Verona News

The New York Music Theater Festival can easily be considered a harbor for the freshest talents in musical theater. Over a period of several weeks, an astonishing number of musical productions are presented on vest pocket stages throughout New York City. As is often the case with harbors, there is a confluence of talent feeding into it. Not only is this talent from all over the nation, but it ranges from the youngest to the most experienced and they all converge on the city for this event.

Acting Studio students take the Taproot Theatre stage this summer presenting free performances to the public. Many of the two dozen day camps this summer culminate in a performance of a popular play or musical, giving students the opportunity to apply what they've learned and gain experience by taking the stage. The public is welcome to attend performances of Two Gentlemen of Verona (July 13 at 3:00pm), Annie, Jr. (July 20 at 3:00pm & July 21 at 10:00am), Hamlet (August 3 at 3:00pm & August 4 at 10:00am) and Bye, Bye Birdie (August 17 at 3:00pm and August 18 at 10:00am), in addition to other hits.

The Antaeus Company, L.A.'s multiple award-winning classical theater company, takes on William Shakespeare's gripping psychological drama, Macbeth. Jessica Kubzansky directs the fully double-cast production, with Bo Foxworth and Rob Nagle sharing the title role and Tessa Auberjonois and Ann Noble partnering as Lady M. Performances take place tonight, July 12 through August 26. Talk-backs will follow the performance every Thursday night beginning July 19: stay after the performance to ask questions and discuss the play with various cast members.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Divas on parade: Menzel, Cook, Hudson, Luker and Mazzie, plus the new year's offerings from Broadway In Chicago and local productions of 'Fame,' 'Little Shop' and more!....

Twenty years ago founder and artistic director Lani Brockman opened a small studio on the Eastside with one theater program for teens.

The Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles (SCLA), under the artistic direction of Ben Donenberg, returns after 16 years to The Japanese Garden on the grounds of the VA West Los Angeles Healthcare Center Campus with a summer production of William Shakespeare's romantic comedy "As You Like It," directed by Royal Shakespeare Company artist Kenn Sabberton - tonight, July 10 to July 29.

Tony winner Mark Rylance, who was set to perform in the Shakespeare-inspired opening ceremony for the 2012 Summer Olympics, has dropped out of the event due to a death in his family. Rylance said in a statement through the Old Globe: 'our beloved daughter and sister Nataasha passed away of unsuspected natural causes early on Sunday morning.'

Tony-award winning Intiman Theatre turns 40 this year and will celebrate by launching a new summer theatre festival with four plays: Romeo and Juliet, Hedda Gabler, Miracle! and Dirty Story. The artists leading the charge - Dan Savage, Valerie Curtis-Newton, Andrew Russell and Allison Narver - are bringing passion projects with a twist to awaken the theatre, and the company of 17 local actors features established heavyweights and new forces, twisting and turning to play more than 40 roles in more than 80 performances. Similarly, the design team is stretching and shifting to build a versatile playground on the mainstage that will support several shows while simultaneously creating a separate universe in Intiman's studio space.

GRIFFITH PARK FREE SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL 2012, the largest summer theater event in the City of Los Angeles, began its performances June 28 and runs Thursdays through Sundays at 7 p.m. through to September 2. All Performances are free. A Midsummer Night's Dream opens tonight, July 5.

Frog and Peach Theatre Co., Inc. will present an all-star benefit reading of 'King Lear' on July 9 at The Player's Club with a cast including Jeffrey DeMunn ('The Walking Dead') as King Lear, Bebe Neuwirth ( 'The Good Wife') as Goneril, Darrell Hammond (Saturday Night Live) as Edgar, Rich Sommer ('Mad Men') as Fool, Wrenn Schmidt ('Boardwalk Empire') as Cordelia, Ted Zurkowski ('Boys on the Side') as Edmund, John Rothman ('Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter') as Kent, Peter Gerety ('Public Enemies') as Gloucester, David Wohl ('Saving Private Ryan') as Albany, Amy Frances Quint ('Radio Deluxembourg') as Regan, Eric Doss ('Love Songs') as France, Ryan Tramont ('The Hurt Locker') as Oswald, Erick Gonzalez ('Two Gentlemen of Verona') as Cornwall, and Jack Sochet ('A Midsummer Night's Dream') as Burgundy. The original score is by Ian McDonald (King Crimson, Foreigner) and performed live by Mr. McDonald.

William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet will be performed under the stars this summer at three unique venues in Bridgeport and Stratford: The Peacock Pavilion at CT's Beardsley Zoo, historic McLevy Green in Bridgeport's flourishing downtown area; and on the grounds of The American Shakespeare Festival Theater in Stratford as part of Festival! Stratford.

Water Works Theatre company's founder and Chairman, Edward Nahhat, announced today that the company has cast its 12th annual Shakespeare In The Park productions. Shakespeare in the Park is Michigan's biggest and best outdoor professional theatre event featuring two weeks of theatrical fun in the middle of the tree-filled 28 acre Starr Jaycee Park.

GRIFFITH PARK FREE SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL 2012, the largest summer theater event in the City of Los Angeles, begins its performances June 28 and runs Thursdays through Sundays at 7 p.m. through to September 2. All Performances are free.

Broadway In Chicago's Concert moves to Millennium Park this summer. The FREE BROADWAY IN CHICAGO CONCERT will take place on Monday, August 6, 2012 at 6:15 p.m. at the Pritzker Pavilion at Millennium Park. Hosted by ABC-7's Janet Davies, star of 190 NORTH, the concert will feature performances by the iconic rock legend CYNDI LAUPER with members of the cast from the pre-Broadway world premiere of her new musical KINKY BOOTS, Joey from WAR HORSE and Cathy Rigby as PETER PAN.

Cincinnati Shakespeare Company is delighted to present the regional premiere of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES adapted by Steve Canny.

Broadway In Chicago's Concert moves to Millennium Park this summer. The FREE BROADWAY IN CHICAGO CONCERT will take place on Monday, August 6, 2012 at 6:15 p.m. at the Pritzker Pavilion at Millennium Park. Hosted by ABC-7's Janet Davies, star of 190 NORTH, the concert will feature performances by the iconic rock legend CYNDI LAUPER with members of the cast from the pre-Broadway world premiere of her new musical KINKY BOOTS, Joey from WAR HORSE and Cathy Rigby as PETER PAN.

Live Theatre and Soho Theatre have announced that following its critically acclaimed sell-out double run at Live Theatre, Newcastle and Soho Theatre, A WALK ON PART: THE FALL OF NEW LABOUR transfers to the Arts Theatre in London's West End, with John Hodgkinson reprising his highly acclaimed role as Chris Mullin, from tonight, 26 June, 7.30pm to 14 July.

Spotlighters Theatre - Young Actors Academy is thrilled to announce it's eighth year, providing an intensive theatre program for Middle and High School students, and an introduction through creative play for Lower School students to the FUN-damentals of theatre and acting. This year the High School Academy will present William Shakespeare's MACBETH. The Middle School Academy will tackle Shakespeare's comedy of mistaken identity - Two Gentlemen of Verona. And the Lower School Academy will be presenting a devised work, created using shared and common themes.

Tony-award winning Intiman Theatre turns 40 this year and will celebrate by launching a new summer theatre festival with four plays: Romeo and Juliet, Hedda Gabler, Miracle! and Dirty Story. The artists leading the charge - Dan Savage, Valerie Curtis-Newton, Andrew Russell and Allison Narver - are bringing passion projects with a twist to awaken the theatre, and the company of 17 local actors features established heavyweights and new forces, twisting and turning to play more than 40 roles in more than 80 performances. Similarly, the design team is stretching and shifting to build a versatile playground on the mainstage that will support several shows while simultaneously creating a separate universe in Intiman's studio space.

A talented cast energizes the critically acclaimed play, Bill W. and Dr. Bob, by Samuel Shem and Janet Surrey, to close the highly successful 2011-2012 season for San Jose Rep. Directed by Richard Seer, the work is a quick-witted and honest docu-drama following two dynamic and dedicated men who, in the midst of their battle with acute and debilitating alcoholism, formed a formidable and historic alliance to help each other and others combat the same addiction.