John Arnone News

Can you hear the sound of children laughing? Smell the vegetables cooking? Feel the cool air surround you? Hear the carolers singing? There's one carol you won't want to miss. American Conservatory Theatre's annual production of the classic Charles Dickens tale, "A Christmas Carol," has earned its place in the line of many adaptations of the classic worth watching over and over again every year. There are few stories people never tire of, and a Christmas story like "A Christmas Carol" is one of them. With beautiful, dream-like sets and a strong cast that highlights veteran, masters program students and child actors, A.C.T. stays true to the dialogue of the originals short story while adding in its own creative variations, including a musical score. The story follows the stingy Ebenezer Scrooge as he is visited by four ghosts and encouraged to reform and embrace the Christmas spirit.

The Bay Area's favorite holiday tradition returns with American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.)'s acclaimed production of the Charles Dickens classic A Christmas Carol, playing December 1-24, 2011.

The Bay Area's favorite holiday tradition returns with American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.)'s acclaimed production of the Charles Dickens classic A Christmas Carol, playing December 1-24, 2011.

Nominees for the 2011 LA STAGE Alliance Ovation Awards were announced on the evening of Monday, September 19 at the Falcon Theatre in Burbank; the complete list of nominees is as follows.

The Tony Awards Administration Committee announced today the Nominating Committee for the 2011-2012 Broadway season. The Tony Awards are presented by The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing.

Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Tracy Letts (August: Osage County) is heralded for sprinkling a very gritty situation with crisply funny dialogue and peppering it all with an unexpected twist or two. Prepare to be moved, entertained, exhilarated and maybe a little frightened with his West coast premiere of Superior Donuts now @ the Geffen Playhouse. Like a fine confection, the play is diligently prepared, ardently packaged, and turns out, in every way, superior.

Primary Stages production of the new comedy, Black Tie by A.R. Gurney will close on Sunday afternoon, March 27th at 3:00p.m.

Primary Stages (Casey Childs, Founder & Executive Producer; Andrew Leynse, Artistic Director; Elliot Fox, Managing Director), presents the final production of the 2010-2011 season

The always pleasing Gregg Edelman is an actor with a special knack for revealing the educated, articulate side of America's Average Joe and in Black Tie, A.R. Gurney's latest comedy inspired by his WASPy Buffalo upbringing, that talent is put to exceptional use.

By popular demand, Primary Stages (Casey Childs, Founder & Executive Producer; Andrew Leynse, Artistic Director; Elliot Fox, Managing Director), has announced a one-week extension for the final production of the 2010-2011 season: the World Premiere of the new comedy, Black Tie by A.R. Gurney. Originally scheduled to end its limited run on Sunday, March 20th, Black Tie will now play through Sunday afternoon, March 27th at 3:00p.m.

The Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle has announced its nominations and special awards for excellence in Los Angeles and Orange County theatre for the year 2010 (Dec. 1, 2009 - Nov. 30, 2010).

Primary Stages (Casey Childs, Founder & Executive Producer; Andrew Leynse, Artistic Director; Elliot Fox, Managing Director), presents the final production of the 2010-2011 season

American Conservatory Theater presents the Charles Dickens classic A Christmas Carol, adapted by Carey Perloff and Paul Walsh and directed by acclaimed Bay Area director and actor Domenique Lozano. A.C.T.'s annual production of this beloved family-friendly gem has been called "a Carol built to banish 'bah humbugs' for years to come" (The Oakland Tribune) and "a holiday treat for the entire family" (KGO Radio).

Primary Stages (Casey Childs, Founder & Executive Producer; Andrew Leynse, Artistic Director; Elliot Fox, Managing Director) is asking for something different through their Year-End Campaign.

Primary Stages (Casey Childs, Founder & Executive Producer; Andrew Leynse, Artistic Director; Elliot Fox, Managing Director), has announced today the complete cast for the final production of the 2010-2011 season: the World Premiere of the new comedy, Black Tie by A.R. Gurney under the direction of Mark Lamos, who return to Primary Stages where they collaborated on the world premiere productions of Indian Blood and Buffalo Gal.

American Conservatory Theater presents the Charles Dickens classic A Christmas Carol, adapted by Carey Perloff and Paul Walsh and directed by acclaimed Bay Area director and actor Domenique Lozano. A.C.T.'s annual production of this beloved family-friendly gem has been called "a Carol built to banish 'bah humbugs' for years to come" (The Oakland Tribune) and "a holiday treat for the entire family" (KGO Radio).

American Conservatory Theater presents the Charles Dickens classic A Christmas Carol, adapted by Carey Perloff and Paul Walsh and directed by acclaimed Bay Area director and actor Domenique Lozano. A.C.T.'s annual production of this beloved family-friendly gem has been called "a Carol built to banish 'bah humbugs' for years to come" (The Oakland Tribune) and "a holiday treat for the entire family" (KGO Radio).

Sarah Ruhl's In the Next Room or the vibrator play will heat up South Coast Repertory's Julianne Argyros Stage Sept. 26 through Oct. 17. The Pulitzer Prize finalist and Tony Award nominee is set in the Victorian era, just before its corseted women shed their inhibitions. Dr. Givings (Andrew Borba) is having tremendous success with a new electric invention designed to alleviate the symptoms of 'female hysteria.' But the noises in the adjoining room spark the curiosity of his wife, Catherine (Kathleen Early), a lonely new mother eager for intimacy. Her investigation into the doctor's work leads to friendships with a couple of patients, the high-strung Sabrina Daldry (Rebecca Mozo) and the artist Leo Irving (Ron Menzel), and ultimately to a new relationship with her husband.

Summary: Hands down one of the funniest new plays I've seen this year, IN THE NEXT ROOM, or THE VIBRATOR PLAY--with performances continuing through October 17 at the Julianne Argyros Stage--is a giddy, poignant, and often witty modern comedy that was a finalist for this year's Pulitzer Prize. Fresh off its recent Tony Award-nominated production at the Lincoln Center Theatre, this new production of Sarah Ruhl's charming play commissioned by South Coast Repertory is an intellectually satisfying comedy that's surprisingly classy and sophisticated, yet wholly sweet and approachable.

The Pulitzer Prize finalist and Tony Award nominee IN THE NEXT ROOM, OR THE VIBRATOR PLAY by Sarah Ruhl will heat up South Coast Repertory's Julianne Argyros Stage Sept. 26 through Oct. 17.