Studio Theatre News

Religion, politics and theater collide when Bart DeLorenzo directs the Los Angeles premiere of Passion Play by Tony and two-time Pulitzer Prize nominee Sarah Ruhl, kicking off the Odyssey Theatre Ensemble's 45th Anniversary Season in a co-production with Evidence Room. Performances begin Jan. 25 at the Odyssey Theatre in West L.A. and continue through March 16.

This December Morey B. Epstein will join the Synetic Theater family after 24 years as the chief development officer at Washington DC's Studio Theatre. Synetic is most known for cutting-edge and visceral theatre productions and has won 92 Helen Hayes Award Nominations and 24 Awards in 12 years of its existence. Mr. Epstein will use his expertise and extensive knowledge to help fund Synetic's mission and programs. He will be responsible for organizing and directing all facets of fundraising activities.

EDGAR AND ANNABEL by Sam Holcroft, now making its US Premiere at Studio Theatre's 2nd Stage as the kick-off of its New British Invasion series, evokes as many meanings and sub-meanings as this wildly funny political satire can bear.

Ars Nova kicks off 2014 with Game Play, this year's incarnation of Ars Nova's annual Play Group production. Game Play, set to play 10 performances from January 29 - February 8, features original short plays and live music inspired by classic board game titles.

Artistic Director Molly Smith tackles a unique, in-the-round staging of Bertolt Brecht's powerhouse anti-war play Mother Courage and Her Children at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater. Iconic stage and screen actress and Academy Award nominee Kathleen Turner returns to Arena Stage following her sold-out run of Red Hot Patriot: The Kick-Ass Wit of Molly Ivins to make her professional singing debut as the tough-as-nails matriarch Mother Courage-a single mother determined to keep her family alive and her business afloat during war. Using the David Hare translation, the show fuses politics and satire to paint an unforgettable and provocative portrait of war, incorporating more than 10 pieces of original music composed in a rollicking, gypsy-punk style and performed by cast members doubling as musicians. Mother Courage and Her Children runs January 31-March 9, 2014 in the Fichandler Stage.

FST announces its second show of the Winter Cabaret season, Poems, Prayers and Promises. Developed by Richard Hopkins and Rebecca Hopkins, the show opens in Florida Studio Theatre's Goldstein Cabaret on Friday, January 3, 2014.

Renaissance Theaterworks (RTW) presents the 2nd show of its 21st season THE UNDERSTUDY a backstage comedy about artists pursuing what they love despite the odds against them. A first professional directorial debut for Mallory Metoxen, featuring Cassandra Bissell, Philip Sletteland and Ken T. Williams. Opening night is Saturday, January 18th at 8:00 pm. Running January 17 through February 09, 2014 at the Studio Theatre, 158 N. Broadway, tickets can be purchased for $36 (fee & taxes not included) in person at the Broadway Theatre Center Box Office, by telephone at (414) 291-7800, or online at www.r-t-w.com.

Skylight Music Theatre announces the details of the first Studio show under new Artistic Director, Viswa Subbaraman. Hans Werner Henze's thought-provoking El Cimarron will run January 3 through January 12 in the Studio Theatre at the Broadway Theatre Center (158 N. Broadway, Milwaukee WI).

TEATRON Toronto Jewish Theatre presents SEVEN DAYS a world premiere by Ron Rutberg at the Toronto Centre for the Arts - Studio Theatre from January 8 - 19, 2014.

Georgia Ensemble Theatre (GET), North Fulton's only professional theatre company, will kick off 2014 with the world premiere comedy of Topher Payne's newest play, The Only Light in Reno. Georgia Ensemble Theatre audiences' favorite Atlanta playwright is back fast on the heels of his successes with Tokens of Affection and Swell Party at the Roswell professional theatre, with GET founding company member Shannon Eubanks directing. This show runs January 9-26, 2014, at the Theatre's home, the Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest Street, Roswell, GA. The production is generously sponsored by Macy's Foundation.

David Sedaris' snarky holiday comedy, The Santaland Diaries, is back for a 5th season at Florida Rep, playing today, Dec. 18-29 in the new ArtStage Studio Theatre.

The quintessential portrait of maniacal ambition and lust for power is on stage in William Shakespeare's epic history play Richard III at Folger Theatre. Robert Richmond

The Finborough Theatre's acclaimed Celebrating British Music Theatre series returns with Ivor Novello's very last musical, Valley of Song, playing a week of Sunday and Monday evening and Tuesday matinee performances from Sunday, 5 January 2014 (Press Night: Monday, 6 January 2014 at 7.30pm), followed by a two week run from Sunday, 12 January 2014.

Thursday 26 December at 4:30pm, Pontine Theatre presents the Portland-based Peaks Island Puppets in their original production, The Rudder Family Holiday Planner: A Celebration of the Jewish Holidays. Holidays bring families closer together, and also ruffle a few feathers! The Rudders of Munjoy Hill are a family like any other, with traditional values challenged by new circumstances. Join them on this hilarious romp through the holiday seasons! Tickets are $10 and may be purchased in advance online: www.pontine.org. Tickets may also be purchased at the door a half-hour prior to the show (cash & checks only) based on availability. Pontine's West End Studio Theatre is located at 959 Islington Street, Portsmouth NH. The theatre is not visible from the street, look for the big 959 on the signpost at the head of our drive. The theatre has convenient private parking and is fully accessible. For further information, contact Pontine: info@pontine.org / 603-436-6660.

Parade Productions will present Deborah Zoe Laufer's The Last Schwartz from January 30th through February 23rd at the Mizner Park Cultural Arts Center's Studio Theatre.

Producers Jeffrey Richards, Jerry Frankel and Louise Gund have announced that James Eckhouse, most recently seen in the world premiere of Jane Anderson's 'The Escort' at The Geffen Playhouse and best known for playing Jim Walsh on the original 'Beverly Hills 90210', will play the role of Robert McNamara in the Broadway bound production of ALL THE WAY by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Robert Schenkkan (The Kentucky Cycle).

Imagination Stage will bring back its popular production of Aquarium for its youngest patrons, today, December 17, 2013, through January 26, 2014. Aquarium was developed by Lyngo Theatre and premiered in January 2011 under the direction of Patrick Lynch and Pietro Chiarenza.

McAninch Arts Center (MAC) located at 425 Fawell Blvd. on the campus of College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, completes its 14-month $35 million renovation this December. The MAC began major renovations in fall 2012 to update its three performance spaces, construct a new art gallery and outdoor patio stage, and make improvements to the infrastructure and patron service areas. Wight & Company, who served as the original architects of the McAninch Arts Center in 1986, returned to design the renovations. Construction for the MAC renovations is by Mortenson Construction, whose recent Chicago area projects include the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago as well as COD's Student Resource Center and Seaton Computing Center, among others.

The Drama Desk and Obie Award-winning Keen Company today announced the inaugural Keen Playwrights Lab. Under the leadership of Mark Armstrong, Keen's Director of New Work, each playwright will be developing a new full-length play inspired by Keen Company's mission - sincere story telling with heart, honesty and hope. The collaborative and supportive environment brings together three acclaimed American playwrights in mid-career to develop new work and facilitate that work's exposure to a greater audience. The program will culminate in three public readings in April, 2014. More details TBA. Keen Playwrights Lab made possible in part thanks to a Creative Space Grant with A.R.T./New York. This season's participants are Jessica Dickey, Gabe McKinley and Qui Nguyen.

This holiday season, BroadwayWorld brings you a look at some of our favorite shows playing across the country. Take a break from the hustle and bustle and treat your family to some of our theatrical favorites, now playing nationwide.