Williamstown Theatre News

ANNIE, the new production of the Tony Award-winning musical, went into rehearsal today in New York City with its full company. The production begins previews October 3, 2012 and opens November 8, 2012 at the Palace Theatre (Broadway at 47th Street). Meet the full cast below!

The Sandra Feinstein-Gamm Theatre (The Gamm) opens Season 28 with the Rhode Island premiere of After the Revolution by rising American playwright Amy Herzog (4,000 Miles, Belleville). Gamm Artistic Director Tony Estrella directs Herzog's engrossing contemporary drama about a loving clan of leftist 'idealists'. At the center is the story of Emma Joseph (Diana Buirski) and her father, Ben (Jim O'Brien), whose close bond, built on shared politics, is shattered by a family revelation.

Bradley Cooper, best known for his appearances in Hollywood hits including 'The Hangover' series and 'Limitless,' may return to Broadway next fall. The actor - who made his Broadway debut in 2006's THREE DAYS OF RAIN - recently starred as John Merrick in THE ELEPHANT MAN at Williamstown Theatre Festival, and tells E! Online that he plans to reprise the role on the Great White Way.

The pre-Broadway workshop of, FOUND, arrives at Berkshire Theatre Group's Colonial Theatre September 21 and September 22.

Broadway makes its way to Atlanta this fall with the Southeastern premiere of Time Stands Still at Horizon Theatre. Playwright Donald Margulies' latest work about finding happiness in a world that seems to have gone crazy received a Tony nomination for Best Play in 2010. Time Stands Still is the fourth and final production of Horizon's 2012 season and runs September 14 - October 14.

Actors SAM MUÑOZ and AARON MUÑOZ are taking on twenty different characters in a new one-hour adaptation of the Bard's classic tragedy. 2 HOUSEHOLDS, 2 ASSHOLES: SHAKEPEARE'S R & J premieres at the SOHO PLAYHOUSE as part of the 2012 NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL FRINGE FESTIVAL (FringeNYC) tonight, August 11th.

Williamstown Theatre Festival Artistic Director Jenny Gersten announced today the opening of the World Premiere of WHADDABLOODCLOT!!! by Olivier Award-winning playwright Katori Hall, beginning performances tonight, August 9, 2012. WHADDABLOODCLOT!!! is the final show to open in Williamstown Theatre Festival's 2012 season.

QWAN (Quality Without a Name) presents NOTES!!! and SWAN!!! at Berkshire Theatre Group's The Colonial Theatre on August 20 at 7:30pm featuring Christian Coulson, Jack Ferver, Jenn Harris, Randy Harrison, Phillip Taratula and Matthew Wilkas.

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 October 3 - 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. Tickets are currently on sale at www.greenhousetheater.com. The press performance is Friday, October 5 at 8 pm.

The world premiere of Brace Yourself, opens at Berkshire Theatre Group's Fitzpatrick Main Stage on August 18 at 8pm. Previews begin August 14 at 8pm and closing is on August 25. Brace Yourself is sponsored by Country Curtains, Blantyre and The Red Lion Inn.

Actors SAM MUÑOZ and AARON MUÑOZ are taking on twenty different characters in a new one-hour adaptation of the Bard's classic tragedy. 2 HOUSEHOLDS, 2 ASSHOLES: SHAKEPEARE'S R & J premieres at the SOHO PLAYHOUSE as part of the 2012 NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL FRINGE FESTIVAL (FringeNYC) on August 11th.

Producers Jeffrey Richards, Jerry Frankel and Howard & Janet Kagan announced today that THE ANARCHIST, a new play written and directed by DAVID MAMET starring PATTI LuPONE and DEBRA WINGER, previously announced to be presented at the Lyceum Theatre, will now be presented on Broadway at the newly refurbished Golden Theatre (252 West 45th Street). All persons who purchased tickets prior to the venue change will be contacted by Telecharge.

Looking for a quick roundup of this week's events in the theatre world? Look no further - here are some of the best articles the week had to offer!

Betty Buckley won a Tony Award for the role of Grizabella in Cats, starred as Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard, was a Tony nominee for Triumph of Love, and starred on TV's Eight is Enough, film's Tender Mercies and Carrie, and in many other memorable roles. On Aug 11 & 12 she makes her debut at The Art House, joined by Seth Rudetsky at piano, as the celebrated Broadway at The Art House series continues. For tickets please visit www.ptownarthouse.com or call 508-487-9222.

Williamstown Theatre Festival presents The Elephant Man, now running on the Nikos Stage through August 5. View new production photos below!

Williamstown Theatre Festival will take a look at arguably the most contentious social issue of the 21st Century when the Festival presents a reading of "8" on Monday. Artistic Director Jenny Gersten announced today the cast and creative team for the one-night-only event, which will be presented on the Main Stage on Monday, August 6 in a staged reading benefitting Broadway Impact and American Foundation for Equal Rights. T he performance will be followed by a talkback.

Williamstown Theatre Festival Artistic Director Jenny Gersten announced today the opening of A Month in the Country, the last Main Stage production of the season which opens August 2 following performances beginning August 1.

The producers of Peter and the Starcatcher, a new play by Tony Award-nominee Rick Elice, announced today that a new block of tickets are now on sale, through January 6, 2013. Directed by Tony Award-winner Roger Rees and Tony Award-nominee Alex Timbers, Peter and the Starcatcher began performances on March 28, 2012 and opened April 15, 2012, and is playing at Broadway's Brooks Atkinson Theatre (256 West 47th Street).