South Coast Repertory News

The Shakespeare Theatre Company's annual Free For All is a much-loved Washington tradition, offering free Shakespeare performances to the general public for the past 22 years. This year the beloved tradition launches the Company's 2013-2014 Season by reviving Much Ado About Nothing, initially presented during the 2011-2012 Season with original direction by Ethan McSweeny. Much Ado About Nothing will run at STC's Sidney Harman Hall (610 F Street NW) from today, August 20-September 1, 2013. Resident Assistant Director Jenny Lord will direct this delightful summer comedy for residents and visitors to D.C.

Angelina Fiordellisi, Founding Artistic Director of Cherry Lane Theatre, announces the following productions for the company's 2013-14 season:

Artists Rep's 2013/14 season kicks off with The Big Meal by Dan LeFranc in its West Coast premiere, directed by new Artistic Director Damaso Rodriguez. Set in a quintessential American restaurant, entire lives whiz by for a modern family whose stage and age are short-order fare. From birth to that inevitable last course - and every corndog, calamari and Cadillac margarita in between - a multi-generational potluck of characters live life's major and minor moments around the dinner table.

California Repertory Company is pleased to announce the appointment of Anne Justine D'Zmura as Artistic Director and Department Chair of Theatre Arts, beginning in the 2013-2014 academic year. D'Zmura previously served as Head of Directing at Cal State Long Beach and recently directed the Cal Rep's acclaimed production of The Thugs.

Pride Films and Plays announced today that David Leeper, James Nedrud, Robert Ollis, and Raphael Schwartzman had joined the company as New Artistic Ensemble Members. Learn more about each new member below.

South Coast Repertory's Summer Players presents ANNIE, one of America's most beloved musicals, beginning today, August 10, and continuing tomorrow, August 11 and 17-18 on the Julianne Argyros Stage. ANNIE will be directed by Theatre Conservatory Director Hisa Takakuwa, with music direction by Erin McNally.

Miller's classic drama opens South Coast Repertory's milestone 50th season, with actor Charlie Robinson as Willy Loman and a dramatically diverse cast. The show runs on the Segerstrom Stage Aug. 30-Sept. 29. Tickets are available online: www.scr.org.

The Velocity of Autumn, a new two-character play from Cleveland-based playwright Eric Coble, opens at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater under the direction of Artistic Director Molly Smith and by special arrangement with HOP Theatricals, LLC.

MALIBU PLAYHOUSE will open its 2013-2014 season with the West Coast Premiere of The Dream of the Burning Boy by David West Read on Friday, September 6th. The play will be directed by Edward Edwards, and stars Broadway veteran Jeffrey Hayenga and Tyler Ritter, the youngest son of the late John Ritter. Tickets are $30, and may be purchased through the box office, online atwww.malibuplayhouse.org/burningboy, or by calling 310.589.1998. There will be previews on September 4th and 5th for $20. Shows are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM and Sundays at 3 PM. The Malibu Playhouse is located at 29243 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA 90265 (near Zuma beach, between Kanan-Dume Road and Morning View Drive, near Heathercliff Road).

The Old Globe today announced that it will present The Old Globe/University of San Diego Graduate Theatre Program's production of William Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, directed by James Newcomb, Nov. 9 - Nov. 17, 2013 in the Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre, part of the Globe's Conrad Prebys Theatre Center.

Women's Project Theater, the 36-year-old non-profit company dedicated to producing plays written and directed by women, will present its 2013-2014 season of new plays at New York City Center Stage II, 131 West 55th Street, January 15 to May 4, Julie Crosby, Producing Artistic Director announced.

The Shakespeare Theatre Company (STC) has selected Academy Award nominee Elizabeth McGovern as the 2013 recipient of The William Shakespeare Award for Classical Theatre (Will Award). KPMG, LLP will be awarded the Sidney Harman Award for Philanthropy in the Arts. McGovern & KPMG, LLP will be honored at the Harman Center for the Arts Annual Gala, hosted by STC at Sidney Harman Hall (610 F Street NW), on Sunday, October 6, 2013.

The Ojai Playwrights Conference (OPC), one of the most acclaimed new play developmental programs in the country, announces its 16th season with an extraordinary program of playwrights, new play workshops and special performance events from today, August 7 through 11, in Ojai, California.

Segerstrom Center for the Arts welcomes Grammy Award-winning, multiple- platinum album jazz artist Diana Krall in a one-night-only concert on Saturday, April 5 at 7:30 p.m. in Segerstrom Hall. The concert is part of Krall's Glad Rag Doll world tour. Her return to the Center will include selections from her latest album, which features modern renditions of vintage songs from the 1920s and '30s complete with Krall's signature sultry sound.

Segerstrom Center's 22nd annual Summer at the Center (SATC) program continues through tonight, August 3.

Join South Coast Repertory during its monumental 50th season. Five world premieres, a musical and a classic American drama are all featured during the season, running from August through June. Tickets for SCR's 2013-14 season are now on sale, starting at $22.