Williamstown Theatre News

Manhattan Theatre Club's New York premiere co-production of THE COUNTRY HOUSE, the new play by Pulitzer Prize winner Donald Margulies, directed by Tony Award winner Daniel Sullivan, begins rehearsals today. The limited engagement will begin previews Tuesday, September 9 and open Thursday, October 2 at MTC's Samuel J. Friedman Theatre (261 West 47th Street). THE COUNTRY HOUSE is produced in association with the Geffen Playhouse.

Melissa Schlachtmeyer, a costume designer for theater, dance and opera, passed away Wednesday August 6th while traveling in Florence, Italy. She was 41. The cause was complications from breast cancer.

Will they or won't they...bring the Berkshires production to NY? Chita Rivera's costar brings us the scoop on the Kander and Ebb show.

Theatre de Paris, one of France's most acclaimed theater companies, will present the world premiere of Carey Perloff's KINSHIP beginning October 21, 2014.

On Monday, October 6 54 Below will host 'Kelli O'Hara and Friends', with a champagne reception at 5:30pm and dinner and a performance at 6:30pm. Kelli O'Hara will be performing, along with Bridges of Madison County costar Steven Pasquale and a number of other surprise guests. It will be hosted by the New York Pops' musical director, Steven Reineke, and proceeds will support the PopsEd programs at Ronald McDonald House New York.

Whether you've been living under a rock for the past week or you're just in the mood for a recap, BroadwayWorld's 'this week in pictures' is here to satisfy your end-of-the-week fix! Take a look below to catch up on the latest happenings from the Great White Way to The West End (and everywhere in between) with coverage of press events, rehearsals, opening nights and more. Highlights this week include The Public Theatre's KING LEAR, Constantine Maroulis' return to ROCK OF AGES, the opening of the Off-Broadway production of PHOENIX, and more!

Williamstown Theatre Festival opened The Visit, starring Broadway legend, Chita Rivera and Tony Award winner, Roger Rees. The production runs through August 17, 2014.

Michelle Marie Trester will present TO DO: as part of the 18th annual New York International Fringe Festival - FringeNYC.

Sharon Tate in Heaven, presented by This American Blonde Actress and Mississippi Mud Productions, returns for a limited special New York City run today, August 8th-11th, followed by two special dates in Lido Beach, New York August 16th and 17th.

Broadway legend Chita Rivera makes her Williamstown Theatre Festival debut opposite Festival favorite and former Artistic Director Roger Rees in the newest incarnation of Kander and Ebb's THE VISIT, the musical based on the 1956 tragicomedy by Swiss playwright Friedrich Durrenmatt, with book by Terrence McNally. Director John Doyle has reimagined it as a one-act with a focus on the love story, and his collaboration with Choreographer Graciela Daniele results in a show that makes movement a vital component to convey elements of the narrative without words.

On Saturday, September 6th, Everyman Theatre welcomes seasoned theatrical professionals for its panel discussion entitled "Waiting in the Wings." The panel is a part of the discussion series, The World of the Play, which began during the 2013/14 season.

The Old Globe today announced the full cast and creative team for the World Premiere of Bright Star, a new American musical featuring music by Edie Brickell and Steve Martin, lyrics by Brickell, and book by Martin, based on an original story by Martin and Brickell. Directed by Walter Bobbie, Bright Star will run September 13 - November 2, 2014 on the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage in the Old Globe Theatre, part of the Globe's Conrad Prebys Theatre Center. Preview performances run September 13 - September 27. Opening night is Sunday, September 28 at 7:00 p.m. Single tickets go on sale on Friday, August 8 at noon.

Lincoln Center Theater has announced that Ernest Abuba, Joel de la Fuente, Tsering Dorjee, Celia Keenan-Bolger, Takemi Kitamura, James Saito, Jon Norman Schneider, and Nami Yamamoto will comprise the cast of its upcoming production of Sarah Ruhl's new play THE OLDEST BOY. The play, to be directed by Rebecca Taichman, will begin previews Thursday, October 9 and open on Monday, November 3 in the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater (150 West 65 Street).

Why do some actors make it and others don't? Ken Womble sets out to find the answer to this question, one that has fascinated and tormented him for years, in his new book, INSIDE ACT: How Ten Actors Made it and How You Can Too (Hansen Publishing Group, 373 pages, $24.99). To celebrate the release, BroadwayWorld will be featuring chapter previews from the new book. Today, hear from Tony Yazbeck!

Williamstown Theatre Festival presents The Old Man and the Old Moon, running on the Nikos Stage from tonight, August 6, through August 17.

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Today's big news: OLD MAN AND THE OLD MOON opens tonight in Williamstown, Cate Blanchett stars in Sydney Theatre's THE MAIDS at Lincoln Center and THE OPPONENT opens off-Broadway, direct from Chicago!

Sharon Tate in Heaven has a new home in New York City for the August 8-11 run. The White Box Studio C at The Alchemical Theatre Laboratory. Sharon Tate in Heaven, presented by This American Blonde Actress and Mississippi Mud Productions, returns for a limited special New York City run this August 8th-11th, followed by two special dates in Lido Beach, New York August 16th and 17th at Theresa Academy for Performing Arts.

54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, will present Andrew Kober's KOBERET on Monday, August 18th at 9:30pm. The performance will feature guest appearances by Andrew's Les Miserables cast mates Nikki M. James (The Book of Mormon), Keala Settle (Hands on a Hardbody), Caissie Levy (Hair), and Samantha Hill (The Phantom of the Opera), as well as a never-before-heard duet between Andrew and Elena Shaddow (The Bridges of Madison County).

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Today's big news: KING LEAR opens at Shakespeare in the Park, and SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE begins in D.C., plus Christopher Fitzgerald returns to CHICAGO in a new role and more!