Nick Ormerod News

Shakespeare in Love, starring Tome Bateman and Lucy Briggs-Owen, is currently in preview performances at the Noel Coward Theater in London and officially opens on Wednesday, July 23rd. But its journey to West End was not as easy as one would think. A few years ago, Academy-Award winning scriptwriter of Shakespeare in Love Tom Stoppard agreed to write a stage adaptation of his honored and beloved 1998 Oscar-winning film. In a recent interview with the New York Times, he revealed that he quickly realized that the task was much too difficult; he feared that the play would be a disappointing version of a project that he (and audiences worldwide) treasure so deeply.

Produced by Disney and Sonia Friedman Productions and based on the Academy Award®-winning screenplay by Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard, Shakespeare in Love has been adapted for the stage by Lee Hall (Billy Elliot). Featuring a company of 28 actors and musicians, one of the largest companies ever assembled for a play in the West End, and a dog, this new play will be directed by Declan Donnellan and designed by Nick Ormerod, the driving force behind the world-renowned theatre company, Cheek by Jowl. The new play, which opens on July 23, is currently playing at the Noel Coward Theatre. BroadwayWorld brings you highlights of the cast in action below!

Shakespeare in Love has its world premiere at the Noel Coward Theatre on Wednesday 23 July 2014, with previews from 2 July, bringing together one of the largest companies ever assembled for a play in the West End. The 28-strong cast includes a number of young actors and actor-musicians who will be making their professional debuts. Check out a first look below!

The Walt Disney Company and Sonia Friedman Productions have today announced that a Gala Performance of the stage production of Shakespeare in Love will be held at the Noel Coward Theatre in aid of The Rose Theatre Trust and Chickenshed Theatre.

Rehearsals began this week for the World Premiere stage adaptation of Shakespeare in Love, bringing together one of the largest companies ever assembled for a play in the West End. The 28-strong cast includes a number of young actors and actor-musicians who will be making their professional debuts.

Disney and Sonia Friedman Productions are delighted to announce casting for the forthcoming stage production of Shakespeare in Love. The announcement coincides with the 450th anniversary of William Shakespeare's birth.

Disney and Sonia Friedman Productions are delighted to announce casting for the roles of star-crossed lovers Will Shakespeare and Viola De Lesseps in the forthcoming stage production of Shakespeare in Love. Tom Bateman will play Will Shakespeare and Lucy Briggs-Owen will play Viola De Lesseps.

The stage premiere of Shakespeare in Love will open at London's Noel Coward Theatre in the summer of 2014. This new play will be adapted for the stage by Lee Hall from the screenplay by Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard. Declan Donnellan will direct and the production will be designed by Nick Ormerod. Shakespeare in Love will be produced by Disney Theatrical Productions and Sonia Friedman Productions.

The Barbican today announced a stellar program of events for spring and summer 2014, pushing the boundaries of all major art forms for its diverse audiences. This new program builds on the most successful year ever for the Barbican, with attendances for events at the Centre exceeding 1 million for the first time, an increase of 36% on 2011/12. In this Olympics year, box office receipts also rose 33%, and the Barbican's commercial income increased by 35%.

William Makepeace Thackeray subtitled his mid eighteenth century story, Vanity Fair, "a novel without a hero", as every one of his characters has flaws, some more than others, which he makes clear in his tale.

Classic Stage Company has announced complete casting for their upcoming production of Shakespeare's A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, which begins previews at CSC on Wednesday, April 4 for a limited engagement through Sunday, May 20. Joining two-time Tony Award winner Bebe Neuwirth (Hippolyta/Titania) and acclaimed film/television/stage star Christina Ricci (Hermia) in the cast are Jordan Dean (Demetrius), Nick Gehlfuss (Lysander), David Greenspan (Flute/Fairy), Halley Wegryn Gross (Helena), Anthony Heald (Theseus/Oberon), Erin Hill (Starveling/Fairy), Chad Lindsey (Snout/Fairy), Taylor Mac (Egeus/Puck), James Patrick Nelson (Snug/Fairy), Steven Skybell (Bottom) and Rob Yang (Quince/Fairy). Directed by Tony Speciale (Unnatural Acts), A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM has its official opening Sunday, April 29.

Is Shakespeare's ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA headed for a high-profile Australian production? In a two-day workshop for Sydney Theatre Company, the lead roles in the classic play were taken on by Richard Roxburgh and Cate Blanchett, respectively, and the Sydney Morning Herald reports that the company is seeking to mount a full scale production.

BEL AMI is coming to theaters on March 2, 2012. The film is based on the french novel by Guy de Maupassant. It is produced by Uberto Pasonlini with a screenplay by Rachel Bennette and is being directed by Declan Donnellan and Nick Ormerod.

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick, has announced that acclaimed actress Christina Ricci will join two-time Tony Award winner Bebe Neuwirth in the company's upcoming production of William Shakespeare's A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM. Directed by Tony Speciale, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM will begin performances Wednesday, March 28 and play a limited engagement through Sunday, May 6. Neuwirth will play the role of Titania and Ricci the role of Hermia. Additional casting will be announced early in the new year. Tickets will go on sale to the general public February 6. CSC is currently presenting the highly-acclaimed, sold-out production of Anton Chekhov's THE CHERRY ORCHARD (through January 8 only) and will next present Academy Award winner F. Murray Abraham in Bertolt Brecht's GALILEO, directed by Brian Kulick, beginning performances Wednesday, February 1.

BAM presents the US premiere of trailblazing theater company Cheek by Jowl's stripped-down, psychologically taut Macbeth, lauded as "one of the greatest events of the international theatre season" (El Pais, Spain).

BAM presents the US premiere of trailblazing theater company Cheek by Jowl's stripped-down, psychologically taut Macbeth, lauded as "one of the greatest events of the international theatre season" (El Pais, Spain).

Joseph V. Melillo, executive producer of the Brooklyn Academy of Music, today announced programming for the BAM 2011 Spring Season, which runs from Jan 7 through Jun 11, 2011. The season comprises eight theater, opera, and dance engagements and features BAMcinématek series, BAMcafé Live weekend music events, artist talks, visual art exhibitions, and literary events.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts presents theChekhov International Theatre Festival productions of Three Sisters on October 19 and 20 at 7:30p.m. and Twelfth Night on October 22 and 23 at 7:30 p.m. in the Kennedy Center EisenhowerTheater.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts announced its 2010-2011 theater programming. The season will feature: a Center-produced revival of Stephen Sondheim's Follies; ON THE FRINGE: Eye on Edinburgh featuring new work by artists emerging from the Edinburgh Festival Fringe; 11 and 12, directed by Peter Brook; Chekhov International Theatre Festival's Three Sisters and Twelfth Night; DRUID's The Cripple of Inishmaan; and Penumbra Theatre Company's new production I Wish You Love, as part of the Kennedy Center Fund for New American Plays. Barbara Cook's Spotlight will bring six theater cabaret performers in its fourth season, and audiences will delight in touring productions of Hair, Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific, Wicked, and Next to Normal. The 2010-2011 season is as follows: