Category: theatre

Once Barcelona translator Joan Sellent had completed his translation of A Delicate Balance into Catalan, he received from Albee’s agent “a five-column grid, which was to be filled in with ‘any deviation from the exact English words and the explanation why this couldn’t be directly translated into Spanish [sic], and why the words that were chosen were used’.”

“Michael Grandage has announced his first project after leaving the Donmar Warehouse – a 15-month season of work in the West End with casts including Judi Dench, Daniel Radcliffe, Simon Russell Beale and Jude Law and 100,000 tickets priced at only £10.”

“[The] duration becomes, in many ways, a selling point; something that marks out the show as interesting or out of the ordinary. … The explanation for this, I think, is that there is a natural human fascination with the possibilities of stamina, both as a participant and an observer.”

The D.C. Black Theatre Festival started a mere two years ago – and has exploded as a venus for African-American drama, comedies, musicals, and more. “We wanted a festival that embraced both sides of the story — both urban and regional theater because of the importance of the story,” founder Glenn Alan said.

Queen Elizabeth II knighted Kenneth Branagh and gave Kate Winslet an Order of the British Empire as part of her regular Birthday Honors. Branagh was excited to join the knighted actor side: “‘When I was a kid, I dreamed of pulling on a shirt for the Northern Ireland football team,’ said the Belfast-born, 51-year-old actor. ‘I could only imagine how proud you might feel. Today it feels like they just gave me the shirt, and my heart’s fit to burst.'”

“The Shakespeare Theater has filed a lawsuit against its landlord, a nonprofit organization created in support of the theater, to attempt to prevent it from raising the Lansburgh Theater’s rent by 700%, according to court documents. The theater is seeking an injunction to prevent its rent from being raised, as well as a ruling that will allow it to remain in the building. The lawsuit also requests that members of the nonprofit landlord’s board be dismissed.”

Oskar Eustis, artistic director of the Public Theatre: “Those bugs and those helicopters, as annoying as they are, are actually making a statement: Theater isn’t supposed to be cut off from life. … Theater is supposed to be at the center of the city. It’s not supposed to be in a dead, quiet cloistered little hall where the city doesn’t get into.”

“A Noise Within has reported an upswing in audiences in its first season at its new location in Pasadena. The classical repertory theater company, which was located in Glendale for close to 20 years, began performances at its new venue in October.”

“I have a stand up set that pokes fun at stereotypes and assumptions about being Asian and being in theater. I rarely perform it now because afterwards people seem to be reminded I’m Asian for the first time, and oftentimes have an endless stream of really helpful additional jokes to add or awkward comments to make about it all.”

“Fundraising sites such as Lucky Ant, Kickstarter, and Indiegogo have become increasingly popular for independent artists and theater companies. Across social networks, the theater’s website, and mainstream media, the Living Theatre displayed the link to its designated page on Lucky Ant alongside a plea to ‘save the living.’ The Doors’ Facebook page, which has more than 11 million fans, helped by posting the message, ‘The Living Theater needs your help. Donate now to save TLT, just like Jim Morrison did in 1969.'”