David Lee News

Shane Arts Theatrical Ensemble Repertory has taken a different approach in telling the story of Romeo and Juliet, with a clever condensed adaptation by dramaturge David Hundsness and several standout performances, making the classic more accessible to modern audiences, particularly those unfamiliar with Shakespeare or find the genre yawn-boring.

Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director; Stephen Eich, Executive Director; and Tom Ware, Producing Director) today announced the theatre's 2010 Season. The season will include two world premiere musicals, a world premiere play, a fresh look at a favorite musical, a revival of a sultry farce and an award-winning contemporary play.

Reprise Theatre Company will present a month-long Richard Rodgers Celebration October 2-November 2 in a variety of venues across Los Angeles. The series of concerts, symposiums, staged readings, screenings and cabarets will explore the diversity and scope of the work of one of the most important figures in the American Musical.

Altarena Playhouse presents The Spitfire Grill July 10 through August 16, 2009. Based on the film by Lee David Zlotoff, music and book by James Valcq, lyrics and book by Fred Alley. Musical Direction by Rona Siddiqui. Directed by Frederick L. Chacon.

Welcome to Gilead, a picturesque (and fictional) small town in western Wisconsin, where everyone knows your name, and the fall colors along Copper Creek are dazzling. At least, that's how it seemed to Percy Talbott in the picture she found in a travel book. Reality turns out to be somewhat different, of course, as Stage West presents its first musical since moving back to its Vickery playhouse, James Valcq and Fred Alley's engaging and warm-hearted The Spitfire Grill, based on the film by Lee David Zlotoff, beginning Thursday, July 9.

Welcome to Gilead, a picturesque (and fictional) small town in western Wisconsin, where everyone knows your name, and the fall colors along Copper Creek are dazzling. At least, that's how it seemed to Percy Talbott in the picture she found in a travel book. Reality turns out to be somewhat different, of course, as Stage West presents its first musical since moving back to its Vickery playhouse, James Valcq and Fred Alley's engaging and warm-hearted The Spitfire Grill, based on the film by Lee David Zlotoff, beginning Thursday, July 9.

It was announced today that Billy Crystal will bring 700 SUNDAYS, his Tony Award-winning Broadway blockbuster, to six cities for limited engagements this fall, launching at Washington, D.C.'s National Theatre September 8 - 17. The tour will also play Philadelphia, Dallas, Palm Beach, Miami and Atlanta. 700 SUNDAYS, a play performed and written by Mr. Crystal with additional content by Alan Zweibel is directed by two-time Tony Award winner Des McAnuff.

Following last season?s triumph of Rodgers & Hammerstein?s Carousel, Lyric Stage Founding Producer Steven Jones has reunited director Cheryl Denson and music director Jay Dias for the world premiere of the newly restored The King and I, featuring a 35-piece orchestra playing the original Robert Russell Bennett orchestrations. Performances are June 19, 20, 25, 26 and 27 @ 8:00 PM and June 21 & 28 @ 2:30 PM. Performances are in the Irving Arts Center?s Carpenter Performance Hall, 3333 N. Mac Arthur Blvd,. Irving, Texas. Tickets, priced from $20-$50, are available online at www.lyricstage.org or by calling 972-252-2787.

Sydney Theatre Company and ThinIce present THE DUEL adapted by Tom Wright from The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky 5 to 20 June 2009. Opens Tuesday 9 June at 8.15pm Wharf 2, Sydney Theatre Company, Hickson Road, Walsh Bay Matthew Lutton directs The Duel, adapted by Sydney Theatre Company Associate Director Tom Wright from a chapter in Fyodor Dostoevsky's 1880 novel, The Brothers Karamazov.

San Jose Repertory Theatre is proud to conclude its 2008-2009 season with the smash hit The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. The Tony® award-winning musical comedy ? one of Broadways most talked about hits ? is in attendance at San Jose Rep. This hilarious tale of six adolescent outsiders vying for the Spelling Bee title is directed by Timothy Near. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee begins previews on May 9, opens on May 15 and closes June 7.

Three classic shows from some of Broadway's most legendary creators will comprise Reprise Theatre Company's 2010 season. For his second season, Artistic Director Jason Alexander has chosen 'Carousel,' 'A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,' and 'How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying' at UCLA's Freud Playhouse. As a prelude to the season, Reprise will present a celebration of Richard Rodgers, the father of the American musical, in venues all over Los Angeles during Fall, 2009.

Good Theater is pleased to announce the shows for its 2009-2010 season which will mark the company's eighth anniversary. The season features three Maine premieres, including two recent Broadway hits, an award winning musical, and one classic comedy. Good Theater is the professional company in residence at the St. Lawrence Arts Center, 76 congress Street, on Munjoy Hill in Portland.

The Shane-Arts Theatrical Ensemble Repertory (SATER) continues their tradition of bringing an exciting premiere to the Fringe and local theater festivals. From their critically acclaimed and hit production of Matt & Ben during the first festival, Transposing Shakespeare in the second, the world premiere of Reason for Referral last year and they will not disappoint with their entry for 2009.

Get your motor runnin' this Spring with Shadowbox's Born to be Wild, opening March 26, 2009 at their sketch comedy and rock ?n roll club at the Easton Town Center. This brand-new theme celebrates the unrelenting human spirit and our desire to work hard, play hard, and rock hard.

The Shane-Arts Theatrical Ensemble Repertory (SATER) continues their tradition of bringing an exciting premiere to the Fringe and local theater festivals. From their critically acclaimed and hit production of Matt & Ben during the first festival, Transposing Shakespeare in the second, the world premiere of Reason for Referral last year and they will not disappoint with their entry for 2009.

Get your motor runnin' this Spring with Shadowbox's Born to be Wild, opening March 26, 2009 at their sketch comedy and rock ?n roll club at the Easton Town Center. This brand-new theme celebrates the unrelenting human spirit and our desire to work hard, play hard, and rock hard.

San Jose Repertory Theatre prepares to make history with the world premiere of the stage adaptation of Khaled Hosseini?s international best-selling novel, The Kite Runner ? a haunting story of friendship and redemption in modern Afghanistan. Adapted by Bay Area resident Matthew Spangler and directed by David Ira Goldstein, artistic director of the Arizona Theatre Company, The Kite Runner runs from March 21-April 19, 2009 at the San Jose Repertory Theatre, 101 Paseo de San Antonio in downtown San Jose. Press Opening is March 27 at 8:00 p.m.

Centerstagenorth Theatre is proud to present for its first show of 2009, the musical 'The Spitfire Grill' by James Valcq and Fred Alley based on the film by Lee David Zlotoff starring Ellen Burstyn. Performing at: The Art Place - Mountain View, 3330 Sandy Plains Road, Marietta, GA 30066 Directed by Sarah Mitchell Performance dates: First weekend is a benefit for the Mountain View Arts Alliance call 770-509-2700 for tickets

Repo! The Genetic Opera launched a successful 'Road Tour' several months ago, due to the demand for more up close and personal screenings, new dates for 2009 have been announced.

Repo! The Genetic Opera launched a successful 'Road Tour' several months ago, due to the demand for more up close and personal screenings, new dates for 2009 have been announced.