Shakespeare Theatre Company News

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) announced today casting for its contemporary retelling of William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, staged by acclaimed British director Jonathan Munby in his Chicago debut, February 5-March 24, 2013 in CST's Courtyard Theater. The production features a celebrated company of artists that includes Jeff Award-winning Chicago actor David Darlow in the title role, Canada's Stratford Festival favorite Dion Johnstone as Marc Antony, New York stage and screen actor Jason Kolotouros as Caius Cassius and British actor John Light as Marcus Brutus. The production also welcomes the return of veteran CST actors David Lively as Ligarius/Lepidus, Barbara E. Robertson as Calphurnia and Larry Yando as Casca.

Dark & Stormy Productions today announces its agreement with Actors' Equity Association to become an Equity theater, and announces the three actors and director for its upcoming production of Speed-the-Plow by David Mamet. Previously, Dark & Stormy presented the Equity Showcase, Outside Providence.

Spring Awakening, winner of eight Tony Awards including Best Musical, will open Olney Theatre Center 75th Anniversary Season playing on the Mainstage February 7 - March 10, 2013.

Artistic Director Michael Kahn and the Shakespeare Theatre Company announce casting for the title characters of The Hero/Traitor Repertory, the first in the Clarice Smith Repertory Series. STC Affiliated Artist Patrick Page will star in Coriolanus, running from March 28-June 2, 2013 and Steve Pickering will star in Wallenstein, running from March 29-May 31, 2013. Both Coriolanus and Wallenstein will be produced in repertory at the Company's Sidney Harman Hall (610 F Street NW).

Festival Stage of Winston-Salem continues its third season of professional theatre with a production of Moises Kaufman's new drama 33 Variations, presented at Hanesbrands Theatre (209 N. Spruce Street, Winston-Salem) from Feb. 1 to Feb. 24.

One of Kansas City's most acclaimed actors, Gary Neal Johnson, is set to star as the iconic Willy Loman in Kansas City Repertory Theatre's production of Arthur Miller's Tony Award-winning Death of a Salesman. The Rep's artistic director Eric Rosen will direct the production, which runs January 18-February 10 at Spencer Theatre. Miller's classic play about a down-on-his-luck salesman searching for his American Dream remains one of the most profound dramas in the canon of American theatre.

Imagination Stage will bring Natasha Holmes, director and cofounder of Tell Tale Hearts Children's Touring Theatre Company, all the way from the United Kingdom to mount a new production of From Here to There as part of the My First Imagination Stage season. This North American premiere will introduce Imagination Stage and its audiences to 'free play' as an aspect of live performance.

The Washington Stage Guild continues its 27th season with the area premiere of TRYST by Karoline Leach. Tryst is set in 1912, England - the same setting as the Stage Guild's last hit production, George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion. But while both plays deal with the sparks that fly when a man presumes to exploit a young woman for his own purposes, Tryst is a suspenseful cat-and-mouse game where it's not always clear who is the cat and who the mouse. Based on the true story of the mysterious Mr. George Love, Tryst was a West End hit in 1997, and had successful New York runs in both 2006 and 2011, but has never been produced in the DC area until now.

Starting today, January 3, Imagination Stage brings back its popular show for the very young: Wake Up, Brother Bear! Called "very entertaining for both kids and adults" by Our Kids, this 45-minute show invites children to enter the world of a young brother bear and his sister as they venture through the seasons of the year.

The Guthrie Theater today announced that beginning tonight, December 27, the theater will offer its first-ever 'Tweet Seats' during four consecutive Thursday performances of The Servant of Two Masters, allowing social media users an opportunity to interact during the show. A limited number of seats located in a balcony level of the McGuire Proscenium in a section that will not be disruptive to other patrons will be designated as Tweet Seats. Tweet Seat tickets are $15 and are available by calling the Guthrie Box Office at 612.377.2224, and mentioning 'Tweet.' Tickets are not available online, with other offers, or on previously purchased tickets. Handing fees may apply.

BroadwayWorld brings you the Best of Washington, DC in the year 2012. Check out the Top Theatre Stories from each month during in the year 2012. We look forward to another exciting year of theatre in 2013!

Dallas Theater Center will conclude its four-year Shakespeare cycle with one of the playwright's greatest tragedies King Lear, a co-production with Trinity Repertory Company and directed by DTC artistic director Kevin Moriarty. King Lear opens for previews on Friday, January 18 and runs through Sunday, February 18.

The Guthrie Theater today announced that beginning December 27, the theater will offer its first-ever "Tweet Seats" during four consecutive Thursday performances of The Servant of Two Masters, allowing social media users an opportunity to interact during the show. A limited number of seats located in a balcony level of the McGuire Proscenium in a section that will not be disruptive to other patrons will be designated as Tweet Seats. Tweet Seat tickets are $15 and are available by calling the Guthrie Box Office at 612.377.2224, and mentioning "Tweet." Tickets are not available online, with other offers, or on previously purchased tickets. Handing fees may apply.

The Washington Stage Guild continues its 27th season with the area premiere of TRYST by Karoline Leach. Tryst is set in 1912, England - the same setting as the Stage Guild's last hit production, George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion. But while both plays deal with the sparks that fly when a man presumes to exploit a young woman for his own purposes, Tryst is a suspenseful cat-and-mouse game where it's not always clear who is the cat and who the mouse. Based on the true story of the mysterious Mr. George Love, Tryst was a West End hit in 1997, and had successful New York runs in both 2006 and 2011, but has never been produced in the DC area until now.

The epic story of King Henry V's battle with the French during the Hundred Years' War comes alive for the first time at the Folger Theatre, in William Shakespeare's historical drama Henry V. The production, directed by Robert Richmond (Othello and Henry VIII at the Folger), stars Zach Appelman (War Horse on Broadway) in his Folger Theatre debut as Henry V, and will run from January 22 - March 3, 2013.

The Shakespeare Theatre Company, recipient of the 2012 Regional Theatre Tony Award, delves into the 2012-2013 Season with an intimate look at two lonely souls in Eugene O'Neill's Hughie. This two-man show by one of the most famous American playwrights will be directed by Broadway veteran Doug Hughes. The production runs at STC's Lansburgh Theatre (450 7th Street NW) from January 31-March 17, 2013.

Six D.C.-area playwrights have been selected to participate in the inaugural Playwrights' Arena as part of the American Voices New Play Institute at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater. Playwrights' Arena is a collaborative group of local writers dedicated to the support and development of each other's work and practice. The yearlong program commences in January 2013, and the inaugural members include Norman Allen, Randy Baker, Jacqueline E. Lawton, Heather McDonald, Danielle Mohlman and Shawn Northrip. Also in January as part of the Institute's programming will be the next installment of the Kogod Cradle Series featuring readings of The Age of Innocence, a new adaptation for the stage by Resident Playwright Karen Zacarías, January 14-16, 2013.

Following its acclaimed 16-week run at the Lookingglass Theatre Company this fall, Metamorphoses brings the mythical tales of Ovid to life at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater, 10 years after the Broadway premiere. Written and directed by Tony Award winner Mary Zimmerman, Metamorphoses is based on David Slavitt's translation and marks the first time Zimmerman will direct the production since its Broadway run. This is also the first time Zimmerman will stage Metamorphoses in the round, and a custom set will be designed with the largest pool of water ever created for this production. Metamorphoses dives onto the Fichandler Stage February 8-March 17, 2013.