Michael Weller News

Today's top stories: read the reviews for Public Works' Hercules, and more!

Boris Pasternak's 1957 novel Doctor Zhivago won its author a Nobel Prize for Literature and later spawned a lengthy (and fairly sluggish) film directed by David Lean in 1965. It took 41 years for the original material to be turned into a musical. Written by Lucy Simon (score), Michael Weller (book), Michael Korie and Amy Powers (lyrics), it then debuted on Broadway in 2015 in a massive production led by Tam Mutu and Kelli Barrett, receiving a rather cold shoulders from critics.

Works & Process, the performing arts series at the Guggenheim, presents MCC Theater: Seared by Theresa Rebeck on Monday, September 9, 2019 at 7:30pm.

Lambert Jackson Productions today announce full casting for Dr Zhivago a?" The UK Concert Première. Joining the previously announced Ramin Karimloo (Yurii Andreyevich Zhivago) and Celinde Schoenmaker (Lara Guishar) are Rhys Bailey (Young Yurii, Sasha), Maisey Bawden (Olya), Isabella Djuve-Wood (Young Lara), Emma De-Anne Edwards (Anna Gromeko), Darcy Jacobs (Young Tonia), Kelly Mathieson (Tonia Gromeko), Charlie McCullagh (Pasha Antipov, Strelnikov), Matthew Woodyatt (Viktor Komarovksy), and Trinity Laban Musical Theatre as the ensemble. The production takes place at Cadogan Hall, on Sunday 1 September, 2pm and 6.30pm.

As BroadwayWorld previously announced, Doctor Zhivago will make its UK concert premiere this September. The concert will star Ramin Karimloo (Yurii Andreyevich Zhivago) and Celinde Schoenmaker (Lara Guishar), with further casting to be announced, and will take place at Cadogan Hall, on 1 September, 2pm and 6.30pm. Karimloo and Schoenmaker recently gave a preview at The Theatre Cafe.

Then the government, represented by its functionary Lucius (Michael Rogers), brings in Shimeus (Wade McCollum), a derelict of another sort, whimpering and traumatized by an arson that killed everyone else in his family. Lucius orders the Browns to harbor Shimeus as a guest. Almost immediately, however, Shimeus stops whimpering, and, more importantly, stops behaving like a guest, and more like an invader - well maybe not a declared invader but a lot like a space alien whose intentions toward neighbors aren't entirely clear but don't seem encouraging, a la the plant in Little Shop of Horrors.

Doctor Zhivago will make its UK concert premiere this September. The concert will star Ramin Karimloo (Yurii Andreyevich Zhivago) and Celinde Schoenmaker (Lara Guishar), with further casting to be announced, and takes place at Cadogan Hall, on 1 September, 2pm and 6.30pm.

With a picnic hosted by the Board of Trustees, the Contemporary American Theater Festival at Shepherd University welcomes 2019 company members. Attended by CATF partners, donors, and community members, this annual event is the first time CATF's 2019 company comes to celebrate the six new plays they are about to create. These artists, from around the country, including cities such as New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles, gather in historic Shepherdstown to create the future of American theater.

October 2019 will mark the beginning of St. Louis Actors' Studio's Thirteenth season, themed "Two to Tango". With the sort of clarity and theatrical density that only the two-hander can achieve, the season of exclusively two-character plays will journey through our most closely complex relationships : Mentor and Apprentice; Husband and wife; Mothers and Child.

On April 20th Ed Herendeen, the Founder and Producing Director of the Contemporary American Theater Festival (CATF), was inducted into the College of Fellows of the American Theatre at the John F. Kennedy Center Awards. This membership is a result of Herendeen's lifetime contributions to American theater and adhering to the Festival's mission of 'producing and developing new American theater.'

New Jersey Repertory Company (NJ Rep) will present 'Surfing My DNA' by actressplaywright, Jodi Long from Thursday, May 2 through Sunday, May 26, 2019. Directed by Eric Rosen, the play stars Jodi Long and features composermusician Yukio Tsuji. Broadwayworld.com had the pleasure of interviewing Jodi Long about her career and the upcoming show.

On stage, Jay O. Sanders' Cyrano spends a lot of time speaking through Christian. This time, Sanders speaks for himself.

Hot off the heels of The Prohibition Project: Ilium Was, Troy Foundry Theatre is coming at you with something totally absurdist. Troy Foundry Theatre proudly teams up with Stages on the Sound and Scott Barrow (Tectonic Theatre Project, Stages on the Sound) to bring you White Rabbit Red Rabbit .

The Vicious Circle will present two private industry readings of Jerome Foundation Fellowship recipient Amy E. Witting's new play I Wasn't Expecting You, directed by Zoey Martinson on Monday, April 8th.  Casting to be announced.

The Battle of the Sexes rages on during the Los Angeles premiere of FIFTY: WORDS by Michael Weller at the Lounge Theatre in Hollywood, featuring the remarkable actors Olga Konstantulakis and Eric Larson, directed to perfection by Shane Stevens. Perhaps because the two characters' verbal and emotional interactions with each other so honestly reflect exactly what goes on in my own relationship that I felt completely drawn in, often nodding with the realization that often two such differing outlooks on life cannot possibly find a central meeting ground that works for both people. And yet, we keep trying.

Cherry Lane Theatre proudly announces that its current production of ACTUALLY, WE'RE F**KED, which opened on March 7 and initially set to run through April 7, will now extend its run through April 21, 2019. ACTUALLY, WE'RE F**KED is a new play by Matt Williams and directed by John Pasquin.

ACTUALLY, WE'RE F**KED, a new play by Matt Williams, will be given its world-premiere production at Cherry Lane Theatre (38 Commerce St. in Manhattan), with previews starting on February 26 prior to an official opening on March 7, it has been announced by Cherry Lane founder Angelina Fiordellisi and artistic director Seri Lawrence. The play is directed by John Pasquin, with whom Mr. Williams has a long-standing collaboration, including the popular television series "Home Improvement."

The Vicious Circle will present two private industry readings of Academy Award-nominee Michael Weller's new play, BUYER BEWARE or How Lenny Bruce Found a Safe Space (and lost it again), directed by Tony Speciale.  Casting to be announced.  

ACTUALLY, WE'RE F**KED, a new play by Matt Williams, will be given its world-premiere production at Cherry Lane Theatre (38 Commerce St. in Manhattan), with previews starting on February 26 prior to an official opening on March 7, it has been announced by Cherry Lane founder Angelina Fiordellisi and artistic director Seri Lawrence. The play is directed by John Pasquin, with whom Mr. Williams has a long-standing collaboration, including the popular television series "Home Improvement."

The Vicious Circle will present two private industry readings of Academy Award-nominee Michael Weller's new play, BUYER BEWARE or How Lenny Bruce Found a Safe Space (and lost it again), directed by Tony Speciale.  Casting to be announced.