TheatreWorks News

Today we are talking to a tremendously talented triple-threat star all about her many recent and upcoming endeavors, including the forthcoming feature films ADDICTED, 1982 and THE LAST LETTER, as well as the pilot for a new TV series, GUILTY, and, of course, her debut solo album project - the magnetic and beautiful Sharon Leal. In addition to discussing many aspects of her films to date and her starry assortment of co-stars and collaborators on them - Jennifer Hudson, Bill Condon, Bernie Mac, Samuel L. Jackson, Pam Grier, Chris Brown, McG and Cuba Gooding, Jr. included - Leal and I also discuss her theatrically-attuned work thus far in her career, having appeared on Broadway in RENT, as well as in starring in BRIGHT LIGHTS, BIG CITY, regional work and in a prominent featured role as part of the big screen film adaptation of DREAMGIRLS. Plus, Leal recounts her fruitful artistic and romantic relationship with recent fellow InDepth InterView participant, choreographer/director Paul Becker, and also outlines her plans for the future, near and far, as she anticipates continuing work on her solo album project and promoting her many current projects while taking a temporary holiday break - all of that and much, much more awaits!

San Jose Rep welcomes a cast of undeniable talent to the stage for the Pulitzer Prize-winning rock musical Next to Normal, directed by David Ira Goldstein and co-produced with the Arizona Theatre Company.

American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) has scheduled the following American Sign Language (ASL) and Audio Described performances for the upcoming productions at the Loeb Drama Center for Hansel and Gretel and Pippin.

Aurora Theatre Company continues its 21st season with the World Premiere of OUR PRACTICAL HEAVEN from acclaimed playwright Anthony Clarvoe (Pick Up Ax, Show and Tell, Ambition Facing West). This family drama, which originated as one of Aurora Theatre Company's Global Age Project (GAP) finalists in 2011, is the third main stage production to develop from the GAP. OUR PRACTICAL HEAVEN plays January 25 through March 3 at the Aurora Theatre in Berkeley.

Ghostlight Records has announced the debut digital release of the Original Cast Recording of the acclaimed musical No Way To Treat A Lady today, December 18.

TheatreWorks has just announced that Priscilla Lopez will lead the Giovanna Sardelli-helmed SOMEWHERE, playing Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, January 16 through February 10. She'll be joined on stage by Michael Rosen, Leo Ash Evens, Eddie Gutierrez and Michelle Cabinian.

The award-winning East Lynne Theater Company and The Henry Sawyer Inn's Murder Mystery Weekends and Playwriting-Get-Away return this winter.

Berkeley's acclaimed Aurora Theatre Company, along with GAP Producer M. Graham Smith and GAP Associate Producer Deborah Taylor, announces the four plays chosen as finalists by a committee of local directors for the eighth annual Global Age Project (GAP), the company's new works initiative that promotes the creation of forward-looking theater. The selected GAP plays will be presented as staged readings in a four-week festival at the Aurora Theatre, Mondays, February 4-25 at 7:30PM.

Lee Summers, a veteran performer having made his Broadway debut in the original production of Dreamgirls, continues as a voice in the American Musical Theater. His works have been presented at numerous New York and regional theatres such as The Milwaukee Repertory, The Arkansas Repertory Theatre, The Long Wharf Theatre, The Phoenix Theatre, Karamu Theatre, The Phoenix Theatre, The Meadow Brook Theatre, The Madison Theatre, Theaterworks Palo Alto, The Triad Theatre, New World Stages, Urban Arts Theatre, AMAS Musical Theatre, Crossroads Theatre, RACCA's Seaport Salon, The Kirk Theatre, The Gramercy Theatre, Radio City Music Hall's workshop spaces and many others.

The Douglas Morrisson Theatre (DMT) is excited to introduce GRUESOME PLAYGROUND INJURIES, the first production in the 2013-2014 BARE BONES staged reading series. The eccentrically amusing and affecting play by Rajiv Joseph was inspired by a barroom conversation the playwright had with a friend who shared wild stories about all the injuries he had as a child.

Ghostlight Records has announced the debut digital release of the Original Cast Recording of the acclaimed musical No Way To Treat A Lady on Tuesday, December 18.

In Seattle, Seattle Equity Actors, Mainstreet Musicals and the Balagan Theatre are presenting a concert performance of A COUNTRY CHRISTMAS CAROL tonight, December 10th, at 7:30 PM BALAGAN THEATRE 1524, Harvard Avenue, Seattle, Washington.

New Repertory Theatre announces Truman Capote's heart-warming stories, HOLIDAY MEMORIES, today, December 9 through 23, 2012, performing in the Charles Mosesian Theater, Arsenal Center for the Arts, 321 Arsenal Street, Watertown, MA.

Theatreworks USA's musical production of "Skippyjon Jones," which tells the tale of a little cat with big dreams, will be performed at McLean's Alden Theatre at 2 p.m. today, Dec. 8. Tickets are $15/$10 for McLean Community Center district residents. The theatre is located at 1234 Ingleside Avenue.

Two River Theater, under the leadership of Artistic Director John Dias and Managing Director Michael Hurst, announces the full cast and community events for A Wind in the Willows Christmas, a new musical inspired by Kenneth Grahame's children's classic, written by composer Mike Reid, lyricist Sarah Schlesinger, and bookwriter Mindi Dickstein. The world-premiere production is directed by Amanda Dehnert, with music direction by James Sampliner.

Huntington Theatre Company announces its 2012-2014 cohort of Huntington Playwriting Fellows: Lila Rose Kaplan, Walt McGough, and Lenelle Moise. This artistically diverse group of writers began their two-year residency in September. They follow in the footsteps of renowned past Huntington Fellows Lydia R. Diamond (Stick Fly), Rosanna Yamagiwa Alfaro (Before I Leave You), Kirsten Greenidge (The Luck of the Irish), Melinda Lopez (Sonia Flew), Ronan Noone (The Atheist, Brendan), and Ryan Landry (the upcoming "M") to name a few.

TheatreWorks, the nationally acclaimed theatre of Silicon Valley, presents THE MOUNTAINTOP, winner of the 2010 Olivier Award for Best New Play. Called "emotionally powerful and theatrically stunning" by Variety, this London/Broadway hit re-imagines the events on the night before the assassination of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. After delivering one of his most memorable speeches, an exhausted Dr. King retires to his room at the Lorraine Motel while a storm rages outside. When a mysterious stranger arrives with some surprising news, King is forced to confront his destiny and his legacy to his people.

The first in Drew Overcash's new Exposed series, Pfeil has performed Joe's Pub, the American Theatre of Actors, Sidewalk Cafe, Le Patisserie, and The Bitter End. He was the resident composer with the ESL children's theatre company in Korea where he developed and produced The Nanny, Charlie's Video Game Adventure and Finding Home and his one man show Billy & Blake was recently premiered at the Tongue and Cheek Theatre. Also a proud AEA member, Pfeil has recently been seen in Man of La Mancha, A Christmas Carol (Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey), Little Shop of Horrors (New Repertory Theatre), Paula Vogel's A Civil War Christmas (Huntington Theatre Company), Assassins (Company One), To Kill a Mockingbird (UCCS Theatreworks).

Tomorrow, December 7, TheatreWorks New Milford will debut the hilarious musical tribute written in the spirit of "Forbidden Broadway," THE MUSICAL OF MUSICALS (THE MUSICAL!) with music by Eric Rockwell, lyrics by JoAnne Bogart, and book by Rockwell and Bogart. Curtain goes up at 8:00 p.m. on this five-week run. Get a first look at the show in the photos below!

TheatreWorks presents a family treat for the holidays, the Tony Award-winning musical BIG RIVER. Mark Twain's story The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn comes alive in this enchanting musical adaptation. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the show below.