Sharon Ott News

At the recent Theatre Bay Area Awards, Berkeley Repertory Theatre and the Robinson Family Fund for the Arts announced the Charles Dean Award to celebrate and honor outstanding work by a local actor. The inaugural award was presented to longtime Bay Area actor Charles Dean. The award comes with a $10,000 cash prize endowed by the Robinson Family Fund for the Arts and administered by Berkeley Repertory Theatre. It recognizes a Bay Area actor who has dedicated his or her career to Bay Area theatre. Future awardees will be chosen by a panel of local theatre community adjudicators and presented annually at the Theatre Bay Area Awards.

Joseph Haj, Producing Artistic Director of PlayMakers Repertory Company in Chapel Hill, NC, has been named recipient of the 2014 Zelda Fichandler Award.

Joseph Haj, Producing Artistic Director of PlayMakers Repertory Company in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, is the 2014 recipient of The Zelda Fichandler Award, an award to recognize an outstanding director or choreographer who is transforming the regional arts landscape through imaginative, brave work in theatre. The $5,000 award, given by Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation, heralds both accomplishment to date and promise for the future, and lauds deep commitment to a community.

Seattle Repertory Theatre's Board of Trustees announced today Braden Abraham's appointment as Acting Artistic Director, effective immediately. Abraham formerly served as Associate Artistic Director and has been on the artistic staff of Seattle Rep since 2003. The appointment, extending through June 30, 2016, comes on the heels of the death of Artistic Director Jerry Manning, who passed away suddenly in April.

Greater Cleveland is blessed with a vital theatre scene. It is the purpose of the TIMES THEATRE TRIBUTES to recognize theatrical experiences that, in the view of this reviewer, were excellent and deserve recognition.

Today, Berkeley Repertory Theatre revealed the seventh show selected for its upcoming season. The Tony Award-winning nonprofit will begin its 46th year of smart and adventurous shows with Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, the hilarious Broadway hit from three-time Obie Award-winner Christopher Durang. Respected director Richard E.T. White returns to the Bay Area to stage this hugely popular show in September.

Boy hates girl. Girl hates boy. Boy overhears that girl is secretly in love with boy; girl hears vice versa. Other boy and girl love each other, but something gets in the way of their happiness. That's the basic premise of MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, which is now on stage at Great Lakes Theatre. Throw in a couple of interesting subplots, including an idiotic sheriff, a phony death, an irrational lover (is there any other kind?), and a vengeful half-brother, and you have the makings of one of William Shakespeare's best comedies. In fact, the fifth best of all of the Bard's plays, according to a renowned Shakespeare expert.

Great Lakes Theater (GLT), Cleveland's Classic Company, continues the second half its 2012-13 season with William Shakespeare comedy, Much Ado About Nothing. The production will be performed in the company's revolutionary and audience-friendly home at the Hanna Theatre, PlayhouseSquare, tonight, March 29 through April 14, 2013. Sharon Ott directs. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Georgia Shakespeare brings one of Atlanta's favorite theatre traditions back to Piedmont Park this May with 'Shakespeare in the Park.' Formerly known as 'Shake at the Lake,' the event now has a new name to reflect its move to a new location at Legacy Fountain.

Seattle Repertory Theatre and Artistic Director Jerry Manning announced today its full 50th Anniversary Season. The Seattle Rep artistic team has spent years putting together this landmark season-one that showcases what the Rep does best and celebrates its history. Seattle Rep's 50th Anniversary season will run from September 2012-May 2013.

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater is delighted to present The Arabian Nights, written and directed by Tony Award winner Mary Zimmerman (Metamorphoses). The production, presented in association with Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Kansas City Repertory Theatre and Lookingglass Theatre Company, has been recognized as "Zimmerman's most theatrically complete and perfect creation" (Chicago Tribune).

Jefferson Performing Arts Society (JPAS) is honored to host the 2011 Louisiana American Association of Community Theatres Fest (AACT/Fest) February 18-19, 2011 at the Westwego Performing Arts Theatre, 177 Sala Ave in Westwego, Louisiana.

Jefferson Performing Arts Society (JPAS) is honored to host the 2011 Louisiana American Association of Community Theatres Fest (AACT/Fest) February 18-19, 2011 at the Westwego Performing Arts Theatre, 177 Sala Ave in Westwego, Louisiana.

It's been 15 years since she's performed on a Bay Area stage - now Anna Deavere Smith is returning.

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater is delighted to present The Arabian Nights, written and directed by Tony Award winner Mary Zimmerman (Metamorphoses). The production, presented in association with Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Kansas City Repertory Theatre and Lookingglass Theatre Company, has been recognized as "Zimmerman's most theatrically complete and perfect creation" (Chicago Tribune).

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater is delighted to present The Arabian Nights, written and directed by Tony Award winner Mary Zimmerman (Metamorphoses). The production, presented in association with Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Kansas City Repertory Theatre and Lookingglass Theatre Company, has been recognized as 'Zimmerman's most theatrically complete and perfect creation' (Chicago Tribune). The Arabian Nights explores the humanity that people across all cultures share, as told through a whimsical, imaginative and compelling story. The Arabian Nights runs January 14-February 20, 2011 in the Fichandler Stage.

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater is delighted to present The Arabian Nights, written and directed by Tony Award winner Mary Zimmerman (Metamorphoses). The production, presented in association with Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Kansas City Repertory Theatre and Lookingglass Theatre Company, has been recognized as "Zimmerman's most theatrically complete and perfect creation" (Chicago Tribune).

Karen Azenberg elected to serve second three-year term as SDC president. Tony-winner Melvin Bernhardt ('Da') awarded President's Award for Extraordinary Service.