Shakespeare & Company News

Continuing its 26th Season, Lookingglass Theatre Company presents the World Premiere of In the Garden: A Darwinian Love Story, by Artistic Associate Sara Gmitter and directed by Jessica Thebus. In the Garden runs April 16 - June 15, 2014 at Lookingglass Theatre Company, located inside Chicago's historic Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave. at Pearson. The Press Opening is Saturday, April 26, 2014 at 7:30 p.m..

Samuel Julyan, in association with Neil McPherson for the Finborough Theatre, presents the UK premiere of ALMOST NEAR by Pamela Carter. The production is directed by Audrey Sheffield, with design by Fly Davis, lighting design by Peter Small, and sound design by Max Pappenheim. The cast features Mariam Haque, Amy Loughton, Tom McCall, Kate Miles, Oliver Mott, Adam Philps, and Michael Sheldon.

Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, Cincinnati's stage for the classics, is proud to present William Shakespeare's 'Henry IV: Part 1 & 2', playing from March 28- April 19, 2014. This production is directed by Cincinnati Shakespeare Company Producing Artistic Director Brian Isaac Phillips and features CSC Resident Ensemble Members Jim Hopkins, Justin McCombs and Matthew Lewis Johnson. The History Cycle Sponsor is Osborne Rohs Williams & Donohoe and the design is sponsored by Messer Construction.

Aurora Theatre Company presents its first fully staged production in the company's second stage performance space, Harry's UpStage. Award-winning Bay Area auteur Mark Jackson returns to the company to direct this sixth addition to the season, the Professional Bay Area Premiere of John W. Lowell's suspenseful psychological thriller THE LETTERS, featuring Beth Wilmurt (The Eccentricities of a Nightingale) and Michael Ray Wisely (The Arsonists). THE LETTERS plays April 17 through May 25 at Harry's UpStage, located in the Nell and Jules Dashow Wing at the Aurora Theatre in Berkeley. For tickets ($28, 32) and information the public can call (510) 843-4822 or visit auroratheatre.org.

Tennessee Shakespeare Company is budgeted to earn approximately 42% of its season's income this year. The balance is conservatively projected to come from contributing sources such as corporations, grants, foundations, and individuals. This percentage is in line with the non-profit national average, and in fact for our classical corner of the industry, TSC's earned income ratio is slightly higher.

Celebrating its 13th season, the Ensemble of the Romantic Century (ERC) presents Tchaikovsky: None But the Lonely Heart at The Fishman Space in the new BAM Fisher. A fully staged theatrical concert blending striking music, powerful language and biography, Tchaikovsky: None But the Lonely Heart delves into the unconventional 16-year long relationship between one of the great composers of the 19th century and his patroness, Madame von Meck. Written by Eve Wolf and directed by Donald T. Sanders, this evening-length production seamlessly interweaves a dramatic script performed by actor Simon Fortin (Tchaikovsky) and actress Ariel Bock (Madame von Meck) of Shakespeare & Company with live chamber and vocal music performed by violinist Rachel Lee Priday, cellist Adrian Daurov, pianist Eve Wolf and tenor Blake Friedman. Featuring some of Tchaikovsky's epic pieces including Piano Trio in A Minor, Tchaikovsky: None But the Lonely Heart represents some of the composer's balletic works through dance both choreographed and performed by American Ballet Theatre dancer Daniel Mantei.

Dorks in Dungeons LIVE! Onstage continue their once-monthly show Sunday March 16th at 7pm from their home at the Seacoast Reparatory Theatre. This month, in Dorks in Dungeons Presents: The Dies of March, they continue their absurd ongoing adventure in a two hour comedy show full of monsters, mayhem, and general hilarity. The regular cast of characters will be joined by guest Christine Gray, a local actress with recent credits including Darwin's Waiting Room and Death of a Salesman.

When sheltered Claudine meets starving artist Henry, she falls head over heels. But her mother, a tough-talking celebrity financial guru, has her doubts: Is Henry everything her daughter deserves or is he only after her money? Rich Girl, a modern day take on the classic play and film The Heiress, is a clever new comedy about women, men, mothers, and money – but not necessarily in that order.

The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) will celebrate Shakespeare's 450th birthday this year with a spectacular firework display on Wednesday 23 April (Shakespeare's actual birthday). Later that week, on Saturday 26 April and as part of Stratford-upon-Avon's weekend-long annual Shakespeare Birthday Celebrations, the RSC will also offer a range of free family theatre activities.

Feral Tale Theatricals in association with the Rudy Foundation present Intimate Feral: A Close and Personal Cabaret on Friday, March 14th, beginning 7 p.m. at the Summerlin Library and Performing Arts Center.

The Laguna Playhouse Executive and Artistic Directors, Karen Wood and Ann E. Wareham invite you to take 83 books, with three chameleon-like actors in 98 minutes, and mix it all up into one hilarious evening of ridiculous fun! It's the Reduced Shakespeare Company's production of ALL THE GREAT BOOKS (abridged), written and directed by Reed Martin and Austin Tichenor with additional material by Matthew Croke and Michael Faulkner. ALL THE GREAT BOOKS (abridged) will begin previews today, March 4 and will open on Saturday, March 8 at 7:30pm and run through Sunday, March 30, 2014 at the LagunaPlayhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach.

NYU Skirball Center for the Performing Arts will sponsor a panel discussion on 'Shakespeare Around the World' tomorrow Tuesday, March 4 at The Metropolitan Museum of Art (1000 Fifth Avenue at 82nd Street).

The Martin E. Segal Theatre Center at the CUNY Graduate Center has announced its SPRING 2014 season of public programs. The season includes the Center's inaugural PEN World Voices International Play Festival, featuring 9 free readings of plays from around the globe, including HAITI, JAPAN, TUNISIA, CHILE, POLAND, AUSTRALIA, SINGAPORE, AUSTRIA and INDIA. The season also features 11 free public programs throughout the spring, featuring contemporary theatre and performing artists from around the world.

New York's theater season has had a distinctive Shakespearean flavor to it with the critically acclaimed Shakespeare's Globe productions of Twelfth Night, or What You Will and Richard III (in repertory at the Belasco Theater), Lincoln Center Theater's Macbeth, the Bard's The Comedy of Errors (Shakespeare in the Park), King Lear (by Theatre for a New Audience in Brooklyn), and the Wooster Group's Cry, Trojans! (Troilus & Cressida). The Drama Desk's annual Spring Luncheon/Panel Discussion at Sardi's Eugenia Room, 234 West 44th St., on Friday, April 4, will try to answer the questions 'Why Shakespeare? Why Now?' with a distinguished lineup of guests, including British actor/director Michael Pennington (King Lear); Scott Shepherd (Cry, Trojans!, The Wooster Group's Troilus & Cressida); and director Daniel Sullivan (The Comedy of Errors, Shakespeare in the Park). Carol Rocamora, a renowned playwright/critic and educator, will serve as moderator.

The Welders-Washington's only playwrights' collective devoted exclusively to developing and producing new work-have launched their inaugural production. The Carolina Layaway Grail, a new play by Allyson Currin, opens March 22, 2014 at the Atlas Performing Arts Center under the direction of Sonya Robbins.

After nearly 3 years of planning and renovations, the Greater Plymouth Performing Arts Center, Inc. (GPPAC), a non-profit organization supporting the region's performing arts community, announces the long awaited Gala Grand Opening Events Series of The Spire Center for Performing Arts, 25 ½ Court Street, Plymouth. A 2-month long celebration kicks off with a Community Open House on Saturday, April 5; a ribbon-cutting ceremony, Gala Variety Show and reception on Friday, April 11; folk-pop duo The Sea The Sea on Saturday, April 12; local singer-songwriter Hayley Sabella CD release concert on Friday, April 18; a Celebrity Benefit Concert featuring nationally renowned baritone Andrew Garland and pianist Warren Jones on Friday, May 16; children's singer/songwriter The Stacey Peasley Band on Sunday, May 18; wrapping up with the premiere of Plymouth's first ever Jazz Festival on Saturday and Sunday, May 24 and 25.

Columbus Children's Theatre will present the musical The Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum with Music and Lyrics by Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg Background music by Herbert Stothart, Dance and Vocal Arrangements by Peter Howard Orchestration by Larry Wilcox Adapted by John Kane for the Royal Shakespeare Company. Based upon the Classical Motion Picture owned by Turner Entertainment Co. and distributed in all media by Warner Bros, April 10 - 20, 2014 at The Lincoln Theatre located at 769 East Long Street Columbus 43203. This production, directed by William Goldsmith, is recommended for ages 4 and up.

Gulfshore Playhouse in Naples, Florida is has announced the arrival of Tony-nominated and Olivier Award-winning playwright Ken Ludwig who has come to see their production of Ken Ludwig's The Game's Afoot, which is breaking box office records at Gulfshore Playhouse.

On Monday, March 10, 2014, the League of Professional Theatre Women (LPTW), a not-for-profit organization committed to promoting visibility and increasing opportunities for women in the professional theatre, is pleased to recognize the talents of six outstanding women: Zoe Caldwell, Judith Dolan, Joanna Sherman, Sondra Gorney, Meiyin Wang and Katherine Kovner. The awards will be presented at the League's 2014 Awards Celebration & Big Mingle Reception to be held at 6:30 pm on Monday, March 10 at The Irene Diamond Stage (The Pershing Square Signature Center, 480 West 42nd Street) featuring emcee Tamara Tunie.