Sam Shepard News

eXit Productions presents the New York premiere of Margie Pignataro's original work WONDERLAND IN ALICE: THE UNCERTAINTY PRINCIPLE-opening on February 4 at the Dionysus Theatre Complex's L'il Peach Theatre (270 West 36th Street) in Manhattan. Ben Gougeon and Doug Spagnola will direct. WONDERLAND IN ALICE: THE UNCERTAINTY PRINCIPLE is a post-modern trip through the worlds of Wonderland and quantum mechanics. Inspired by Lewis Carroll's beloved Alice stories, WONDERLAND IN ALICE: THE UNCERTAINTY PRINCIPLE follows Alice through the ten-dimensions of time and space as she searches for identity in an uncertain world. With help from characters such as the Schizophrenic Cat, the Syphillitic Worm and Tofurky, Alice finds her place in a post-9/11 world by learning to understand quantum physics, human sexuality and the power of choice. WONDERLAND IN ALICE: THE UNCERTAINTY PRINCIPLE premiered in Lubbock, TX with the Experimental Artists Theatre! (EAT!) in August of 2008. Directed by Ben Gougeon and Doug Spagnola, the cast of WONDERLAND IN ALICE: THE UNCERTAINTY PRINCIPLE includes: Christa Hinckley, Joe Jung, Carmen Rae Meyers, Terrence Monte, James Redfern, Caitlin Sams, Megan Simard and Miles Warner, with costume design by Shana Albery.

THE ORPHANS' HOME CYCLE, a world premiere production of nine plays by Horton Foote that have been newly adapted by the Pulitzer Prize and Academy Award-winning playwright into a three-part theatrical event, will be co-produced in the 2009-2010 season by Signature Theatre Company (James Houghton, Founding Artistic Director; Erika Mallin, Executive Director) and Hartford Stage (Michael Wilson, Artistic Director; Michael Stotts, Managing Director). The productions will be directed by Michael Wilson and performed at Hartford Stage from August 27, 2009 to October 17, 2009 and at Signature Theatre Company, from October 29, 2009 to April 11, 2010. Each part of the three part cycle will be staged individually as well as in repertory and one-day marathons. Audiences may choose to see the individual parts or the entire trilogy. THE ORPHANS' HOME CYCLE encompasses nine newly adapted plays by Mr. Foote, together for the first time. Mr. Foote, 92, is actively adapting each of the full-length plays, some previously produced and others never before seen, into one epic cycle.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) announced initial casting for Christopher Durang's WHY TORTURE IS WRONG, AND THE PEOPLE WHO LOVE THEM and Craig Lucas's THE SINGING FOREST. Nicholas Martin will direct Why Torture Is Wrong... with a cast of seven that includes Amir Arison, David Aaron Baker, Kristine Nielsen and John Pankow. Mark Wing-Davey will direct a cast of nine that includes Academy Award winner Olympia Dukakis in The Singing Forest. The cast for Why Torture Is Wrong..., which runs March 24 to April 26, will include Amir Arison (Queens Boulevard at Signature), David Aaron Baker (Dead Man's Cell Phone at Playwrights Horizons), Kristine Nielsen (Crazy Mary at Playwrights Horizons), and John Pankow (The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie at The New Group). Early casting for The Singing Forest, running April 7 to May 17, will feature Olympia Dukakis (Academy Award winner for Moonstruck) as Loe Reiman. Ms. Dukakis' New York stage credits include the Encores! production of 70, Girls, 70, Barra Grant's A Mother, A Daughter and a Gun, Social Security directed by Mike Nichols, Rose (Outer Critics Award and Drama Desk nom.), Who's Who in Hell, The Aspern Papers, Night of the Iguana, Christopher Durang's The Marriage of Bette and Boo (Obie Award), Sam Shepard's Curse of the Starving Class, Peer Gynt, Titus Andronicus, Electra, Vaclav Havel's Memorandum, Brecht's A Man's a Man (Obie Award), One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, and A View From the Bridge (Theatre World Award).

Magic Theatre announced today that contributions totaling nearly $355,000 have been generated by its emergency fundraising appeal launched this past month. An additional $100,000 will be donated by a leading national supporter of the arts, which offered a matching grant to help secure the Magic's season. The campaign has thus far raised more than $450,000. 'The breadth and depth of support is incredible,' said Missy Kirchner, chairman of the Magic's board of directors. 'We've received more than 1,100 contributions from 23 states, ranging from $5.00 to $20,000. We needed $350,000 by January 12th to move forward with this season's productions and we made it.'

Screen Actors Guild Award-winner Lauren Ambrose (Awake and Sing!, 'Six Feet Under') and Tony? Award- winner Andrea Martin (My Favorite Year, Young Frankenstein) will star in Eugene Ionesco's EXIT THE KING, joining the previously announced Geoffrey Rush and Susan Sarandon. Translated by Neil Armfield and Geoffrey Rush and directed by Neil Armfield, EXIT THE KING will begin performances Saturday, March 7, 2009 at the Barrymore Theatre (243 West 47th Street) and open on Thursday, March 26, 2009. This limited engagement will run for 14 weeks only, through Sunday, June 14, 2009. Additional casting will be announced soon. EXIT THE KING is a hilarious and poignant comedy about a megalomaniacal ruler, King Berenger (Rush) whose incompetence has left his country in near ruin. Despite the efforts of Queen Marguerite (Sarandon) and the other members of the court to convince the King he has only 90 minutes left to live, he refuses to relinquish any control.

YALE REPERTORY THEATRE (James Bundy, Artistic Director; Victoria Nolan, Managing Director) presents the east coast premiere of LYDIA by OCTAVIO SOLIS, directed by JULIETTE CARRILLO at Yale Repertory Theatre (1120 Chapel Street, at York Street) beginning February 6 through February 28. Opening Night is Thursday, February 12. LYDIA features music composed by Chris Webb; sets by Andrew Boyce; costumes by Amanda Seymour; lighting by Jesse Belsky; sound design, additional music, and arrangements by David Molina; voice and dialect by Beth McGuire; fight direction by Rick Sordelet; dramaturgy by Matt Cornish; and stage management by Donald E. Claxon. The cast of LYDIA includes Carlo Alb?n, Christian Barillas, Stephanie Beatriz, Armando Dur?n, Catalina Maynard, Onahoua Rodriguez, and Tony Sancho.

ATC breaks ground with unprecedented mid-run cast switch, offering audiences the rare chance to see two versions of each play

The Tony Award-winning actress ELAINE STRITCH will honored for her 'achievements and humanity' at Theater for the New City's 6th annual LOVE 'N' COURAGE benefit for the theater's Emerging Playwrights Program, it has been announced by Crystal Field, Executive Artistic Director of Theater for the New City. Co-hosted by playwright and actor CHARLES BUSCH and actress JULIE HALSTON, this year's benefit will take place at the beautiful National Arts Club (15 Gramercy Park South), on Monday, February 9, with cocktails beginning at 6:30pm, followed by dinner and performances.

The Magic Theater in San Francisco, a 42-year-old institution that has staged the premieres of works by Sam Shepard, David Mamet, Nilo Cruz and many others, may be on the verge of closing unless the company can raise $350,000 by Midnight, Monday January 12th. The theater's Web site, magictheatre.org is urging audience members to help it survive.

Triple Showcase at the West Bank Cafe to Feature Michael Wolff Trio, Creole Jazz Serenaders with Don Vappie, and the Red Clay Ramblers January 10th and 11th. Events are Open to the Public, and Part of APAP Conference as well. Three incredible bands will deliver two nights of top-notch music, with January 10th and 11th showcases at the West Bank Caf? in NYC:

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director; Ellen Richard, Executive Director) continues its 30th Anniversary Season with the New York premiere of Gina Gionfriddo's play, BECKY SHAW, directed by Peter DuBois.

The New York Times is reporting that The Magic Theater in San Francisco, a 42-year-old institution that has staged the premieres of works by Sam Shepard, David Mamet, Nilo Cruz and others, may be on the verge of closing unless the company can raise $350,000 by Friday. The theater's Web site, magictheatre.org is urging audience members to help it survive.

The Huffington Post is reporting that Police in Illinois have stated that actor and playwright Sam Shepard has been arrested on preliminary charges of speeding and drunken driving. Police Lt. Mark Kotte says officers stopped Shepard early Saturday morning, January 3rd in the central Illinois town of Normal.

ATC breaks ground with unprecedented mid-run cast switch, offering audiences the rare chance to see two versions of each play

Due to critical acclaim and popular demand, Magic Theatre Company's Evie's Waltz extended the run through Dec 21. The play is a provocative look at parenting today's American teen.

The Open Fist is thrilled to announce that its world premiere musical event, the critically acclaimed, smash-hit stage adaptation of Frank Zappa's classic rock opera JOE'S GARAGE is EXTENDING through Saturday, December 20 at the Open Fist Theatre in Hollywood.

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director; Ellen Richard, Executive Director) will continue its 30th Anniversary Season with the New York premiere of Gina Gionfriddo's play, BECKY SHAW, directed by Peter DuBois.

Triple Showcase at the West Bank Cafe to Feature Michael Wolff Trio, Creole Jazz Serenaders with Don Vappie, and the Red Clay Ramblers January 10th and 11th. Events are Open to the Public, and Part of APAP Conference as well. Three incredible bands will deliver two nights of top-notch music, with January 10th and 11th showcases at the West Bank Caf? in NYC:

Ian Rickson will direct Amanda Drew, Andrew Lincoln and Toby Jones in the European premiere of Jez Butterworth's Parlour Song which runs at the Almeida from 19 March - 9 May 2009 with press night on 26 March. Designs are by Jeremy Herbert, lighting is by Peter Mumford and music is by Stephen Warbeck. Parlour Song is sponsored by Aspen Re.

Theater for the New City presents LOVE 'N' COURAGE, the 6th annual benefit for Theater for the New City's Emerging Playwrights Program, it has been announced by Crystal Field, Executive Artistic Director of Theater for the New City. Hosted by playwright and actor Charles Busch and featuring Tony Award-winning actress Marian Seldes, this year's benefit takes place at the beautiful National Arts Club (15 Gramercy Park South), on Monday, February 9, with cocktails beginning at 6:30pm, followed by dinner and performances.