Somerset Maugham News

Seriously Coward. Coward seriously.

'There are three rules for writing the novel. Unfortunately... no one knows what they are.' --W. Somerset Maugham Encouraging words? Hardly. But when a good friend and accomplished writer said them to me, her eyes sparkled. It's taken me several books of my own to understand why. How can I possibly make sense of a craft so amorphous and shape-shifting that it seems to have no rules or boundaries?

William Somerset Maugham's monumental novel 'Of Human Bondage' has never had a stage translation —until now. Adapted by award-winning playwright Vern Thiessen, and produced by Soulpepper Theatre Company, 'Of Human Bondage' is currently on at the Young Centre for the Performing Arts through May 17th.

On Tuesday, March 18, 2014, Asolo Repertory Theatre announced its 2014-2015 season and the third season of its ambitious five-year American Character Project, an in-depth exploration of the soul of this country's people, past and present. Producing Artistic Director Michael Donald Edwards and FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training Director/Asolo Rep Associate Artistic Director Rep Greg Leaming presented both season line-ups to more than 350 patrons in Asolo Rep's Mertz Theatre.

Arcola Theatre is delighted to present the Spanish Golden Age Season, a repertory season celebrating one of the most prolific periods in the history of Spanish theatre and art, from Thursday 9 January to Today 15 March 2014

Rubicon Theatre continues the company's 16th Not Your Typical Season with sardines and lingerie in NOISES OFF, a comic romp by Michael Frayn about the outrageous exploits of a company of actors which opens tonight, February 1, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. at Rubicon Theatre, 1006 E. Main Street in Ventura's Downtown Cultural District. The production continues Wednesdays through Sundays through February 23, with low-priced previews on Wednesday, January 29 at 7 p.m., Thursday, January 30 at 8 p.m. and Friday, January 31 at 8 p.m.

Rubicon Theatre continues the company's 16th Not Your Typical Season with sardines and lingerie in NOISES OFF, a comic romp by Michael Frayn about the outrageous exploits of a company of actors which opens Saturday, February 1, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. at Rubicon Theatre, 1006 E. Main Street in Ventura's Downtown Cultural District.

Arcola Theatre is delighted to present the Spanish Golden Age Season, a repertory season celebrating one of the most prolific periods in the history of Spanish theatre and art, from today, 9 January to Saturday 15 March 2014.

Arcola Theatre is delighted to present the Spanish Golden Age Season, a repertory season celebrating one of the most prolific periods in the history of Spanish theatre and art, from Thursday 9 January to Saturday 15 March 2014

Albert Schultz, Founding Artistic Director of Soulpepper Theatre Company, today announced Soulpepper's 2014 season (Jan. - Sept., 2014), including eight new plays, three Soulpepper favourites and three partner presentations.

A Finborough Theatre commission, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, Michael Hastings' Lee Harvey Oswald - A Far Mean Streak of Independence Brought on by Negleck opens at the Finborough Theatre for a limited season onSunday, 3 November 2013, with an special additional performance on Friday, 22 November at 12.30pm at the exact time of the assassination.

The Douglas Morrisson Theatre continues its 2013-2014 season of mystery and romance with 'The Woman in Black' - A Ghost Play adapted by Stephen Mallatratt from the book by Susan Hill. Directed by Marilyn Langbehn and featuring C. Conrad Cady, Mark Frazier and Cynthia Lagodzinski, 'The Woman in Black' is a marvelous piece of chilling story-telling that will have you on the edge of your seat from the moment the house lights go down.

Tonight, August 23 and Saturday, August 24, WINSOR! A FEISTY CABARET, will be produced by The Musical Theatre Project and performed at the Studio Theater in the Beck Center for the Arts. The cabaret, with the performers seated on stools, will star Scott Plate and be directed by Victoria Bussert. The topic of the cabaret will be Winsor French.

Into the sunny heat of August, ESP introduces the cool breeze of witty comedy - the terrific play Biography, by S. N. Behrman. This 1932 Broadway hit concerns the return to the United States of the Tennessee expatriate Marion Froude, who has been leading a highly artistic lifestyle in between-the-wars Europe. A portrait painter, Marion has hobnobbed with the rich and royal and renowned, and has had passionate romantic affairs - always going her own way, sometimes to her cost.

On Friday, August 23 and Saturday, August 24, WINSOR! A FEISTY CABARET, will be produced by The Musical Theatre Project and performed at the Studio Theater in the Beck Center for the Arts. The cabaret, with the performers seated on stools, will star Scott Plate and be directed by Victoria Bussert. The topic of the cabaret will be Winsor French.

The Douglas Morrisson Theatre continues its 2013-2014 season of mystery and romance with "The Woman in Black" - A Ghost Play adapted by Stephen Mallatratt from the book by Susan Hill. Directed by Marilyn Langbehn and featuring C. Conrad Cady, Mark Frazier and Cynthia Lagodzinski, "The Woman in Black" is a marvelous piece of chilling story-telling that will have you on the edge of your seat from the moment the house lights go down.

Westport Country Playhouse will present a Sunday Symposium about the classic comedy, 'The Show-Off,' and the work and life of playwright George Kelly, following today's June 16, 3 p.m. matinee performance of the funny and moving story of a family in upheaval when their youngest daughter becomes engaged to a brash loudmouth.

Celebrating the 80th birthday of playwright and novelist David Storey, the first London production in over 30 years - and the first production in London since the original National Theatre production- David Storey's Early Days plays at the Finborough Theatre for a limited run of nine Today and Monday evening and Tuesday matinee performances from tonight, 16 June 2013 (Press Night: Monday 17 June 2013 at 7.30pm).

American Players Theatre (APT) announces its 2013 Season, which runs tonight, June 8 to October 20, 2013, and includes the first indoor Shakespeare production of the company's history: an intimate adaptation of Antony and Cleopatra by heralded off-Broadway actor and playwright James DeVita and director Kate Buckley, presented in the 200-seat Touchstone Theatre. DeVita, one of APT's Core Company members, recently completed a critically acclaimed run of his solo show In Acting Shakespeare at the Pearl Theater in New York.

Westport Country Playhouse will present a Sunday Symposium about the classic comedy, 'The Show-Off,' and the work and life of playwright George Kelly, following the Sunday, June 16, 3 p.m. matinee performance of the funny and moving story of a family in upheaval when their youngest daughter becomes engaged to a brash loudmouth.