The Stratford Shakespeare Festival News

Playwright Joseph Beck 'takes on the proliferation of reality shows and the struggling U.S. economy in the very timely political comedy Dictators For Hire.'

Whether you've been living under a rock for the past week, or you're just in the mood for a recap of everything theatre, BroadwayWorld's feature, 'This Week in Pictures' is here to satisfy your end of the week fix. Take a look below to catch up on the latest happenings from the Great White Way to the West End (and everywhere in between) with coverage of press events, rehearsals, opening nights and more! For last week's biggest events: visit THIS WEEK IN PICTURES: February 4-10.

SHATNER'S WORLD: WE JUST LIVE IN IT opened tonight, February 16, at the Music Box Theatre. The show takes audiences on a voyage through Shatner's life and career, from Shakespearean stage actor to internationally known icon and raconteur, known as much for his unique persona as for his expansive body of work on television and film. BroadwayWorld will keep you updated below as reviews come in.

The Stratford Shakespeare Festival's hit production of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, directed by 2-time Tony Award winner Des McAnuff, opens March 22, 2012 (previews begin March 1) at the Neil Simon Theatre (250 West 52nd Street).The cast features Paul Nolan as Jesus Christ, Josh Young as Judas Iscariot, Chilina Kennedy as Mary Magdalene, Tom Hewitt as Pontius Pilate, Bruce Dow as King Herod, Marcus Nance as Caiaphas and Aaron Walpole as Annas. The cast of the new production met the press today, and BroadwayWorld was there for the festivities. Check out a photo preview of the event below, and check back later for full coverage!

In the video below, see how Scenic Artists Danny McManus and Michael Wharran created the painted show drop for the Stratford Shakespeare Festival's 2012 production of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, which runs May 15 to October 28 at the Avon Theatre.

Wililam Shatner's SHATNER'S WORLD: WE JUST LIVE IN IT opens today, February 14, and will play through March 4 at the Music Box Theater on Broadway before embarking on a national tour. A statement from the producers said: 'The two-hour show will take audiences on a voyage through Shatner's life and career, from Shakespearean stage actor to internationally known icon and raconteur.'

Rehearsals begin tomorrow, Thursday, February 9, for The Stratford Shakespeare Festival's hit production of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR. Directed by the Stratford Shakespeare Festival's Artistic Director and 2-time Tony Award winner Des McAnuff, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR opens March 22, 2012 (previews begin March 1) at the Neil Simon Theatre (250 West 52nd Street).

The Old Globe's 2011 production of Tracy Letts' drama "August: Osage County" was the leading honoree at the San Diego Theatre Critics Circle's 10th annual Craig Noel Awards ceremony, held Monday at the Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego, in La Jolla before an audience of more than 450.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) announced today casting for its 25th Anniversary Season production of William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, directed by CST Associate Artistic Director Gary Griffin (CST's Follies, Broadway's The Color Purple) and featuring a celebrated company of artists that includes stage and screen actor Ron Orbach as Nick Bottom, former Saturday Night Live funnyman Tim Kazurinsky as Peter Quince, and veteran CST actors Tracy Michelle Arnold as Hippolyta/Titania and Timothy Edward Kane as Theseus/Oberon. Performing the role of Puck is Elizabeth Ledo.

The Old Globe today announced principal casting for the Globe's 2012 Shakespeare Festival. Craig Noel Award winner Jay Whittaker returns to the Festival for his third consecutive season to appear in the title role of William Shakespeare's Richard III. He will also appear as Oliver in Shakespeare's As You Like It. Also returning to the Festival are Craig Noel Award winner Robert Foxworth and Adrian Sparks, who will take to the courtroom floor as titanic lawyers Henry Drummond and Matthew Harrison Brady, respectively, in the Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee classic Inherit the Wind. Foxworth, an Old Globe Associate Artist, will also play Lord Hastings in Richard III, and Sparks will play Lord Mayor of London in Richard III and Corin in As You Like It. Festival veteran Dana Green will star as Rosalind, and Dan Amboyer, new to the Festival stage, will play Orlando, the object of her affections, in As You Like It. Green will also play Queen Elizabeth in Richard III. Amboyer will also be featured as Bertram Cates in Inherit the Wind and the Earl of Richmond in Richard III. Festival newcomer Jacques C. Smith will play Jacques in As You Like It, the Duke of Buckingham in Richard III and Mr. Meeker in Inherit the Wind. Adrian Noble returns for his third outing as Artistic Director of the Shakespeare Festival and will helm As You Like It and Inherit the Wind. Renowned British director Lindsay Posner makes his debut at the Globe with his production of Richard III. Noble recently directed the World Premiere stage version of The King's Speech, which is currently touring England, and Posner's hit revival of Noises Off is currently playing at London's Old Vic and will transfer to the West End in March. The 2012 Shakespeare Festival, performed in repertory in the outdoor Lowell Davies Festival Theatre, runs June 3 - Sept. 30, 2012.

Josh Young makes his Broadway debut as 'Judas Iscariot' in The Stratford Shakespeare Festival's production of Jesus Christ Superstar directed by Des McAnuff at The Neil Simon Theatre. Preview performances beginMarch 1, 2012 with an opening on March 22.

David Auster will be joining the Stratford Shakespeare Festival as producer, beginning March 12, 2012. Dave, who was raised in Toronto and is a graduate of the University of Toronto, is the current Associate General Manager at 101 Productions in New York, where he has been for over 14 years. In this role, he has overseen the producing aspects and day-to-day operations of more than 50 Broadway productions and U.S. national tours. He has also managed a variety of theatre productions, gala events, and festivals, and has taken tours throughout North America and several places around the world.

This weekend, BroadwayWorld will be presenting an illuminating InDepth InterView with legendary composer Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber all about the enchanting new performance capture film version of his PHANTOM OF THE OPERA sequel, LOVE NEVER DIES. Until that chat, let's take a look back at some of the finest Andrew Lloyd Webber-related performances related to the entertainment dynasty built upon his operatic pop musical version of the classic Gaston Leroux novel that is about to celebrate its 10,000th performance on Broadway later this month, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, as well as its continuation, LOVE NEVER DIES, and the two revivals of his two classic 70s hit stage collaborations with previous InDepth InterView participant Sir Tim Rice coming back to Broadway in a big way - JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR and EVITA. Plus, a look at the new Simon Phillips-directed production of LOVE NEVER DIES coming to Fathom-equipped movie theaters nationwide on February 28 and March 7, with DVD & Blu-ray after that, as well as the PHANTOM 25 DVD & Blu-ray being released in the US on February 7. It's a busy time of year for phans, clearly! Fetch your favorite mask and check out these four Andrew Lloyd Webber delicacies before they arrive!

Beginning on January 13th, 2012, Hart House Theatre will present this iconic musical. In the midst of the rise of Nazi Germany, the cabaret is an oasis where people go to escape reality and share in some scrap of happiness.

The Shakespeare Theatre Company continues celebrating its 25th Anniversary Season with the second installment of the Bard's Broadway series with the Tony Award winning musical Two Gentlemen of Verona (a rock opera) performing January 27-29, 2012 at Sidney Harman Hall (610 F Street NW). Galt MacDermot, John Guare and Mel Shapiro come together to create the music, lyrics and book that add a spicy, funky twist to Shakespeare's work of the same name.

Primary Stages (Casey Childs, Founder & Executive Producer; Andrew Leynse, Artistic Director; Elliot Fox, Managing Director) continues its 27th season with the world premiere of the new play, Rx, written by Kate Fodor.

NCTC will present the San Francisco Premiere of The Story of My Life by Brian Hill and Neil Bartram.

Crow's Theatre, in association with Porte Parole (Montreal), will present the Toronto premiere of SEEDS written by Annabel Soutar, directed by Crow's Theatre Artistic Director Chris Abraham and starring Eric Peterson, from February 18 - March 10 at the Young Centre for the Performing Arts.

The Drama Desk and Obie Award-winning Keen Company (Carl Forsman, Artistic Director/Damon Chua, Executive Director) today announced that John Cunningham would join Kathleen Chalfant and Kate Turnbull for Tina Howe's Painting Churches, the 1983 Pulitzer Prize finalist. Keen Artistic Director Carl Forsman directs. Mr. Cunningham replaces the previously announced Richard Easton, who had to withdraw due to a scheduling conflict. Performances will begin February 14, with Opening Night set for March 6.

It's official, Wililam Shatner's SHATNER'S WORLD: WE JUST LIVE IN IT will play from February 14 - March 4 at the Music Box Theater on Broadway, before embarking on a national tour. A statement from the producers said: 'The two-hour show will take audiences on a voyage through Shatner's life and career, from Shakespearean stage actor to internationally known icon and raconteur.'