Shakespeare & Company News

Coventry's Belgrade Theatre is beating the winter blues with a fresh adaptation of classic comedy The Alchemist, which updates the corruption and crookery of this timeless tale from 17th century London to modern day Coventry.

Storrs: Sinatra is on the radio, soldiers returning home from the Korean War, and a beautiful seaside estate sets the scene for Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare. Connecticut Repertory Theatre presents the comedy directed by Paul Mullins, onstage February 28- March 9 in the Nafe Katter Theater, Storrs. Sarah Wintermeyer stars as Beatrice and matches wits in this hilarious battle of the sexes with James Jelkin's Benedick.

Midway through Shakespeare Theatre Company's current season, Artistic Director Michael Kahn announced today the Company's 2014-2015 Season. Kahn has put together a classic and entertaining season, continuing to stake STC's claim as 'the nation's foremost Shakespeare company' (The Wall Street Journal) while '[making] the Bard a relevant voice in our current affairs' (DC Metro Theatre Arts).

Comedy stars Mark Heap and Robert Webb will head to the West End to play the roles of Jeeves and Wooster in the five-star hit Perfect Nonsense taking over from Stephen Mangan and Matthew Macfadyen from 7 April 2014. Mark Hadfield will continue in the role of Seppings alongside Heap and Webb.

Rupert Goold, The Almeida Theatre's Artistic Director, directs the World Premiere of American Psycho, a new musical thriller with book by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and music and lyrics by Duncan Sheik, based on the novel by Bret Easton Ellis. The production ends its acclaimed run today, 1 Feb in the West End.

Artistic Director Carey Perloff announced today that American Conservatory Theater will present the exclusive California screening of Peter Brook: The Tightrope, a new and definitive documentary on the creative process of legendary theater director Peter Brook, on Monday, March 24 at 7 p.m. at A.C.T.'s Geary Theater (415 Geary Street, San Francisco).

Producers of the Tony Award-winning MATILDA THE MUSICAL announced today that Matt Harrington and Christopher Sieber will join the company as Mr. Wormwood and Miss Trunchbull, respectively.

The Atlanta Shakespeare Company at The New American Shakespeare Tavern will present Romeo and Juliet in repertory with The Taming of the Shrew and Much Ado About Nothing. Previews will be January 30 & 31, and performances will run today, February 1, 2, 6, 7, 14, 15, 22, 28 and March 6, 9, 15, 21, 27, and 30 2014.

ImprovBoston and the Chicago-based nationally acclaimed Improvised Shakespeare Company join forces for one night only to create a fully improvised, fully comedic Shakespearean masterpiece. Starting from a single audience suggestion, the Company uses Shakespeare's themes and language to bring an unforgettable evening of off-the-cuff comedy. Nothing has been planned out, rehearsed, or written. All of the dialogue is spoken for the first (and last) time, the characters are created on spot, and nobody - not even the actors themselves - know where the show is headed. The night could reveal a tragedy, comedy, or history. Each play is completely improvised; each play is entirely new.

The Prague Shakespeare Company will present Macbeth by William Shakespeare. Main Street Theater will host the production at its Rice Village location. MST and PSC have co-produced Shakespeare's Henry V and Richard III during the past two seasons and both productions were critically acclaimed in Houston and in Prague.

Screen Actors Guild Foundation and Broadway World have partnered for an filmed Conversations Q&A series to recognize and celebrate the vibrant theatre community in New York City and the union actors who aspire to have a career on the stage and screen. The most recent conversation featured stage and screen titans Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart, moderated by Broadway World's Richard Ridge. Check out Part 1 of the conversation below!

The first ever production in more than fifty years of Terence Rattigan's Variation on a Themeopens at the multi-award-winning Finborough Theatre in a strictly limited four-week season fromTuesday, 25 February 2014, starring twice Olivier Award nominated Rachael Stirling.

The first ever production in more than fifty years of Terence Rattigan's Variation on a Theme opens at the multi-award-winning Finborough Theatre in a strictly limited four-week season from Tuesday, 25 February 2014, starring twice Olivier Award nominated Rachael Stirling.

For Illusion Theater's Ninth Annual Lights Up! series, Transatlantic Love Affair, the creators of Minnesota Fringe Festival hit Red Resurrected (2011 Encore Slot Winner) and Ivey Award-winning Ballad of the Pale Fisherman (2010), offers ASH LAND, a tale inspired by economic hardships past and present and scored by old American spirituals and new slide guitar compositions. Opening today, January 31, the dynamic and spirited Ash Land runs through February 22 at the downtown Minneapolis theater, located on the eighth floor of The Cowles Center for Dance and the Performing Arts, 528 Hennepin Ave.

Plummer recreated his Tony Award-winning role of legendary actor John Barrymore in the film adaptation of William Luce's Broadway play of the same name. Barrymore will air on Great Performances, tonight, January 31 at 9 p.m., ET on PBS

Shining East Productions presents The Sun Shines East, based on a true story written by Corinne Chateau* about an adoptive mother's struggle to break through deep personal barriers and international politics to bring home her daughter. Pat Golden directs a cast of 5 including Karen Christie-Ward*, Tara Gadomski*, Mary Francina Golden*, Bristol Pomeroy, and Amy Staats*. Fourteen performances will be held at the Marjorie S. Deane Little Theatre, 10 West 64th Street, in New York City from tonight, January 31-February 16, 2014.

Washington Ensemble Theatre to Present ED, DOWNLOADED by Michael Mitnick in its reigonal premiere. Directed by Ali el-Gasseir, Ed, Downloaded will play today, January 31 - February 24, 2014, running Thursdays through Mondays at 7:30. The Opening Night Reception is set for tonight, January 31st after the show.

Berkeley Repertory Theatre announces the world premiere of The House that will not Stand, a historical comedic drama commissioned from award-winning poet-playwright and Oakland native Marcus Gardley. Sensuous, witty, heartbreaking, and uplifting - The House that will not Stand unearths a story about free women of color in 1836 New Orleans, where black Creole women entered into common-law marriages with affluent white men. When her wealthy lover mysteriously dies, Beartrice Albans' foundation of security hangs precariously by a thread. She is left to fend for her three unwed daughters in a world where freedom must be carefully negotiated. Told in a rich and lyrical river of words, this new play was developed through The Ground Floor: Berkeley Rep's Center for the Creation and Development of New Work. It's helmed by Patricia McGregor, whose many credits include the celebrated production of Spunk at California Shakespeare Theater. The House that will not Stand begins previews on Berkeley Rep's intimate Thrust Stage today, January 31, opens on Wednesday, February 5 and runs through Sunday, March 16, 2014.