The Globe Theatre News

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) announced complete casting today for Christopher Durang's WHY TORTURE IS WRONG, AND THE PEOPLE WHO LOVE THEM. Laura Benanti, Audrie Neenan, and Richard Poe will join the previously announced Amir Arison, David Aaron Baker, Kristine Nielsen, and John Pankow in this world premiere comedy, directed by Nicholas Martin. WHY TORTURE IS WRONG, AND THE PEOPLE WHO LOVE THEM begins previews on March 24 and runs through April 26 with an official press opening on Monday, April 6 at 7 PM.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) announced initial casting for Christopher Durang's WHY TORTURE IS WRONG, AND THE PEOPLE WHO LOVE THEM and Craig Lucas's THE SINGING FOREST. Nicholas Martin will direct Why Torture Is Wrong... with a cast of seven that includes Amir Arison, David Aaron Baker, Kristine Nielsen and John Pankow. Mark Wing-Davey will direct a cast of nine that includes Academy Award winner Olympia Dukakis in The Singing Forest. The cast for Why Torture Is Wrong..., which runs March 24 to April 26, will include Amir Arison (Queens Boulevard at Signature), David Aaron Baker (Dead Man's Cell Phone at Playwrights Horizons), Kristine Nielsen (Crazy Mary at Playwrights Horizons), and John Pankow (The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie at The New Group). Early casting for The Singing Forest, running April 7 to May 17, will feature Olympia Dukakis (Academy Award winner for Moonstruck) as Loe Reiman. Ms. Dukakis' New York stage credits include the Encores! production of 70, Girls, 70, Barra Grant's A Mother, A Daughter and a Gun, Social Security directed by Mike Nichols, Rose (Outer Critics Award and Drama Desk nom.), Who's Who in Hell, The Aspern Papers, Night of the Iguana, Christopher Durang's The Marriage of Bette and Boo (Obie Award), Sam Shepard's Curse of the Starving Class, Peer Gynt, Titus Andronicus, Electra, Vaclav Havel's Memorandum, Brecht's A Man's a Man (Obie Award), One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, and A View From the Bridge (Theatre World Award).

South Coast Repertory starts off the New Year with the World Premiere of You, Nero, a comedy by Pulitzer Prize finalist Amy Freed. Commissioned by SCR, You, Nero imagines a meeting during the declining years of the Roman Empire between Scribonius, a put-upon playwright, and Emperor Nero, the all-powerful, narcissistic arbiter of art. The Roman romp stars Danny Scheie as Nero and John Vickery as Scribonius. Produced in association with Berkeley Repertory Theatre and directed by Sharon Ott,You, Nero will run from Jan. 4 through Jan. 25, 2009 on the Julianne Argyros Stage. Low-priced previews are available from Jan. 4 through Jan. 8. Opening night is Jan. 9. Press night is Saturday, Jan. 10 at 7:45 p.m. Tickets to You, Nero may be purchased online at www.scr.org, by phone at (714) 708-5555 or in person at the SCR box office.

Jim Creighton, David Haig, James Hayes, Doon Mackichan and Javone Prince will join previously announced Matt Di Angelo in Joe Orton's 'Loot', directed by Sean Holmes at the Tricycle Theatre. 'Loot' will run from 11 December ? 31 January. Designs are by Anthony Lamble with lighting by Charles Balfour and sound by Greg Clarke. 'Loot' will tour to Newcastle Theatre Royal from 2-7 February after its opening at the Tricycle.

Jim Creighton, David Haig, James Hayes, Doon Mackichan, Javone Prince and Matt Di Angelo star in Joe Orton's Loot, directed by Sean Holmes at the Tricycle Theatre. Loot starts its run from 11 December-31 January with press night on 15 December.

South Coast Repertory starts off the New Year with the World Premiere of You, Nero, a comedy by Pulitzer Prize finalist Amy Freed. Commissioned by SCR, You, Nero imagines a meeting during the declining years of the Roman Empire between Scribonius, a put-upon playwright, and Emperor Nero, the all-powerful, narcissistic arbiter of art. The Roman romp stars Danny Scheie as Nero and John Vickery as Scribonius. Produced in association with Berkeley Repertory Theatre and directed by Sharon Ott,You, Nero will run from Jan. 4 through Jan. 25, 2009 on the Julianne Argyros Stage. Low-priced previews are available from Jan. 4 through Jan. 8. Opening night is Jan. 9. Press night is Saturday, Jan. 10 at 7:45 p.m. Tickets to You, Nero may be purchased online at www.scr.org, by phone at (714) 708-5555 or in person at the SCR box office.

The star-studded black tie Multicultural Motion Picture Association's 16th Annual Diversity Awards - 'Celebrating Diversity - American Spirit And Global Talent - Making Happen!' honoring artists for their exceptional achievements in film and television, was held on Sunday evening, November 23, 2008 in the Globe Theatre at Universal Studios Hollywood. Prior to the Awards Show, a Celebrity VIP Silent Auction and Reception was held.

Jim Creighton, David Haig, James Hayes, Doon Mackichan and Javone Prince will join previously announced Matt Di Angelo in Joe Orton's 'Loot', directed by Sean Holmes at the Tricycle Theatre. 'Loot' will run from 11 December until 31 January. Designs are by Anthony Lamble with lighting by Charles Balfour and sound by Greg Clarke. 'Loot' will tour to Newcastle Theatre Royal from 2-7 February after its opening at the Tricycle.

Jim Creighton, David Haig, James Hayes, Doon Mackichan and Javone Prince will join previously announced Matt Di Angelo in Joe Orton's Loot, directed by Sean Holmes at the Tricycle Theatre. Loot will run from 11 December - 31 January with press night on 15 December.

'Theater Talk,' the nationally syndicated program co-hosted by New York Post theater columnist Michael Riedel and producer Susan Haskins, will air a historic panel discussion about the state of Midwest resident theatres on Friday, October 3 (early Saturday morning) at 12:30 AM on WNET, Channel 13.

'Theater Talk,' the nationally syndicated program co-hosted by New York Post theater columnist Michael Riedel and producer Susan Haskins, will air a historic panel discussion about the state of Midwest resident theatres on Friday, October 3 (early Saturday morning) at 12:30 AM on WNET, Channel 13.

The Guthrie Theater announced that Broadway theater columnist and 'Theater Talk' co-host Michael Riedel and 'Theater Talk' producer and co-host Susan Haskins will moderate a historic panel discussion with Guthrie Director Joe Dowling, The Children's Theatre Company Artistic Director Peter Brosius, Chicago Shakespeare Theater Artistic Director Barbara Gaines and Steppenwolf Artistic Director Martha Lavey on Monday, August 4 at 7:30 p.m. on the Guthrie's Wurtele Thrust Stage. The discussion will be taped for national broadcast. Tickets are priced from $15 to $35 and are on sale through the Guthrie Box Office at 612.377.2224, toll-free 877.44.STAGE and online at www.guthrietheater.org.

The Guthrie Theater announced that Broadway theater columnist and 'Theater Talk' co-host Michael Riedel and 'Theater Talk' producer and co-host Susan Haskins will moderate a historic panel discussion with Guthrie Director Joe Dowling, The Children's Theatre Company Artistic Director Peter Brosius, Chicago Shakespeare Theater Artistic Director Barbara Gaines and Steppenwolf Artistic Director Martha Lavey on Monday, August 4 at 7:30 p.m. on the Guthrie's Wurtele Thrust Stage. The discussion will be taped for national broadcast. Tickets are priced from $15 to $35 and are on sale through the Guthrie Box Office at 612.377.2224, toll-free 877.44.STAGE and online at www.guthrietheater.org.

The Guthrie Theater announced today that Broadway theater columnist and 'Theater Talk' co-host Michael Riedel and 'Theater Talk' producer and co-host Susan Haskins will moderate a historic panel discussion with Guthrie Director Joe Dowling, The Children's Theatre Company Artistic Director Peter Brosius, Chicago Shakespeare Theater Artistic Director Barbara Gaines and Steppenwolf Artistic Director Martha Lavey on Monday, August 4 at 7:30 p.m. on the Guthrie's Wurtele Thrust Stage. The discussion will be taped for national broadcast. Tickets are priced from $15 to $35 and are on sale through the Guthrie Box Office at 612.377.2224, toll-free 877.44.STAGE and online at www.guthrietheater.org. Due to the nature of the event several seats will be obstructed view. To ensure the best seat location, tickets should be purchased in advance.

Roger Michell will direct a cast led by Eileen Atkins in Joanna Murray-Smith's latest play, 'The Female of the Species', opening at the Vaudeville Theatre on 16 July.

Roger Michell will direct a cast led by Eileen Atkins in Joanna Murray-Smith's latest play, 'The Female of the Species', opening at the Vaudeville Theatre on 16 July.

Capsule reviews of Such Good Friends, Love Sucks and JC2K

Award-winning TV stars Peter Davison and Bill Ward will join the London cast of Monty Python's Spamalot at the Palace Theatre from July 23, 2007.

Award-winning TV stars Peter Davison and Bill Ward will join the London cast of Monty Python's Spamalot at the Palace Theatre from July 23

the Royal Shakespeare Company's productions of King Lear and The Seagull will transfer to the West End's New London Theatre, where they will play in repertory beginning on November 12th