Underbelly News

BWW:UK reviewer Natalie O'Donoghue lists her best and worst theatre experiences of 2015!

The Drama League presents DirectorFest 2015: The 32nd Annual One-Act Festival, an evening of four short plays staged by the Drama League Directors Project Fall Directing Fellows Estefania Fadul, Annie Tippe, Sarah Elizabeth Wansley, and Brandon Woolf for a limited 5-performance engagement, tonight, December 12 - 15, 2015 at TBG Theatre (312 West 36th Street, between 8th & 9th Avenues).

Australia's largest independent theatre company the Australian Shakespeare Company (ASC) is thrilled to announce the hilarious hit production Shakespeare's Best Bits. 'Pantaloon-meets-Python slapstick, song, dance and parodies LOADS OF FUN.' - The Age From 18 December 2015 until 12 March 2016, Melbourne's Royal Botanic Gardens will transform into a Shakespearian festival of laughs. Watch a sizzle reel of the show here.

Awakened in the middle of the night and called to the scene of a killing at a historic Savannah mansion, Chief Assistant District Attorney Dep Kirkland would be responsible for the decision to arrest antique dealer and Savannah aristocrat James Williams for murder for killing young Danny Hansford in an alleged gun battle with World War II German Lugers. This new book details the epic battles between the state and Williams's defense lawyers during the four trials and eight-plus years that followed. The subtitle of 'Lawyer Games: After Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil' references the book inspired by the crime, which spent more than 200 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list and became a major motion picture directed by Clint Eastwood. This new book, which Kirkus Reviews calls 'A meticulous, intuitive, and riveting nonfiction work,' reveals the truth about the crime, including evidence never presented in a courtroom, told from the perspective of the author, who was at the scene and co-chaired Williams's first trial. The book covers trial testimony, tactics, and evidence from all four trials, including crime scene photographs and numerous illustrations and diagrams new to this analysis. The narrative unfolds along the original timeline, with only occasional glimpses into future events. Readers get a firsthand look at the case, beginning with the discovery of the bloody body of Hansford and Williams' claim of having shot his young lover in self-defense. Although admitting that hindsight brings a perspective not available during trial, the author provides expert analysis of lawyer tactics far beyond what is generally perceived by the public. In the process, he relates the tactics of Williams' lawyers to those in other high-profile criminal cases. The author not only reveals the true story of the murder case, which reached into the highest levels of Georgia politics, but also sheds light on the underbelly of the American criminal legal system, revealing the unpleasant reality of what can happen when vast sums of money and lawyers lusting for the 'W' intersect. Author Dep Kirkland left the legal world behind and pursued his dream of acting and writing, moving to New York City to study acting for several years before he moved to the Los Angeles area. He now acts, writes, directs and produces for the stage and film. The University of Georgia School of Law graduate was a member of the Georgia and District of Columbia bar associations, was admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court and was named a Lifetime Fellow of the Georgia Bar Foundation. Dep served as chairman of the State Bar Prison & Jail Committee, headed various subcommittees of the ABA Criminal Justice Section, and was a graduate of the National District Attorney's Association Career Prosecutor Course. He also designed and directed an anti-piracy task force for the Satellite Broadcasting & Communications Association, a task force composed of more than 60 former FBI agents. For additional information or interviews, please visit www.lawyergamesthebook.com or contact the author by e-mail: author@lawyergamesthebook.com Lawyer Games: After Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil Dep Kirkland Dog Ear Publishing ISBN: 978-145753-945-9 412 pages Paperback $22.95 US ISBN: 978-145754-199-5 412 pages Hardcover (DJ) $39.95 US Available at Ingram, Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble and fine bookstores everywhere. About Dog Ear Publishing, LLC Dog Ear Publishing offers completely customized self-publishing services for independent authors. We provide cost-effective, fast, and highly profitable services to publish and distribute independently published books. Our book publishing and distribution services reach worldwide. Dog Ear authors retain all rights and complete creative control throughout the entire self-publishing process. Dog Ear Publishing reviews services and other book marketing services are available to connect great content with interested readers. Self-publishing services are available globally at www.dogearpublishing.net and from our offices in Indianapolis. Dog Ear Publishing - self-publishing that actually makes sense.

The world premiere of a new North Korean story from award-winning playwright In-Sook Chappell, P'yongyang opens at the Finborough Theatre for a four week limited season on Tuesday, 5 January 2016 (Press Nights: Thursday, 7 January and Friday, 8 January 2016 at 7.30pm).

The Drama League (Executive Director Gabriel Shanks; Artistic Director Roger T. Danforth) has announced full casting for DirectorFest 2015: The 32nd Annual One-Act Festival, an evening of four short plays staged by the Drama League Directors Project Fall Directing Fellows Estefania Fadul,  Annie Tippe, Sarah Elizabeth Wansley, and Brandon Woolf for a limited 5-performance engagement, December 12 - 15, 2015 at TBG Theatre (312 West 36th Street, between 8th & 9th Avenues). 

Celebrated National Theatre and RSC actor, Olivier Award nominee Nicholas Le Prevost, returns to the Arcola to voice the role of Isonzo in an immersive audio experience in a Howard Baker double bill, directed by the RSC's Robyn Winfield-Smith, at the Arcola Theatre, tonight, 25th November to 19th December 2015. Press night is Friday 27 November, 8pm. The title role of Judith will be played by Coronation Street actress Catherine Cusack.

First Floor Theater ?(FFT) are presenting the first show of their fourth season, the world premiere of ANIMALS COMMIT SUICIDE, ?playwright J. Julian Christopher's ?high­octane and darkly comic story of desire, disease, and contemporary queer life. Check out photos from the show below!

First Floor Theater (FFT) has unveiled phtoos from the first show of their fourth season, the world premiere of ANIMALS COMMIT SUICIDE, playwright J. Julian Christopher's high-octane and darkly comic story of desire, disease, and contemporary queer life. FFT Artistic Director Hutch Pimentel directs this powerful world premiere, playing November 15 - December 12 at Collaboraction's Room 300 Theater in The Flat Iron Arts Building.

The new season of 'Unforgettable' premieres with back-to-back episodes today, November 13 at 8PM ET/PT and 9PM ET/PT on A&E for a 13-episode run.

SECRET SPACE ESCAPES premieres on Science Channel tonight, Nov. 10 at 10 PM.

Dane Whitlock sharply directs his talented cast in his PRAIRIE-OKE! delivering a fast-paced, 100-minute, high-camp romp full of not-so-subtle double entendres via the not-so-pure underbelly of 'Little House on the Prairie' denizens.

Celebrated National Theatre and RSC actor, Olivier Award nominee Nicholas Le Prevost, returns to the Arcola to voice the role of Isonzo in an immersive audio experience in a Howard Baker double bill, directed by the RSC's Robyn Winfield-Smith, at the Arcola Theatre, 25th November to 19th December 2015. Press night is Friday 27 November, 8pm. The title role of Judith will be played by Coronation Street actress Catherine Cusack.

?Portrait tour concludes at London's Bush Theatre with RADAR Festival dates The UK tour of Racheal Ofori's remarkable Portrait comes to a close this month with 3 dates at The Bush Theatre's RADAR Festival. The show has been thrilling audiences around the country with its blend of wit and insight into black female racial stereotypes '. I love satirical comedy, and this piece satirises modern existence, along with a few cheeky little dance numbers for the audiences entertainment.' said Racheal. At times the show blends poetry seamlessly into the mix  'Portrait toys with issues that are quite provocative, and so I feel that using poetry helps bring these issues to light. Using poetry as a language for some of the characters is a surprise; as stereotypically one wouldn't imagine them to use such language to communicate their ideas.'

When I heard that The Annex Theatre was putting on a play about a 19th century club of fencing lesbians, I figured I was in for a night of camp and euphemisms. Although that direction would have surely been entertaining, Elizabeth Hershly's world premiere of My Dear Miss Chancellor by Caitlin Gilman was coreographed with elegance, charm, and a rapier wit.

The second series of events aligned with Matthew Warchus' new season at The Old Vic continue with the THE HAIRY APE, which opened 29 October. The events aim to stimulate debate surrounding topics brought to light in Eugene O'Neill's iconic American story of class and identity.

The Old Vic welcomes Bertie Carvel in Richard Jones' new production of THE HAIRY APE, the second production in Matthew Warchus' opening season as Artistic Director. THE HAIRY APE opens tonight 29 October and will see The Old Vic theatre transformed back to its original proscenium arch layout. BroadwayWorld has a look at the cast in action below!

The Museum of Arts and Design is pleased to announce the newest selection of artists and designers in the Artist Studios. Open daily to the public, the Artist Studios host emerging and mid-career artists and designers as they produce work in a live studio environment, offering one of the Museum's most unique educational experiences.

A contract killer gets caught 'In the Crosshairs' (published by iUniverse) after he makes a dangerous mistake, risking the lives of people he loves. To set things right, he hunts down the villain who set him up. RJ Demers' new novel follows the trail of blood he leaves in his wake as he gets even - with extreme prejudice.

The Watermill has announced the full company for its upcoming production of Macbeth, which runs from 2 - 7 November, before undertaking a tour of local schools.