Natalie West News

?A Red Orchid Theatre announces its 2015-2016 Season, including the World Premieres of Pilgrims Progress by Ensemble Member Bret Neveu (The Opponent), and Sender by Ike Holter, both directed by Ensemble Member Shade Murray (Mud Blue Sky, Accidentally like a Martyr) and The Mutilated by Tennessee Williams, directed by Ensemble Member Dado (Simpatico).

It was announced today that 'charlie' has been short listed as one of 30 films in competition for the highly coveted Iris Prize, which is the world's biggest award for LGBT short films. The Award will be presented at the International Iris Prize Festival from October 7 - 11, 2015 in Cardiff, Wales.

At the same time as announcing the autumn tour dates, ATC and the Unicorn Theatre announce the cast for their co- production of the UK premiere of Martyr. Flaminia Cinque (Bridget Jones - The Edge of Reason), Kriss Dosanjh (Rafta Rafta), Mark Lockyer (London Road), Brian Lonsdale (The Pitman Painters), Daniel O'Keefe (professional debut), Natalie Radmall-Quirke (The Playboy of The Western World - Southwark Playhouse), Farshid Rokey (Mogadishu) and Jessye Romeo (Dirty Sexy Things) make up the company for Ramin Gray's production of Marius von Mayenburg's searing exploration of radicalisation and liberal multi-culturalism.

Bend It Like Beckham, the critically acclaimed 5 star new British musical, is currently booking at thePhoenix Theatre to 24 October 2015. Check out a first look at the cast in action below!

Bend It Like Beckham, the new British musical, is currently booking at the Phoenix Theatre to 24 October 2015.   Natalie Dew plays football crazy Jess with Lauren Samuels as Jules, a player with the Harriers, a local women's football team, and Jamie Campbell Bower as their coach Joe.  Sophie-Louise Dann plays the role of Paula with Jamal Andreas as Jess' good friend Tony.  Preeya Kalidas plays Pinky, Jess' sister, with Tony Jayawardena and Natasha Jayetileke as her parents, Mr and Mrs Bhamra.

A Red Orchid Theatre announces additional Ensemble casting for its 2015-2016 season. Founding Ensemble Member and Oscar Nominee Michael Shannon joins Artistic Director Kirsten Fitzgerald on stage in the World Premiere of Pilgrim's Progress by Ensemble Member Bret Neveu. Seven Ensemble Members will appear together in Tennessee Williams' The Mutilated, including Lance Baker, Jennifer Engstrom, Mierka Girten, Steve Haggard, Shade Murray, Doug Vickers and Natalie West. Murray makes his A Red Orchid stage debut with The Mutilated.

London previews for the new British musical Bend It Like Beckham begin on 15 May 2015 with opening night on 24 June 2015. In January a further 200,000 tickets were released for sale at the Phoenix Theatre, taking bookings to 24 October 2015.

?A Red Orchid Theatre announces its 2015-2016 Season, including the World Premieres of Pilgrims Progress by Ensemble Member Bret Neveu (The Opponent), and Sender by Ike Holter, both directed by Ensemble Member Shade Murray (Mud Blue Sky, Accidentally like a Martyr) and The Mutilated by Tennessee Williams, directed by Ensemble Member Dado (Simpatico).

Due to overwhelming demand, A Red Orchid Theatre announces the extension of Accidentally, Like a Martyr, written by Grant James Varjas and directed by Ensemble Member Shade Murray and featuring Ensemble Members Steve Haggard, and Doug Vickers with David Cerda, Layne Manzer, Luce Metrius, Troy West and Dominique Worsley The production now runs January 15 - March 15, 2015, at A Red Orchid Theatre, 1531 N. Wells.

A Red Orchid Theatre continues its 22nd Season with the Chicago premiere of Red Handed Otter, written by Ethan Lipton, directed by Ensemble Member Dado, and featuring Ensemble Members Guy Van Swearingen and Mierka Girten with Bob Kruse, Luce Metrius and Ashley Neal. The production runs April 9 - May 24, 2015, at A Red Orchid Theatre, 1531 N. Wells. Press Opening is Monday, April 13, 2015 at 7 p.m.

The world premiere of the new British stage musical Bend It Like Beckham, directed by Gurinder Chadha, with original music by Howard Goodall, lyrics by Charles Hart, a new book by Paul Mayeda Berges and Gurinder Chadha, has found its leading lady. The Daily Mail writes that newcomer Natalie Dew will star as 'Jess' at the Phoenix Theatre this summer.

WICKED, the classic West End musical that tells the incredible untold story of the Witches of Oz, is pleased to announce that Natalie Andreou will join the company from Monday 2 February 2015 as Standby Elphaba.

A Red Orchid Theatre opens its 22nd Season with the US premiere of Strandline, written by Abbie Spallen and directed by JR Sullivan (The Faith Healer). The production runs October 23 - December 7, 2014 at A Red Orchid Theatre, 1531 N. Wells. Press Opening is Monday, October 27, 2014 at 7 p.m.

A Red Orchid Theatre opens its 22nd Season with the US premiere of Strandline, written by Abbie Spallen and directed by JR Sullivan (The Faith Healer). The production runs today, October 23 - December 7, 2014 at A Red Orchid Theatre, 1531 N. Wells. Press Opening is Monday, October 27, 2014 at 7 p.m.

A Red Orchid Theatre's Incubator (an off & late night series dedicated to getting to know new and/or up-and-coming theatre artists in Chicago) presents A Night Out by Harold Pinter, directed by Dado. The production features 11 actors who are new to the AROT stage and runs Sunday and Monday nights August 31 - September 22 at 7:30pm at A Red Orchid Theatre, 1531 N. Wells.

A Red Orchid Theatre opens its 22nd Season with the US premiere of Strandline, written by Abbie Spallen and directed by JR Sullivan (The Faith Healer). The production runs October 23 - December 7, 2014 at A Red Orchid Theatre, 1531 N. Wells. Press Opening is Monday, October 27, 2014 at 7 p.m.

A Red Orchid Theatre (Kirsten Fitzgerald, Artistic Director; Rebecca Easton, Managing Director), Chicago's critically acclaimed resident theater company, in association with Bisno Productions (Debbie Bisno, Roberta Pereira), have announced the launch of a new collaborative partnership, A Red Orchid NYC. The newly launched initiative, here in New York, fulfills the expanded mission of the Chicago based company to introduce the Ensemble's original new works to a national audience.

A Red Orchid Theatre announces its 2014-2015 Season to include the US premiere of Abbie Spallen's Strandline directed by JR Sullivan (Faith Healer); the Chicago premiere of Accidentally Like a Martyr by Grant James Varjas, directed by Ensemble Member Shade Murray (Mud Blue Sky, The Aliens, Abigail's Party); and the Chicago premiere of Red Handed Otter by Ethan Lipton, directed by Ensemble Member Dado (Simpatico).

A Red Orchid Theatre announces a five week extension of its hit Chicago Premiere production of Marisa Wegrzyn's Mud Blue Sky directed by Ensemble Member Shade Murray. The production featuring AROT Ensemble Members Natalie West, Kirsten Fitzgerald and Mierka Girten will now run through Sunday, June 29, 2014 at A Red Orchid Theatre, 1531 N. Wells. In addition to the month-long extension, Saturday matinee performances have been added to the regular run beginning May 3.

A Red Orchid Theatre presents the Chicago Premiere of Mud Blue Sky written by Marisa Wegrzyn and directed by Ensemble Member Shade Murray. The production will feature AROT Ensemble Members Natalie West, Mierka Girten and Kirsten Fitzgerald, and will run April 9 - May 25, 2014 at A Red Orchid Theatre, 1531 N. Wells. Press Opening is Sunday, April 13, 2014 at 7:00 p.m.