Rob Melrose News

Two years after his Bay Area debut directing Cutting Ball's explosive production of Ubu Roi, Yury Urnov returns this winter to tackle Henrik Ibsen's masterpiece, Hedda Gabler, translated by Paul Walsh. Featured in the title role is Britney Frazier, who last performed at Cutting Ball in Superheroes in 2014. Hedda Gabler opens in previews on January 19 and runs through February 26, 2017. Opening night is scheduled for Saturday, January 21 at 8 p.m. The press opening will take place the following Monday, January 23 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 - $45, and may be purchased online at cuttingball.com/productions/hedda-gabler or by phone at 415-525-1205. 

San Francisco's cutting-edge and highly acclaimed experimentalCutting Ball Theater kicks off its 18th season with Avant GardARAMA! an all-in-one performance festival of seven short experimental plays showcasing the work of Bay Area directors. One of these short plays, a winning submission from a Cutting Ball Theater writer's workshop, is penned by a 16 year old student from San Francisco's celebrated Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts and directed by one of his instructors. Avant GardARAMA! runs October 5 - 23 at Cutting Ball's venue at the EXIT on Taylor (located at 277 Taylor Street at Ellis). Preview is October 5, Press Night is October 6, and Gala Opening Night is October 7. Tickets for all performances through October 23, ranging in price from $15 to $60, are on sale now at cuttingball.com or by calling 415-525-1205.

Cutting Ball Theater closes its 17th season with August Strindberg's A DREAMPLAY.

San Francisco's cutting-edge Cutting Ball Theater announces the lineup for its 18th season.

Cutting Ball Theater closes its 17th season, dedicated to dreams, with August Strindberg's A DREAMPLAY.

The Pearl Theatre Company has announced programming for the 2016-17 season. All four productions will take place at The Pearl Theater (555 West 42nd Street.)

San Francisco's cutting-edge Cutting Ball Theater today announced that after a productive year-long sabbatical, which included directing Much Ado About Nothing at the Old Globe Theater as well as Ondine and A Dreamplay at Cutting Ball, co-founder and Artistic Director, Rob Melrose, has decided to officially step down as Artistic Director to continue to focus on his creative work and freelance projects.

Cutting Ball Theater closes its 17th season with August Strindberg's A DREAMPLAY.

Cutting Ball Theater continues its 17th season with the adventurous RISK IS THIS...THE CUTTING BALL NEW EXPERIMENTAL PLAYS FESTIVAL, one of the only play festivals in America solely dedicated to experimental works for the stage. Pushing the boundaries of what theater can be, this year's festival features three new works in staged readings. RISK IS THIS... offers a unique opportunity for audiences to see plays in development, alongside the artists creating them, as the works find their theatrical voice.

Cutting Ball Theater continues its 17th season with the World Premiere of ONDINE by Katharine Sherman. Cutting Ball founding Artistic Director Rob Melrose helms this beautifully tragic dream, featuring Molly Benson, Marilet Martinez, Danielle O'Hare, Kenny Toll, and Jessica Waldman. ONDINE plays February 5 through March 6 (press opening: February 11) at the Cutting Ball Theater in residence at EXIT on Taylor (277 Taylor Street) in San Francisco. For tickets ($10-50) and more information, the public may visit cuttingball.com or call      415-525-1205.

The Old Globe's GLOBE FOR ALL returns to bring free professional Shakespeare directly to diverse, multigenerational audiences in underserved communities around San Diego County. This second year of GLOBE FOR ALL follows a highly successful inaugural production in 2014. One of the Bard's most charming comedies, MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, is directed by renowned Shakespearean Rob Melrose, Artistic Director of San Francisco's Cutting Ball Theater, who makes his Globe debut. He directs a cast of local professional actors, including recent graduates of the Old Globe/University of San Diego Graduate Theatre Program. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

The Old Globe's GLOBE FOR ALL returns to bring free professional Shakespeare directly to diverse, multigenerational audiences in underserved communities around San Diego County. This second year of GLOBE FOR ALL follows a highly successful inaugural production in 2014. One of the Bard's most charming comedies, MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, will be directed by renowned Shakespearean Rob Melrose, Artistic Director of San Francisco's Cutting Ball Theater, who makes his Globe debut. He directs a cast of local professional actors, including recent graduates of the Old Globe/University of San Diego Graduate Theatre Program.

Flor De Liz Perez, currently playing Luciana in THE COMEDY OF ERRORS, spoke with Broadwayworld about this Mobile Unit production and how 'beautiful' it is to reach the non-conventional theatre audience.

The Old Globe's GLOBE FOR ALL returns to bring free professional Shakespeare directly to diverse, multigenerational audiences in underserved communities around San Diego County. This second year of GLOBE FOR ALL follows a highly successful inaugural production in 2014. One of the Bard's most charming comedies, MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, will be directed by renowned Shakespearean Rob Melrose, Artistic Director of San Francisco's Cutting Ball Theater, who makes his Globe debut. He directs a cast of local professional actors, including recent graduates of the Old Globe/University of San Diego Graduate Theatre Program.

Cutting Ball Theater opens its 17th season with a new translation of LIFE IS A DREAM by Pedro Calderon de la Barca, running tonight, October 2 - November 1, 2015.

The Oregon Shakespeare Festival announced today the launch of a 39-play, three-year commissioning project, Play on! 36 playwrights translate Shakespeare.

Cutting Ball Theater opens its 17th season with LIFE IS A DREAM by Pedro Calderon de la Barca. Following the sold-out success of last season's Antigone, Acting Artistic Director Paige Rogers (Tontlawald, Mud) helms this Calderon classic, in a new translation from resident playwright Andrew Saito, commissioned by Cutting Ball. Featuring David Sinaiko, Asher Sinaiko, Grace Ng, Sango Tajima, Matthew Hannon, Michael Wayne Turner III, Peter Warden, and Barry Despenza, LIFE IS A DREAM plays October 2 through November 1 (press opening: October 8) at the Cutting Ball Theater in residence at EXIT on Taylor (277 Taylor Street) in San Francisco.

Cutting Ball Theater opens its 17th season with a new translation of LIFE IS A DREAM by Pedro Calderon de la Barca, running October 2 - November 1, 2015.

San Francisco's cutting-edge Cutting Ball Theater today announced the departure of Managing Director Suzanne Appel.