Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) presents William Shakespeare's The Merry Wives of Windsor, directed by CST Artistic Director Barbara Gaines. Embraced by audiences as one of Shakespeare's most popular comedies, The Merry Wives of Windsor is an energetic romp with the lovable rogue Sir John Falstaff, performed by Scott Jaeck, as he charms and conspires against the townspeople of Windsor, only to be outsmarted by Mistress Page and Mistress Ford, performed by Kelli Fox and Heidi Kettenring. Chicago Shakespeare's production will transport audiences to post-war England in the late 1940s with a soundtrack of spirited dance music. The Merry Wives of Windsor will run in CST's Courtyard Theater now through January 19, 2014. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Bristol Old Vic & Handspring Puppet Company's A Midsummer Night's Dream will run at the Barbican Theatre, Barbican Centre, London, EC2Y 8DS, Thursday 6 - Saturday 15 February 2014. Press night: Monday 10 February, 7.45pm.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) presents William Shakespeare's The Merry Wives of Windsor, directed by CST Artistic Director Barbara Gaines. Embraced by audiences as one of Shakespeare's most popular comedies, The Merry Wives of Windsor is an energetic romp with the loveable rouge Sir John Falstaff, performed by Scott Jaeck, as he charms and conspires against the townspeople of Windsor, only to be outsmarted by Mistress Page and Mistress Ford, performed by Kelli Foxand Heidi Kettenring. The Merry Wives of Windsor is nonw running in CST's Courtyard Theater through January 19, 2014. BroadwayWorld has a first look below!

It is comedy, it is baudy and it is brilliantly directed by Alan Paul.

The Atlanta Shakespeare Company at The New American Shakespeare Tavern presents The Taming of the Shrew (in repertory with Timon of Athens, Romeo and Juliet and Much Ado About Nothing), running January 4 through March 29, 2014.

J Hernandez never really expected to become a professional actor. 'Personally, I didn't think I was very good at it,' he laughs. Fortunately, others disagreed. Tonight, he opens in FROST/NIXON at New City Stage in Philadelphia. For Hernandez, who specializes in classical theatre, it marks a significant transition. It is his first role in a contemporary play in five years. Since gaining his MFA at the University of Virginia in 2008, Hernandez has been in steady demand on the Shakespearean stage. He will return to that familiar territory later this season in the role of Mercutio for Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre's ROMEO AND JULIET.

Would you sacrifice your soul to save your brother's life? Pacific Theatre is proud to present The Honest Fishmongers' production of Measure for Measure by William Shakespeare. A surprisingly contemporary tale of scandal, abuse of power, and the balance of justice and grace that arises when Vienna's Duke takes an unexplained leave of absence, leaving a power-hungry steward, Angelo, in his place. With a set of ruthless morality laws still in the books, Angelo uses them to his advantage, ultimately forcing a young nun into a terrible ultimatum: her soul for her brother's life.

Burning Coal Theatre Company will present (Three Man) Tempest by William Shakespeare, adapted and directed by Randolph Curtis Rand, tonight, December 5 - 22, 2013.

I recently sat down to chat with Jane Lapotaire in her dressing room at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre as she prepared for a matinee performance of Richard II. As we talked, Lapotaire chortled over a greeting card (sent by a long time actor friend) that featured a spotted pig wearing a crown. Lapotaire explained the joke: the pig was a Gloucester Old Spot--a sly reference to Lapotaire's role as the Duchess of Gloucester in the production of Richard II currently playing to sell-out crowds.

After 27 years, Tom Stoppard's seminal work, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead returns to the New York stage directed by Tony-winner John Rando (Urinetown, A Christmas Story). Presented by The Acting Company in rotating repertory with Hamlet, directed by Ian Belknap, performances begin January 9 and run through February 1 at the Pearl Theater, 555 West 42nd Street, NYC.

I can only imagine that one would be hard pressed to find someone who is not familiar with William Shakespeare's HAMLET. It is often produced in theatres and taught in many classrooms; however, this familiarity with the show doesn't make it any easier to being to life on stage. It is an ambitious undertaking, and not one that most companies would schedule as their second production. Yet, Houston's up and coming Trebuchet Players gleefully took the challenge head on and created a satisfying and eclectic production that springs to life with their unique brand of theatre magic.

Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, Cincinnati's stage for the classics, continues their 20th Anniversary Season with William Shakespeare's comedy "Twelfth Night", playing November 22- December 15, 2013. This production is directed by CSC Artistic Associate, Sara Clark and features CSC Resident Ensemble members Brent Vimtrup, Corinne Mohlenhoff and Maggie Lou Rader. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum will take the stage at the Shakespeare Theatre Company this holiday season. Making his STC mainstage directing debut, STC Associate Director Alan Paul heads up the hilarious and fun musical farce based on the classic plays of ancient Roman playwright Plautus. A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum will play at Sidney Harman Hall (610 F Street NW) from November 21, 2013-January 5, 2014. Check out the rehearsal photos below!

Facing Page Productions hosted Sonnet Karaoke, a high octane reading of Shakespeare's sonnets by Broadway stars and Bard lovers, on November 18th at Gossip Restaurant and Bar. BroadwayWorld has photos below!

The Baltimore Shakespeare Factory is excited to announce open enrollment for its winter Touchstone Players production of Much Ado About Nothing. Students entering grades 3-8 can experience what it might be like to travel back in time to the 1600s and be a part of the fun and excitement of Shakespeare's acting company - The King's Men. Participants will hone their acting skills, make friends, build confidence, and develop an appreciation and understanding of Shakespeare's work.

The Utah Shakespeare Festival soared this year in more ways than one. Not only did the Festival produce a regional premiere of a Tony Award-winning play, it continued the Complete the Canon initiative, started the History Cycle, and the company is preparing to break ground on a new arts center. The Festival continues to push the envelope and through countless hours and a resilient company of artists, the Festival once again received tremendous praise this year for an artistically successful season.

Venture Wolf Productions will present William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar at The London Theatre from 19th to 24th of November at 8pm (5:00 pm Sunday 24th).

BWW Award nominee Clark Nicholson directs nominee Tom Weaver and some other strong cast in a controversial production of the Shakespeare tragedy

Continuing their annual tradition of offering two plays in rotating repertory, PlayMakers Repertory Company in Chapel Hill is offering Shakespeare's The Tempest and Zimmerman's Metamorphoses. Even better, the audience gets to sit poolside.

Reuben Uy ("The King and I," "Altar Boyz"), who is originally from Manila, Philippines, plays the role of Laertes in TE San Pedro Rep's production of William Shakespeare's "Hamlet," which runs until December 21, directed by Martin Jago.

Austin Shakespeare invites anyone interested to join 'Shakespeare Aloud' where on Sunday afternoons, we read each Shakespeare play in its entirety aloud (approximately one act each week) and stop often to talk about the images, the characters, the story--whatever that day's group finds interesting. Every session's diverse backgrounds make for lively discussion as the group mines each scene for all its gold. This is a cold reading, no preparation is expected. Please bring your own copy of the play.

TWELFTH NIGHT and RICHARD III, starring the Tony-winning, incomparable Mark Rylance, have adopted a creative leniency with the characters' gender - though Shakespeare's staple to command his characters to don the garb of a member of the opposite sex, for reasons interwoven in love and lust, greed and vengeance, is a common thread running throughout his romantic repertoire.

The Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival (HVSF) announces the three plays that will run in repertory during the Company's 28th season: Othello, directed by Associate Artistic Director Christopher V. Edwards, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, directed by HVSF newcomer Eric Tucker, and David Ives' hilarious adaptation of Pierre Corneille's comedy, The Liar, directed by HVSF veteran Russell Treyz.

A visually splendorous stateside transfer of a recent production of William Shakespeare's classic comedy A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM created by noted WAR HORSE theatrical collaborators Bristol Old Vic and Handspring Puppet Company, directed by Tom Morris, will be presented next year for a limited run at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. and tickets are now on sale.

The Colorado Shakespeare Festival will follow up its critically acclaimed, popular 2013 season with a lineup that includes humor, pathos, magic and mystery, including some plays that haven't been performed at CSF for nearly 15 years.