William Shakespeare News

The Telegraph reports that Tony Award winner Mark Rylance will perform at the opening ceremony for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

The Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre is offering a last chance discount to see its newest show TITUS ANDRONICUS. Patrons who call the box office at 215-496-8001 and give the code 'BLOODY BRILLIANT,' will be able to purchase tickets for tonight's (4/25) performance for $10.

Cincinnati Shakespeare Company is proud to present the popular touring production of A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM on the CSC stage downtown on May 29 & 30 at 7:30pm.

Theater For The New City have announced an encore engagement of The Hive's critically-acclaimed gender-bender production of William Shakespeare's A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S (QUEER) DREAM, directed by Matthew A.J. Gregory. A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S (QUEER) DREAM will play a limited engagement at the Johnson Theatre-Theatre for the New City (155 First Avenue, btw. 9th/10th) from Wednesday, April 25 through Saturday, May 19. Opening Night is Friday, April 27 (8 p.m.).

The Capitol Center for the Arts today announced an exciting lineup of performances for its seventeenth season.

Based on William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, Private Romeo debuts on DVD June 5th and digital May 15th from Wolfe Video.

Finishing Ithaca College Theatre's 2011-2012 main-stage season is William Shakespeare's "Measure for Measure.". Performances will run in the Hoerner Theatre in Dillingham Center on April 24, 26, 27, and 28 at 8 p.m. and 2pm matinee performances on April 28 and 29. There will be a free talk-back presentation following the April 28th matinee performance.

The Tony Award®-winning Hartford Stage, under the leadership of Darko Tresnjak, Artistic Director, and Michael Stotts, Managing Director, presents William Shakespeare's The Tempest, directed by Darko Tresnjak, playing May 18 through June 10, 2012 (press opening: Wednesday, May 16 at 7:30pm).

AQUILA THEATRE (Peter Meineck, Artistic Director) will present the New York Premiere of their production of William Shakespeare's Macbeth, designed and directed by Desiree Sanchez featuring Rachael Barrington (Lady Macduff/Rosse/Servant), Janet Dunson (Witch 3/Ensemble), Peter F. Gardiner (Banquo/Captain/Cathness/Porter/Messenger/Murderer 2) James Hogg (Banquo/Captain/Porter/Messenger/Murderer 2/Doctor), James Lavender (Macduff /Duncan/Murderer 1), Alexandra Milne (Witch/Ensemble), Guy Oliver-Watts (Macbeth), Rebecca Reaney (Lady Macbeth/Boy) and Mary Werntz (Witch/Ensemble), opening Wednesday, April 25th. This limited engagement continues through May 6th only.

City Parks Foundation today announced the 2012 season ofSummerStage presented by AT&T, New York's largest free performing arts festival, bringing over 110 free performances to eighteen parks throughout the five boroughs.

In honor of the Shakespeare Theatre Company's 25th Anniversary Season and William Shakespeare's birthday, STC is offering a special celebratory gift for patrons of $25 during the Bard's birthday week, Monday, April 23, to Sunday, April 29, only.

The Lyceum Theatre Company, Scotland's largest producing theatre, has announced its 2012/2013 Season. Collaborations National Theatre of Scotland, Citizens Theatre, Dundee Rep Theatre and Chichester Festival Theatre as well as in-house productions will present more than seventy actors in seven plays, three of which are world premieres. Highlights of the season include THE GUID SISTERS, trasnlated into Scots from the original French, TAKING OVER THE ASYLUM by Donna Franceschild and a new commission from David Haig which has yet to be titled.

Since 1976, young artists have flocked to Stagedoor Manor to pursue their dreams of performing. And on Monday, April 30, 2012, some of the Manor's best and brightest will pay tribute to their alma mater as it receives the prestigious Theatre Arts Education Award at the 2012 Theatre Museum Awards Gala Celebration. See photos of this year's alumni participants below!

Today, April 23 the Utah Shakespeare Festival is inviting the community to celebrate William Shakespeare's birthday with cake and the final performance of the Shakespeare-in-the-Schools touring production, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM. The festivities begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Randall L. Jones Theatre. Tickets are $5 for general admission and can be purchased online at bard.org or by calling 1-800-PLAYTIX.

City of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel has proclaimed today, April 23, Talk Like Shakespeare Day, an occasion for citizens from Chicago and across the globe to celebrate Shakespeare's 448th birthday by bringing the spoken words of Shakespeare into their daily lives. The holiday, which originated in Chicago in 2009, became a worldwide sensation garnering extensive national and international media coverage and more than one million hits to TalkLikeShakespeare.org.

'The Wizard of Oz' by L. Frank Baum, book by John Kane, music by Harold Arlen, lyrics by E.Y. Harburg, directed by Jonah Hagans, will be presented on TIP's mainstage May 17-20. TIP has also announced several upcoming performances and the program for its 2012-2013 season.

Promethean Theatre Ensemble invites friends, theatre supporters, and Shakespeare lovers to gather on Sunday, April 22, to celebrate the birthday of William Shakespeare. The birthday party will be from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM at The Red Lion Lincoln Square, 4749 N. Rockwell (www.theredlionlincolnsquare.com).

Pizza and birthday cupcakes will be provided on a first come, first serve basis. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own picnic fare and, after the completion of the balcony scene, to stay on for free family entertainment from various local performers. In keeping with Elizabethan tradition, all dogs are welcome.

In honor of William Shakespeare's birthday, Shakespeare in the Square, a student group at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts will perform A Midsummer Night's Dream, rain or shine, in Washington Square Park's Garibaldi Plaza (east of the fountain), Saturday, April 21 at 2:00 and 5:00 p.m. and Sunday, April 22 at 3:00 p.m. Subway: A,B,C,D,E,F,M (W. 4th St.). The performances are free and open to the public. Seating is not provided.

Great Lakes Theater (GLT) is seeking a male, child actor of any culture or background, aged seven to thirteen, to portray the character Mamillius in the company's fall 2012 production of William Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale. Rehearsals begin on September 14th, with performance dates scheduled from September 28th through November 4th. The production's run includes evening and student matinees during the week. Two young actors will be cast to split the role's performance commitments.