Verona News

The Old Globe today announced the full cast for Guys and Dolls, a musical fable of Broadway.

It's been a steady upward trajectory for jazz guitarist Frank Piombo ever since he issued his debut album, “Smooth Reminiscence,” independently in 2010. The New Jersey-based musician sold enough units to be ReverbNation's No. 1 jazz artist in the Garden State for three straight years while cultivating a growing fan base in the New York Metropolitan area via his live performances.

Theatre for a New Audience presents Simon Godwin's (Associate Director, London's National Theatre) Measure for Measure, William Shakespeare's dark comedy about justice, faith, power, sex and family. Measure for Measure is the first time Godwin is directing Shakespeare with an American company. The production runs this weekend, June 17, through July 16 at Polonsky Shakespeare Center (262 Ashland Place) in the Brooklyn Cultural District.

After closing its widely successful 25th anniversary season, and recently garnering six Helen Hayes Awards (including 'Outstanding Production, Play'), Folger Theatre announces the upcoming 2017/18 season. Cited as 'the go-to local troupe for classical innovation' (The Washington Post), Folger Theatre will present a season of epic tales of power, passion, and politics to spark the imagination.

Tiny Dynamite is thrilled to announce that Kathryn MacMillan will be assuming the role of Producing Artistic Director of Tiny Dynamite, effective July 2017. Current Producing Artistic Director, Emma Gibson, will step down from the position after her work on the production of Perfect Blue that will run from July 14 - 23rd at Christ Church Neighborhood House.

Theatre for a New Audience (TFANA; Jeffrey Horowitz, Founding Artistic Director) is pleased to announce casting for British director Simon Godwin's new staging of Measure for Measure, William Shakespeare's dark comedy about justice, faith, power, sex, and family. The production, which marks Godwin's first time directing Shakespeare for an American company, runs June 17 - July 16 at Polonsky Shakespeare Center (262 Ashland Place) in the Brooklyn Cultural District.

Producers Karl Sydow and Paul Elliott are delighted to announce that the new UK production of Dirty Dancing - The Classic Story On Stage, is mamboing back onto the road after a sensational Christmas season in the West End followed by international dates in Bremen and Cannes.

Under the auspices of GRoW @ The Wallis, The Wallis Youth Theater Company presents its second theater production of the 2016-17 season, playwright Gareth Jandrell's Thebes, which makes its North American premiere on Saturday, June 10 at 8pm and Sunday, June 11 at 6pm at The Wallis in Beverly Hills. Ravaged by climate change and shaken by political turmoil, the citizens of Thebes must unite in order to revolutionize their democracy. From Oedipus to Antigone, the story of Thebes  remains a fascinating exploration of fate, morality and power, two and a half thousand years after the saga was originally written. Thebes is directed by Madeleine Dahm, with lighting design by Bosco Flanagan, recently named Lighting Designer of the Year by Los Angeles' Stage Raw. The cast includes young actors: Trecey Dory, Malakai Jones, Jayde Kief, Samantha Marino, Kelvin Morales, Jordan Rodriguez, Alexander Sheldon and Clementine Turner.

This summer take a trip to a decadent Vienna as INDEPENDENT SHAKESPEARE CO. opens the season with the wild and wonderful MEASURE FOR MEASURE. The plot twists come fast and furious in this production that is equal parts screwball romantic comedy and deliciously dark social satire.  MEASURE FOR MEASURE, directed by Independent Shakespeare Co.'s Artistic Director, Melissa Chalsma, will begin previews at THE GRIFFITH PARK FREE SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL on Saturday, June 24 at 7pm and will open on Saturday, July 1 at 7:00pm and perform through Sunday, July 22 at the Old Zoo in Griffith Park.  All ISC Summer Shakespeare productions are FREE to the public!  MEASURE FOR MEASURE is the first of two productions being presented at this year's GRIFFITH PARK FREE SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL. THE TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA will play July 29 - September 3.

Twenty years ago the fledgling Jackson Shakespeare Festival mounted a production of The Taming Of The Shrew. In the director's chair was internationally-renowned actor/director/playwright John Neville-Andrews. On stage was the first pairing of Janice Waldron and David Blixt, playing opposite each other as Kate and Petruchio. Waldron had just graduated from the Hilberry conservatory program in Detroit, while Ann Arbor native Blixt had performed as Mercutio at the festival the previous year. The results were electric.

On the next episode of STILL STAR-CROSSED titled  'All The World's A Stage', in an attempt to convince the citizens of Verona that Benvolio and Rosaline are madly in love, Prince Escalus suggests a public betrothal ceremony.

William Shakespeare's comedies have become a staple of summertime theatre the world over. City Theatre's production of THE TAMING OF THE SHREW is one of several of the Bard's best playing in Austin in the next few weeks. Unfortunately this lackluster presentation misses the mark on multiple levels.

Shakespeare Festival St. Louis announced today that Romeo and Juliet will be the 2018 season main stage production at Shakespeare Glen in Forest Park. A romantic tragedy, the production is scheduled June 1-24; preview nights are set for May 30-31.

Emerging Los Angeles based rock band The Shelters' video for their track “Gold” premieres on W Magazine, who says “The foursome crafted a visual collage of Californian inspirations that isn't short on the luxury.”

Lisa Palfry (Big Mama), Hayley Squires (Mae) and Brian Gleeson (Gooper) with Richard Hansel (Doctor) and Michael J Shannon (Reverend) join the previously announced Sienna Miller (Maggie), Jack O'Connell (Brick) and Colm Meaney (Big Daddy) for the Young Vic production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.

Grammy-nominated clarinetist David Krakauer has been praised internationally as a key innovator in modern klezmer as well as a major voice in classical music. South African-born pianist, composer and producer Kathleen Tagg has performed on four continents in leading venues such as Carnegie Hall.  These two acclaimed artists will perform at Cherry Valley's Star Theater on Sunday, July 9 at in a concert presented by the Cooperstown Summer Music Festival and Cherry Valley Artworks.  

Commonwealth Shakespeare Company (CSC) announced today the complete cast of its 22nd production of Free Shakespeare on the Common, William Shakespeare's immortal drama Romeo & Juliet, directed by Allegra Libonati. Performances are free of charge, and will take place on the Boston Common, near the Parkman Bandstand.  

Baltimore Shakespeare Factory (BSF) presents its 2017 Shakespeare in the Meadow series with A Midsummer Night's Dream and Love's Labour's Lost, two of Shakespeare's plays that are full of love and mischief.

Florida Grand Opera (FGO) is pleased to welcome the singers who will make up the company's 2017-18 Young Artist Program. Twelve performers in all, chosen from the nearly 550 who applied, will arrive in early October to become an integral part of the seventy-seventh season of Florida Grand Opera, the state's longest continuously running performing arts institution.

The 71st Annual Tony Awards are this Sunday June 11th at 8/9c hosted by Kevin Spacey. It's the biggest award show of the Broadway season and it closes out a long awards season for Broadway and Off-Broadway musicals and plays. We can't help but wonder what chances this year's Best Musical and Best Play nominees have of taking home the ultimate prize...