She led the National Theatre of Scotland from infancy to worldwide renown. Now she’s headed down to London for her “absolute dream job.”
Category: theatre
Battle Over Broadway Shows At Orlando’s Planned Arts Center
“There’s a battle over Broadway in Orlando. The leaders of the new Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts say they’re going to bypass the city’s long-time Broadway show presenter, the Florida Theatrical Association, to save money.”
John Lithgow’s New Favorite Theatre Tradition
In an essay for the Sunday Arts & Leisure section, the American actor – one of the few to perform at England’s National Theatre – recounts his joyful discovery of one of the actors’ traditions there.
Funding For Playwrights To Write Plays In Theatres (What A Concept)
“The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation has launched a $3.7 million initiative that will fund three-year playwright residencies, putting the selected scribes on staff at theaters around the country, complete with salaries and benefits.”
Toronto’s Peripatetic Crow’s Theatre Gets Permanent Home
“On Tuesday, Crow’s Theatre will announce plans to open a 200-seat theatre in the heart of Toronto’s east-end Leslieville neighbourhood, an $8-million home built into the base of a new condo tower being erected by Streetcar Developments.”
Blessed Virgin Mary To Appear On Broadway, Courtesy Of Fiona Shaw And Colm Tóibín
“Drama Desk Award winner Fiona Shaw (Medea) will play the Virgin Mary in the Broadway debut of Irish novelist Colm Tóibín’s The Testament of Mary.” The piece “takes place after the crucifixion. Mary is hounded by her son’s disciples who want to write a new book claiming her son as the ‘Son of God.’ But Mary’s not buying it.”
St. Paul’s Penumbra Theatre Survives After Emergency Fundraising
“The company took in $359,000 during an emergency fund-raising campaign that ended Dec. 31, allowing it to plug a $340,000 budget shortfall and to mount a production in March.”
South Africa Sees Boom In Stand-Up Comedy
“[There’s a new] generation of South African standups who have become wildly popular, providing not only escapism but a different perspective on the nation’s problems. They tackle race, class, crime, corruption and the political elite. As court jesters tweaking the nose of the powerful, they are quite possibly helping to keep the nation sane.”
Ancient Roman Amphitheatre Discovered In England
“Remains of a huge, 2,000-year-old Roman theatre, thought to be the first of its kind in Britain, have been discovered in Kent. … In addition to the orchestra pit – in which choruses would have performed – the ruins also include a narrow stage, featuring holes that are thought to have allowed flooding for aquatic displays.”
Bette Midler To Return To Broadway After Three Decades
After years of limiting live performances to her trademark giddy extravaganzas at places like Radio City Music Hall and Las Vegas, the Divine Miss M will play the late Hollywood super-agent Sue Mengers in a one-woman show titled I’ll Eat You Last.