The Old Globe News

Rubicon Theatre Company of Ventura has just announced the director and cast for the company's mainstage production of The Last Five Years, Jason Robert Brown's emotionally powerful, intimate pop musical about two New Yorkers in their twenties who fall in love and try to hold on to each other when life leads them in opposite directions.

In a continued outpouring of solidarity among a giant consortium of the American theater's artistic directors, more than 30 additional artistic directors have signed the open letter that was issued yesterday in support of Ari Roth, following his recent dismissal from the Jewish Community Center in Washington, D.C., where he has served as Artistic Director of Theater J for the past 18 years.

The Old Globe today announced the full cast and creative team for Murder for Two, with book and music by Joe Kinosian and book and lyrics by Kellen Blair. Globe veteran Scott Schwartz (A Room with a View at the Globe, The Hunchback of Notre Dame at La Jolla Playhouse) returns to direct Blair and Kinosian's Off Broadway hit, a vaudevillian mystery musical with an energetic two-man cast. Murder for Two will run January 24 - March 1 on the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage in the Old Globe Theatre, part of the Globe's Conrad Prebys Theatre Center.

The Heart of Robin Hood comes to Broadway following productions in Winnipeg at the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre) and in Toronto -- running tonight, December 23, 2014-March 1, 2015 -- at the Royal Alexandra Theatre.

The Old Globe today announced Tony and Emmy Award winner Hal Linden ('Barney Miller,' The Rothschilds) will star in the West Coast Premiere of The Twenty-seventh Man by award-winning novelist Nathan Englander, directed by Globe Artistic Director Barry Edelstein. The cast also features Ron Orbach, Robert Dorfman, Eli Gelb, James Shanklin, and Lowell Byers. The Twenty-seventh Man will run February 14 through March 15 in the Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre, part of the Conrad Prebys Theatre Center. Preview performances run February 14-18. Opening night is Thursday, February 19 at 8:00 p.m. Single tickets go on sale Friday, January 16. Tickets can be purchased online at www.TheOldGlobe.org, by phone at (619) 23-GLOBE or by visiting the Box Office at 1363 Old Globe Way in Balboa Park.

In an unprecedented display of solidarity among a giant consortium of the American theater's artistic directors, an open letter has been issued in support of Ari Roth, following his recent dismissal from the Jewish Community Center in Washington, D.C., where he has served as Artistic Director of Theater J for the past 18 years. The letter, released earlier today represents the views of top theater brass from coast-to-coast, who believe that his dismissal was an act of politically motivated censorship in retaliation for Roth's choice to produce and publicly defend challenging and provocative work.

Two River Theater, under the leadership of Artistic Director John Dias and Managing Director Michael Hurst, continues its 2014/15 Season with Alan Ayckbourn's Absurd Person Singular, directed by Jessica Stone. The production will run January 10-February 1, 2015, with the opening night on Friday, January 16 at 8pm. Tickets starting at $20 and ticket packages for Two River's season are available from 732.345.1400 or www.tworivertheater.org. Absurd Person Singular is supported by co-sponsor The Unterberg Children's Hospital at Monmouth Medical Center.

No Rules Theatre Co. offers a cure to the winter blues with a witty modern day love story. In Love And Warcraft, written by Madhuri Shekar and directed by NRTC Artistic Director Joshua Morgan, chronicles the hilarious happenings when the two worlds of online gaming and in person relationships collide on a college campus. Performances are January 7 to 25 in the The Ark at Signature Theatre, Arlington. Tickets are $25 to $38 and available at www.norulestheatre.org or through the box office at (703) 820-9771.

The Laguna Playhouse Executive and Artistic Directors, Karen Wood and Ann E. Wareham are thrilled to present the Orange County premiere of HERSHEY FELDER AS IRVING BERLIN, written and performed by Hershey Felder and directed by Trevor Hay.

Pioneer Theatre Company presents the world premiere of Alabama Story by Kenneth Jones, January 9 - 24, 2015. The play was workshopped in Pioneer Theatre Company's new play reading series, Play-by-Play, last season. The play-a finalist in the 2014 National Playwrights Conference-coincides with the 50th anniversaries of the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act.

The Muny announced today the directors, choreographers and music directors for the Muny's 2015 Season, which opens on June 15 with My Fair Lady. 'This is a thrilling roster of artists,' said Muny Artistic Director and Executive Producer Mike Isaacson. 'We look forward to bringing their vision and talent to our grand stage.'

Producer Kevin McCollum has just announced that SOMETHING ROTTEN!, a completely original new musical comedy directed and choreographed by Tony-winner Casey Nicholaw (The Book of Mormon, Aladdin), with music and lyrics by Grammy -winner Wayne Kirkpatrick and Golden Globe nominee Karey Kirkpatrick and a book by Karey Kirkpatrick and best-selling author John O'Farrell, will begin previews March 23 and officially open April 22, 2015 at Broadway's St. James Theatre (246 West 44th Street).

NBC is bringing in the holiday spirit with the stop-motion hourlong animated special 'Elf: Buddy's Musical Christmas,' set to air tonight, Dec. 16 at 8 p.m. Based on the popular film 'Elf' and the hit Broadway show 'Elf: The Musical,' the special will star four-time Emmy Award winner Jim Parsons ('The Big Bang Theory') as Buddy.

Real-life father and daughter Jeff Perry (Scandal) and Zoe Perry (upcoming feature film Cotton) star with Kevin McKidd (Grey's Anatomy) and Mary Mara (Nash Bridges) when Odyssey Theatre Ensemble presents Anna Christie, opening Jan. 24 at the Odyssey Theatre in West L.A. Former Long Wharf associate artistic director Kim Rubinstein directs Eugene O'Neill's 1922 Pulitzer Prize winner.

San Diego Musical Theatre announces the final production of their 2014 season, IRVING BERLIN'S WHITE CHRISTMAS December 11-21, 2014 at the North Park Theatre. Check out a first look at highlights below, along with an interview on KUSI TV News!

Acclaimed Broadway, film and television star, Tovah Feldshuh - nominated six times for the Tony and Emmy Awards-brings to San Francisco for the first time, her award winning one-woman show, Tovah: Out of Her Mind! at Feinstein's at the Nikko for two performances only - this weekend, December 13 (7 p.m.) and December 14 (7 p.m.).

54 Below, Broadway's Supper Club, presents 'The Sound Of Music Nuns' Christmas Party' tonight, December 12, 2014 at 9:30 pm.

The Old Globe today announced it will present the Second Annual New Voices Festival, a weekend of readings of new American plays by professional playwrights, this weekend, December 12 - 14, 2014.

San Diego Musical Theatre announces the final production of their 2014 season, IRVING BERLIN'S WHITE CHRISTMAS, tonight, December 11-21, 2014 (press opening on Friday, December 12) at the North Park Theatre.

La Jolla Playhouse announces the appointment of Jaime Castañeda to the new position of Associate Artistic Director. In addition to joining the Playhouse's artistic team, Castañeda will direct several projects, including the final subscription show for the 2015/16 season, to be announced shortly.