Hugh Leonard News

A performer, playwright and theatre-maker for over thirty years, Michelle Read's creative career began as a stand-up comic on the London comedy circuit, going on to co-found Dublin Comedy Improv in 1992.

The Road Theatre Company has begun streaming playwright Steve Yockey’s REYKJAVÍK, their second show of their 2021 virtual season. Set in Reykjavík, Iceland, Ann Hearn Tobolowsky directs the REYKJAVÍK cast of Stephen Tyler Howell, Alaska Jackson, Carlos Lacamara, Brian Ibsen, Danny Lee Gomez and Jacqueline Misaye. Ann managed to find some time between REYKJAVÍK rehearsals, and being half of a beloved Los Angeles theatre acting/directing couple, to answer a few of my enquiries.

PICT Classic Theatre's 2019-2020 season will consist of 3 productions beginning in November: a ghost story play written by Stephen Mallatratt, an adaptation of a Shakespeare classic, and an Irish play by Hugh Leonard. All three will be presented at WQED's Fred Rogers Studio in Oakland.

Linda Pace and Pergola Productions are pleased to present a new play written and performed by Abbott Alexander. THE LONG GRAVEL ROAD is a dance recitative with an original sound score by Garrett Parks. This show will launch Theatre West's "Then and Now" Series. The production is set to open at Theatre West May 4, with performances Saturday evenings 8:00PM through June 1, 2019

Get a first look below at the UK premiere of Blue Door, Tanya Barfield's searing play with music which examines family, identity and the African-American male experience. First seen in the US in 2006, the UK stage premiere, directed by Eleanor Rhode and starring  Ray Fearon and Fehinti Balogun, has its opening night for press this evening and will run at Theatre Royal Bath's Ustinov Studio until 9 March.

THE ROAD THEATRE COMPANY and Taylor Gilbert, Founder/Artistic Director together with Sam Anderson, Artistic Director, are thrilled to announce that the second show of its 2018-2019 season, the critically acclaimed, world premiere of DEATH HOUSE, written by Jason Karasev and directed by Michael Peretzian is EXTENDING through SATURDAY, MARCH 23 at the Road Theatre on Lankershim, 5108 Lankershim Blvd. in North Hollywood.

Irish Heritage Theatre announces its Spring 2019 production Da by Hugh Leonard. After a highly successful and critically acclaimed 'Women of Ireland' season last year featuring By the Bog of Cats (several critics' awards including third place overall in Best Actor (Female) category and our first Barrymore WINNING production- Best Supporting Performer in a Play for our own Tina Brock). Our first show of the season, Lay Me Down Softly brought us our second Barrymore recommendation, and was our best attended show to date. When we think of this season, we think of the concept of Fatherhood, and what it means within the Irish culture, and there is perhaps no better play to showcase what it means to be an Irish Dad than Da.

It is with great excitement that the Irish Heritage Theatre announces our Spring 2019 production Da by Hugh Leonard. After a highly successful and critically acclaimed 'Women of Ireland' season last year featuring By the Bog of Cats (several critics' awards including third place overall in Best Actor (Female) category and our first Barrymore WINNING production- Best Supporting Performer in a Play for our own Tina Brock). Our first show of the season, Lay Me Down Softly brought us our second Barrymore recommendation, and was our best attended show to date. When we think of this season, we think of the concept of Fatherhood, and what it means within the Irish culture, and there is perhaps no better play to showcase what it means to be an Irish Dad than Da.

Following the recent news that a fire had destroyed the entire set of their touring production on New Year's Eve, London Classic Theatre are pleased to announce that the extension of the UK tour of Charlotte Keatley's My Mother Said I Never Should will go ahead as planned. Kathryn Ritchie returns to play Jackie Metcalfe and will be joined by Rebecca Birch (Rosie Metcalfe), Lisa Burrows (Margaret Bradley) and Judith Paris (Doris Partington). Artistic Director of LCT, Michael Cabot, directs the production, which tours to a further 14 venues in 2019. The tour starts at New Theatre Royal Portsmouth on 6 February, with performances in Newtown, Ipswich, Doncaster, Middlesbrough, Richmond, Derby, Poole, Winchester, Worthing, Epsom, Swansea and Oldham before concluding at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford in April. Press night will take place on Wednesday 27 February at Richmond Theatre.

THE ROAD THEATRE COMPANY and Taylor Gilbert, Founder/Artistic Director together with Sam Anderson, Artistic Director, present the second show of its 2018-2019 season, the world premiere of DEATH HOUSE, written by Jason Karasev and directed by Michael Peretzian. DEATH HOUSE will preview on Tuesday, January 15 at 8pm; Wednesday, January 16 at 8pm & Thursday, January 17 at 8pm and will open today, January 18 at 8pm and run through Sunday, March 10 at the Road Theatre on Lankershim, 5108 Lankershim Blvd. in North Hollywood.

THE ROAD THEATRE COMPANY and Taylor Gilbert, Founder/Artistic Director together with Sam Anderson, Artistic Director, present the second show of its 2018-2019 season, the world premiere of DEATH HOUSE, written by Jason Karasev and directed by Michael Peretzian. DEATH HOUSE will preview today, January 15 at 8pm; Wednesday, January 16 at 8pm & Thursday, January 17 at 8pm and will open on Friday, January 18 at 8pm and run through Sunday, March 10 at the Road Theatre on Lankershim, 5108 Lankershim Blvd. in North Hollywood.

THE ROAD THEATRE COMPANY and Taylor Gilbert, Founder/Artistic Director together with Sam Anderson, Artistic Director, present the second show of its 2018-2019 season, the world premiere of DEATH HOUSE, written by Jason Karasev and directed by Michael Peretzian. DEATH HOUSE will preview on Tuesday, January 15 at 8pm; Wednesday, January 16 at 8pm & Thursday, January 17 at 8pm and will open on Friday, January 18 at 8pm and run through Sunday, March 10 at the Road Theatre on Lankershim, 5108 Lankershim Blvd. in North Hollywood.

Theatre Royal Bath today announces A Season of UK Premieres from the Americas at the Ustinov Studio opening next month. The Model Apartment by Pulitzer Prize winner Donald Margulies, directed by Laurence Boswell will run from 22 November to 22 December with opening night for press on 28 November. This will be followed by Tanya Barfield's play with music, Blue Door, directed by Eleanor Rhode from 7 February to 9 March 2019, and a third production, to be announced, will complete the season.

London Classic Theatre today announces that Carole Dance will now play the role of Doris Partington in the UK tour of Charlotte Keatley's My Mother Said I Never Should. Dance steps into the role as Fiz Marcus has had to withdraw due to unforeseen health issues. The full company is completed by Felicity Houlbrooke (Rosie Metcalfe), Kathryn Ritchie (Jackie Metcalfe) and Connie Walker (Margaret Bradley). Artistic Director of LCT, Michael Cabot, directs the production, which tours to 14 venues, opening at Theatre Royal Windsor on 25 September with performances at Queen's Hall Arts Centre, Hexham, Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds and Gala Theatre, Durham from 11 September.

It is with great excitement that the Irish Heritage Theatre announces our Fall 2018 production Lay Me Down Softly by Billy Roche. After a highly successful and critically acclaimed 'Women of Ireland' season last year featuring By the Bog of Cats (several critics' awards including third place overall in Best Actor (Female) category and our first Barrymore Recommended production) and The Women of Ireland, a risky choice of short classics (Riders  to the Sea and Cathleen Ni Houlihan) mixed with a few absurdist contemporary Irish pieces directed by three female directors, we now turn to a season dedicated to The Irish Family. The phrase, 'You can't choose your family' springs to mind immediately.

Irish Heritage Theatre announced its Fall 2018 production Lay Me Down Softly by Billy Roche. After a highly successful and critically acclaimed 'Women of Ireland' season last year featuring By the Bog of Cats (several critics' awards including third place overall in Best Actor (Female) category and the company's first Barrymore Recommended production) and The Women of Ireland, a risky choice of short classics (Riders to the Sea and Cathleen Ni Houlihan) mixed with a few absurdist contemporary Irish pieces directed by three female directors, we now turn to a season dedicated to The Irish Family. The phrase, 'You can't choose your family' springs to mind immediately.

MCC THEATER today announced the complete cast and creative team for the first show of the 2018/19 season: the New York Premiere production of Collective Rage: A Play in 5 Betties, written by Jen Silverman, and directed by MCC alum Mike Donahue

London Classic Theatre today announces the full company for their UK tour of Charlotte Keatley's My Mother Said I Never Should. Artistic Director of LCT, Michael Cabot, directs Felicity Houlbrooke (Rosie Metcalfe), Fiz Marcus (Doris Partington), Kathryn Ritchie (Jackie Metcalfe) and Connie Walker (Margaret Bradley). The production tours to 14 venues, opening at Theatre Royal Windsor on 25 September with performances at Queen's Hall Arts Centre, Hexham, Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds and Gala Theatre, Durham from 11 September.

At a meeting of the Abbey Theatre's Board of Directors on 5 June 2018, actor Bosco Hogan was appointed to the Board of the Abbey Theatre for a term of three years. Bosco was appointed to the Board on a recommendation from the Selection Committee [Dr. Frances Ruane (Chair of the Abbey Theatre), Sheila Pratschke (Chair of the Arts Council) and Prof. Chris Morash (Vice-Provost of Trinity College Dublin)] and he will take up his appointment later this month.