A.R.T.

Robert Orchard brings a long, distinguished background to the leadership of ArtsEmerson. This new multiarts and multicultural iniative has opened this Fall in Boston's Theatre District. Focused at the The Cutler Majestic Theatre and the newly renovated Paramount Theatre, this program will literally bring cutting-edge and traditional theatre, dance and performance from initially Europe and eventually from all over the world. Mr. Orchard speaks about his new post in the following interview.

The American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.), under the Artistic Direction of Diane Paulus, is pleased to announce further details of its 2010/11 Season, beginning on August 31 with Cabaret, followed by Alice vs. Wonderland, The Blue Flower, R. Buckminster Fuller â€" The History (and mystery) of the Universe, Ajax, Prometheus Bound, and Death and the Powers: The Robots’ Opera.

As summer winds down it is exciting to anticipate the launch of the fall arts season. Our Boston correspondent and tipster is marking her calendar. Here are some suggestions and where to find them.

The American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) opens its 2010/11 Season with Kander and Ebb’s CABARET, directed by Steven Bogart, with musical direction by Lance Horne and movement by Steven Mitchell Wright, starring Amanda Palmer as the Emcee. Set and costume design is by David Israel Reynoso,lighting design by Nick Vargelis, and sound design by Clive Goodwin.

Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation announced today that the grant application deadline for the Artists Resource Trust (A.R.T) is August 1. A.R.T. provides grants to mid-career New England artists in financial need. Non-profit organizations wishing to show, commission or purchase work by mature artists living in New England may also apply.

Everything is coming up roses for the North Shore Music Theatre, because they are back in business. They reopen with Vicki Lewis in the smash musical GYPSY. Vicki is most remembered for her five seasons playing Beth on the NBC sitcom “NewsRadio.” She also appeared on “Seinfeld” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” GYPSY is a Broadway classic and a multi award-winning musical with music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Arthur Laurents.

Johnny Baseball is the ART's world premiere musical about the Red Sox. It traces the origin of the Curse of the Bambino to a collision of three souls: Johnny O’Brien, a right-hander on the 1919 BoSox, his idol, Babe Ruth and Daisy Wyatt, a beautiful African-American blues singer. These three are the reason for the Curse and the secret to its end in 2004. Johnny Baseball hits a commentary on American social history into a clever and spirited musical homer. This is a spectacular hit, a four bagger that should not only reach Landsdowne Street but bounce on to Broadway as well.

It is the 1930s and the Great Depression is raging, the Gordon family of five is struggling to keep afloat. Bad things happen. Characters representing aspects of the social/political society in turmoil are unable to alter events for the better. An urban setting is the place and the time is vague. Is it the 30s or sort of our present? Does it matter? Though the acting is very good, Clifford Odets' story is a bit dated and the play is not really in focus. Nothing much good happens. "Lost" may be the best description for this drama.

For the past five weeks the 20 -year-old artist with disabilities, A.J. Schlesinger, has been a guest in the Eclipse Mill studio of Rick Harlow. With his Tracker and former teacher, Jane Ellen DeSomma, they have created ten new paintings. They will be among the 30 works included in a one man show at the Eclipse Mill Gallery through March 20.

Imagine the Great Gatsby deconstructed as Gatz by Elevator Repair Service. This itchy glitchy production will be directed by John Collins opening at American Repertory Theater in Cambridge runs through February 7.

The American Repertory Theatre will present Best of Both Worlds. written by Randy Weiner, music by Diedre Murray, and directed by A.R.T. Artistic Director Diane Paulus. Bursting with the sounds of R&B and gospel, Best of Both Worlds is a soulful re-envisioning of The Winter's Tale, Shakespeare's timeless story of heartbreak and redemption. Clap your hands, jump out of your seat, and feel the power of love with this holiday treat for all ages. It runs from November 21 through January 3.

A.R.T.'s The Donkey Show is not your mother's A Midsummer Night's Dream. Instead, it is sex, drugs and rock and roll to a 70's disco beat. This show is Artistic Director Diane Paulus' first American Rep production. Fairies and actors in disguise, swirling mirror lights, relationship problems, skating diva Puck and a donkey all add to the entertainment.The crowd is going wild. Let's dance, let's dance. It may be addictive.

Easing into the Shoulder Season in the Berkshires, for a limited run, Shakespeare & Company is presenting an encore of two of the three, one woman plays in its Diva Series. Tina packer returns as "Shirley Valentine" and Annette Miller performs "Golda's Balcony." Limited tickets are selling fast.

There is a long and rich association between the playwright, David Mamet, and the American Repertory Theatre in Cambridge, Mass. The A.R.T. season winds down from May 9 through June 7 with a production of "Romance." Arguably they have been saving the best for last.

As newspapers make drastic cuts in response to mounting debt and decline of ad revenue there is a paradigm shift in the way that we gather and rely on the accuracy of information. In the blogosphere and Facebook/ Twitter world everyone is a media pundit. At least for the proverbial 15 minutes which has eroded to just seconds. In the internet age who "owns" the rights to text and images?

For an opportunity to see the new generation of theatre at its best check out "Speech & Deliver" which is having its premiere at Lyric Stage in Boston. The very young Stephen Karam has written an awesomely hilarious play.

The Christine Evans play "Trojan Barbie" now in its world premiere at the Amerian Repertory Theatre in Cambridge is an update of the Euripides tragedy "Trojan Women." The ruthless conquering Greek army resembles American troops in Iraq. Somehow a British tourist on holiday, Lotte (Karen MacDonald), is caught up in the mess. It takes a village.

Perhaps no playwright has had more ink spilled over his work than Samuel Beckett, master of the absurd. 25 years after A.R.T.'s first production of Endgame found them in court, the new A.R.T. version of Endgame doesn't prove Beckett was right all along. Perhaps A.R.T. was.

Not your expected Chekhov's usual fare, this version of The Seagull is quite contemporary and dreamlike. The American Repertory Theatre's edginess works in unexpected ways with a modern classic. This Seagull brilliantly flies its own unpredictable course.

Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet will offer a world premiere of Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui's "Obro Nova" at Jacob's Pillow from July 8 through 12. It will be a highlight of the dance season in the Berkshires.

From the lights on the Boston Common, to the lights on the marquees, Boston knows how to celebrate the Holidays. Their traditions have long histories and deep roots, from the Holiday Pops and Handel & Haydn Messiah to the Christmas Revels and The Nutcracker. To help you plan your holiday entertainment, here is a preview and guide for Boston Holiday Events 2008.

A World Premiere by a Tony Award-winning playwright, Richard Nelson, at the highly professional Huntington Theatre Company is generally a formula for success. However, even with good performances and technical mastery, an unfocused, overly complicated, confusing narrative by playwright Richard Nelson needs serious editing and refining. Less would have certainly been more.

The A.R.T. is currently presenting a revue featuring the wonderful, sparkling and often sexy songs of Cole Porter. One of America's greatest songwriters, Cole Porter combined wit, a bit of longing, and even some wisdom infused with parody and patter along with heartache, sophistication, and romance in beloved musicals and hugely popular songs. This special show is a delightful and de-lovely must see.

Supposedly, Shakespeare had collaborated on a play that was only performed twice in 1613. The play was lost. A new play based upon Cardenio is being premiered at the A.R.T. It certainly is not Shakespearean, and seems to need editing, tightening up and real characters. Other than that, as they say, did you enjoy the play, Mrs. Lincoln?

Since its founding in 1980, the A.R.T., considered to be one of America's great regional theatres, has been known for its wonderfully edgy, provocative and often spell-binding takes on theatrical productions. After a long pause, a highly regarded new Artistic Director has just been appointed, Diane Paulus.