Jason Fassl News

'Be the hero in your story and the world will be yours....' Edward Bloom consistently uses these words to inspire his son Will while he was growing up. Defining what a hero is, for Edward and his son Will, plays an epic role in First Stage's Big Fish. This shortened World Premiere for Young Audiences production retells the 2013 Broadway musical adapted from a 1990's Daniel Wallace novel with stunning results. Milwaukee's legendary Jonathan Gillard Daly becomes a theatrical hero when he transforms into Edward Bloom, husband, father and master storyteller based upon the musical's book and film written by John August.

A larger than life, show-stopping Broadway production arrives at First Stage this May. In Milwaukee's Todd Wehr Theater. Big Fishdelivers big theatrical energy because John Whiting, who worked as Associate Director for the 2013 Broadway show, now directs and choreographs this World Premiere for Young Audiences and a one act version adapted from the original musical.

Milwaukee Repertory Theater announces directors, creative teams, and initial casting for 2015/16, a season featuring a Tony Award-winning musical, a play by the Pulitzer Prize-winning Milwaukee playwright Ayad Akthar, and three world premieres.

Milwaukee Repertory Theater presents The Amish Project by Jessica Dickey, a fictional exploration of the Nickel Mines schoolhouse shooting in an Amish community, and the path of forgiveness and compassion forged in its wake. The one-person cast for The Amish Project stars Rep Associate Artist Deborah Staples. Directed by Milwaukee-based theater director and Rep Literary Coordinator Leda Hoffmann, the production runs now through March 22, 2015 and opens tonight, February 13. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

It was announced today by Bull by the Horns Productions, that Actress, Writer, and Storyteller Candice Guardino has been invited back to the Hudson Theatre to perform her smash hit show Italian Bred.

Following the showcase, Candice Guardino's hit show Italian Bred will perform on Tuesday February 3rd, 10th, and 17th at the Hudson Theatre. Italian Bred opens Tuesday February 3rd at 8pm.

It was announced today by Bull by the Horns Productions, that Actress, Writer, and Storyteller Candice Guardino has been invited back to the Hudson Theatre to perform her smash hit show Italian Bred.

Milwaukee Repertory Theater announced casting today for The Amish Project, the next production in their 2014/15 Stiemke Studio Season.

Milwaukee Repertory Theater announced casting today for Good People, the next production in their 2014/15 Quadracci Powerhouse Season. The Tony-nominated play explores complex social questions about class, luck, and escaping our roots with electric energy and razor sharp humor.

Some of the nation's most notorious villains were brought back to life on Sunday at the matinee of Four Seasons Theatre's rendition of Assassins. Stephen Sondheim's history lesson slash musical, like much of his other work, reminds audiences that the world is not black and white. Michael Herold as the Proprietor, though ringmaster would be a more fitting title, opens the show as one would a circus. A fitting parallel since the characters are so dissimilar from one another but have one end game in mind - fame. They want to matter. Just like those who would run off with the circus were simply looking for an outlet, these folks needed to feel that they matter. After all, in 'the land of the free', why shouldn't every person's story be heard? That's where this show, first staged in 1990, finds its cultural relevance in the end of 2014.

From Here to Eternity, Gone with the Wind, In Harm's Way, War and Peace…Classic literature and film where war in any century or country divides families, loved ones and nations. Renaissance Theaterworks opens their 2014-2015 season in the Studio Theatre continuing this compelling tradition with the Midwest premiere of Amelia-Playwright Alex Webb's soul-searching tribute to a woman trapped in America's struggle to end slavery. Beginning in 1861, the 'Great' Civil War tore homes, the land and lives figuratively and literally asunder for four years while the subtle aftereffects rage hidden in some human hearts 150 years later.

While a storm raged in Fish Creek outside Peninsula Players Theatre (PPT) on a Thursday evening, inside actor Christine Mild generated her own songstress fury starring in the musical memoir "Always..Patsy Cline." PPT's memorable production directed by Brian Russell retells Cline's short yet stellar country music career, through the stories related by Louise Seeger, a friend she met in Houston when on tour. Louise relates her chance meeting with Cline at the Esquire ballroom, where afterwards Cline spends the night at Louise's house, and the friendship lasts until Cline's untimely death in a plane crash at the young age of 30 (b.1932-d.1963).

The toe-tapping, heartfelt musical "Always…Patsy Cline" created and originally directed by Ted Swindley is based on a true story. It opens Sept. 3 at Peninsula Players Theatre, America's oldest professional resident summer theater and Door County's theatrical icon. "Always…Patsy Cline" features more than 25 of Cline's classic songs and will run for seven weeks closing Sunday, Oct. 19 with a 4 p.m. matinee.

Astonished. Demanded. Surprised. These few simple words ignite the provocative action in Peninsula Players Theatre Midwest premiere of Richard Strand's equally enthralling BUTLER. Staged in Fish Creek at the company's theatrical home along the Green Bay shores, the captivating civil war drama focuses on these words in the opening moments of the two act production, an intriguing catalyst that reveals itself by the final scenes of this entertaining and exceptional play.

Richard Strand's Civil War drama 'Butler' makes its Midwest Premiere August 20 at Peninsula Players Theatre, America's oldest professional resident summer theater and Door County's theatrical icon. 'Butler' is a winner of the Edgerton Foundation New American Plays Program and made its world premiere in June at the New Jersey Repertory Company.

Hot on the heels of winning multiple Jeff Awards for THE MOTHER as well as the Emerging Theater Award from Broadway In Chicago, Oracle Productions is proud to announce a world premiere adaptation of THE JUNGLE byUpton Sinclair. Adapter and director Matt Foss returns to Oracle after his 2013 smash-hit, WAITING FOR LEFTY. Sinclair's classic expose on Chicago's sordid industrial past receives a fresh, fast paced interpretation with music by Nicholas Tonozzi, who won the 2014 Jeff Award for Best Original Music for his work on THE MOTHER at Oracle. THE JUNGLE opens tonight, July 19, 2014, and runs through September 6, 2014 at Oracle Theatre (3809 N. Broadway in Chicago). Performances are Friday, Saturday and Monday nights at 8PM; Sundays at 7PM. Press are invited to attend any night during the run. Check out a first look at the production below!

Writer, actor, and storyteller Candice Guardino will bring her new solo show Italian Bred to the Hudson Theatre Mainstage for 12 performances only, it was announced today by Bull by the Horns Productions. Directed by Donna Drake, Italian Bred will play one preview today, May 28 at 2pm and opening is set for Thursday, May 29 at 8pm. The limited engagement will run through June 29.

Writer, actor, and storyteller Candice Guardino will bring her new solo show Italian Bred to the Hudson Theatre Mainstage for 12 performances only, it was announced today by Bull by the Horns Productions. Directed by Donna Drake, Italian Bred will play one preview on Wednesday, May 28 at 2pm and opening is set for Thursday, May 29 at 8pm. The limited engagement will run through June 29.

For the incurable or reluctant romantic, man or woman, Renaissance Theaterworks reprises Gary Anderson's sensuous play Skin Tight. First produced by the women's theater company in 2004, the theatrical hour reminisces one version of a marriage over a lifetime. With the sparse scenery recreating a vision of somewhere in mid-19th century rural New Zealand, the production becomes an evening as the retro song claims: 'Love is lovelier the second time around.'

Renaissance Theaterworks (RTW) presents the 3rd show of its 21st season, SKIN TIGHT. In 2004, Laura Gordon had her first professional directorial debut with SKIN TIGHT, produced by Renaissance Theaterworks. 'We're ecstatic, ten years later, Laura and the original cast are returning to remount this poetic love story. I literally cannot wait to see it again' shares Suzan Fete, RTW's Artistic Director.