StageFARM News

In between takes of a scene on 'The Good Wife' a few years ago, I was commiserating with veteran actor Zach Grenier-'Why is it that I'm completely relaxed in every shot EXCEPT my close up?' His response? 'Because this is for the ages. This will exist long after you and I are gone.' That's the weight you carry on your back in TV, film, and in the recording studio that you don't have in the theatre. In a play, there's always tomorrow night.

In between takes of a scene on 'The Good Wife' a few years ago, I was commiserating with veteran actor Zach Grenier-'Why is it that I'm completely relaxed in every shot EXCEPT my close up?' His response? 'Because this is for the ages. This will exist long after you and I are gone.' That's the weight you carry on your back in TV, film, and in the recording studio that you don't have in the theatre. In a play, there's always tomorrow night.

'We are Russian Jews', my father would always tell me when I asked where we came from. From a very young age, I was curious about history; where people and things came from, origins, and remnants. Growing up in the US, I was used to the idea of the big melting pot - that a lot people here came from somewhere else for a better life. A lot of us, including myself, have very mixed backgrounds, and it can be overwhelming to piece together the puzzle that is your ancestry. Thankfully, we live in the golden age of the World Wide Web, and our collective curiosity and quest for a sense of identity and meaning has resulted in the creation of wonderful resources like ancestry.com.

Let's take a trip back in time, shall we? The year was 1993 (or '94, or '95....'96?), I was 7 (or 8, or 9...10?) years old, and my parents took my sister and me to the Three Little Bakers dinner theater in Wilmington, Delaware, where 'Fiddler On The Roof' was playing. Unfortunately, I don't remember much about this experience other than that it was the first time I ever had a Shirley Temple, the waitress made me cry, and the line for the prime rib buffet was very long. This was, however, the first time those famous first strains of Jerry Bock's violin solo entered the back of my brain and psyche, and never left. Over the next several years, Fiddler lightly weaved its way in and out of my life: the occasional off key rendition of 'Sunrise, Sunset' at Jewish Community North, catching the film on AMC, and that community theatre production that my synagogue's men's club brought their families to (ironically enough, the girl playing Hodel ended up being my prom date). While at Juilliard, my best friend, Scott and I saw the 2004 revival together TWICE. Once with Alfred Molina, and another time with Harvey Fierstein and Rosie O'Donnell. For over a decade, it's been part of our rotation of inside jokes to cast Tevye and Golde with obscure and asinine choices of actors, then perform 'Do You Love Me', impersonating said actors (Keanu Reaves as Tevye and Paula Deen as Golde, anyone?). As an American suburban Jewish kid growing up in the late '90s/early 00's, Fiddler was just part of the narrative -- Chinese Food on Christmas.

The Broadway revival of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF officially opens tonight, December 20, at The Broadway Theatre (1681 Broadway). Scroll down to learn more about the cast, plus watch interviews with the company!

16-year-old Charlotte's beautiful mother is dead. Turning to the story of Helen of Troy for comfort, Charlotte becomes convinced that beauty, fame, and the desire of others can help reconcile her with her mother's memory and punish the world that took her away in the first place. Getting beauty tips from her popular friend, seeking career advice on how to be a porn star from her guidance counselor, and searching for love from the football jock that barely even knows she exists, Charlotte searches in fantasy for what she cannot find in reality-destroying the life of the only friend she may have had in the process. But in the depths of pain, she comes to discover an unexpected grace. 

Spend Sunday brunch at the Vulture Festival this weekend!  Broadway favorites will join Susan Blackwell for a morning of songs, debauchery and adult beverages, including Jefferson Mays (A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder), Sarah Stiles (Hand to God), Brad Oscar (Something Rotten), Christian Borle (Something Rotten), Scarlett Strallen (A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder), and Geneva Carr (Hand to God).

Classic Stage Company presents William Shakespeare's HAMLET, starring acclaimed actor Peter Sarsgaard as Hamlet, and directed by Austin Pendleton. Previews for HAMLET began on March 27 at CSC (136 East 13th Street) for a limited engagement through May 10. The official press opening is tonight, April 15.

The new American play Hand to God opens on Broadway tonight, April 7, 2015 at the Booth Theatre (222 West 45th Street), marking the Broadway debuts of playwright Robert Askins and director Moritz von Stuelpnagel. Scroll down to learn more about the cast and watch interviews with the company!

Classic Stage Company presents William Shakespeare's HAMLET, starring acclaimed actor Peter Sarsgaard as Hamlet, and directed by Austin Pendleton.

The Ovation Award-winning IAMA THEATRE COMPANY is thrilled to present the World Premiere of A DOG'S HOUSE, written by Micah Schraft and directed by Trip Cullman. A DOG'S HOUSE will preview tonight, March 27 at 8pm and will open on Saturday, March 28 and run through Sunday, April 26 at the Elephant Theatre, 6322 Santa Monica Blvd. (one block west of Vine) in Hollywood.

In the coming months, Broadway will welcome a fresh crop of productions- many of which will mark the Broadway debuts for a slew of talented actors. Whether they are fresh faces or established stars, these Broadway babies will soon take their very first bows on some of the grandest stages in the world.

Capital Stage continues its 10th Anniversary Season with the Sacramento Premiere of Pulitzer Prize Finalist RAPTURE, BLISTER, BURN by Gina Gionfriddo. Called 'A Shrewd, incisive, thoroughly winning comedy,' by The Boston Globe, RAPTURE, BLISTER, BURN marks the Capital Stage directorial debut of frequent Capital Stage collaborator Shannon Mahoney (MAPLE & VINE, CLYBOURNE PARK, ENRON). RAPTURE, BLISTER, BURN will run from tonight, March 11 through April 12, with a Press Opening on Saturday March 14, 2015.

The Ovation Award-winning IAMA THEATRE COMPANY is thrilled to present the World Premiere of A DOG'S HOUSE, written by Micah Schraft and directed by Trip Cullman. A DOG'S HOUSE will preview on Friday, March 27 at 8pm and will open on Saturday, March 28 and run through Sunday, April 26 at the Elephant Theatre, 6322 Santa Monica Blvd. (one block west of Vine) in Hollywood.

MCC THEATER has announced the final production of its four-show 2015-16 Main Stage Season, which runs August 2015 through June 2016. Playwright Halley Feiffer (I'm Gonna Pray For You So Hard) will make her MCC Theater debut with her play A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Gynecologic Oncology Unit at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center of New York City. Trip Cullman returns to direct after helming this season's critically acclaimed hit Punk Rock. Full details below. This also marks the reunion of Feiffer and Cullman following their hit production of I'm Gonna Pray For You So Hard at the Atlantic Theater Company in early 2015.

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick, Managing Director Jeff Griffin and Executive Director Greg Reiner, announced complete casting today for their upcoming production of William Shakespeare's HAMLET, starring acclaimed actor Peter Sarsgaard as Hamlet, and directed by Austin Pendleton.

Women's Project Theater, under the leadership of newly-appointed Producing Artistic Director Lisa McNulty, is pleased to present the World Premiere of BRIGHT HALF LIFE - a new play by Pulitzer Prize finalist Tanya Barfield and directed by Tony Award nominee Leigh Silverman - in a five-week limited engagement at New York City Center Stage II (131 W. 55th Street) through March 22, 2015. Opening night is set for tonight, February 25.

Capital Stage continues its 10th Anniversary Season with the Sacramento Premiere of Pulitzer Prize Finalist RAPTURE, BLISTER, BURN by Gina Gionfriddo. Called 'A Shrewd, incisive, thoroughly winning comedy,' by The Boston Globe, RAPTURE, BLISTER, BURN marks the Capital Stage directorial debut of frequent Capital Stage collaborator Shannon Mahoney (MAPLE & VINE, CLYBOURNE PARK, ENRON). RAPTURE, BLISTER, BURN will run from March 11 through April 12, with a Press Opening on Saturday March 14, 2015.

Atlantic Theater Company is proud to announce that the world premiere production of Halley Feiffer's play I'm Gonna Pray For You So Hard, directed by Trip Cullman, has been extended an additional two weeks due to high ticket demand following opening last night to critical acclaim.

Women's Project Theater, under the leadership of newly-appointed Producing Artistic Director Lisa McNulty, is pleased to present the World Premiere of BRIGHT HALF LIFE - a new play by Pulitzer Prize finalist Tanya Barfield and directed by Tony Award nominee Leigh Silverman - in a five-week limited engagement at New York City Center Stage II (131 W. 55th Street) from Tuesday, February 17 to March 22, 2015. Opening night is set for Wednesday, February 25.