The Old Globe News

The Old Globe's 2012 Shakespeare Festival, performed in repertory in the outdoor Lowell Davies Festival Theatre, is underway. Its production of AS YOU LIKE IT, directed by Adrian Noble, is playing through September 30. Check out performance highlights in the video below!

The Broadway at Birdland concert series presents "Here Goes Nothing," an evening of songs by Drama Desk-nominated lyricist Jack Lechner, tonight, June 25 at 7pm. Guest performers will include Jill Abramovitz, Desmond Dutcher, Jeannine Frumess, Jose Llana, Lucas Steele, and Karen Ziemba. The music director will be Boko Suzuki.

While many theatres close for the summer months, Performance Network is full steam ahead, offering audiences an array of entertainment options, including the upcoming Fireside Festival of New Works. As part of the theatre's continued dedication to support and provide a voice for playwrights, the series will be held today, June 24 through June 27, 2012. This festival of staged readings will feature new works by four playwrights, including Network regulars Joseph Zettelmaier and Kim Carney.

According to the Daily Mail's Baz Bamigboye, two-time Olivier winner Samantha Spiro will play Kate in the new production of The Taming Of The Shrew at Shakespeare's Globe. Toby Frow helms the production, which begins performances tonight, June 23.

The Latino spirit is alive in New Harlem Arts Theatre's upcoming production of 'Sweet Charity,' directed by Julio Agustin, to be presented July 26 to August 19 at CCNY's Aaron Davis Hall, 135th Street and Convent Ave. The characters of the classic sixties musical will be re-envisioned to reflect the changing roles of Latinos in our society while the traditional music by Cy Coleman, lyrics by Dorothy Fields and book by Neil Simon will be preserved. The 1966 Broadway tuner was originally conceived, staged and choreographed by Bob Fosse. Director Julio Agustin has tapped choreographer Lainie Munro for the job of nestling his radical new concept into Fosse's formative jazz dances.

Stage Left Theatre announces the upcoming World Premiere of Impenetrable written by Mia McCullough and directed by ensemble member Greg Werstler. Impenetrable is the first production of Stage Left's 31st season. Press opening is Friday, September 7th at 8 PM at Theater Wit, 1229 W Belmont. The show runs through October 7th.

Due to popular demand, American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) has announced the extension of the Bay Area premiere of The Scottsboro Boys, the critically acclaimed musical based on a tragic chapter in American history. Tickets are now on sale through Sunday, July 22. Preview performances begin tomorrow, June 21, with opening night scheduled for Wednesday, June 27. Composer John Kander chatted with KGO TV about the production, and you can hear what he had to say below!

The Old Globe presents INHERIT THE WIND, directed by Adrian Noble. In the play, two powerhouse lawyers face off in a small town with the eyes of an entire nation upon them when a schoolteacher is arrested for teaching Charles Darwin's theories of evolution. When the issue goes to trial, the two attorneys must passionately confront questions of faith and science in a heated courtroom. This fictional re-creation of the infamous Scopes Monkey Trial tackles issues that are every bit as relevant today as they were in 1925. Check out production photos below!

Due to popular demand, American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) has announced the extension of the Bay Area premiere of The Scottsboro Boys, the critically acclaimed musical based on a tragic chapter in American history. Tickets are now on sale through Sunday, July 22. Preview performances begin tomorrow, June 21, with opening night scheduled for Wednesday, June 27.

A talented cast energizes the critically acclaimed play, Bill W. and Dr. Bob, by Samuel Shem and Janet Surrey, to close the highly successful 2011-2012 season for San Jose Rep. Directed by Richard Seer, the work is a quick-witted and honest docu-drama following two dynamic and dedicated men who, in the midst of their battle with acute and debilitating alcoholism, formed a formidable and historic alliance to help each other and others combat the same addiction.

The Old Globe's 2012 Shakespeare Festival is underway with its production of Shakespeare's RICHARD III, starring Jay Whittaker in the title role, running now through September 29, 2012, at the Lowell Davies Festival Theatre. Video highlights featuring Whittaker, Dana Green, Robin Moseley, Jeremy Fisher and more, have been released and BroadwayWorld brings you a first look below!

According to a report in the Sydney Morning Herald, the US-born The First Wives Club and Dream Lover may be heading to Sydney for further development in the near future.

A talented cast energizes the critically acclaimed play, Bill W. and Dr. Bob, by Samuel Shem and Janet Surrey, to close the highly successful 2011-2012 season for San Jose Rep. Directed by Richard Seer, the work is a quick-witted and honest docu-drama following two dynamic and dedicated men who, in the midst of their battle with acute and debilitating alcoholism, formed a formidable and historic alliance to help each other and others combat the same addiction.

Westport Country Playhouse stages the National Book Award-winning memoir, "The Year of Magical Thinking" by Joan Didion, now through June 30, featuring noted actress Maureen Anderman as Didion. Directed by Nicholas Martin, the play is based on the author's actual experience rebuilding her life during the year after her spouse's death and her capacity to emerge strengthened from even the most shattering of life's trials. Watch the video below for behind-the-scenes interviews with Artistic Director Mark Lamos, Director Nicholas Martin and actor Maureen Anderman!

The Old Globe has announced its schedule for now through October 2012. See full details below.

The evening is directed by Joe Langworth and musical direction by Greg Jarrett, the show will run for one night only, tonight, June 18, at the Loews Regency Hotel (540 Park Avenue at 61st Street).

The Colony Theatre presents the first production of its "Season of Premieres" with the Los Angeles Premiere of THE SAVANNAH DISPUTATION, written by Evan Smith and directed by award-winning Cameron Watson, the show stars three-time Los Angeles Drama Critics Award-winning actress Anne Gee Byrd. THE SAVANNAH DISPUTATION opens tonight, June 16 at 8:00pm and continues through Sunday, July 8 at The Colony Theatre, 555 North Third Street (at Cypress) adjacent to the Burbank Town Center.

The Old Globe will open its 2012-13 Winter Season with the World Premiere of Allegiance - A New American Musical. Created by Jay Kuo and Lorenzo Thione with music and lyrics by Kuo, the original musical tells the story of a Japanese American family forced into an internment camp during World War II. Directed by Stafford Arima (Carrie, Altar Boyz, West End premiere of Ragtime), the production features musical direction and arrangements by Lynne Shankel (Cry-Baby, Company). Tony Award-winning actress Lea Salonga (Miss Saigon, Les Miserables), television and film icon George Takei ("Star Trek," "Heroes") and Telly Leung (Godspell, Rent) will star. The production has just announced that Allegiance will also feature costumes by Alejo Vietti, choreography by Andrew Palermo, and projections by Darrell Maloney.