagined 'Oliver Twist' abducts Charles Dickens' classic tale, sends it through the meat-grinder, and spits it back onto its feet in a fantastic and grimy work of art.

Berkeley Repertory Theatre ends its 2006/07 Season with a dark and delightful new adaptation of Charles Dickens' 'Oliver Twist' staged by one of Britain's most innovative theatre artists, beginning previews in the Roda Theatre on May 11, opens May 16, and closes June 24.

The most difficult aspect of dramatizing a well-known and well-loved work of literature is finding the correct balance between maintaining the integrity of the original work and adding elements to justify the adaptation. The recent Broadway revival of A Chorus Line was criticized for being a carbon copy of the original production, while the short-lived, musicalized version of The Wedding Singer film was criticized for changing key plot points. How, then, can an adaptation to the stage do justice to the original work as well as bring the material to life in a new and innovative way? Neil Bartlett seems to know the secret. In his adaptation of 'Oliver Twist,' the classic novel by Charles Dickens, Bartlett captures the dark, dank world of the young orphan in a way that Lionel Bart's musical Oliver! fails to do. There are no upbeat songs about 'Oom-Pah-Pah!' or considering yourself part of the family; Bartlett's Oliver Twist is no musical comedy.

Conor McPherson, whose play Shining City was up for a Best Play Tony Award, will direct his new play The Seafarer for the National Theatre in London beginning this September