South Coast Repertory News

Thanks to a generous grant from the Time Warner Foundation, South Coast Repertory is launching its new CrossRoads Commissioning Project-a community-based initiative within the theatre's renowned new work program. As part of the project, SCR has commissioned eight playwrights, locally and nationally, to create new work inspired by residencies that explore the incredible diversity of Orange County.

AstonRep Theatre Company is pleased to announce its 2013-14 season at its new, larger home at Chicago's Raven Theatre. The season kicks off this fall with the Chicago premiere of Theresa Rebeck's riveting drama THE WATER'S EDGE. In the spring, AstonRep presents Margaret Edson's Pulitzer Prize-winning drama WIT. The season concludes next summer at The Den Theatre with the 6th ANNUAL WRITER'S SERIES, exposing and developing new works by some of Chicago's most talented playwrights. Tickets for all productions will go on sale at a later date. For additional information, visit www.astonrep.com.

Chance Theater presents the third show of its 15th Anniversary Season - the hilarious and irreverent emo rock musical Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson by Alex Timbers, with music and lyrics by Michael Friedman, and directed by Kari Hayter. Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson opens tonight, July 12 and continues through August 4 at Chance Theater.

Casting has been announced for The Hub Theatre's summer production of JORDAN HARRISON's gender-bending comedy, ACT A LADY. The men of a small 1920's Mid Western town have decided to put on a 'real fancy dress up' play in full drag. The cast is led by a trio of amazing actresses - Helen Hayes nominated actress TONI RAE SALMI as Dorothy, the no nonsense, accordion playing head of her household; Helen Hayes Award Winner and Hub veteran JENNA SOKOLOWSKI as Lorna, the object of men's affections and expert makeup artist; andNORA ACHRATI as Zina, the passionate and powerful theatre director accompanies her 'from the continent.'

Kristoffer Diaz's Pulitzer Prize nominated play THE ELABORATE ENTRANCE OF CHAD DEITY makes its Sacramento debut at Capital Stage this summer. Slamming together thrilling spectacle, incredible characters, and geopolitical allegory, ELABORATE ENTRANCE is a uniquely invigorating theatrical experience. THE ELABORATE ENTRANCE OF CHAD DEITY runs from today, July 10 through August 11.

Winning upwards of 50 awards (including Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle, LA Weekly, Ovation, and Garland Awards) in just the past five years (BEST PRODUCTION two years in a row), Rogue Machine's first offering (which opened on May 18th) for the 2013 season has sold out the original run. They will now be extending the schedule for the Los Angeles premiere of Dying Cityby Christopher Shinn (OBIE winner, Pulitzer Prize finalist) through August 5th.

The Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles (SCLA), under the artistic direction of Ben Donenberg, returns to The Japanese Garden on the grounds of the VA West Los Angeles Healthcare Center campus with a rollicking summer production of William Shakespeare's romantic comedy 'A Midsummer Night's Dream,' with live music and directed by Royal Shakespeare Company artist Kenn Sabberton - beginning July 9, through July 28 only. 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' is presented by SCLA in conjunction with VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System. Scroll down for a first look at the cast in action!

Shakespeare Orange County will begin its 2013 summer season with Shakespeare's TWEFLTH NIGHT or WHAT YOU WILL, July 19 - August 3, 2013 with a preview on July 18, 2013. Directed by Thomas F. Bradac and Alyssa Bradac, TWELFTH NIGHT performs at the Festival Amphitheatre in Garden Grove, California.

The play will have one performance, Tuesday, July 30, 2013, at 8:00pm, at the Douglas Morrisson Theatre, 22311 N. Third St. in Hayward, CA. Tickets are $10 (open seating), and are available through the Box Office at (510) 881-6777 or online at www.dmtonline.org.

To conclude its 45th season, Berkeley Repertory Theatre welcomes back a pair of acclaimed collaborators: Sarah Ruhl and Les Waters, the creators of Eurydice, Three Sisters, and In the Next Room (or the vibrator play), return to Berkeley Rep with another tale of love and longing in Dear Elizabeth.

Enrollment applications are being accepted now for Segerstrom Center's Six Days of Broadway summer musical theater camp, which returns to the Center's campus June 24 through July 7. Students will participate in week-long intensives that feature classes in musical performance, monologue interpretation, audition technique, scene work, dance and more. Tony Award nominee and Broadway/film star Erin Dilly returns to lead the program along with Broadway veterans Stephen Buntrock, Danny Gurwin, Hank Stratton and other guest instructors.

Sundance Institute and the LUMA Foundation today announced that the two organizations will collaborate to host the Sundance Institute | LUMA Foundation Theatre Directors Retreat at Domaine de l'Armelliere, July 29 - August 9, in Arles, France. Under the supervision of Philip Himberg, Artistic Director of the Sundance Institute Theatre Program, Producing Director Christopher Hibma and Program Associate Anne Kauffman, the Retreat will be the first theatre director-centered residency at the Institute.

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 August 20-September 1, 2013. Resident Assistant Director Jenny Lord will direct this delightful summer comedy for residents and visitors to D.C.

Penguin Rep Theatre presents How the World Began, Catherine Trieschmann's thought-provoking new play examining contemporary America where religion, science and irreconcilable beliefs collide, beginning last night, June 28 in Stony Point (Rockland County), New York, directed by Penguin Rep founder and Artistic Director Joe Brancato will direct. Click below to watch interviews with the cast and creative team!

Undercover Productions will present the WORLD PREMIERE of ETHEL SINGS: Espionage in High C, written by Joan Beber. ETHEL SINGS begins previews on June 27th, with tonight's June 28th opening at Walker Space. Directed by Jules Aaron, ETHEL SINGS has set design by Gary Guidinger, lighting design by John Eckert Original Music by Max Kinberg & costume design by Michele Young. Sarah Brown stages manages & Sherry Netherland assistant directs. Ethel Sings is produced by Linda Toliver & Gary Guidinger for Undercover Productions.

Three of today's leading ladies of jazz, Geri Allen (piano), Terri Lyne Carrington (drums) and Esperanza Spalding (bass), also known as the trio ACS, will take to the stage at Segerstrom Center for the Arts October 25 and 26 for four performances in Samueli Theater.

La Jolla Playhouse presents Tribes (tonight, June 25 - July 21 in the Mandell Weiss Forum), Sideways (July 16 - August 18 in the Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre) and Neva (June 26 - 30 in the Theodore and Adele Shank Theatre).

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 August 7 through 11, in Ojai, California. The OPC Summer New Works Festival will feature eleven events over five days with established and up-and-coming playwrights. Participating in this year's conference with new works are Luis Alfaro, Lucy Alibar, Richard Cabral, Samuel D. Hunter, Sean Lewis, Jiehae Park, Laura Schellhardt and David Wiener.