Susan Hilferty News

After record breaking engagements in Omaha in 2009 and 2011, WICKED, Broadway's biggest blockbuster, will return to Omaha's Orpheum Theater for a third engagement today, May 7 through May 25, 2014.

The Public Theater announced additional casting today for MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, the first show of The Public's 2014 season of free Shakespeare in the Park at the Delacorte. Directed by Jack O'Brien, MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING begins previews on Tuesday, June 3 and runs through Sunday, July 6, with an official press opening on Monday, June 16.

'Wicked' arrives in Fresno this week with two new witches at the broom and wand. They share their experience with children and adults new to the musical's magic, and the special quality of the leads' first week of performances makes the production enjoyable for the more familiar, familial audience members, as well.

Long Wharf Theatre presents the world premiere of The Shadow of the Hummingbird, written by and starring Athol Fugard, with an introductory scene by Paula Fourie, and directed by Artistic Director Gordon Edelstein. The play takes place on Stage II through April 27, 2014. Tickets are $40-$70. Check out a first look below!

Michael Pennington, two-time Olivier Award nominee, an artist of international stature and one of England's greatest classical actors, will play the title role in William Shakespeare's tragedy King Lear directed by Arin Arbus. For the second production in Theatre for a New Audience's inaugural season at its first permanent home, the new Polonsky Shakespeare Center, 262 Ashland Place in Brooklyn, Mr. Pennington leads a company of 22 actors. King Lear began previews on March 14 and will open tomorrow, Thursday, March 27, running through May 4. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Long Wharf Theatre presents the world premiere of The Shadow of the Hummingbird, written by and starring Athol Fugard, with an introductory scene by Paula Fourie, and directed by Artistic Director Gordon Edelstein.

The three week WORLD STAGES: International Theater Festival 2014 besides presenting wonderful performances, also has a variety of wonderful installations throughout the Kennedy Center during the Festival which runs until March 30, 2014. All of these are FREE.

KING LEARMichael Pennington, two-time Olivier Award nominee, an artist of international stature and one of England's greatest classical actors, will play the title role in William Shakespeare's tragedy King Lear directed by Arin Arbus. For the second production in Theatre for a New Audience's inaugural season at its first permanent home, the new Polonsky Shakespeare Center, 262 Ashland Place in Brooklyn, Mr. Pennington leads a company of 22 actors. King Lear begins previews tomorrow, March 14 for an opening March 27 and a run through May 4. Click below for two interviews with Pennington!

Michael Pennington, two-time Olivier Award nominee, an artist of international stature and one of England's greatest classical actors, will play the title role in William Shakespeare's tragedy King Lear directed by Arin Arbus. For the second production in Theatre for a New Audience's inaugural season at its first permanent home, the new Polonsky Shakespeare Center, 262 Ashland Place in Brooklyn, Mr. Pennington leads a company of 22 actors. King Lear begins previews tomorrow, March 14 for an opening March 27 and a run through May 4. BroadwayWorld has a look at the cast in rehearsal below!

The Public Theater will begin previews for the New York premiere of A SECOND CHANCE on Tuesday, March 18. Directed by Jonathan Butterell with book, music, and lyrics by Ted Shen, this new musical will run through Sunday, April 13 in the Shiva Theater, with an official press opening on Sunday, March 30.

Due to critical acclaim and popular demand, Playwrights Horizons has announced an extension of its New York premiere production of STAGE KISS, a new play by two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist and Tony Award nominee Sarah Ruhl (Dead Man's Cell Phone at PH; The Clean House, In the Next Room..., Eurydice), directed by Rebecca Taichman (Milk Like Sugar at PH; Marie Antoinette, Ms. Ruhl's Orlando, The Scene, Luck of the Irish).

The Public Theater (Artistic Director, Oskar Eustis; Executive Director, Patrick Willingham) will begin previews for the New York premiere of A SECOND CHANCE on Tuesday, March 18. Directed by Jonathan Butterell with book, music, and lyrics by Ted Shen, this new musical will run through Sunday, April 13 in the Shiva Theater, with an official press opening on Sunday, March 30. Look below for a first look at pictures from the rehearsal process.

Wicked certainly has an interesting reputation among theatergoers. Some theater fanatics love the show. Others hate it. I've always found myself somewhere in the middle. Wicked certainly has both flaws and merits, but to those who only see its flaws, I have this observation to share. Of all the long running shows currently on Broadway, there are only three that feature more than one female lead. Of those three shows, only one involves female leads who aren't merry murderesses and aren't singing ABBA tunes. So kudos to Wicked, and kudos to the touring production currently in Austin for making it easier to see the shows merits and more difficult to see the show's flaws.

Long Wharf Theatre presents the world premiere of The Shadow of the Hummingbird, written by and starring Athol Fugard, with an introductory scene by Paula Fourie, and directed by Artistic Director Gordon Edelstein.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts will host 22 theatrical offerings from 20 different countries during WORLD STAGES: International Theater Festival 2014 that will run for three weeks March 10-30, 2014 throughout the Center. The international festival features contemporary theater works offering 13 fully staged productions, 4 theater-focused installations, 3 readings of new works, and 2 forums. From Olivier and Tony Award-winning puppetry to innovative perspectives on old classics, a diverse showcase of theatrical expression will be represented by countries spanning the globe including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, England, France, Iceland, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Kuwait, Mexico, Pakistan, Palestine, Scotland, South Africa, Sudan, Syria, and the United States.

After breaking box office records and selling out in record time in 2012, Wicked, Broadway's biggest blockbuster, will return to Sacramento Community Center Theater from May 28 through June 15 as part of the Broadway Sacramento series. Tickets for the return engagement go on sale today, February 15.

Playwrights Horizons' New York premiere production of Stage Kiss, a new play marking the eagerly-anticipated return to PH of two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist and Tony Award nominee Sarah Ruhl (Dead Man's Cell Phone at PH; The Clean House, In the Next Room..., Eurydice), is currently in previews off-Broadway. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

After breaking box office records in each of its previous three engagements, WICKED, Broadway's biggest blockbuster, will return to the Ed Mirvish Theatre this fall for a limited nine-week engagement, September 3 - November 2, 2014.

Michael Pennington, two-time Olivier Award nominee, an artist of international stature and one of England's greatest classical actors, will play the title role in William Shakespeare's tragedy King Lear directed by Arin Arbus. For the second production in Theatre for a New Audience's inaugural season at its first permanent home, the new Polonsky Shakespeare Center, 262 Ashland Place in Brooklyn, Mr. Pennington leads a company of 22 actors. King Lear begins previews March 14 for an opening March 27 and a run through May 4.

A day-of-performance lottery for a limited number of orchestra seats will be held for WICKED, which is returning to the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center with performances from February 12 through March 2 Two and one-half hours prior to each performance, people who present themselves at the Fox Cities P.A.C. ticket office will have their names placed in a lottery drum; thirty minutes later, names will be drawn for a limited number of orchestra seats at $25 each, cash only. This lottery is available only in-person at the ticket office, with a limit of two tickets per person. Lottery participants must have a valid photo ID when submitting their entry form and, if chosen, when purchasing tickets.