Verona News

Now in its sixth year, The Asylum has firmly established itself in the public's consciousness as a must-go event on the summer calendar. The award-winning purpose built tent is a unique space full of playful surprises and irreverent fun and this year's season which runs from Thursday 14 July to Sunday 28 August is even bigger with three new productions.

Hamlet Isn't Dead's King John is a one-of-a-kind experience you won't want to miss!

BRIDGE OF SPIES Mark Rylance has won the 2016 Academy Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role. This is his first Academy Award nomination. 

Great Lakes Theater (GLT), Cleveland's Classic Company, commences the second half its 2016-17 season with Agatha Christie's classic mystery thriller, And Then There Were None. The production will be performed in the company's intimate and audience-friendly home at the Hanna Theatre, Playhouse Square, February 26 - March 20, 2016. Charles Fee, GLT's Producing Artistic Director, directs the production. And Then There Were None is presented through special arrangement with SAMUEL FRENCH, INC.

Cleveland Play House's (CPH) monumental 100th Season continues with the regional premiere of LUNA GALE today. CPH welcomes back film and stage legend Austin Pendleton to direct this contemporary drama that begs the question 'To whom do you belong?' Written by Rebecca Gilman, recipient of the 2015 Roe Green Award, LUNA GALE runs today, February 27 through March 20 in the intimate Allen Theatre.

Up The Road Theatre and the Unity Theatre are excited to announce their new 2016 tour; BARDOLPH'S BOX, a small-scale, Shakespeare-inspired production for 8-to-12-year-olds, celebrating 400 years of Shakespeare's work.

Lyric Opera of Chicago continues its 61st season with ROMEO AND JULIET in a new-to-Chicago production created by Tony Award-winning director Bartlett Sher, tonight, February 22, through Saturday, March 19 (nine performances). This is the eighth and final mainstage opera production of the widely acclaimed 2015/16 season. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the company in action below!

I'll be honest, there were several elements that gave me trepidation before seeing Seattle Immersive Theatre's current production of “Romeo + Juliet” the other night. The immersive nature of it (seems to be the resurging trend and not always done well), the idea of tromping around an abandoned storefront, and the fact that while I love Shakespeare's “Romeo + Juliet” I've never actually seen a production I truly liked just to name a few. But all my fears were soon dashed as I entered a superbly crafted realm housing the best production of the play I have ever seen and culminating in a theatrical experience I'll remember for years to come.

Everyday Inferno Theatre Co. is pleased to announce the launch of its Inaugural Developmental Lab for Playwrights and Directors. Over the next four months, four writer/director pairs will collaborate on individual projects in various stages of development. The Lab will culminate in a public presentation of works-in-progress on May 28th, 2016. Everyday Inferno is excited to commit to the development of four new theatrical pieces that fit within the company's aesthetic, and is thrilled to offer these eight innovative, emerging artists resources and support for their work.

Today in 1957, The Taming of the Shrew openend at the Phoenix Theatre, where it ran for 23 performances. A comedy by William Shakespeare, the play is believed to have been written between 1590 and 1591. The main plot depicts the courtship of Petruchio, a gentleman of Verona, and Katherina, the headstrong, obdurate shrew. Initially, Katherina is an unwilling participant in the relationship, but Petruchio tempers her with various psychological torments-the 'taming'-until she becomes a compliant and obedient bride. The subplot features a competition between the suitors of Katherina's more desirable sister, Bianca.

59E59 Theaters will welcome the NYC premiere of DEAD DOG PARK, written by Barry Malawer and directed by Eric Tucker. Produced by Boz and the Bard Productions, Inc., Sola Lupa Productions, LLC and Sharon Perl, in association with Bedlam, DEAD DOG PARK begins performances on Thursday, February 11 for a limited engagement through Sunday, March 6.  Press opening is Wednesday, February 24 at 7:15 PM.  The performance schedule is Tuesday - Thursday at 7:15 PM; Friday at 8:15 PM; Saturday at 2:15 PM & 8:15 PM; and Sunday at 3:15 PM & 7:15 PM. Performances are at 59E59 Theaters (59 East 59th Street, between Park and Madison Avenues). Tickets are $35 ($24.50 for 59E59 Members). To purchase tickets, call Ticket Central at (212) 279-4200 or go to www.59e59.org. 

Maurice Hines Tappin' Thru Life at New World Stages (340 W. 50th Street) will play its final performance this Sunday, February 21st. At the time of closing the show will have played 21 previews and 46 performances.

The Old Globe's world premiere of Anna Ziegler's THE LAST MATCH, directed by Gaye Taylor Upchurch (who directed Bethany at the Globe in 2014), opens tonight, February 18, 2016.

Amas Musical Theatre, New York City's award-winning pioneer in diversity and multi-ethnic casting in the performing arts since 1968, will celebrate its 47th Anniversary at a gala benefit on Monday, March 28th, 2016 at the Baruch Performing Arts Center (East 25th Street between Lexington and 3rd Avenues). Honorary Chair for the event is Tony Award winning actress, singer and dancer Donna McKechnie.

MAURICE HINES TAPPIN' THRU LIFE is a swinging, song and dance musical that celebrates the astonishing showmanship of one of the last great tap dancers of a by-gone era still working today and whose collaborators were a jaw-dropping, who's who of theatre, music, film and television. Co-starring the fierce tap dancing Manzari brothers and the all female vivacious Diva Jazz Orchestra, the show is directed by Jeff Calhoun (Newsies, Deaf West's Big River, Grease). Performances began December 23rd at New World Stages (340 W. 50th Street), and opened January 11th. Legendary Broadway star Chita Rivera recently visited Hines after the show - check out photos below!

Broadway leading ladies LaChanze (Tony Award winner for The Color Purple) and Lindsay Mendez (Wicked, Godspell) lead an all-star lineup for INSPIRATIONAL BROADWAY, a dynamic and soulful evening of music, set for tonight, February 15, 2016 at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill.

Updated this week! Check out upcoming Equity Auditions from Sunday, February 14, 2016 for both productions in your area and around the country including what/when/where and how to audition!

BroadwayWorld collected as many of yesterday's evening Saturday Intermission Pics as we could to bring you Part 2 of our Valentine's Day edition of our #SIP round-up!

Happy Birthday Stockard Channing! In 1971, she made her Broadway debut in Two Gentlemen of Verona - The Musical, working with playwright John Guare. She also appeared on Broadway in 1973 in a supporting role in No Hard Feelings. In 1978, at the age of 33, she took on the role of high school teenager Betty Rizzo in the hit musical Grease. Additional Broadway credits include: They're Playing Our Song, A Day in the Death of Joe Egg, The House of Blue Leaves, Six Degrees of Separation, Woman in Mind, Four Baboons Adoring the Sun, and The Lion in Winter. She is currently starrign on Broadway in Other Desert Cities at the Booth Theatre.

Gulfshore Playhouse (www.GulfshorePlayhouse.org) - Southwest Florida's premier professional theatre - presents Ken Ludwig's Moon Over Buffalo, a madcap comedy from the author of The Fox on the Fairway and The Game's Afoot, beginning today, February 13 through March 13 at The Norris Center in Naples.