THIS WEEK IN PICTURES: August 13-19

Mandy Patinkin & Kathryn Grody. Photo Credit: Walter McBride

Throughline Artists presents SUMMER SHORTS 5, their fifth annual festival of new American short plays from established and emerging writers, at 59E59 Theaters (59 East 59th Street). Performances began Thursday August 4th, and continue through Saturday September 3rd. Click here for additional photos from the opening night reception!

Audra McDonald, Norm Lewis. Photo Credit: Michael Lutch

A.R.T. American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) opens its 2011-12 season with The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess, by George Gershwin, DuBose and Dorothy Heyward, and Ira Gershwin. The adaptation by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Suzan-Lori Parks and Obie Award-winning composer Diedre L. Murray, directed by A.R.T. Artistic Director Diane Paulus, with choreography by Ronald K. Brown, began previews on August 17. Click here for additional production shots!

Richard Masur, Julie Halston, Marcia Jean Kurtz, Dan Butler & David Garrison. Photo Credit: Walter McBride

Primary Stages launched its 27th season on August 16, with the World Premiere of a work commissioned by the company, the new comedy, Olive and the Bitter Herbs by Charles Busch directed by Mark Brokaw.The five member cast features Dan Butler as Trey, David Garrisonas Robert, Julie Halston as Wendy, Marcia Jean Kurtz as Olive and Richard Masur as Sylvan. Click here for full coverage of the opening!

Jenny Fellner, Euan Morton. Photo Credit: Scott Suchman

Ford's Theatre presents the Washington premiere of the Tony-winning musical drama "Parade," directed by Stephen Rayne, September 23 though October 30, 2011. The centerpiece of this year's programming for The Lincoln Legacy Project, Parade is based on the true story of Leo Frank's trial and lynching in early 20th-century Atlanta. Click here for more photos from the production!

Christoph Waltz, Kate Winslet

Roman Polanski's upcoming God of Carnage features John C. Reilly, Jodie Foster, Kate Winslet andChristoph Waltz in the movie version of Yasmina Reva's Tony-winning play. God of Carnage is a comedy of manners without the manners. The play deals with the aftermath of a playground altercation between two boys and what happens when their parents meet to talk about it. For more stills from the movie, click here.

Cast of ROCK OF AGES. Photo credit: David James

New Line Cinema's film version of the smash hit Broadway musical "Rock of Ages" just finished filming under the direction of Adam Shankman ("Hairspray"). Starring in the film are Diego Boneta as "Drew," Julianne Hough as "Sherrie," Russell Brand as "Lonny," Alec Baldwin as "Dennis," Mary J. Blige as "Justice," Brian Cranston as the Mayor, Malin Ackerman as "Constance Sack," Catherine Zeta-Jones as the wife of the Mayor and Paul Giamatti as "Paul Gill."

Cast of THE PLAYBOY CLUB

NBC has just revealed promo art for their new Fall 2011 line-up which features theatre veterans Laura Benanti, Hank Azaria, Christina Applegate, and more. "The Playboy Club" begins September 19, while on Wednesday, September 14, the new comedies "Up All Night" (10-10:30 p.m. ET) and "Free Agents" (10:30-11 p.m. ET) will debut out of their respective time periods following the season finale of "America's Got Talent." For more promo art from NBC, click here.

Ralph Fiennes. Photo Credit: Jim Creighton

The Tempest, the third production in the Trevor Nunn Season, previews at the Theatre Royal Haymarket from 27 August, with press night on 6 September and is booking until 29 October 2011. Set and costume designs are by Stephen Brimson Lewis, with lighting by Paul Pyant, sound by Paul Groothuis and music by Shaun Davey. Check out photos of the cast in rehearsal here!

Donna McKechnie, Diana DiMarzio, Jessica Tyler Wright, Jane Pfitsch, Lauren Molina. Photo Credit: T. Charles Erickson

The American premiere of John Doyle's Ten Cents a Dance just opened on the Williamstown Theatre Festival (WTF) Main Stage. The refined production of the new Rodgers and Hart musical, which Doyle first conceived at England's Watermill Theatre, marks the first time a new musical has ever been presented on WTF's Main Stage. Ten Cents a Dance will be the final presentation on the Main Stage for the 2011 Season at WTF, running through August 28, 2011. Click here for more production shots!