Royal Court Theatre News

Polly Stenham's multi award-winning play That Face, which was produced at the Royal Court Theatre to great critical acclaim last year, is to transfer to the Duke of York's Theatre previewing from May 1, with press night on May 9 and is booking until July 5, 2008. Hannah Murray, very well known to young audiences for her leading role in Channel 4's award-winning Skins, joins a previously announced cast including Lindsay Duncan and Matt Smith.

Tony Award-winner Victoria Clark will be joined by Conrad John Schuck, Dermot Crowley, Celia Keenan-Bolger and Michael Arden in Marc Blitzstein and Joseph Stein's Juno, the second Encores! production of New York City Center's 2008 season, performances are March 27-30.

Polly Stenham's multi award-winning play That Face, which was produced at the Royal Court Theatre to great critical acclaim last year, is to transfer to the Duke of York's Theatre with Lindsay Duncan and Matt Smith who originated the roles of mother and son, Martha and Henry, as well as Catherine Steadman and Julian Wadham.

The Public Theater continues its spring season with the U.S. premiere of Drunk Enough to Say I Love You?, a new play by Caryl Churchill presented in association with the Royal Court Theatre. This two-character play, directed by James Macdonald and featuring Scott Cohen and Samuel West, comes to The Public after an acclaimed run at the Royal Court in London last year. Drunk Enough to Say I Love You? will begin previews on Wednesday, March 5 and run through Sunday, April 6 with an official press opening on Sunday, March 16 at 7PM.

Folding Chair Classical Theatre will present Our Country's Good by Timberlake Wertenbaker, for a limited run, February 28 - March 22 at the 78th Street Theatre Lab. Folding Chair's Artistic Director, Marcus Geduld, will direct.

South Coast Repertory's third NewSCRipts reading of the 2007-08 season will be Zayd Dohrn's Reborning. Reborning is the 104th play to receive a staged reading as part of SCR's venerable play reading program. The NewSCRipts reading of Reborning will take place on February 25 at 7:30 p.m. on the Julianne Argyros Stage. Tickets are $12 each and may be purchased online at www.scr.org or by phone at (714) 708-5555 or in person at the SCR box office.

Michael Abbott, a long-time television, film, and theatre producer who produced the first New York production of Stalag 17 in 1951, died of cancer on Thursday January 24, 2008 at Beth Israel Medical Center in Manhattan. He was 81.

With so many larger-than-life figures on stage, and the inevitable egos that follow, there are plenty of laughs to be had as they are each bursting with arrogant overtones and plenty of pent up frustration at their stalled careers. Yet, beyond such comical moments, Orson's Shadow is filled with poignant glimpses at the insecurities and even disturbed mental states of actors and all those involved with theatre...

Eileen Atkins and David Haig lead the cast in Edward Bond's black and riotous comedy, The Sea, the second production in Jonathan Kent's Haymarket Season. The Sea began January 17 and runs through April 19.

Yale Repertory Theatre presents the world premiere of The Evildoers by David Adjmi, directed by Rebecca Bayla Taichman. The Evildoers begins performances on January 18 and will play through February 9 at Yale Repertory Theatre (1120 Chapel Street, at York Street, New Haven). Opening Night is Thursday, January 24.

Playwrights Lucy Alibar, Jesse Cameron Alick, Robert Askins and Steven Levenson are the newest members of Youngblood, Ensemble Studio Theatre's collective of emerging professional playwrights.

Victoria Clark will star in Marc Blitzstein and Joseph Stein's Juno, the second Encores! production of New York City Center's 2008 season. Directed by Tony Award winner Garry Hynes, with guest music direction by Eric Stern and musical staging by Warren Carlyle, Juno will play for five performances, from March 27 - 30, at New York City Center

Eileen Atkins and David Haig will lead the cast in Edward Bond's black and riotous comedy, The Sea, the second production in Jonathan Kent's Haymarket Season. The Sea will run from January 17 -April 19 with press night on January 23, 2008. Designs are by Paul Brown, with lighting by Mark Henderson and sound by Paul Groothuis - Kent's long term and regular collaborators who join him for the season.

Following its record breaking run last year at the Royal Court Theatre and in London's West End, Rock 'n' Roll, a new play by Tom Stoppard, will begin performances tomorrow, Friday, October 19 at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre (242 West 45th Street). The production, directed by Trevor Nunn, opens Sunday, November 4.

A public debate will be held at the Menier Chocolate Factory on Friday October 19 at 6PM.

Ars Nova presents, as part of the Out Loud series, offer a free reading of The Jesus Year, by Brooke Berman, directed by Trip Cullman. The Jesus Year will be read by Ari Graynor, Logan Marshall-Green , Lucas Papaelias and Katharine Waterston on Monday, October 15 at 7 PM at Ars Nova.

Epic Theatre Ensemble (formerly Epic Theatre Center) announced that celebrated actor and activist Kathleen Chalfant will play the lead role of 'Riddler' in the New York premiere of A Hard Heart, a play by Howard Barker, directed by Will Pomerantz

The Public Theater's Artistic Director Oskar Eustis and Executive Director Mara Manus announced today the lineup for its 2007-08 season: seven exciting new productions that will mark the return of three of The Public's most-produced playwrights and introduce several emerging new voices to Public Theater audiences.