South Coast Repertory News

FLASHDANCE - THE MUSICAL, the stage adaptation of the 1983 hit film that defined a generation, will make its Segerstrom Center premiere May 7 - 19, 2013.

Seven theatre ensembles on-the-edge come together at South Coast Repertory for an evening of comedy, dance, clowning and more. The sampling-performed in 10-minute sets called SCRamble-is part of Studio SCR and takes place on Saturday, Feb. 16, at 10 p.m., in the Nicholas Studio.

The Des Moines Community Playhouse presents Itamar Moses' new comedy, 'Completeness,' tonight, Feb. 1-17. Tickets may be purchased online at dmplayhouse.com, by phone at 515-277-6261, and at the Playhouse ticket office. 'Completeness' is a Director's Discovery.

Beverly Leech is the very model of a working actress. A veteran of stage, television and film, including Broadway and series regular commitments, she recently celebrated her thirtieth year in show business. It's a tough career with great reward and for Leech it hasn't always been easy, but her talent and determination has kept her in the game. As her mentor-teacher Stella Adler was famous for saying, 'Life beats down and crushes your soul. Art reminds you that you have one.'

LiveWire Chicago Theatre, in association with Chicago Cultural Center Presents, continues its 2012-13 season with the Chicago premiere of the dysfunctional family drama A PERMANENT IMAGE, by Samuel D. Hunter, directed by LiveWire Executive Director Joshua Aaron Weinstein, playing April 4 - May 5, 2013 at The Storefront Theater, 66 E. Randolph St. in Chicago.

Broadway legend Barbara Cook returns to Segerstrom Center to celebrate her 85th birthday year with a performance in the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall on Saturday April 13 at 8 p.m.

Award-winning playwright Allison Gregory returns to Macha Monkey Productions for the second time with Cliffhouse, directed by Live Girls! Artistic Director Meghan Arnette. The show will run March 8 - March 30, Friday and Saturday evenings at 8pm Richard Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave, Seattle

Chance Theater will present the first show of its 2013 season with a touching west coast premiere musical about dinosaurs and love, TRIASSIC PARQ - The Musical, music by Marshall Pailet, book by Marshall Pailet, Bryce Norbitz and Steve Wargo, choreographed by Kelly Todd, musical direction by Taylor Stephenson and directed by Marshall Pailet, who will be the Chance Theater's 2013 Resident Playwright (and will have two of his other works workshopped in Chance's new play reading series). TRIASSIC PARQ -THE MUSICAL opens tonight, January 30 and Thursday, January 31 and will continue through Sunday, February 24 at Chance Theater, 5552 E. La Palma Ave. in Anaheim Hills.

How did a flamboyant heterosexual avant-garde Parisian novelist successfully impersonate a lesbian Greek poet in the most elaborate erotic literary hoax the world has ever known? Rogue Artists Ensemble premieres Songs of Bilitis, with 4 performances at South Coast Repertory, part of its Studio SCR, February 15-17, followed by a 4-week run at L.A.'s Bootleg Theater beginning March 8.

Considered by many to be one of the greatest plays of the 20th century, A Raisin in the Sun, Lorraine Hansberry's powerful drama, will open Friday, February 1 (8PM) at Palm Beach Dramaworks' Don & Ann Brown Theatre (201 Clematis Street). The production will play a strictly limited engagement through March 3, with specially priced preview performances on January 30 & 31. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast onstage in the photos below!

Sally Edmundson directs The Language Archive by award-winning playwright Julia Cho, having its regional premiere at Stages Repertory Theatre in February and March.

Los Angeles' premier cabaret room, The Catalina Jazz Club, hosts cabaret artist Karen Gedissman for a special performance tonight, January 27th at 7pm.

Winning a Guthrie Theatre commission, and chosen for development by The Katselas Theatre Company's INKubator program, the West Coast Premiere of SEXSTING is the inaugural production for KTC's 2013 season. Opening at the popular Skylight Theatre Complex on February 23rd, the stellar cast includes Gregory Itzin (Tony, Drama Desk, and Emmy Award nominee), JD Cullum (Stones in His Pockets-Mark Taper Forum, Of Equal Measure-Kirk Douglas Theater), The Cripple of Inishmaan (Geffen Playhouse).

After a successful three month run at Promenade Playhouse in Santa Monica, Smoke and Mirrors - a heartfelt comedy-drama with mind-bending magic reopens today, January 26 (previews January 18 - 25) at the Road Theatre Company in North Hollywood.

The Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle (LADCC) has announced its nominations and special awards for excellence in Los Angeles and Orange County theatre in 2012. The 44th annual LADCC Awards ceremony will take place on Monday, March 18 at historic, heralded Los Angeles Theatre Center, 514 S. Spring Street in downtown L.A.

A delightful midwinter night's dream, ALMOST, MAINE by John Cariani will play TheaterWorks in downtown Hartford. The sweet and poignant comedy runs tonight, January 25 - March 3, 2013, directed by Amy Saltz.

Aurora Theatre Company continues its 21st season with the World Premiere of OUR PRACTICAL HEAVEN from acclaimed playwright Anthony Clarvoe (Pick Up Ax, Show and Tell, Ambition Facing West). This family drama, which originated as one of Aurora Theatre Company's Global Age Project (GAP) finalists in 2011, is the third main stage production to develop from the GAP. OUR PRACTICAL HEAVEN plays tonight, January 25 through March 3 at the Aurora Theatre in Berkeley.

Chance Theater will present the first show of its 2013 season with a touching west coast premiere musical about dinosaurs and love, TRIASSIC PARQ - The Musical, music by Marshall Pailet, book by Marshall Pailet, Bryce Norbitz and Steve Wargo, choreographed by Kelly Todd, musical direction by Taylor Stephenson and directed by Marshall Pailet, who will be the Chance Theater's 2013 Resident Playwright (and will have two of his other works workshopped in Chance's new play reading series). TRIASSIC PARQ -THE MUSICAL will preview on Friday, January 25 & Saturday, January 26 at 8pm; Sunday, January 27 at 7pm; Tuesday, January 29 at 8pm; with press openings on Wednesday, January 30 and Thursday, January 31 and will continue through Sunday, February 24 at Chance Theater, 5552 E. La Palma Ave. in Anaheim Hills.

Terri Mowrey's WEST SIDE TERRI comes to FronteraFest after a successful run at The ArtShare space in Los Angeles.

The epic story of King Henry V's battle with the French during the Hundred Years' War comes alive for the first time at the Folger Theatre, in William Shakespeare's historical drama Henry V. The production, directed by Robert Richmond (Othello and Henry VIII at the Folger), stars Zach Appelman (War Horse on Broadway) in his Folger Theatre debut as Henry V, and will run from tonight, January 22 - March 3, 2013.