Barry James News

Co-founded by Vincent Dowling and H. Newman Marsh in 1990 with the belief that every town should have a professional theatre, Chester Theatre Company (formerly The Miniature Theatre of Chester) prepares to celebrate its landmark 30th Season with four works, each a New England Premiere. 

Theatre Royal Winchester's traditional family pantomime Beauty and the Beast is now open and receiving rave reviews from audience members!

The winners of the 11th annual Sharp Short Dance festival, presented by FORM Dance Projects, were announced on Saturday 17th November following an impressive final event held at Riverside Theatres.

At an SRO ceremony held at Zion Lutheran Church in Pittsfield, the Board of the Berkshire Theatre Critics Association presented the Berkshire Theatre Awards on the evening of Monday, November 12, 2018. This was the third year the awards have been presented to honor and celebrate the excellence and diversity of theatre in the greater Berkshire region.

Theatre Royal Winchester's traditional family pantomime Beauty and the Beast - which launched at The Brooks Shopping Centre in September - opens Saturday 1 December, headlining Christmas at the venue.

Hailed as one of the great playwrights of all-time, Nobel Prize-winner Luigi Pirandello's Naked, in a new version by Nicholas Wright, delves deep into the struggle of self-identity, and the tendency to skew reality to benefit desires of the heart. Directed by Eric Hill (BTG: At Home at the Zoo, The Homecoming, Poe), Naked follows the story of a woman, in the midst of questioning her existence, as the men around her impose their view of her into the world.

At each turn, characters undergo significant changes in personality, demeanor, and motivation. It can be both exhilarating and at times slightly confusing for audience members to watch the characters twist along with the plot. It is rewarding, however, as we are entertained by an exploration of the psychological defense of denial along the journey to one's truth.

Written by Nobel Prize Award-winner Luigi Pirandello, in a new version by Nicholas Wright, Naked begins performances Today, September 27 at 7pm at The Unicorn Theatre in Stockbridge, MA. Opening night is set for Saturday, September 29 at 7pm. Directed by Eric Hill (BTG: At Home at the Zoo, The Homecoming, Poe), the production features: David Adkins (Homeland BTG: The Petrified Forest, At Home at the Zoo) as Alfredo Cantavalle; Haley Aguero (BTG: Tarzan, The Music Man) as Emma; James Barry (Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson BTG: The Caretaker, The Who's Tommy) as Franco Laspiga; Jeffrey Doornbos (A Thousand Miles Behind) as Consul Grotti; Tara Franklin (Sleep No More BTG: At Home at the Zoo, The Homecoming) as Ersilia Drei; Barbara Sims (A Streetcar Named Desire BTG: Benefactors) as Signora Onoria; and Obie and Drama Desk Award-winner, Rocco Sisto (The King and I BTG: The Homecoming) as Ludovico Nota. This production is sponsored by Lead Sponsor, Bobbie Hallig; Furlano and Arace, PC; The Westifeld News Group; Massachusetts Cultural Council and The Shubert Foundation.

With rehearsals starting today, the full cast has been announced for Aria Entertainment's prestigious festival of new musical theatre, From Page To Stage (FPTS), which returns with gusto for a 6th successful year from September 2018 at London's Southwark Playhouse. Jane Deitch has cast the 37-strong company, who will each star in one of the seven brand new musicals featured in the 2018 festival.

Written by Nobel Prize Award-winner Luigi Pirandello, in a new version by Nicholas Wright, Naked begins performances Thursday, September 27 at 7pm at The Unicorn Theatre in Stockbridge, MA. Opening night is set for Saturday, September 29 at 7pm. Directed by Eric Hill (BTG: At Home at the Zoo, The Homecoming, Poe), the production features: David Adkins (Homeland BTG: The Petrified Forest, At Home at the Zoo) as Alfredo Cantavalle; Haley Aguero (BTG: Tarzan, The Music Man) as Emma; James Barry (Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson BTG: The Caretaker, The Who's Tommy) as Franco Laspiga; Jeffrey Doornbos (A Thousand Miles Behind) as Consul Grotti; Tara Franklin (Sleep No More BTG: At Home at the Zoo, The Homecoming) as Ersilia Drei; Barbara Sims (A Streetcar Named Desire BTG: Benefactors) as Signora Onoria; and Obie and Drama Desk Award-winner, Rocco Sisto (The King and I BTG: The Homecoming) as Ludovico Nota. This production is sponsored by Lead Sponsor, Bobbie Hallig; Furlano and Arace, PC; The Westifeld News Group; Massachusetts Cultural Council and The Shubert Foundation.

Chester Theatre Company (CTC) is proud to present Amherst native Annie Baker's The Aliens in the historic Chester Town Hall, 15 Middlefield Road in Chester, MA from August 9 through August 19, 2018.   Jasper and KJ, both suffering from 'failure to launch,' have created their own universe behind a local coffee shop, where the dumpster smells last week's lattes. Enter Evan, an impressionable new employee/high school student intrigued by the pair's unconventional charm. While the two impart their 'wisdom' on their new, young friend, life's great pleasures like literature and music are savored along with its bitter brew.  

Million Dollar Quartet, the Tony award-winning Broadway musical, tells the story of the afternoon that Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins recorded some of the most iconic rock 'n' roll songs of all time. You will be transported to Memphis, Tennessee on December 4, 1956, where music was changed forever.

When Rock n' Roll burst onto the scene in the late 1950s, it brought with it a veritable revolution in American popular music. Seen by some as 'the Devil's music,' by others as a passing fad, this vibrant, electric sound proved itself a lasting phenomenon. So perhaps it is fitting that more than sixty years later a musical celebrating four of the greatest legends of early rock should open Maine State Music Theatre's 60th anniversary season. And what an opening this is! Million Dollar Quartet explodes onto the Pickard stage with the energy of a mega concert and the intensity of a high-stakes drama. It is a tale that is at once about the music itself and the men who made it, about dreams and determination, about stumbling and success. In a dazzling production directed by Hunter Foster, MSMT scores the perfect kickoff to its own milestone season.

Founding Executive Director Kathy Evans announced the 19 writers of 9 new musicals in this summer's Rhinebeck Writers Retreat. This year's writers include 2018 Jonathan Larson winners Andrew Farmer and Andrew Butler, 2018 Kleban winner Amanda Yasnowitz, Tony-winner Ken Davenport, 2018 Lucille Lortel winner for Outstanding Musical (KPOP) Max Vernon, Emmy winner Doug Katsaros, Obie winner Erin Courtney, and the writers of the podcast musical 36 questions who are developing their next musical, Chris Littler and Ellen Winter.

Maine State Music Theatre opens its 60thseason with a new title to the Pickard Stage. Million Dollar Quartet is produced in association with the Fulton Theatre and is the electrifying story of how four stars made music history! Million Dollar Quartet runs from June 6 to June 23. 

Some of the top talent in the Broadway community will be gracing the stage of The Cape Playhouse this summer. The impressive list of headliners includes Judy Kuhn, Michelle Pawk, Mary Testa, Nancy Opel, Jennifer Simard, Mike McGowan and Jennifer Cody..Michael Rader, Artistic Director, today announced the casting for the historic theatre's 92nd season in Dennis, MA. The six-play schedule, running from June 12 - September1, 2018, features three plays and three musicals-including three Playhouse premieres-in a season featuring Tony and Drama Desk Award-winning shows and the premiere and Pre-National Tour Engagement of a new production of the classic movie Clue: On Stage.

BroadwayWorld presents a comprehensive weekly roundup of regional stories around our Broadway World, which include videos, editor spotlights, regional reviews and more. This week, we feature BRIGHT STAR, ALADDIN, THE MUSIC MAN and More!

Million Dollar Quartet is the kind of show that invites dancing in the aisles. It is a fun and memorable blast from the past.

The Fulton Theatre in association with Maine State Music Theatre is excited to bring to the stage, Million Dollar Quartet! The electrifying story of how 4 stars made music history!