Royal Shakespeare Company News

Two star-crossed lovers come together despite constant opposition from their warring families in Limelight Theatre's latest production, described as 'the greatest love story ever told'.

Two short one-acts, "Wild Orchids" and "Rosary Hill" by Heather J. Violanti, will debut September 10 to 16 in a double bill presented by Theater for the New City's Dream Up Festival. "Wild Orchids" is a film noir-esque, feminist, and fictionalized take on 1940's Hollywood, where a secretary has a chance encounter with William Faulkner that may change both their lives. In "Rosary Hill,' two gentle nuns tend to their garden in upstate New York but a closer look at the harsh Mother Superior reveals they may not be all that they seem. Both plays feature canny, nuanced female characters who have much more going on under the surface than meets the eye. Jennifer Sandella directs.

The Royal Shakespeare Company has announced new child casting for the Matilda The Musical UK and Ireland Tour with Sophia Ally and Scarlett Cecil joining Annalise Bradbury and Nicola Turner in sharing the title role of Matilda from 29 August. The West End production will continue to play at the Cambridge Theatre, where it is now in its seventh year and is booking until 20 October 2019.

National Theatre Live broadcasts return to the McAninch Arts Center, located at 425 Fawell Blvd. on the campus of College of DuPage, as part of the MAC's 2018-2019 Season. Kicking off the series on Thursday, Oct. 4 will be "Julie," a contemporary adaptation of August Strindberg's masterpiece, "Miss Julie."  

William Shakespeare's Hamlet will be performed by the renowned five-member British touring group, Actors From The London Stage (AFTLS), September 12, 13, and 14, 2018 at Notre Dame's Washington Hall.

A powerful new play by the award-winning American writer Ken Urban, A Guide for the Homesick will make its European debut at Trafalgar Studios Two from 16 October - 24 November, with press night on 18 October 2018. This gripping thriller will star Douglas Booth (Jupiter Ascending, Speech and Debate) and Clifford Samuel (McMafia, The Events) and is directed by Jonathan O'Boyle.

The fascinating history behind Shakespeare's greatest plays continues with a third series of Shakespeare Uncovered, premiering Fridays, October 12-26 from 9-11 p.m. on PBS (check local listings) and streaming the following day at pbs.org/shakespeareuncovered and on PBS apps. The ambitious series concludes with celebrated new hosts Helen Hunt, F. Murray Abraham, Romola Garai, Brian Cox, Simon Russell Beale and Sir Antony Sher, who seamlessly weave their personal passions with history, biography, iconic performances and new analysis to tell the stories behind the stories of Shakespeare's famous works. The final season investigates “Much Ado About Nothing,” “The Merchant of Venice,” “Measure for Measure,” “Julius Caesar,” “The Winter's Tale” and “Richard III.” 

Created in collaboration between Drama Desk award-winning playwright Adam Mathias and Bakerloo Theatre Project Artistic Director William Addis, this stunning, fast-paced, four person adaptation uses Shakespeare's text in a post-modern exploration of the English language's most enigmatic anti-hero. In the instant following his death, Hamlet awakens in a surreal dreamscape and must replay the pivotal moments of his tragedy with the help of his mother, his friend, and his love.

The Menier Chocolate Factory today announces a major revival of one of the world's most-beloved musicals of all time, Fiddler on the Roof in a new staging by Trevor Nunn. The production opens on 5 December, with previews from 23 November, and runs until 9 March. Booking opens for supporters of the Menier on 28 August, with public booking on 5 September.

Vision Films and award-winning event cinema distributor, Trafalgar Releasing announced today that tickets are now on-sale for Living In The Future's Past, a beautifully photographed tour de force produced and presented by Academy Award Winner, Jeff Bridges who explores who we are, where we come from, how we think and why we do the things we do. Bridges shares the screen with profound thinkers, scientists, and a dazzling array of the Earth's creatures to reveal profound concepts about ourselves and our future in ways that have never been presented quite like this on film before.  The limited theatrical release will include an onscreen discussion and commentary with Bridges and the film's collaborators curated exclusively for cinema audiences.

Vision Films and award-winning event cinema distributor, Trafalgar Releasing announced today that tickets are now on-sale for Living In The Future's Past, abeautifully photographed tour de force produced and presented by Academy Award Winner, Jeff Bridges who explores who humans are, where they come from, how they think and why they do the things they do. Bridges shares the screen with profound thinkers, scientists, and a dazzling array of the Earth's creatures to reveal profound concepts about themselves and their future in ways that have never been presented quite like this on film before. The limited theatrical release will include an onscreen discussion and commentary with Bridges and the film's collaborators curated exclusively for cinema audiences.

The Growing Stage - The Children's Theatre of New Jersey, located in the Historic Palace Theatre on Route 183 in Netcong, New Jersey presents its 2018 - 2019 Main Stage Season

The Hammer Theatre Center in downtown San Jose has unveiled a sensational line-up for its fall 2018 season, featuring appearances by acclaimed dancers and musicians, world-class theatre, and family-friendly events. The stellar season kicks off with the Hammer Plaza Celebration, a free event featuring live performances by innovative aerial dance troupe BANDALOOP and the innovative Bridgman|Packer Dance company performing 'Truck.'

Theatre for a New Audience kicks off its 2018-2019 season with the U.S. premiere of The Emperor, featuring virtuosic shape-shifting actor Kathryn Hunter and Ethiopian musician Temesgen Zeleke, founder of Krar Collective. Walter Meierjohann directs this parable about power in decline-an adaptation by Colin Teevan of Ryszard Kapuscinski's celebrated and controversial 1978 book of the same title, about the downfall of Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie.

Production images are today released for the 50th anniversary production of Arthur Miller's riveting drama The Price at Theatre Royal Bath's Main House where it runs until Saturday 25 August, with opening night for press on Wednesday 15 August. Jonathan Church, Artistic Director of Theatre Royal Bath's Summer Season, directs the production starring one of Britain's most celebrated actors, David Suchet, as furniture dealer Gregory Solomon with Olivier Award winning actor Brendan Coyle playing Victor Franz, and television stars Adrian Lukisas Walter Franz and Sara Stewart as Victor's wife, Esther Franz.

Zach Wyatt will star as Anthony alongside previously announced Maisie Williams as Caroline in the UK premiere of Lauren Gunderson's I and You, which will be directed by Artistic Director Edward Hall on the Main Stage. Richard Molloy's Every Day I Make Greatness Happen, winner of the Nick Darke Award in 2017, will receive its world premiere Downstairs in September, and will star Sofia Barclay, Moe Bar-El, Jon Foster, Susan Stanley and Josh Zare.

The Playwrights Realm (Katherine Kovner, Founding Artistic Director; Roberta Pereira, Producing Director) today announces the complete cast and creative team for the world premiere of Jonathan Payne's The Revolving Cycles Truly and Steadily Roll'd, directed by Awoye Timpo (Sept. 7-Oct. 6, at The Duke on 42nd Street, a New 42nd Street project).  This world premiere marks the first full production from the mordantly funny and unsparing voice of Jonathan Payne.

The Growing Stage, The Children's Theatre of New Jersey, located in the Historic Palace Theatre on Route 183 in Netcong, New Jersey will be holding auditions for its musical production of the Royal Shakespeare's THE WIZARD OF OZ Monday, August 27 at 7:00 PM for adults and Tuesday, August 28 for young people ten to 17. The production is under the direction of Stephen L. Fredericks, the Growing Stage's Executive Director, with musical direction by Stephen Fox and choreography by Jillian Petrie.  The call is open and will run from 7:00 to 10:00 PM.  The production has four AEA roles available with all other parts available to community artists. All auditioning should have a song prepared with printed accompaniment that should be no longer than sixteen measures and reading from the script.

English Touring Theatre today announces the full cast for the upcoming revival of Richard Twyman's critically acclaimed production of Othello, a co-production with Oxford Playhouse and Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory. Richard Twyman directs Kitty Archer (Desdemona), Philip Correia (Cassio), Naby Dakhli (Montano), James Ellis (Duke), James Godden (Soldier/Senator), Paul McEwan (Iago) Victor Oshin (Othello) and Kelly Price (Emilia) joining returning cast members Chris Bianchi (Brabantio), Hayat Kamille (Bianca), Brian Lonsdale (Roderigo) and John Sandeman (Lodovico).

The Royal Shakespeare Company's Matilda The Musical has announced new casting with Hayden Tee playing Miss Trunchbull alongside Rob Compton and Holly Dale Spencer as Mr and Mrs Wormwood. Gina Beck will continue to play Miss Honey, having joined the company in September 2017. Isobel Hubble and Francesca McKeown will join Sarah Munday and Olivia Wells in sharing the title role of Matilda. The multi award-winning production is currently playing its seventh year in the West End and is booking until 20 October 2019.