Williamstown Theatre News

Lauren Ferebee's stirring drama Somewhere Safer will be the first play presented by On the Square Productions' Write Angle Reading series at University Settlement. The reading will take place tonight, October 15th at 7:30pm in Speyer Hall where On the Square Production is an Artist-In-Residence for their 2012-2013 season.

Slant Theatre Project, in association with Roust Theatre Company present the New York premiere of THE ELEPHANT IN MY CLOSET, written and performed by David Lee Nelson, created with Adam Knight, and dramaturgy by Kristin Vieira. Preview performances of THE ELEPHANT IN MY CLOSET begin today, October 14th prior to an official press opening of Sunday, October 21st at the Kraine Theatre (85 East 4th Street, New York, NY).

Lynne Meadow (Artistic Director), Barry Grove (Executive Producer), and Mandy Greenfield (Artistic Producer) just announced the 2012 recipients of the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Initiative commissions for Manhattan Theatre Club. This year's six commissioned writers are April de Angelis (Jumpy), Nick Jones (The Coward), Heidi Schreck (Creature), Melissa Ross (Thinner Than Water), Sarah Treem (A Feminine Ending), and Bess Wohl (Barcelona).

The National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) announced today the eight musicals selected to be part of the 24th Annual Festival of New Musicals at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street).

The Flea Theater welcomes Tony Award winner Karen Ziemba (Contact, Curtains, Steel Pier) to the cast of the limited Off-Broadway engagement of HERESY by A.R. Gurney, directed by Jim Simpson. Beginning October 19th, Ziemba replaces Kathy Najimy, who leaves to begin filming a TV project. The cast also stars Annette O'Toole (Smallville, Southern Comfort), Ariel Woodiwiss (Williamstown Theatre Festival), Reg E. Cathey (The Wire), Steve Mellor (Nixon's Nixon) and introducing Tommy Crawford and Danny Rivera, members of The Bats, The Flea's resident company of actors in their professional debut. Previews of this World Premiere began September 29 with opening night slated for Thursday, October 11.

Yale Repertory Theatre, in a co-production with American Repertory Theater, presents the world premiere of Marie Antoinette by David Adjmi, directed by Rebecca Taichman. Marie Antoinette will be performed at Yale Repertory Theatre (1120 Chapel Street) October 26 through November 17. Opening Night is Thursday, November 1. The cast includes Fred Arsenault, Hannah Cabell, David Greenspan, Marin Ireland, Vin Knight, Jo Lampert, Polly Lee, Steven Rattazzi, Jake Silbermann, Teale Sperling, Brian Wiles, and Ashton Woerz.

Lauren Ferebee's stirring drama Somewhere Safer will be the first play presented by On the Square Productions' Write Angle Reading series at University Settlement. The reading will take place on October 15th at 7:30pm in Speyer Hall where On the Square Production is an Artist-In-Residence for their 2012-2013 season.

LiveWire Chicago Theatre kicks off its 2012-13 season with the Chicago premiere of THE MISTAKES MADELINE MADE, a savagely funny story of love and dirty people by Elizabeth Meriwether, creator and writer of the hit FOX sitcom New Girl and Heddatron, and directed by LiveWire Collective member Krista D'Agostino. This quirky dark comedy plays now through November 3, 2012 at the Greenhouse Theater Center Upstairs Studio, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave. in Chicago. The production features LiveWire Artistic Director Joel Ewing and LiveWire Associate Artistic Director Chris Zdenek with Kristin Collins, Fred Geyer and Hilary Williams. For a first look at the production, check out the photos below!

Thomas Sadoski, a Tony nominee for his work in reasons to be pretty and who currently stars in HBO's The Newsroom, is set to appear in the world premiere production of Michael Golamco's Build in the Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater at the Geffen Playhouse.

The 16th Annual Hollywood Film Awards, presented by the Los Angeles Times, is pleased to announce that actor Bradley Cooper will be given the 'Hollywood Actor Award,' at this year's awards gala.

The Sundance Institute Theatre Program today announced that it will return to the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA) for its Fall Lab, which provides creative support and direction for innovative musical theatre and ensemble-generated projects. Also announced today were the three projects that have been selected to participate.

Patricia Clarkson and Zachary Booth have both reportedly signed on for the dark indie comedic film, LAST WEEKEND. The film is set to begin shooting this week. It will serve as Tom Dolby and Tom Williams' feature directorial debut.

The Perry Brothers, the ever-popular family duo from Ojai, return to their Ventura home at Rubicon Theatre Company for a one-night-only benefit concert tonight, October 6 at 7:30 p.m. John and Tony Perry will be backed onstage by a band of talented artists on guitar, bass, fiddle, flute, dobro, ukulele and vocals, performing a mix of folk, country, jazz and blues favorites such as "Ventura Highway" by America, "What in the World" by David Bowie, "Lyin' Eyes" by the Eagles and "These are the Days" by Van Morrison.

John Douglas Thompson will make his Long Wharf Theatre debut in Satchmo at the Waldorf, by Terry Teachout, directed by Artistic Director Gordon Edelstein. The one-man show runs now through Sunday, November 4 on Stage II. The press performance takes place Wednesday, October 10 at 7:30 p.m. Get a first look at Thompson onstage in the photos below!

Hartford Stage, under the leadership of Artistic Director Darko Tresnjak and Managing Director Michael Stotts, announced today the lineup for Brand:NEW Fall Festival of New Works, scheduled October 25 - 28. The Festival will include readings of five new plays by Octavio Solis, Bess Wohl, Dan O'Brien, Matthew Lopez andJanine Nabers, as well as a playwrights' panel on October 28 at 4:30 p.m.