Amy Freed News

Today Berkeley Repertory Theatre, which in the last 40 years has earned a reputation for developing provocative new plays, received a prestigious grant to fund its 50th world premiere: the Edgerton Foundation presented this Tony Award-winning theatre with its coveted New American Play Award to support the latest work from the team that made Eurydice a national hit. The $54,000 grant will provide extra rehearsal time for In the Next Room (or the vibrator play), an elegant comedy that Berkeley Rep has commissioned from MacArthur fellow Sarah Ruhl.

Berkeley Repertory Theatre kicks off its 2008/09 Season with the world premiere of a provocative new play set in Berkeley and written by a Berkeley native: renowned playwright Itamar Moses returns to his hometown with Yellowjackets, a script set just around the corner in the halls of his alma mater.

Today Tony Taccone, the artistic director of Berkeley Repertory Theatre, announced that the Tony Award-winning company will conclude its 2008/09 Season with the world premiere of a smart and sassy play featuring favorite local artists: 'You, Nero', a new comedy written by Amy Freed and directed by Sharon Ott.

Tony Taccone, the artistic director of Berkeley Repertory Theatre, announced today that the Tony Award-winning company will conclude its 2008/09 Season with the world premiere of You, Nero, a new comedy written by Amy Freed and directed by Sharon Ott, will rule the Thrust Stage from May 8 through June 21, 2009. Starring Danny Scheie as the preposterous emperor of ancient Rome, You, Nero will be produced in association with South Coast Repertory, where it debuts in January.

King Lear will crown South Coast Repertory's 45th season under the direction of Tony Award winner Daniel Sullivan.

South Coast Repertory's Pacific Playwrights Festival celebrated its 11th annual edition May 2 through May 4 with a lineup composed of seven SCR-commissioned plays.

Obie winner and Tony Award nominee Reg Rogers will star in The Injured Party, a new comedy by Tony Award-winning playwright Richard Greenberg. Commissioned by SCR and directed by Trip Cullman, The Injured Party will receive its World Premiere at South Coast Repertory during the 11th annual Pacific Playwrights Festival. The show will run from April 20 through May 11, 2008 on the Julianne Argyros Stage. Low-priced previews are available from April 20 through April 24. Opening night is April 25. Press night is Saturday, April 26 at 7:45 p.m. Tickets to The Injured Party may be purchased online at www.scr.org, by phone at (714) 708-5555 or in person at the SCR box office

Manhattan Theatre Club Artistic Director Lynne Meadow and Executive Producer Barry Grove announced that Jerry Patch will be joining MTC's artistic team as the company's new Director of Artistic Development.

South Coast Repertory's Pacific Playwrights Festival (PPF) will celebrate its 11th annual edition with a lineup composed of seven SCR-commissioned plays from an array of writers. Since its creation in 1998, PPF has grown into one of the most important festivals of new scripts in the United States. This year's Festival will take place during the May 2 through May 4 weekend with a workshop production, four staged readings and two fully-staged World Premieres on South Coast Repertory's two major stages. Tickets to PPF may be purchased online at www.scr.org, by phone at (714) 708-5555 or in person at the SCR box office.

South Coast Repertory's Pacific Playwrights Festival (PPF) will celebrate its 11th annual edition with a lineup composed of seven SCR-commissioned plays from an array of writers. Since its creation in 1998, PPF has grown into one of the most important festivals of new scripts in the United States. This year's Festival will take place during the May 2 through May 4 weekend with a workshop production, four staged readings and two fully-staged World Premieres on South Coast Repertory's two major stages. Tickets to PPF may be purchased online at www.scr.org, by phone at (714) 708-5555 or in person at the SCR box office.