Tom Ross News

Berkeley's acclaimed Aurora Theatre Company presents the second Aurora Script Club meeting of the season with Tennessee Williams' The Glass Menagerie.

Aurora Theatre Company announced today its plans for a workshop production of Stravinsky's L'Histoire du Soldat (A Soldier's Tale). Through an innovative collaboration between Artistic Director Tom Ross and former San Francisco Ballet dancer Muriel Maffre, Aurora will develop a re-imagined production of L'Histoire du Soldat, based on a new translation of the libretto and new adaptation of the score. The project will feature four musicians (piano, violin, clarinet and percussion), three actors, two dancers/puppeteers, puppets (one life-size and one small), and video elements. Maffre, who performed a concert version of the work with the Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival in Seattle, will serve as choreographer, dancer, and co-director of the workshop. Artistic Director Tom Ross will co-direct with Maffre, and Berkeley Opera's Jonathan Khuner will serve as musical director.

Aurora Theatre Company continues its 19th season with the Bay Area Premiere of acclaimed writer and actor David Cale's new solo play PALOMINO.

Aurora Theatre Company continues its 19th season with the Bay Area Premiere of acclaimed writer and actor David Cale's new solo play PALOMINO. The San Francisco Chronicle declared Cale 'a spellbinder,' noting that as 'fascinating as he is to watch, and exquisite as his verbal imagery can be, it is Cale's gifts as a storyteller that hold an audience rapt.' Written, directed, and starring David Cale, PALOMINO plays October 29 through December 5 at the Aurora Theatre in Berkeley. For tickets ($10-55) and information the public can call (510) 843-4822 or visit www.auroratheatre.org.

Berkeley's acclaimed Aurora Theatre Company jazzes up the holidays with NAUGHTY & NICE: A MEG AND BILLY CHRISTMAS. Bay Area husband and wife cabaret duo Meg Mackay and Billy Philadelphia, whose seasonal sensation A Little Cole in Your Stocking was a hit for Aurora in 2005 and 2006, return with a witty, memorable musical showcase that is sure to spice up the holidays for cabaret fans old and new. NAUGHTY & NICE plays for eight performances only December 17-30 at the Aurora Theatre in Berkeley. Tickets ($23 and $25) may be purchased directly from the Aurora Theatre Company box office by calling (510) 843-4822, or online at auroratheatre.org.

Berkeley's acclaimed Aurora Theatre Company presents the second Aurora Script Club meeting of the season with Tennessee Williams' The Glass Menagerie.

Aurora Theatre Company continues its 19th season with the Bay Area Premiere of acclaimed writer and actor David Cale's new solo play PALOMINO.

Critics and audiences alike all seem to have TROUBLE IN MIND. Aurora Theatre Company announces that it will add an additional six performances of its current hit production of TROUBLE IN MIND, Alice Childress' vibrant, humorous, and heartbreaking look at racism through the lens of the theater. Robin Stanton (Speech & Debate, Betrayed, Permanent Collection) directs this play about race, identity, and opportunity, featuring Bay Area favorite Margo Hall in her Aurora Theatre Company debut, along with Tim Kniffin, Rhonnie Washington, Elizabeth Carter, Michael Ray Wisely, Earll Kingston, Patrick Russell, Jon Gentry, and Melissa Quine. TROUBLE IN MIND plays at the Aurora Theatre in Berkeley now through October 3 (added performances: September 28, 7pm, September 29, 8pm, September 30, 8pm, October 1, 8pm, October 2, 8pm, October 3, 2pm). For tickets ($10-45) and information the public can call (510) 843-4822 or visit www.auroratheatre.org.

Aurora Theatre Company continues its 19th season with the Bay Area Premiere of acclaimed writer and actor David Cale's new solo play PALOMINO. The San Francisco Chronicle declared Cale 'a spellbinder,' noting that as 'fascinating as he is to watch, and exquisite as his verbal imagery can be, it is Cale's gifts as a storyteller that hold an audience rapt.' Written, directed, and starring David Cale, PALOMINO plays October 29 through December 5 at the Aurora Theatre in Berkeley. For tickets ($10-55) and information the public can call (510) 843-4822 or visit www.auroratheatre.org.

Critics and audiences alike all seem to have TROUBLE IN MIND. Aurora Theatre Company announces that it will add an additional six performances of its current hit production of TROUBLE IN MIND, Alice Childress' vibrant, humorous, and heartbreaking look at racism through the lens of the theater. Robin Stanton (Speech & Debate, Betrayed, Permanent Collection) directs this play about race, identity, and opportunity, featuring Bay Area favorite Margo Hall in her Aurora Theatre Company debut, along with Tim Kniffin, Rhonnie Washington, Elizabeth Carter, Michael Ray Wisely, Earll Kingston, Patrick Russell, Jon Gentry, and Melissa Quine. TROUBLE IN MIND plays at the Aurora Theatre in Berkeley now through October 3 (added performances: September 28, 7pm, September 29, 8pm, September 30, 8pm, October 1, 8pm, October 2, 8pm, October 3, 2pm). For tickets ($10-45) and information the public can call (510) 843-4822 or visit www.auroratheatre.org.

Berkeley's Aurora Theatre Company announces the directors for the company's sixth Global Age Project (GAP) festival of new works: Aurora Theatre Company Artistic Director chose Allen McKelvey, M. Graham Smith, Jonathan Spector, and Tracy Ward to sit on this year's GAP Director's Council. Over the next several weeks, the directors, along with Ross, will select finalists from an international pool of play submissions dealing with global age concerns. Four plays will be chosen to be presented as staged readings during the GAP festival, scheduled for February of 2011. The GAP festival will coincide with the company's fully-staged World Premiere of 2010 GAP finalist Allison Moore's new comedy, COLLAPSE, the second main stage production to develop from the GAP.

Berkeley's acclaimed Aurora Theatre Company is proud to announce a call for submissions for its sixth season of the Global Age Project (GAP) festival of new works. The company will choose four new plays to be presented as staged readings with professional directors and actors during the GAP festival in February of 2011; the festival will coincide with the company's fully-staged World Premiere of 2010 GAP finalist Allison Moore's new comedy, COLLAPSE, the second main stage production to develop from the GAP.

Closing Aurora Theatre Company's 18th season is the Bay Area Premiere of Stephen Karam's fiercely funny SPEECH & DEBATE. Robin Stanton (Betrayed, The Busy World is Hushed, and Permanent Collection) directs this distinctive new play Entertainment Weekly called 'One of the top ten plays of the year...Even if you're not fluent in IM, you'll LOL at this subversive comedy.' Featuring Jayne Deely, Jason Frank, Maro Guevara, and Holly Hornlien, SPEECH & DEBATE plays June 11 through July 18 at the Aurora Theatre in Berkeley. For tickets ($34-55) and information the public can call (510) 843-4822 or visit auroratheatre.org. Contains mature themes and subject matters.

Berkeley's acclaimed Aurora Theatre Company presents the final Aurora Script Club meeting of the season with William Shakespeare's Hamlet. Aurora Theatre Company Education Director Michael Mansfield hosts this moderated discussion series.

Berkeley?s acclaimed Aurora Theatre Company announces the appointment of Chida Chaemchaeng as its new Marketing Manager. Chaemchaeng was most recently the Director of Communications and Community Relations at Intersection for the Arts in San Francisco.

Closing Aurora Theatre Company's 18th season is the Bay Area Premiere of Stephen Karam's fiercely funny SPEECH & DEBATE. Robin Stanton (Betrayed, The Busy World is Hushed, and Permanent Collection) directs this distinctive new play Entertainment Weekly called 'One of the top ten plays of the year...Even if you're not fluent in IM, you'll LOL at this subversive comedy.' Featuring Jayne Deely, Jason Frank, Maro Guevara, and Holly Hornlien, SPEECH & DEBATE plays June 11 through July 18 at the Aurora Theatre in Berkeley. For tickets ($34-55) and information the public can call (510) 843-4822 or visit auroratheatre.org. Contains mature themes and subject matters.

Berkeley's acclaimed Aurora Theatre Company presents the final Aurora Script Club meeting of the season with William Shakespeare's Hamlet. Aurora Theatre Company Education Director Michael Mansfield hosts this moderated discussion series.

Berkeley's acclaimed Aurora Theatre Company, now celebrating its 18th season, lit up the night on Monday, May 3 with an evening of heavenly wining and dining at Aurora Borealis, the company's 12th annual benefit, held at the newly-renovated historic Hotel Shattuck Plaza in Berkeley. Over 200 guests attended the sold-out fundraising fête, chaired by Deborah Goodman, which raised upwards of $180,000. Funds raised at the gala event will support Aurora Theatre Company's outstanding live performances, innovative education program, and the Global Age Project new works program.

Berkeley's acclaimed Aurora Theatre Company is proud to announce a call for submissions for its sixth season of the Global Age Project (GAP) festival of new works. The company will choose four new plays to be presented as staged readings with professional directors and actors during the GAP festival in February of 2011; the festival will coincide with the company's fully-staged World Premiere of 2010 GAP finalist Allison Moore's new comedy, COLLAPSE, the second main stage production to develop from the GAP.

Berkeley's acclaimed Aurora Theatre Company presents the third Aurora Script Club meeting of the season with Arthur Miller's All My Sons. Aurora Theatre Company Education Director Michael Mansfield hosts this moderated discussion series. The focus for this evening will be the idea of individualism, examining Aurora Theatre Company's production of Henrik Ibsen's family drama John Gabriel Borkman (1896) and its aristocratic version of the 'Industrial Dream' in light of Miller's family drama about the middle-class and the 'American Dream,' penned 50 years later.