The American Conservatory Theatre News

Martin Moran returns to Monty Python's SPAMALOT on January 6. SPAMALOT is running at the Shubert Theater. Moran will take the place of 'American Idol' finalist Clay Aiken in the role of Sir Robin. Aiken's last performance was on Jan. 4th.

Broadway's Matt McGrath makes his NY directing debut with writer/performer Phillip Taratula's bravura solo piece CALL ME ANNE, the biting and riotous story of actress Anne Heche and her singular journey, a cautionary tale of finding stardom while losing your mind.

FURIOUS THEATRE COMPANY PRESENTS THE SECOND SHOW OF THEIR 2008-2009 SEASON! THE LOS ANGELES PREMIERE OF THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS Written by Anthony Neilson Directed by Robert Pescovitz Limited Engagement will open on Saturday, November 29 at the Pasadena Playhouse Carrie Hamilton Theatre!

FURIOUS THEATRE COMPANY PRESENTS THE SECOND SHOW OF THEIR 2008-2009 SEASON! THE LOS ANGELES PREMIERE OF THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS Written by Anthony Neilson Directed by Robert Pescovitz Limited Engagement will open on Saturday, November 29 at the Pasadena Playhouse Carrie Hamilton Theatre!

Broadway's Matt McGrath makes his NY directing debut with writer/performer Phillip Taratula's bravura solo piece CALL ME ANNE, the biting and riotous story of actress Anne Heche and her singular journey, a cautionary tale of finding stardom while losing your mind.

Mill Valley actor Ron Severdia was undaunted the first time he presented the premiere of his solo adaptation of A Christmas Carol in 2006 and again in 2007 when he performed his one-man show in Europe.

Acclaimed British playwright Edward Bond, will reunite with acclaimed American director Robert Woodruff for Theatre for a New Audience's New York premiere production of Mr. Bond's Chair featuring Stephanie Roth Haberle beginning previews Friday, December 5, at 8:00pm for an opening Wednesday, December 11, at 8:00pm for a run through December 28 at The Duke on 42nd Street, a New 42nd Street® project, 229 West 42nd Street.

The Bay Area's ground-breaking Danse Lumiere (formerly Anima Mundi) presents THE FIFTH BOOK OF PEACE, an innovative dance theater program inspired by award-winning California author and activist Maxine Hong Kingston's extraordinary book of the same name.

Jonathan Whitton (2008 Bistro & MAC Award Winner) returns to the Laurie Beechman Theatre throughout October & November for four encore performances of his acclaimed cabaret evening: SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL

Arena Stage presents the world premiere of Daniel Beaty's Resurrection, a drama with a unique blend of music, poetry and dance. A co-production with Connecticut's Hartford Stage, Resurrection explores the interwoven lives of six African-American men struggling to make a living and to make their lives worth living. Beaty dazzled Arena audiences last summer with sold-out performances of his award-winning solo show Emergency (formerly Emergence-SEE!). He now returns to Arena with his first ensemble production-a talented cast of six actors led by director Oz Scott (director of Broadway's original for colored girls... and the Goodman Theatre's recent premiere The Ballad of Emmett Till). The production harmonizes with an innovative score by Daniel Bernard Roumain (DBR), a Haitian-American composer who blends classical violin with piano and bass. To keep the interplay between text and score dynamic, Roumain's original score will be musically styled live each performance by his collaborator Elan Vytal a.k.a. DJ Scientific. Resurrection runs August 29-October 5, 2008 at Arena Stage in Crystal City. The press opening performance is Thursday, September 4 at 8:00pm.

The Irish Repertory Theatre in association with The Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park will present AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS. This high-spirited, fast-moving and highly imaginative show, by Mark Brown from the novel by Jules Verne, begins previews July 11th, opens July 20th and continues through September 7th at the Irish Repertory Theatre.

The Irish Repertory Theatre in association with The Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park will present AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS. This high-spirited, fast-moving and highly imaginative show, by Mark Brown from the novel by Jules Verne, begins previews July 11th, opens July 20th and continues through September 7th at the Irish Repertory Theatre.

Woodie King Jr.'s New Federal Theatre will present the New York City premiere of 'In Search of My Father ... Walkin' Talkin' Bill Hawkins.'

Arena Stage presents Charles Ludlam's comic masterpiece The Mystery of Irma Vep. This clever, quick-change marathon ransacks literary, cinematic and pop culture as it satirizes everything from Hitchcock's Rebecca and classic horror film The Mummy's Curse to Wuthering Heights and Shakespeare. Arena Stage is excited to welcome back Brad Oscar (Broadway's Spamalot and The Producers, Arena's Cabaret and Damn Yankees) and J. Fred Shiffman (The Arthur Miller Festival, She Loves Me, Cabaret) as they portray all of the characters--men, women and monsters--in this gender-bending 'tour de force.' The Mystery of Irma Vep runs June 6 - July 13 at Arena Stage in Crystal City. The press opening performance is Thursday, June 12 at 8:00 p.m.

The American Theatre Wing's 'Working in the Theatre' will showcase 'Featured Actors' on CUNY TV on Sunday, January 20 at 5 p.m. The program will repeat on Friday, January 25 at 9 a.m., 2 and 7:30 p.m., and Saturday, January 26 at 11 a.m. The program becomes available as streaming audio and podcast from www.americantheatrewing.org beginning Wednesday, January 23.

Internationally renowned playwright Sir Tom Stoppard will visit the American Conservatory Theatre (ACT) of San Francisco to take part in a Koret panel discussion on the A.C.T. stage. The one-hour conversation, part of the Koret Visiting Artists Series, takes place Saturday, January 5, 2008, at 10AM.

John Doyle's Tony Award-winning re-imagining of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street began its National Tour, with a pre-tour engagement at San Francisco's American Conservatory Theatre (ACT) on August 30, opening ACT's 41st season on September 4 with performances through September 30.

Sweeney Todd begins its National Tour, with a pre-tour engagement at San Francisco's American Conservatory Theatre (ACT). Previews at ACT begin August 30.

NCTC presents Bay Area favorite, Maureen McVerry in 'Verry McVerry,' beginning August 17 (opening August 18) through September 16 at Theatre III.

Fugitive Productions will present Bent to the Flame - A Night With Tennessee Williams for the 11th New York International Fringe Festival-FringeNYC at the SoHo Playhouse