Across the globe the 450th anniversary of William Shakespeare's birth will be commemorated in many ways. In Paris a week-long conference will occur. In London anew indoor Jacobean theatre within the complex of Shakespeare's Globe opens. And here in New York the Richmond County Orchestra (RCO) marks its 15th season by celebrating the anniversary with a Happy Birthday Bill performance on April 26 at The Music Hall at Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden. The concert is FREE for students and children.
Piffaro, The Renaissance Band celebrates the 450th anniversary of Shakespeare's birth with a concert program woven around the musical moments in his work. All of Piffaro's instruments will be in play, from rowdy shawms to dulcet lute to Grant Herreid's sweet tenor. The result will be a lively, audience-friendly spring program of old English ballads, instrumental fantasies, and country dances. Tickets range from $15 for students to $40 for premium seating and are on sale now. Call 215-235-8469, email info@piffaro.org, or visit www.piffaro.org.
Due to the demand for tickets for the nine week season currently playing at Hampstead Downstairs, ending on 17th May, Hampstead Theatre is delighted to transfer Simon Gray's quartet of plays upstairs to the Main Stage for a three week run in repertory from 28th May to 14th June.
I Can't Sing! The X Factor Musical opened tonight, March 26 at the London Palladium. Irreverent, mischievous, packed full of side-splittingly funny songs and eye-popping sets, I CAN'T SING! is the irrepressible new musical comedy that goes behind the microphones and under the judges' desks to reveal big bust-ups, huge voices and the cutest young love story the West End has ever seen. Let's see what the critics had to say...
Casting for Regent's Park Open Air Theatre's 2014 production of All My Sons was announced today, with further casting confirmed for Hobson's Choice and the Gershwins' Porgy and Bess. The season opens on 15 May.
Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) announced today casting for William Shakespeare's epic Henry V, directed by celebrated British director Christopher Luscombe in his Chicago debut. In a rousing finale to the 2014 season, the play that inaugurated Chicago Shakespeare Theater in 1986 on the rooftop of Lincoln Park's Red Lion Pub comes to the Courtyard Theater for the first time. Shakespeare's powerful history play explores the consequences of war and the capacity of language to inspire and transform. Leading the troops as the charismatic, young monarch is Harry Judge in the titular role. Henry V will be performed in CST's Courtyard Theater April 29 through June 15, 2014.
Arts will take centre-stage across the BBC with a new topical strand taking audiences to music and arts events across the UK; a new digital offering; closer engagement with artists and institutions; more distinctive arts content across all the BBC's outlets; and stronger leadership for the arts.
According to The Daily Mail, Gemma Arterton has been tapped to co-host the 2014 Olivier Awards ceremony, set for April 13 at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden.
Five years after Simon Gray's death, Hampstead Theatre is delighted to present this extraordinary cycle of his work: premieres of three unperformed plays alongside a revival of Japes, the play that started it all off. The plays will be performed in repertory over 9 weeks, featuring four stories based on the same characters, in the same situation but all telling a different story with opposite conclusions.
Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) Artistic Director Barbara Gaines and Executive Director Criss Henderson announced today eight productions of the upcoming 2014/15 Season, which includes four major Shakespearean titles, plus a sequel to Shakespeare's epic tragedy and a world premiere musical based on a classic novel.
Cutting Ball Theater closes its 15th season with the American Premiere of COMMUNIQUE N°10 by French playwright Samuel Gallet, in a translation by Cutting Ball Artistic director Rob Melrose, who also helms this new work. Featuring Damien Seperi, Ponder Goddard, Maura Halloran, Wiley Naman Strasser, Paris Hunter Paul, Hugo Cabajal, and Aaron Malberg, COMMUNIQUE N°10 plays April 25 through May 25 (Press opening: May 1) at the Cutting Ball Theater in residence at EXIT on Taylor (277 Taylor Street) in San Francisco.
Distinguished American actor John Glover (Witch/A Porter/Murderer 3 in Lincoln Center's Macbeth) will join Drama Desk's "Why Shakespeare? Why Now?" at Sardi's on Friday, April 4 (11:45 AM-2:30 PM), it was announced by Isa Goldberg, president of Drama Desk. Glover will join previously announced panelists-actors Michael Pennington and Scott Shepherd and directors Daniel Sullivan and Julie Taymor-in the lively discussion exploring the reasons why New York's current theater season has such a distinctive Shakespearean flavor. Carol Rocamora, an educator, critic, playwright, translator, and Drama Desk member, will be the moderator.
Seabright Productions and Fitzrovia Productions present THE FITZROVIA RADIO HOUR, featuring three radio plays performed live: The Man Who Was Ten Minutes Late, Undead Queen of Evil and Tin! The show will play St. James Studio, London - 10 & 11 April 2014 at 8pm.
The Watermill has announced its next production of Jane Austen's much loved classic Sense and Sensibility, which will play from Thursday 3 April 2014 (press night Monday 7 April at 7.30pm) in a brand new adaptation by Jessica Swale.
Five years after Simon Gray's death, Hampstead Theatre is delighted to present this extraordinary cycle of his work: premieres of three unperformed plays alongside a revival of Japes, the play that started it all off. The plays will be performed in repertory over 9 weeks, featuring four stories based on the same characters, in the same situation but all telling a different story with opposite conclusions.
Award-winning director Julie Taymor will join the Drama Desk's "Why Shakespeare? Why Now?" panel discussion at Sardi's on Friday, April 4 (11:45 AM-2:30 PM), it was announced by Isa Goldberg, president of Drama Desk. Taymor will join previously announced panelists-actors Michael Pennington and Scott Shepherd and director Daniel Sullivan-in the lively discussion exploring the reasons why New York's current theater season has such a distinctive Shakespearean flavor. Carol Rocamora, an educator, critic, playwright, translator, and Drama Desk member will be the moderator.
It joins GYPSY, with Imelda Staunton, as one of the big musicals of the summer, and features Jamie Parker, Clare Foster, Sophie Thompson and Peter Polycarpou
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.
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.
