Shakespeare & Company News

Adjmi claims that his work does not infringe on THREE'S COMPANY's copyright, with his lawyers 'citing the First Amendment and the legal doctrine of fair use, argue that '3C' is an original parody that only borrows some elements from the sitcom to examine its premise, character types, and homophobia and sexism in that era.' The compaint includes support from Tony Kushner, Stephen Sondheim and others.

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.

Angela Lansbury discusses her illustrious career and her hopes for her latest project.

The Lyric Stage Company of Boston presents DEATH OF A SALESMAN, running February 14 - March 15, 2014. The play, by Arthur Miller, will be directed by Spiro Veloudos.

Saskia Reeves and Danny Webb are set to star in THE MISTRESS CONTRACT in the Vicky Featherstone-helmed production of Abi Morgan's play at the Royal Court's Jerwood Theatre Downstairs. The show begins tonight, January 30, 2014.

Riley Productions presents Tom Stoppard's THE REAL THING directed by Linda Alznauer at the Two Roads Theatre in Studio City. In this witty take on love and marriage, Henry, a famous playwright, finds himself the star of his own real-life drama. He discovers that what he has written in his latest play seems to be happening in real life and is turning his world upside down.

Newbury Productions (UK) Limited present REDUCED SHAKESPEARE COMPANY in THE BIBLE: THE COMPLETE WORD OF GOD (abridged), written by Adam Long, Reed Martin & Austin Tichenor in a UK tour, Spring 2014. From Fig Leaves to Final Judgment!

2014 sees the anniversary of Shakespeare's birth and to mark the occasion internationally acclaimed all-male Shakespeare company, Propeller, return to Coventry's Belgrade Theatre with their adaptation of A Midsummer Night's Dream and The Comedy of Errors on the Main Stage from Tues 11 to Sat 15 Feb.

In the aftermath of the massacre of children in Connecticut in December 2012, I found myself mesmerized watching Executive Vice President of the National Rifle Association Wayne LaPierre on "Meet the Press." I remember the horror I felt, as he struggled to articulate his defense, as he interrupted with his solution to violence in our schools: "More guns." He said arming adults in U.S. schools was the answer to decreasing future violence in U.S. schools. Here, I thought, was the perfect, tragic embodiment of our country's need to teach our children Romeo and Juliet differently. Five children end up dead in that story and they were likely whisked there due to their parents' foundationless rage.

Following two previous much-acclaimed seasons of American drama, the Ustinov now presents The American Season 2014: three brand new works, all UK premieres. The three plays are Dan LeFranc's THE BIG MEAL, directed by Michael Boyd, Keith Huff's gritty two-hander, A STEADY RAIN, directed by David Grindley and Lynn Nottage's multi award-winning INTIMATE APPAREL, directed by Laurence Boswell.

Starting with Seattle Shakespeare Company's production of "Richard II" and continuing on with the company's Spring production of "The Importance of Being Earnest," Seattle Shakespeare Company (SSC) and Shakespeare Walla Walla are embarking on a partnership to bring professional classical theatre productions to Eastern Washington.

Today in 1982, Macbeth opened at the Circle in the Square Theatre, where it ran for 21 performances. Written by William Shakespeare, Macbeth is about a regicide and its aftermath. It is Shakespeare's shortest tragedy and is believed to have been written sometime between 1603 and 1607. The earliest account of a performance of what was probably Shakespeare's play is April 1611, when Simon Forman recorded seeing such a play at the Globe Theatre.

Mark Bazeley and Kristin Davis will join the previously announced Natascha McElhone in Trevor Nunn's production of Fatal Attraction to play Dan and Beth Gallagher. Written by James Dearden, the world stage premiere of Fatal Attraction will open at the Theatre Royal Haymarket on 25 March 2014, with previews now starting on 11 March and currently booking to 21 June 2014. Designs are by Rob Jones with lighting by Paul Pyant and sound by Paul Groothuis.

The Broadway Cast - led by Hannah Yelland and Tristan Sturrock - will appear in the internationally celebrated Kneehigh production of Noel Coward's Brief Encounter, which will have a 43-performance limited engagement at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts February 15 to March 23, 2014 (press opening February 19). Yelland and Sturrock are joined by fellow New York cast members Joe Alessi, Dorothy Atkinson, Damon Daunno, and Annette Laughlin. Musician David Brown appeared in the show in the UK and musician James Gow joins the company for The Wallis engagement.

Academy Award, Tony Award and Emmy Award winner Christopher Plummer takes the stage for 16 performances only in a Center Theatre Group special event, "A Word or Two," which opened at the CTG/Ahmanson Theatre on Wednesday, January 22, 2014. Written and arranged by Plummer and directed by Tony Award winner Des McAnuff, "A Word or Two" is presented in association with the Stratford Festival of Canada and continues through February 9, 2014. Click below to watch interviews with Plummer and McAnuff on opening night!

Passion. Love. Vengeance. African-American Shakespeare Company continues its 19th season with MEDEA, Euripides' infamous tragedy about a jilted wife exacting the ultimate revenge on a cheating husband. Dawn Monique Williams, a veteran of staging the classics, directs, with Leontyne Mbele-Mbong in the title role. MEDEA plays Saturdays and Sundays, March 8-30 at the Buriel Clay Theater at the African American Art and Culture Complex, 762 Fulton Street (at Webster) in San Francisco.

The Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle has announced its 2013 nominations and special awards for excellence in Los Angeles, Orange County and Ventura County theatre. The 45th Annual Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards ceremony will take place on Monday, March 17, 2014 at The Colony Theatre, located at 555 N. Third Street in Burbank.

Tennessee Shakespeare Company brings a sweeping, youthful, full-cast production of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet to the Duncan-Williams Performance Hall at Germantown Performing Arts Center on January 28 and 30 at 7:00 pm. Opening night tonight, January 28 will include a complimentary post-show reception with the actors.

The quintessential portrait of maniacal ambition and lust for power is on stage in William Shakespeare's epic history play Richard III at Folger Theatre. Robert Richmond

YALE REPERTORY THEATRE presents the world premiere of THESE PAPER BULLETS!, a modish ripoff of William Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, adapted by Rolin Jones, with songs by Billie Joe Armstrong, and directed by Jackson Gay, March 14-April 5 at the University Theatre (222 York Street). Opening Night is Thursday, March 20.