Huntington Theatre

Set in 1897 Cuba on the eve of the Spanish-American War, vivacious widow Adela runs a pharmacy, seemingly indifferent to the mounting conflict around her. But when the rebellion literally comes to her home to Havana, she has to choose between her country and her family. With some wonderful performances, this is powerful drama by Playwright-in-Residence Melinda Lopez and directed eloquently by Huntington Associate Producer M. Bevin O’Gara.

Huntington Theatre Company announces six productions of its 2014-2015 Season plus one additional title. Continuing its 32-year tradition, the Huntington will present world-class productions of new works and classics made current created by the finest local and national talent. The varied lineup includes a Tony Award-winning Broadway comedy, a thrilling new play set in Boston, a new play by a celebrated local writer that riffs on a beloved classic, a revival of a provocative comedy, a classic American drama, and a topical new play directed by Huntington Artistic Director Peter DuBois, plus the return of visionary director David Cromer (Our Town).

Celebrated Russian actress Irina Arkadina's visit to her aspiring playwright son with her successful novelist lover in tow kindles unrequited passions and petty jealousies in Anton Chekhov's late 19th Century masterpiece about love, rejection, creative frustration, missed connections, and what it means to be an artist. In this actor's play, a wonderful Kate Burton leads a glittering cast at the Huntington for Chekhov's emotionally rich classic that is directed by the gifted Maria Aitken. Set in brilliant scenery, this amazing theatrical chemistry results in a superb evening of dramatic entertainment.

"For our 86th Summer Season, we are producing a full schedule of musicals, plays, and special theatrical performances for another wonderful summer in the Berkshires with a splendid cast and crew of talented artists from across the nation,” said Kate Maguire. "Six extraordinary plays: The Mystery of Irma Vep: A Penny Dreadful, Benefactors, Design for Living, A Hatful of Rain, including two world premieres: Cedars and POE and two wonderful musicals: A Little Night Musicand Seussical highlight our schedule and make for an enjoyable mix of masterful and provocative classics and contemporary works. A special week-long performance of A Lover's Talespotlighting the works of Giuseppe Verdi, Charles Ludlam and Alexandre Dumas and performances by our summer apprentices, our 86th season will be memorable and entertaining for all.”

Arthur Yanoff has had a one man show at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston and was named Jewish Artist of the Year. A couple of years ago he and photographer Kay Canavino collaborated on a Melville project for the Ralph Brill Gallery and the author's former home Arrowhead in Pittsfield. We met recently to discuss Boston's Coffee Corner and its rarely documented hipster legacy which was a spawning ground for gonzo.

A masterpiece of American Theatre, Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman will be performed by Boston's The Lyric Stage from February 14 through March 15. The production with be directed by company founder Spiro Veloudos. Ken Baltin with appear in the lead role as Willy Loman accompanied by Paula Plum as his wife Linda.

Huntington Theatre Company favorite and frequent director Maria Aitken (The Cocktail Hour, Betrayal, Private Lives, Alfred Hitchcock’s The 39 Steps) will return to the Huntington this spring to direct Tony Award nominee and television star Kate Burton in Anton Chekhov’s passionate classic, The Seagull. Aitken replaces Nicholas Martin who was previously slated to direct the production but has withdrawn for personal reasons.

Based upon the classic erotic novella of Sado-Masochism, Venus In Fur is the story of an adapted play being cast by its playwright/director. Thomas is having a hard time finding the right actress for the female lead. After everyone has left for the day, an upset blonde actress loudly and profanely enters the studio and demands an audition. Vanda's tryout becomes an S/M dance incorporating various story lines twisting and turning. With wonderful performances and an enthralling narrative, this is a provocative evening of exceptional adult entertainment.

Shows used to be developed in Boston, New Haven and other out of town venues prior to opening on Broadway. That's become too expensive and obsolete. Some shows open directly on Broadway following ever longer previews. That's risky. An alternative is to transfer regional hits like A.R.T''s superb Glass Menagerie to Broadway. It's also been a game changer for regional companies as a source for revenue and national recognition.

The evening ritual of the upper middle class cocktail hour is used as the vehicle to virtually shake not stir the superficial, unflappable demeanor of cold WASP parents. Set in his parents' elegant home, John announces that he has written a play about them, and their calm demeanor dissolves. As the martinis flow, so do the revelations and recriminations, in this personal comedy of manners about ties that unravel with a couple of wonderful characterizations and witty words.

The Humana Festival of New American Plays is now in its 38th year. The American Theatre Critics Association will meet and participate in the Lousiville, Kentucky event.

With often insightful humor and very human observations, Playwright Stephen Belber has added a new perspective to contemporary theatre. This very skillful play is set around the odd actions of burnt-out local TV newscaster Charlie Duff when he suddenly starts to offer a personal prayer at the end of his nightly broadcasts. Almost instantly he becomes a popular and controversial figure. But even as his prayers inspire millions, the anchorman wrestles with his own beliefs and his inability to sustain familial connections. This is a brilliant nearly mythic story with very personal concrete consequences.

On October 8 we attended the 100th performance of the boffo, smash hit Jungle Book a stunning fantasy driven musical created and directed by Mary Zimmerman based on the book by Rudyard Kipling. This is the last chance to see a show destined to run forever on Broadway.

The Pulitzer and Tony winning Clybourne Park by Bruce Norris is currently on the short list of most produced plays in America. In a co production with Dorset Theatre Festival where it was staged his summer it runs through October 13 at Barrington Stage Company in Pittsfield. This is its fifth review for Berkshire Fine Arts.

Based upon Rudyard Kipling's early 20th Century children's classic, The Huntington Theatre Company's inaugeral show of the 2013-14 Season is a tour de force of music, visuals and performances. This production is a show for the whole family that will delight everyone's inner child as well as their outer adult. It is light and airy and full of beauty and vitality. This Jungle Book is a visual stunner with theatrical panache. And the character Mowgli is performed with such charisma that it is astounding. Director/Creator Mary Zimmerman's interpretation of this classic is magnificent and triumphant. Move over Lion King.

Due to popular demand, the Huntington Theatre Company again extends the run of its world premiere adaptation of The Jungle Book – the final performance will now be Sunday, October 20. The “inventive and visually stunning” (Entertainment Weekly) production officially opens tonight, Wednesday, September 18 at 7pm at the Huntington’s mainstage, the Boston University Theatre.

Launching the fall season of Boston's Huntington Theatre Company the renowned director and creator Mary Zimmerman returns with a new musical adapted from Kipling's The Jungle Book. Previously she directed the Leonard Bernstein musical Candide. Adding to an extensive prior dialogue we corresponded with Zimmerman about the new production which may be New York bound.

As a producer, rather than director or actor, as was the case in recent years, Jenny Gersten approaches being artistic director of Williamstown Theatre Festival as a full time, year round job. Her role as CEO is as important to her as making the artistic decisions of planning a season. She describes enjoying fundraising and marketing because it is driven by her passion for one of America's most renowned regional theatre companies,

This curious mix of writer/director Mary Zimmerman and Disney creates an uplifting, visually gorgeous stage on which the dancers choreographed by Christopher Gattelli, prance and entrance.

While a graduate student at Yale Kate Burton first performed at the Williamstown Theatre Festival in 1980 with Frank Langella and Christopher Reeve as leading men. In 1987 she returned with her husband , Michael Ritchie, who later took over as artistic director, with Jenny Gersten as his associate. From July 10 to 21 she stars at WTF in Tom Stoppard's Hapgood. She took time from rehearsals to discuss finding her own way in theatre as the daughter of Richard Burton. Next year Nicholas Martin will direct Kate and her son Morgan Ritchie in Chekhov's The Seagull for Boston's Huntington Theatre.

The 66th Annual Tony Award Ceremony took place on CBS on Sunday, June 9, 2013. One of the most prestigious and coveted honors in the entertainment industry, the Tonys recognize the best of theatrical and artistic achievement on stage in America. This year Boston theatres won five awards. A.R.T.'s Pippin won four and the Huntington Theatre Company won for the Best Regional theatre. Well-deserved on all counts.

The not so simple issues of marriage, feminism and parenthood are stirfried together with who we are and what we have become in Gina Gionfriddo’s drama/comedy that was a finalist for a 2013 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The story looks at more than a decade after grad school when Catherine pursued a career as a star feminist academic, while Gwen built a home with husband and children. Each friend covets the other's life. With comedic and at times tender insights and clever bantor, this new comedy investigates family, career, romance, and the decisions that define an unfulfilled life.

The world premiere of Myra Slotnick’s new play, The Weight of Water, opened at the Provincetown Theatre on October 6th, 2011. In November of 2012, the entire original cast appeared in a staged reading of the play at The Abingdon Theatre in NY. The upcoming New York production features the original cast and creative team from The Provincetown Theater production.

The 2013 Tony Award nominees were announced this morning and 32 members of the Williamstown Theatre Festival family have been nominated - including six that will visit this summer!

Nominations in 26 competitive categories for the American Theatre Wing’s 67th Annual Antoinette Perry “Tony” Awards® were announced today by Tony winning-actress Sutton Foster and star of both stage and screen Jesse Tyler Ferguson, at the Tony Award Nominations Announcement sponsored by IBM.