W. Somerset Maugham News

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.

Seriously Coward. Coward seriously.

'There are three rules for writing the novel. Unfortunately... no one knows what they are.' --W. Somerset Maugham Encouraging words? Hardly. But when a good friend and accomplished writer said them to me, her eyes sparkled. It's taken me several books of my own to understand why. How can I possibly make sense of a craft so amorphous and shape-shifting that it seems to have no rules or boundaries?

On Tuesday, March 18, 2014, Asolo Repertory Theatre announced its 2014-2015 season and the third season of its ambitious five-year American Character Project, an in-depth exploration of the soul of this country's people, past and present. Producing Artistic Director Michael Donald Edwards and FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor Training Director/Asolo Rep Associate Artistic Director Rep Greg Leaming presented both season line-ups to more than 350 patrons in Asolo Rep's Mertz Theatre.

Albert Schultz, Founding Artistic Director of Soulpepper Theatre Company, today announced Soulpepper's 2014 season (Jan. - Sept., 2014), including eight new plays, three Soulpepper favourites and three partner presentations.

Into the sunny heat of August, ESP introduces the cool breeze of witty comedy - the terrific play Biography, by S. N. Behrman. This 1932 Broadway hit concerns the return to the United States of the Tennessee expatriate Marion Froude, who has been leading a highly artistic lifestyle in between-the-wars Europe. A portrait painter, Marion has hobnobbed with the rich and royal and renowned, and has had passionate romantic affairs - always going her own way, sometimes to her cost.

Westport Country Playhouse will present a Sunday Symposium about the classic comedy, 'The Show-Off,' and the work and life of playwright George Kelly, following today's June 16, 3 p.m. matinee performance of the funny and moving story of a family in upheaval when their youngest daughter becomes engaged to a brash loudmouth.

American Players Theatre (APT) announces its 2013 Season, which runs tonight, June 8 to October 20, 2013, and includes the first indoor Shakespeare production of the company's history: an intimate adaptation of Antony and Cleopatra by heralded off-Broadway actor and playwright James DeVita and director Kate Buckley, presented in the 200-seat Touchstone Theatre. DeVita, one of APT's Core Company members, recently completed a critically acclaimed run of his solo show In Acting Shakespeare at the Pearl Theater in New York.

Westport Country Playhouse will present a Sunday Symposium about the classic comedy, 'The Show-Off,' and the work and life of playwright George Kelly, following the Sunday, June 16, 3 p.m. matinee performance of the funny and moving story of a family in upheaval when their youngest daughter becomes engaged to a brash loudmouth.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. It's the 2013 Regional Summer Musical Theater Guide! Listings for summer theaters in Illinois, Wisconsin, Western Michigan and Northern Indiana, plus The Muny in St. Louis. If you can drive there, there's theater there! But come to our Tony Awards Viewing Party first! Sunday night, June 9th at The Call in Andersonville....

The curtain rises tomorrow on the Shaw Festival's 52nd season when W. Somerset Maugham's glittering satire Our Betters begins previews at the Royal George Theatre. Morris Panych brings his usual directorial panache to this brilliant "take no prisoners" portrait of marriage - where English estates and titled aristocracy are bought with the traditional "I do" and a large American dowry. Longtime collaborators Ken MacDonald and Charlotte Dean design the sets and costumes, respectively.

American Players Theatre (APT) announces its 2013 Season, which runs June 8 to October 20, 2013, and includes the first indoor Shakespeare production of the company's history: an intimate adaptation of Antony and Cleopatra by heralded off-Broadway actor and playwright James DeVita and director Kate Buckley, presented in the 200-seat Touchstone Theatre. DeVita, one of APT's Core Company members, recently completed a critically acclaimed run of his solo show In Acting Shakespeare at the Pearl Theater in New York.

American Players Theatre (APT) announces its 2013 Season, which runs June 8 to October 20, 2013, and includes the first indoor Shakespeare production of the company's history: an intimate adaptation of Antony and Cleopatra by heralded off-Broadway actor and playwright James DeVita and director Kate Buckley, presented in the 200-seat Touchstone Theatre. DeVita, one of APT's Core Company members, recently completed a critically acclaimed run of his solo show In Acting Shakespeare at the Pearl Theater in New York.

American Players Theatre (APT) announces its 2013 Season, which runs June 8 to October 20, 2013, and includes the first indoor Shakespeare production of the company's history: an intimate adaptation of Antony and Cleopatra by heralded off-Broadway actor and playwright James DeVita and director Kate Buckley, presented in the 200-seat Touchstone Theatre. DeVita, one of APT's Core Company members, recently completed a critically acclaimed run of his solo show In Acting Shakespeare at the Pearl Theater in New York.

Yes, it's snowing outside, but soon Spring and Summer will be upon us. That means The Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada, will beckon. The Shaw is one of the two major Canadian theatre festivals, the other being The Shakespeare Festival in Stratford, Ontario. Both are high quality venues.

The Circle by W. Somerset Maugham is a comedy of manners… a story with 2 triangles, one an elderly couple, and the second, youthful. In the first, the woman, Lady Kitty (played rightfully 'over the top' by a very funny but full of heart Rhonda Lord) has left her first husband, Clive Champion-Cheney (beautifully and truthfully played, but with a dash of humor, by the brilliant Lloyd Pedersen) when she falls in love with the then dashing Lord (Huey) Porteus (very well played by David Hunt Stafford). In the youthful triangle, Elizabeth (elegantly acted by the beautiful Shelby Kocee) is married to Arnold (largely playing an actor as well as a wonderful violinist by the name of Scott Facher), when she realizes that she has fallen in love, and vice versa, with a man of little means, Teddie (handsomely acted by Ross Alden). Now to get things relatively straight, Arnold is the son of Lady Kitty and Clive Champion-Cheney. So it seems that the daughter-in-law, Elizabeth, may be following in the footsteps of her mother-in-law. This all occurs in the beautiful upscale house in Dorset, England in the 1930s, brought to life in the beautiful set design by Jeff G. Rack, great costuming by Michele Young (I was particularly taken by a simple but gorgeous Kelly green period gown that Shelby wore), and good light design by Ric Zimmerman.

Today's announcement by Artistic Director Jackie Maxwell of the Shaw Festival's 2013 season introduces new and provocative conversations for its 52nd season. In a playbill rich with culture clashes, magical transformations and dazzling ideas, The Shaw continues its theatrical exploration of the mystery and beauty of contemporary life.

Did the show charm the critics? Let's find out...

This autumn experience the best in classic and contemporary theatre up-close and personal at Rose Theatre Kingston.

"The Bread Winner" by W. Somerset Maugham, the author of "The Circle" and "The Constant Wife," will be presented as a Script in Hand playreading at Westport Country Playhouse, tonight, June 25, 7 p.m. The reading will be directed by Anne Keefe, Playhouse artistic advisor, who is also curator of the Script in Hand series. Casting will be announced soon. Tickets to the one-night-only event are $15.