Art Manke News

Due to popular pre-sale demand, a year in advance, Aurora Theatre Company announces that it will extend West Coast Premiere of Sarah Treem's (Netflix's House of Cards, HBO's In Treatment) thought-provoking THE HOW AND THE WHY, the third fully staged production to be performed in the company's second stage performance space, Harry's UpStage. The company will add an additional two weeks of performances to the original run dates. Acclaimed Bay Area actress and director Joy Carlin (Talley's Folly, After the Revolution, Body Awareness, Jack Goes Boating, Awake and Sing!) helms this intimate and keenly perceptive play about which the Washington Post said, "brims with ideas and emotional colors that eddy and refract like rivulets in a lively, plunging stream."

This is the story of what happened before Peter Pan met Wendy. Peter and the Starcatcher, by Rick Elice and based on the novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, is next up on the Segerstrom Stage at South Coast Repertory. Directed by Art Manke and with musical direction by David O, Peter and the Starcatcher runs today, May 8-June 7. The show is geared toward adults and children ages 10 years and older.

Aurora Theatre Company closes its 23rd season with the Bay Area Premiere of Lisa D'Amour's (Anna Bella Eema, Airline Highway) wicked Obie-winning satire about our uncertain economic times, DETROIT. Josh Costello (Wittenberg) directs this explosive dark comedy, featuring Amy Resnick (Body Awareness, Collapse), Jeff Garrett, Luisa Frasconi, and Patrick Kelly Jones (Metamorphosis), that brilliantly captures our current economic moment. DETROIT plays June 19 through July 19 at the Aurora Theatre in Berkeley. For tickets ($32-60) and information the public can call (510) 843-4822 or visit auroratheatre.org.

This is the story of what happened before Peter Pan met Wendy. Peter and the Starcatcher, by Rick Elice and based on the novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, is next up on the Segerstrom Stage at South Coast Repertory. Directed by Art Manke and with musical direction by David O, Peter and the Starcatcher runs May 8-June 7. The show is geared toward adults and children ages 10 years and older. Tickets are now available at www.scr.org.

Berkeley's acclaimed Aurora Theatre Company proudly announces the lineup for its 24th season.

Pioneer Theatre Company presents the comedy I Hate Hamlet by PAUL RUDNICK, today, March 20 - April 4, 2015. Visiting guest artist ART MANKE directs the production.

Pioneer Theatre Company presents the comedy I Hate Hamlet by PAUL RUDNICK, March 20 - April 4, 2015. Visiting guest artist ART MANKE directs the production.

The Pasadena Playhouse presents Lavender Night Out a benefit in support of art, inclusion and equality featuring a Premiere Week performance of Diana Son's GLADD Media Award winning play STOP KISS tonight, November 6, 2014. The festivities start at 6:30pm at The Pasadena Playhouse, with the STOP KISS performance at 8:00pm followed by dessert and drinks with the cast and director.

The new musical BREAKING THROUGH with book by Kirsten Guenther, and music and lyrics by Cliff Downs and Katie Kahanovitz, will have an industry presentation today, November 5 at Carroll Studios in New York.

The new musical BREAKING THROUGH with book by Kirsten Guenther, and music and lyrics by Cliff Downs and Katie Kahanovitz, will have an industry presentation on Wednesday, November 5 at Carroll Studios in New York.

The Pasadena Playhouse presents Lavender Night Out a benefit in support of art, inclusion and equality featuring a Premiere Week performance of Diana Son's GLADD Media Award winning play STOP KISS on Thursday, November 6, 2014. The festivities start at 6:30pm at The Pasadena Playhouse, with the STOP KISS performance at 8:00pm followed by dessert and drinks with the cast and director.

South Coast Repertory's 2014-15 season moves from the Mediterranean island in Shakespeare's The Tempest to Cornwall in a new take on the classic Tristan & Yseult, from Mecca in Zealot by Theresa Rebeck to an updated look at the Land of Oz in OZ 2.5 by Catherine Trieschmann. SCR will present classic, contemporary and new works, including Mr. Wolf by Rajiv Joseph, Of Good Stock by Melissa Ross and Peter and the Starcatcher by Rick Elice. Season subscriptions are available now; single tickets will go on sale on Aug. 1.

A SONG AT TWILIGHT by Noel Coward is in its final week, presented by The Pasadena Playhouse, closes April 13, 2014. The production stars Bruce Davison, Sharon Lawrence and Roxanne Hart and is directed by Art Manke.

A Song at Twilight/by Noel Coward/directed by Art Manke/Pasadena Playhouse/through April 13

The Pasadena Playhouse announced Bruce Davison, Sharon Lawrence and RoxAnne Hart to star in A SONG AT TWILIGHT by Noel Coward, the fifth production of its 2013 - 2014 Season. A SONG AT TWILIGHT is performed tonight, March 18 to April 13; the press opening is Sunday, March 23.

Artists Rep is currently producing the world premiere of The Monster-Builder, a diabolical comedic treatise on modern architecture, by Amy Freed. As Freed is one of the nation's most lauded and respected new playwrights, Artists Rep is fortunate to host the inaugural production of this play. The Monster-Builder is directed by the esteemed and award-winning Art Manke and features a noteworthy West Coast cast.

Part of the fun is figuring out what's going to happen and where the whole thing is headed. It took me until intermission to figure things out, as Freed throws a big surprise at the audience right before the act break that tells us once and for all what we're watching.

Artists Rep is honored to produce the world premiere of The Monster-Builder, a diabolical comedic treatise on modern architecture, by Amy Freed. As Freed is one of the nation's most lauded and respected new playwrights, Artists Rep is fortunate to host the inaugural production of this play. The Monster-Builder is directed by the esteemed and award-winning Art Manke and features a noteworthy West Coast cast.