The Acting Company News

On Monday, November 12 at the Cipriani Wall Street (55 Wall Street), Gerald Schoenfeld, Board Chairman of The Shubert Organization and The Shubert Foundation, received the Joan Warburg Humanitarian Award from The Acting Company. Legendary producer Edgar Lansbury was presented with the John Houseman Award honoring his commitment to the development of classical actors and a national audience for the theater.

The Manhattan Theatre Club production of Abbie Spallen's Pumpgirl will begin previews today, Thursday, November 8 at MTC at New York City Center - Stage II (131 West 55th Street). The production will open Tuesday, December 4.

Gerald Schoenfeld, Board Chairman of The Shubert Organization and The Shubert Foundation, will receive the Joan Warburg Humanitarian Award from The Acting Company on Monday, November 12. Legendary producer Edgar Lansbury, will be presented the John Houseman Award honoring his commitment to the development of classical actors and a national audience for the theater.

Tickets for The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey's upcoming production of A Christmas Carol are now on sale. The production will be the American East Coast premiere of this adaptation by British playwright Neil Bartlett based on the novel by Charles Dickens. This will be only the third time this version has been produced in the United States and the first production of it east of the Mississippi. Shakespeare Theatre's Artistic Director Bonnie J. Monte will direct. November 27-December 31.

American Conservatory Theater (ACT) presents N. Richard Nash's classic western romance The Rainmaker; directed by the esteemed Mark Rucker. The Rainmaker will play ACT October 25 through November 25. Press night is Tuesday, October 30, at 8PM. Tickets - starting at $14 - are now available.

Manhattan Theatre Club is pleased to announce complete casting for the American premiere production of Pumpgirl by Abbie Spallen. Previews begin November 8 for a December 4 opening at New York City Center - Stage II.

Urban Stages is pleased to announce the American Premiere of The Oxford Roof Climber's Rebellion, the first production of their 2007/2008 season. The Oxford Roof Climber's Rebellion is a play written by Stephen Massicotte and will be directed by Roger Danforth. Performances will be at 259 West 30th Street (between 7th and 8th). Previews will begin on Saturday, October 13 with the opening date scheduled for Thursday, October 18 and will run through Sunday, November 18. Press is invited beginning on Wednesday, October 17.

The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey launches the Fall portion of its 2007 season with a rarely-performed modern American classic by William Saroyan, author of the novel and screenplay The Human Comedy

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) in association with Montsgo Project and Geranium Theatre will present The Boy in the Bathroom, a new musical with book and lyrics and directed by Michael Lluberes, music and additional lyrics by Joe Maloney

All new monthly calendar of local theatre events!

For over half a century, Stuart Vaughan has been - in every sense of the phrase - a true Renaissance man of the theatre. Vaughan's latest project is a new stage version of The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne's classic 1850 novel about the conflict between Puritanism and passion. With honesty, eloquence and insight, Vaughan recently answered some questions about his incredible life in the theatre - and about a career that shows no signs at all of slowing down!

The Acting Company is currently presenting Polly Teale's adaptation of Jane Eyre, directed by Davis McCallum.

Repertory Theatre, under the leadership of Artistic Director James Bundy and Managing Director Victoria Nolan, will present three re-imagined classics, a rediscovered play from the mid-twentieth century, and a world premiere during its 42nd season in 2007-2008.

Maria Aitken, director of London's Olivier-winning Best New Comedy, will bring an all star ensemble of Broadway actors to the stage of the Laura Pels Theatre on Monday, April 9th at 7pm as The Acting Company presents a benefit staged reading of W. Somerset Maugham's For Services Rendered.

After over thirty-five years in the theatre business, leading Off-Broadway company the Jean Cocteau Repertory Theater has closed. The owners of the Bouwerie Lane Theater, home of the Jean Cocteau since 1974, had recently doubled the theater's rent. There is no word yet on who will be the next tenant to occupy the space.

DanceBreak 2007, a showcase for Broadway's next generation of choreographers, was held on February 12 at the New World Stages complex to a capacity crowd of industry professionals

T.R. Knight, a respected member of the acting company of Minneapolis' Guthrie Theater, and Cynthia Nixon who has graced the stage with her performances since the age of 14, will co-host the 52nd Annual Village Voice Obie Awards in Manhattan on Monday, May 21st at New York University's Skirball Center.

MANHATTAN THEATRE CLUB will present its annual Winter Benefit, An Intimate Night, an evening of cocktails and dinner followed by a special one-night-only cabaret-style show featuring stage, film and television stars - and MTC alumni - Christine Baranski and Jesse L. Martin. An Intimate Night takes place Monday, January 22, 2007 at the Rainbow Room (30 Rockefeller Plaza, 65th Floor).

The American Theatre Wing's Grants Program will honor its 2006 grant recipients, 53 New York City not-for-profit theatres that reflect the range of diversity of New York's theatres, at a luncheon at Sardi's on December 7 at noon.