Tom Nelis News

To conclude its 45th season, Berkeley Repertory Theatre welcomes back a pair of acclaimed collaborators: Sarah Ruhl and Les Waters, the creators of Eurydice, Three Sisters, and In the Next Room (or the vibrator play), return to Berkeley Rep with another tale of love and longing in Dear Elizabeth.

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Greg Reiner, announced today that PS Classics, home to a dozen Sondheim cast albums, will record and release the cast recording of its critically-acclaimed new production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's Tony Award-winning musical PASSION, directed by John Doyle.

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Greg Reiner, announced today that their critically-acclaimed new production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's Tony Award-winning musical PASSION, directed by John Doyle (director of the acclaimed Broadway revivals of Sondheim's Sweeney Todd and Company), will extend once again by popular demand for four additional performances through Friday, April 19 at CSC (136 East 13th Street). PASSION stars Melissa Errico (Clara), Judy Kuhn (Fosca) and Ryan Silverman (Giorgio). The production also features Stephen Bogardus (Colonel Ricci), Jeffry Denman (Lieutenant Barri), Jason Michael Evans (Private Augenti), Ken Krugman (Lieutenant Torasso), Orville Mendoza (Sergeant Lombardi), Tom Nelis (Doctor Tambourri), Will Reynolds (Major Rizzoli/Ludovic), John Antony (understudy) and Amy Justman (understudy). CSC also announced that twenty $10 tickets for each of the final four performances - Tuesday, April 16 at 7pm, Wednesday, April 17 at 7pm, Thursday, April 18 at 8pm and Friday, April 19 at 8pm - generously underwritten by TheaterMania.com and Aaron Lieber/Bruce Horten. These special $10 tickets will go on sale to the public Tuesday, Apri1 2 at 12pm, available in person at the CSC Box Office only.

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Greg Reiner, announced today that their critically-acclaimed new production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's Tony Award-winning musical Passion, directed by John Doyle (director of the acclaimed Broadway revivals of Sondheim's Sweeney Todd and Company), will extend by popular demand through Sunday, April 14 at CSC (136 East 13th Street). Passion stars Melissa Errico (Clara), Judy Kuhn (Fosca) and Ryan Silverman (Giorgio). The production also features Stephen Bogardus (Colonel Ricci), Jeffry Denman (Lieutenant Barri), Jason Michael Evans (Private Augenti), Ken Krugman (Lieutenant Torasso), Orville Mendoza (Sergeant Lombardi), Tom Nelis (Doctor Tambourri), Will Reynolds (Major Rizzoli/Ludovic), John Antony (understudy) and Amy Justman (understudy). BroadwayWorld brings you highlights from the show below!

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Greg Reiner, announced today that their critically-acclaimed new production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's Tony Award-winning musical PASSION, directed by John Doyle (director of the acclaimed Broadway revivals of Sondheim's Sweeney Todd and Company), will extend by popular demand through Sunday, April 14 at CSC (136 East 13th Street). PASSION stars Melissa Errico (Clara), Judy Kuhn (Fosca) and Ryan Silverman (Giorgio). The production also features Stephen Bogardus (Colonel Ricci), Jeffry Denman (Lieutenant Barri), Jason Michael Evans (Private Augenti), Ken Krugman (Lieutenant Torasso), Orville Mendoza (Sergeant Lombardi), Tom Nelis (Doctor Tambourri), Will Reynolds (Major Rizzoli/Ludovic), John Antony (understudy) and Amy Justman (understudy).

Ryan Silverman as Giorgio, joins acclaimed, award-winning actresses Judy Kuhn (as Fosca) and Melissa Errico (as Clara), in Classic Stage Company's new production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's Tony Award-winning musical PASSION, directed by John Doyle (director of the acclaimed Broadway revivals of Sondheim's Sweeney Todd and Company). Passion opened at CSC (136 East 13th Street) on Thursday, February 28. BroadwayWorld was there for the opening night celebrations and brings you photos below!

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Greg Reiner, today announced complete casting for the company's upcoming new production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's Tony Award-winning musical PASSION, to be directed by John Doyle (director of the acclaimed Broadway revivals of Sondheim's Sweeney Todd and Company). Joining previously announced Melissa Errico (Clara), Judy Kuhn (Fosca) and Ryan Silverman (Giorgio) in the production are Stephen Bogardus (Colonel Ricci), Jeffry Denman (Lieutenant Barri), Jason Michael Evans (Private Augenti), Amy Justman (understudy), Ken Krugman (Lieutenant Torasso), Orville Mendoza (Sergeant Lombardi), Tom Nelis (Doctor Tambourri) and Will Reynolds (Major Rizzoli/Ludovic). PASSION is slated to begin performances on February 8, 2013 at CSC (136 East 13th Street), with an official press opening scheduled for Thursday, February 28, playing a limited engagement through Sunday, April 7. Tickets will go on sale to the public beginning at Noon on Thursday, January 3.

Prospect Theater Company will present a staged reading of Rob Urbinati's original play Death By Design, a witty and wonderfully mysterious whodunit inspired by Noel Coward and Agatha Christie, today, December 8, 2012 at 2:15pm.

Prospect Theater Company will present a staged reading of Rob Urbinati's original play Death By Design, a witty and wonderfully mysterious whodunit inspired by Noel Coward and Agatha Christie, on Saturday, December 8, 2012 at 2:15pm.

If you haven't had enough of the real life political drama going on around you, take a nostalgic trip back to the 2008 election in the American premiere of Christopher Shinn's NOW OR LATER by the Huntington Theatre Company at the Calderwood Pavilion.

In the videos below, director Michael Wilson, playwright Christopher Shinn, Huntington's artistic director and cast members Toms Nellis and Grant MacDermott discuss the powerful personal relationships family drama that exist at the heart of the edgy political thriller NOW OR LATER, which plays through November 10 at the South End/Calderwood Pavilion at the BCA.

To coincide with the ongoing presidential campaign, the Huntington Theatre Company will stage the American premiere of Now or Later, Christopher Shinn's timely political drama about our freedoms. Drama Desk and Outer Critic's Circle Award winner Michael Wilson, who recently helmed the acclaimed Broadway production of Gore Vidal's presidential drama The Best Man, directs the new production. The production opens tomorrow, Wednesday, October 17 and runs through November 10. Get a first look at the cast onstage below!

To coincide with the ongoing presidential campaign, the Huntington Theatre Company will stage the American premiere of Now or Later, Christopher Shinn's timely political drama about our freedoms. Drama Desk and Outer Critic's Circle Award winner Michael Wilson, who recently helmed the acclaimed Broadway production of Gore Vidal's presidential drama The Best Man, directs the new production.

To coincide with the ongoing presidential campaign, the Huntington Theatre Company will stage the American premiere of Now or Later, Christopher Shinn's timely political drama about our freedoms. Drama Desk and Outer Critic's Circle Award winner Michael Wilson, who recently helmed the acclaimed Broadway production of Gore Vidal's presidential drama The Best Man, directs the new production.

It's quite a shame when a well-written, absorbing play has three strikes against it from the onset. Such is the case with The Exorcist by John Pielmeier. The best-selling novel by William Peter Blatty and the 1973 boxoffice blockbuster film of the same name were so powerfully gripping and unforgettable that, with the play coming along 40 years later, for those of us that lived through the nightmare to end all nightmares, we've been there, seen that. For those of a newer, unfamiliar generation, it won't have enough special effects. Wisely, for my generation, the spinning head and green vomit in the original film are not recreated onstage. But, as a result, many may tune out or turn off preferring a midnight screening of the film on Netflix. As I already said, a shame, as Pielmeieir's script is psychologically thrilling on its own, so apt for the mature, questioning adult mind, and the production is extremely well directed by John Doyle and superbly acted by a first-rate ensemble headed by Brooke Shields in her best and most remarkable performance to date. But is all of this enough? Probably not.

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The Geffen Playhouse's world premiere stage adaptation of The Exorcist features Brooke Shields and Richard Chamberlain in the iconic roles of Chris MacNeil and Father Merrin, respectively, as well as Broadway actor David Wilson Barnes as the troubled young priest Father Damien Karras, Tony Award nominee Harry Groener takes on the role of Chris' charismatic director Burke Dennings and UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television graduate Emily Yetter plays the young Regan MacNeil.

The Exorcist opened last night, July 11, in the Gil Cates Theater at the Geffen Playhouse and runs through August, 12, 2012, starring Brooke Shields, Richard Chamberlain, David Wilson Barnes, Emily Yetter, and more. Check out the opening night party in the photos below!

The Geffen Playhouse's world premiere stage adaptation of The Exorcist features Brooke Shields and Richard Chamberlain in the iconic roles of Chris MacNeil and Father Merrin, respectively, as well as Broadway actor David Wilson Barnes as the troubled young priest Father Damien Karras, Tony Award nominee Harry Groener takes on the role of Chris' charismatic director Burke Dennings and UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television graduate Emily Yetter plays the young Regan MacNeil. The world premiere cast also includes Stephen Bogardus, Manoel Felciano, Tom Nelis and Roslyn Ruff. The play is written by John Pielmeier adapted from the novel by William Peter Blatty, and is directed by John Doyle. The Exorcist just began previews and opens in the Gil Cates Theater at the Geffen Playhouse on July 11, 2012 and runs through August, 12, 2012. Get a first look at the production in the photos below!