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The Los Angeles premiere of Tony Award-winning playwright Joe DiPietro's gripping political drama 'Conscience' begins previews Wednesday night at International City Theatre. Check out the photos!

Directed and produced by caryn desai, the Los Angeles premiere of Conscience is taking place at International City Theatre in Long Bach from August 28 through September 13, with low-priced previews on August 26 and 27. Intrigued, I spoke with Sharon Gardner who portrays Sen. Margaret Chase Smith and Jon Root, who plays Sen. McCarthy, about the play, their characters, and how they researched and prepared to take on these two iconic figures.

Theatre has always intersected with politics, and the presence of American presidents in Broadway, off-Broadway, and regional theatre plays and musicals is a major part of this. Did you know that all of our heads of state have been featured in shows, whether as characters or as plot points that are part of the action? Dramatizing current and former leaders of our nation is a way to examine their affect on society at the time and how political events, even those of many years ago, still impact us all. 

Powerstories Theatre presents Conscience, a staged reading exploring Senator Margaret Chase Smith’s 1950 “Declaration of Conscience” and the personal cost of speaking out during the Red and Lavender Scare. The play highlights her stand for democratic values and her protection of aide Bill Lewis amid rising fear-driven policies. Directed by Clareann Despain, the production invites audiences to reflect on how courage inside government can influence generations.

International City Theatre will present the Los Angeles premiere of Tony Award-winning playwright Joe DiPietro’s fast-paced drama about trailblazing Sen. Margaret Chase Smith.

Nonesuch Records is set to release Natalie Merchant’s Cabinet of Wonder, a digital collection of seventeen songs and accompanying videos from the singer-songwriter’s collaboration with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO) and Chicago Children’s Theatre (CCT).

Titanique, inspired by the 1997 film Titanic and powered by the songs of Céline Dion, is now open on Broadway. Check out photos of the show's guests arriving on the red carpet here!

The Curtain is entering the final week of performances of their adaptation of Shakespeare’s Richard III. Following the final performance, there will be a post-show talk-back with NJ State Assemblywoman Katie Brennan and NJ State Senator Raj Mukherji.

The Curtain will continue their post-show talk-backs with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of New Jersey Executive Director Amol Sinha and Jersey City Mayor James Solomon following this Sunday's matinee performance.

The Curtain will present their first post-show talk-back with The Women’s March leadership following this Sunday’s matinee performance of their all-new adaptation of Richard III at Nimbus Arts Center.

The Curtain will host a series of panels and talk-backs with national political action groups and elected leaders following Sunday matinees of their all-new adaptation of William Shakespeare's Richard III.

With so many delights and leaning heavily into both the political moment that is recounts and what America is experiencing in the here and now, HERE LIES LOVE rocks as aggressively as it rallies.

Neil Simon’s LAUGHTER ON THE 23rd FLOOR is a brilliant comedy with a great deal of bite, but without the underlying tone of sexism aimed at entitled women that Simon’s work sometimes displays. Desert Theatreworks (DTW) presents a top-notch production with an A-list cast that more than does justice to the script. I found the production hilarious and urge everyone to attend.

For the past two seasons, 14 or 15 new musicals have opened on Broadway. Even in the challenging first two seasons coming out of the pandemic, Broadway saw 8 or 9 new musicals opening. And in the last four full seasons prior to the pandemic, Broadway saw an average of 11 new musicals per season. What gives?

Rubicon Theatre Company will present the Tony Award-winning comedy thriller THE 39 STEPS, adapted from John Buchan's novel and Alfred Hitchcock's film. Directed by Jenny Sullivan and featuring Joseph Fuqua, the show runs from February 11 to March 1, 2026, at Rubicon Theatre in Ventura.

I love when a school gets creative and develops a concept that truly spotlights the strengths of their students. This was absolutely the case with Joe T. Robinson High School’s theatre program as they presented The Robinson Comedy, directed by Caitlin Peterson. The Senator Stage Team not only studied a wide range of public-domain works but transformed them into a highly entertaining, cleverly cohesive performance that celebrated theatrical history and youthful creativity all at once. 

What did our critic think of CONSCIENCE at Westport Community Theatre?

George Clooney’s Broadway debut, Good Night, and Good Luck, is now available to stream on Prime Video! The production was broadcast live on CNN on June 7.

Returning to the Windy City for a second term after a critically acclaimed run last August, 44 ('The Obama Musical') already feels like an artifact from a different, more optimistic time.

Oil Lamp Theater launches Light The Way, a campaign to fund a new theatre, expanded education at the SPARK Center, and partnerships like The Laughing Academy.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater has revealed the cast and creative team for Rome Sweet Rome, a wild and satirical new “add-rap-tation” of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar from Q Brothers Collective. Learn more!

International City Theatre has revealed a 2026 season of five plays that reflect our capacity to overcome adversity. Learn more and see how to purchase tickets.

The Lone Tree Arts Center will present the Gershwin-inspired musical comedy Nice Work If You Can Get It. Learn more and see how to purchase tickets to performances.

BroadwayWorld is saddened to learn of the passing of Broadway actor Michael James Leslie. Learn more about Michael James Leslie's life and career on BroadwayWorld.

BroadwayWorld is saddened to report the death of Broadway veteran Michael James Leslie.