Stephen Ray News

The new DC area theatre season begins in September. Over 50 shows are opening in our professional and community theatres. But before we move on to the new season and what's opening in September, let's look back at my personal favorite musicals, plays, and performances in both musicals and plays in the DC area - from August 2010 to August 2011.

Tampa Bay's professional theaters announce the first annual Jeff Norton Theater Awards to be held Monday, August 22 at The Palladium Theater at St. Petersburg College, 253 Fifth Ave. N, St. Petersburg, FL. The event starts at 7pm with after-party to follow.

Whether you've been living under a rock for the past week, or you're just in the mood for a recap of everything theatre, BroadwayWorld's new feature, 'This Week in Pictures' is here to satisfy your end of the week fix. Take a look below to catch up on the latest happenings from the Great White Way to the West End (and everywhere in between) with coverage of press events, rehearsals, opening nights and more! For last week's biggest events: visit THIS WEEK IN PICTURES: August 6- 12 !

Ford's Theatre presents the Washington premiere of the Tony-winning musical drama 'Parade,' directed by Stephen Rayne, September 23 though October 30, 2011. The centerpiece of this year's programming for The Lincoln Legacy Project, Parade is based on the true story of Leo Frank's trial and lynching in early 20th-century Atlanta. Ostracized for his faith and Northern heritage, Jewish factory manager Leo Frank is accused of murdering a teenaged factory girl the day of the annual Confederate Memorial Day parade. Alfred Uhry's award-winning book and Jason Robert Brown's rousing, colorful and haunting score illuminate a circus of conflicting accounts, false testimony and mishandled evidence in a town reeling with social and racial tension. Isolated from the world, Leo develops a new and deeper love for his wife, who tirelessly crusades for his freedom. Tony-Award nominee Euan Morton stars as Leo Frank with Jenny Fellner as Lucille Frank in this compelling and provocative tale of justice miscarried. Check out photos from the production below!

Tampa Bay's professional theaters announce the first annual Jeff Norton Theater Awards to be held Monday, August 22 at The Palladium Theater at St. Petersburg College, 253 Fifth Ave. N, St. Petersburg, FL. The event starts at 7pm with after-party to follow.

In anticipation of the February 2012 Grand Opening of the new Ford's Theatre Center for Education and Leadership, the Ford's Theatre Society announces the Lincoln Legacy Project; a five-year effort to create a dialogue in our nation's capital around the issues of tolerance, equality and acceptance.

American Stage Theatre Company will produce the Broadway smash hit musical that defined a generation, RENT, during the theatre's 26th anniversary production of American Stage in the Park, April 13 thru May 8. Pay What You Can nights are April 13 and 14. Gala Under the Stars will be April 15 (fundraiser event). RENT is written by Jonathan Larson. Bring Your Dog Night is April 14 and Bike Nights are every Wednesday.

American Stage Theatre Company continues its 'After Hours' series tradition of holiday productions with readings of the irreverent musical A VERY MERRY UNAUTHORIZED CHILDREN'S SCIENTOLOGY PAGEANT by Kyle Jarrow and Alex Timbers and famous author David Sedaris' THE SANTALAND DIARIES running in repertory with each other, Dec. 9 thru Dec. 22.

From Saturday 20 November The Court Theatre will be transformed into the Kit Kat Klub for the Press Summer Season of CABARET.

From Saturday 20 November The Court Theatre will be transformed into the Kit Kat Klub for the Press Summer Season of CABARET.

Jobsite Theater, resident theater company of Tampa's Straz Center (was Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center) is touring their award-winning Pericles: Prince of Tires in a showcase format to New York's HERE. Pericles: Prince of Tires is a comic rock mob musical based on William Shakespeare's Pericles, Prince of Tyre.

Jobsite Theater, resident theater company of Tampa's Straz Center (was Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center) is touring their award-winning Pericles: Prince of Tires in a showcase format to New York's HERE. Pericles: Prince of Tires is a comic rock mob musical based on William Shakespeare's Pericles, Prince of Tyre. Joe Popp (dogs on ice, The Hornrims; MAXWELL) has paired his power-punk music and oddball sense of humor with the estimable talents of perennial Jobsite wordsmiths Neil Gobioff & Shawn Paonessa (The Curse of Milhaven, The March of the Kitefliers) to create an ass-kicking good time. Pericles runs for a limited engagement April 15-17, 2010, at HERE.

Jobsite Theater, resident theater company of Tampa's Straz Center (was Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center) is touring their award-winning Pericles: Prince of Tires in a showcase format to New York's HERE. Pericles: Prince of Tires is a comic rock mob musical based on William Shakespeare's Pericles, Prince of Tyre.

Jobsite Theater, resident theater company of Tampa's Straz Center (was Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center) is touring their award-winning Pericles: Prince of Tires in a showcase format to New York's HERE. Pericles: Prince of Tires is a comic rock mob musical based on William Shakespeare's Pericles, Prince of Tyre. Joe Popp (dogs on ice, The Hornrims; MAXWELL) has paired his power-punk music and oddball sense of humor with the estimable talents of perennial Jobsite wordsmiths Neil Gobioff & Shawn Paonessa (The Curse of Milhaven, The March of the Kitefliers) to create an ass-kicking good time. Pericles runs for a limited engagement April 15-17, 2010, at HERE.

Jobsite Theater, resident theater company of Tampa's Straz Center (was Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center) is touring their award-winning Pericles: Prince of Tires in a showcase format to New York's HERE. Pericles: Prince of Tires is a comic rock mob musical based on William Shakespeare's Pericles, Prince of Tyre.

Jobsite Theater, resident theater company of Tampa's Straz Center (was Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center) is touring their award-winning Pericles: Prince of Tires in a showcase format to New York's HERE. Pericles: Prince of Tires is a comic rock mob musical based on William Shakespeare's Pericles, Prince of Tyre. Joe Popp (dogs on ice, The Hornrims; MAXWELL) has paired his power-punk music and oddball sense of humor with the estimable talents of perennial Jobsite wordsmiths Neil Gobioff & Shawn Paonessa (The Curse of Milhaven, The March of the Kitefliers) to create an ass-kicking good time. Pericles runs for a limited engagement April 15-17, 2010, at HERE.

American Stage Theatre Company 'After Hours' series continues with A TRUMAN CAPOTE CHRISTMAS STORY, Nov. 23 thru 30, 2009.

American Stage Theatre Company 'After Hours' series continues with A TRUMAN CAPOTE CHRISTMAS STORY, Nov. 23 thru 30, 2009.

American Stage Theatre Company 'After Hours' series continues with A TRUMAN CAPOTE CHRISTMAS STORY, Nov. 23 thru 30, 2009.

From October 5th through 7th, Rubén Flores and Jana Martinez performed 'Pensando en Ti (Thinking of You)' at the Metropolitan Room