Tom Stoppard News

'Acting is reacting,' says many a teacher of the craft, and if they're right then Christopher Durang has handed his leading lady, Laura Benanti, a career's worth of reasons to react in his surreal cavalcade, Why Torture Is Wrong And The People Who Love Them. A meta-theatrical farce disguised as a satire of America's war on terrorism (with a brief lesson about taking control of your life and a somewhat romantic conclusion for those who require such things) Why... is top-shelf Durang lunacy and Benanti, making a rare non-musical appearance, proves herself a wonderful everywoman foil.

Roy Arias Theatre presents THE ROBOT FROM RECYCLANDIA, directed by Robert Perillo. A robot from outer space come to Earth and produces a reality TV show.

The 89th edition of The Best Plays Theater Yearbook, released today by Limelight Editions ($49.95, 595 pages), recounts the exciting 2007-2008 theater season, which was enhanced by the prominent presence of artists of color on the 'Great White Way.'

Variety reports that screen star and Drama Desk-winning actor Anthony Hopkins will star in Thor, the Kenneth Branagh helmed film for Marvel Studios. Production begins in January and Paramount Pictures will distribute the film on May 20, 2011.

Rachel Reiner Productions is proud to present the World Premiere of Victor L. Cahn's EMBRACEABLE ME, directed by Eric Parness. EMBRACEABLE ME began performances on Friday, October 23 and will open on Wednesday, October 28, running thru November 14 at Theatre Row's Kirk Theatre (410 West 42nd Street).

The gladness of your heart is the greatest gift of all. The Huntington Theatre Company continues its 28th season - a season of American Stories - with A Civil War Christmas: An American Musical Celebration, a new uplifting holiday event by Pulitzer Prize winner Paula Vogel (How I Learned to Drive, The Mineola Twins, The Baltimore Waltz).

After a successful run this past winter with the Keen Company at the Clurman Theater / Theater Row, Jonathan Hogan and Ron Holgate will reprise their roles in Heroes, by Gerald Sibleyras with a translation by Tom Stoppard and directed by Carl Forsman with the Merrimack Repertory Theatre Company. They will be joined by Ken Tigar, who will be playing the role previously performed by Broadway vet John Cullum in the Theater Row premiere. The production at the Merrick Theatre will run from November 19 through December 13.

The Canadian Stage Company launches the 2009-2010 Season with the Canadian premiere of the Broadway and West End hit Rock 'n' Roll by Tom Stoppard.

Publick Theatre Boston Presents Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? October 1 - 24, 2009 Tina Packer and Nigel Gore Star as the Iconic Martha and George

Following a critically acclaimed inaugural year, theatre and Academy Award-winning film director Sam Mendes will again direct a transatlantic company of actors for the second season of The Bridge Project, a unique three-year series of co-productions by The Old Vic, BAM and Neal Street Productions devoted to producing large-scale, classical theatre for international audiences.

Rachel Reiner Productions is proud to present the World Premiere of Victor L. Cahn's EMBRACEABLE ME, directed by Eric Parness. EMBRACEABLE ME will begin performances on Friday, October 23 and will open on Wednesday, October 28, running thru November 14 at Theatre Row's Kirk Theatre (410 West 42nd Street).

San Francisco's cutting-edge Cutting Ball Theater opens its 10th season with Eugène Ionesco's comic masterpiece THE BALD SOPRANO, in a new translation by Cutting Ball Artistic Director Rob Melrose.

Roy Arias Theatre presents THE ROBOT FROM RECYCLANDIA, directed by Robert Perillo. A robot from outer space come to Earth and produces a reality TV show.

Plays & Players, Center City Philadelphia's longest continually operated theater at 1714 Delancey Place, will present the world premiere of Early in the Mourning, running November 5 - November 22 in the 3rd Floor Skinner Studio.

Roger Michell will direct Patrick Hamilton's classic thriller Rope running from 10 December 2009 - 6 February 2010, with press night on 16 December. Designs are by Mark Thompson with lighting by Rick Fisher and sound by John Leonard. Rope will be produced at the Almeida in association with Sonia Friedman Productions. Booking for Rope, sponsored by Aspen Re, is now open.

ACT brings Tom Stoppard's latest thought provoking play, "Rock n' Roll" to life this October in a mesmerizing production. The show is Stoppard's look at one family during the turbulent 1960's through the 1990's.

UK actress Summer Strallen has been cast as Meg Giry in Andrew Lloyd Webber's LOVE NEVER DIES the sequel to THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. Strallen recently portrayed the role of Maria Von Trapp in Andrew Lloyd Webber's revival of THE SOUND OF MUSIC at the London Palladium.

The Daily Mail's Baz Bamigboye has revealed that Joseph Millson and Liz Robertson have joined the cast of Andrew Lloyd Webber's LOVE NEVER DIES, starring alongside previously confirmed cast members Sierra Boggess, Ramin Karimloo and Summer Strallen.

Queens Theatre in the Park will present AGAINST THE RISING SEA by Kelly Masterson from October 15th-25th. The production will star Patricia Conolly and Tony Award winner Elizabeth Franz and is directed by Joe Cacaci.

T. Schreiber Studio (Terry Schreiber, Artistic Director) opens its 2009 - 2010 season with ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDENSTERN ARE DEAD, Tom Stoppard's Tony Award-winning play directed by Cat Parker.