Metamorphoses 2001 - Articles Page 7

Last year, Berkeley Repertory Theatre introduced lower ticket prices to ensure that everyone could enjoy world-class theatre. Now, as reports about the economy encourage consumers to tighten their belts, its series of free events allows theatre lovers another way to stretch their entertainment dollars.

Berkeley Repertory Theatre greets the new year by proudly presenting its 50th world premiere, a new comedy about marriage, intimacy, and electricity from the creators of Eurydice. Celebrated playwright Sarah Ruhl and Obie Award-winning director Les Waters come together again for the debut of In the Next Room (or the vibrator play). Commissioned by Berkeley Rep and staged in the state-of-the-art Roda Theatre, this hotly anticipated play begins previews on January 30, opens February 4, and closes March 15. BART and Wells Fargo serve as season sponsors for Berkeley Rep's 41st year of fearless theatre, and the executive producer for this show is the Strauch Kulhanjian Family.

Arena Stage recently received news that an actor cast in a leading role of the upcoming production of Sweet Bird of Youth is no longer available. At the same time, Arena was presented with the opportunity to produce a pre-Broadway comedy about an American icon starring a four-time Emmy Award-winning actress. With the major artist no longer available to perform in Sweet Bird of Youth, the theater has decided to seize the limited-time opportunity to share Looped?starring Valerie Harper (Rhoda in The Mary Tyler Moore Show) as Tallulah Bankhead?with its audiences prior to the show's Broadway engagement.

Next month, Tony Award-winning director Mary Zimmerman returns to Berkeley Repertory Theatre with an alluring adaptation of The Arabian Nights. This is Zimmerman's sixth trip to Berkeley Rep, and for the first time she works her magic on the intimate Thrust Stage. The Arabian Nights runs from November 13 through January 4 with the official press night on November 19.

Four Time Emmy Award winning actress Valerie Harper stars as Tallulah Bankhead in the Pre-Broadway Engagement of Looped , a new comedy by Matthew Lombardo and directed by Rob Ruggiero. The production (direct from its sold out World Premiere at The Pasadena Playhouse) arrives at The Cuillo Centre for the Arts, prior to a Broadway bow in Summer 2009. Tony Award winning actor Jarrod Emick co-stars.

Next month, Tony Award-winning director Mary Zimmerman returns to Berkeley Repertory Theatre with an alluring adaptation of The Arabian Nights. This is Zimmerman's sixth trip to Berkeley Rep, and for the first time she works her magic on the intimate Thrust Stage. The Arabian Nights runs from November 13 through January 4 with the official press night on November 19.

Today Tony Taccone, artistic director of Berkeley Repertory Theatre, announced additional dates for two solo shows that he staged in Berkeley before launching them on tours across the continent. Danny Hoch's Taking Over had its world premiere at Berkeley Rep in January and hit it big in Montreal this July; next week it starts an All City Tour featuring free performances in Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx in addition to previously announced dates in Manhattan and Los Angeles. Moreover, after a record-breaking run in Berkeley last winter, Carrie Fisher's Wishful Drinking careened through Hartford, San Jose, Santa Fe, and Washington, DC this summer; now it adds Seattle to a list of upcoming destinations that also includes Boston.

The long, strange trip is coming to an end: Passing Strange, the rock musical that was born at Berkeley Repertory Theatre, enjoyed an extended off-Broadway run at The Public Theater, and then burst onto Broadway with its original cast intact is scheduled to close this Sunday - but not until it's saved on film. On Saturday, celebrated director Spike Lee will shoot two of the show's final performances to preserve it for future generations!

Tony Taccone, the artistic director of Berkeley Repertory Theatre, announced today that the Tony Award-winning company will conclude its 2008/09 Season with the world premiere of You, Nero, a new comedy written by Amy Freed and directed by Sharon Ott, will rule the Thrust Stage from May 8 through June 21, 2009. Starring Danny Scheie as the preposterous emperor of ancient Rome, You, Nero will be produced in association with South Coast Repertory, where it debuts in January.

Tony Taccone, artistic director of Berkeley Repertory Theatre, revealed that Danny Hoch's 'Taking Over' - which made its world premiere at Berkeley Rep in January - is headed on the road.

The new production of WICKED is being mounted specifically for Southern California and stars Eden Espinosa and Megan Hilty as Elphaba and Glinda.

Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schoenberg's THE PIRATE QUEEN, the spectacular new musical from the authors of Les Miserables and Miss Saigon, will play a pre-Broadway, World Premiere engagement in Chicago from October 3rd through November 26th, 2006.