South Coast Repertory News

The Pasadena Playhouse announced Bruce Davison, Sharon Lawrence and RoxAnne Hart to star in A SONG AT TWILIGHT by Noël Coward, the fifth production of its 2013 - 2014 Season. A SONG AT TWILIGHT is performed March 18 to April 13; the press opening is Sunday, March 23.

The Old Globe today announced the complete cast and creative team for the West Coast premiere of Laura Marks's powerful new play Bethany. Directed by Gaye Taylor Upchurch, Bethany will run Jan. 25 - Feb. 23, 2014 in the Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre, part of the Globe's Conrad Prebys Theatre Center. Preview performances run Jan. 25 - Jan. 29.

YALE REPERTORY THEATRE presents THE FAIRYTALE LIVES OF RUSSIAN GIRLS by Meg Miroshnik, directed by Rachel Chavkin, January 31-February 22 at Yale Repertory Theatre (1120 Chapel Street). Opening Night is Thursday, February 6. The cast of THE FAIRYTALE LIVES OF RUSSIAN GIRLS is Sofiya Akilova, Celeste Arias, Stephanie Hayes, Jessica Jelliffe, Felicity Jones, and Emily Walton.

Artists Rep is honored to produce the world premiere of The Monster-Builder, a diabolical comedic treatise on modern architecture, by Amy Freed. As Freed is one of the nation's most lauded and respected new playwrights, Artists Rep is fortunate to host the inaugural production of this play. The Monster-Builder is directed by the esteemed and award-winning Art Manke and features a noteworthy West Coast cast.

A different kind of love story opens The Echo Theater Company's 2014 season in its new home at Atwater Village Theatre. Chris Fields directs the world premiere of Firemen by Tommy Smith, opening Feb. 8.

The International Dance Series at Segerstrom Center for the Arts welcomes the return of The Hamburg Ballett with the American premiere of John Neumeier's Liliom, February 7 - 9, with four performances at Segerstrom Hall. Neumeier, the company's director and chief choreographer, based his work on Ferenc Molna?r's play of the same name, which was also the inspiration for Rodgers and Hammerstein's Broadway classic, Carousel. The music for the ballet is an award-winning original score by the Academy Award-winning composer Michel Legrand. Casting has been announced and Alina Cojocaru (Julie) and Carsten Jung (Liliom) will reprise their roles for select performances.

The critically-acclaimed FURIOUS THEATRE COMPANY will present the second show of their 2013-2014 season, in association with, and direct from its critically-acclaimed run at the ARTISTS REPERTORY THEATRE in Portland, the rolling U.S. premiere of FOXFINDER written by Dawn King and directed by Damaso Rodriguez. FOXFINDER will feature Furious members, Sara Hennessey and Shawn Lee as well as Amanda Soden and Joshua Weinstein and will preview tonight, January 8, Thursday, January 9 and Friday, January 10 at 8pm and will open on Saturday, January 11 at 8:00pm and run through Sunday, February 2 at the Pasadena Playhouse Carrie Hamilton Theatre, 39 S. El Molino Ave. in Pasadena.

Body Slam, power drive, BAMM! Firehouse Theatre Project has announced the larger-than-life cast and creative team behind its next installment of its 20th Anniversary Season, The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity, by Kristoffer Diaz. Directed by Kerry McGee and proud participant of Richmond's annual Acts of Faith festival, this balls-out dramatic comedy will play 15 performances, February 6 - March 8. Opening Night is Friday, February 7th.

The adventurous St. Lawrence String Quartet marks its third Segerstrom Center appearance with an exciting program that includes a world premiere of composer James Matheson's new string quartet commissioned for the Center's Chamber Music Series by long-time subscribers Elizabeth and Justus Schlichting.

Joe's Pub at The Public has announced its slate of performances for this week, Jan. 6-12, including BEST OF CRAIGSLIST, SCREAM ALONG WITH BILLY, JEFF SLATE, EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH SHOW, CHAMPAGNE JERRY, TRIBECASTAN, SUN RA VISITATION SERIES, THE HOT SARDINES, MEKLIT HADERO/LEIF VOLLEBEKK, FREDERICKS BROWN, FEDERICO AUBELE/KEREN ANN/DOM LA NENA, RED BARAAT/METAL TONGUES/PATTEN, REVEREND BILLY, BRENDA RUSSELL, and JOEY ARIAS.

'The Piano Teacher' opens February 5, 2014, with a limited run through February 23 in the Smith Theatre of the Horowitz Visual and Performing Arts Center (HVPA) on the campus of HCC. For tickets and additional information, visit www.repstage.org or call 443-518-1500. Press performance is Saturday, February 8, at 8 p.m.

The Theatre @ Boston Court presents Se Llama Cristina, by Octavio Solis, directed by Robert Castro. This production is the final stop on the National New Play Network Rolling World Premiere, which included productions at The Magic Theater in San Francisco and Kitchen Dog in Dallas. Opening night is Saturday, January 25, 2014 on the Main Stage at Boston Court Performing Arts Center, 70 North Mentor Avenue.

An Italian vacation, young love and a parent's heart-rending decision are all part of the award-winning Broadway hit, The Light in the Piazza, book by Craig Lucas, music and lyrics by Adam Guettel, and based on the novel by Elizabeth Spencer. Directed by Kent Nicholson, The Light in the Piazza runs Jan. 24-Feb. 23 on SCR's Segerstrom Stage.

South Coast Repertory has announced its upcoming shows, January through April 2014. Details below!

An Italian vacation, young love and a parent's heart-rending decision are all part of the award-winning Broadway hit, The Light in the Piazza, book by Craig Lucas, music and lyrics by Adam Guettel, and based on the novel by Elizabeth Spencer. Directed by Kent Nicholson, The Light in the Piazza runs Jan. 24-Feb. 23 on SCR's Segerstrom Stage.

The B Street Theatre presents Elemeno Pea, Molly Smith Metzler's sharply funny comedy. Elemeno Pea was first presented at the Actors Theatre of Louisville's Humana Festival on March 10, 2011.

As 2013 comes to a close, we've collected the hottest theatrical productions from around the globe. From Los Angeles to Chicago, Tampa, Houston, Rhode Island and even South Africa, BroadwayWorld takes a look back at some of the most memorable shows from our Regional Editors worldwide!

Segerstrom Center for the Arts has announced its upcoming shows for January 2014. Details below!

Award-winning musical theater superstar, Patti LuPone, who has portrayed some of Broadway's most memorable roles, returns to Segerstrom Center for the Arts for a special one-night-only performance of her latest concert, Far Away Places on Saturday, March 22 at 8 p.m. in the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall.

Ah, yes. 2013 was indeed an outstanding year for theater in Southern California. Even better: Orange County---my home base---boasted some of the best shows, period---marking an exciting theater renaissance in brilliance and artistry that I hope continues to grow here inside L.A.'s next door neighbor. With that said, here is my Top 10 Stage Shows of 2013 from Orange County and adjacent locales nearby, followed by my picks for the year's best performances.