The Circle Repertory News

Connecticut Repertory Theatre (CRT) launches its 2012 Nutmeg Summer Series with Man of La Mancha, running June 7 - 16 in the intimate Harriett S. Jorgensen Theatre (lower Jorgensen Auditorium) on the UConn campus, Storrs.

You might think that strong foundations should be part and parcel of the Industrial Age in New England. And they were. But when those bracing features controlled the soft contours of ladies in polite company, at tea and virtually everywhere else, they became, well, personal torture chambers. You can feel their inner pain, and outer satisfaction, when you view an array of historic fashions, worn and collected by local women, in a costume exhibit, titled "Women of New England: Dress from the Industrial Age, 1850-1900," from June 4 through August 17 in the Jorgensen Gallery.

Pittsburgh CLO has announced casting for its summer season, which includes six shows, featuring the national tours of Come Fly Away and The Addams Family, and CLO original productions of A Chorus Line, Annie, Fiddler on the Roof and Sunset Boulevard. Notably, A CHORUS LINE brings on board a slew of the show's national tour veterans, ANNIE stars Sally Struthers as Miss Hannigan, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF features Broadway's Lewis J. Stadlen, Susan Cella, Hunter Herdlicka, Joel Robertson, Emily Shoolin and Kay Walbye. Liz Callaway and Walter Charles are set to star in SUNSET BOULEVARD.

Atlantic Theater Company (Neil Pepe, Artistic Director; Jeffory Lawson, Managing Director) presents the world premiere of STOREFRONT CHURCH, written and directed by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award® winner John Patrick Shanley and starring Bob Dishy, Giancarlo Esposito, Zach Grenier, Ron Cephas Jones and Tonya Pinkins. STOREFRONT CHURCH will begin previews Wednesday, May 16; officially open Monday, June 11; and play a limited engagement through Sunday, June 24 Off-Broadway as the first production to return to Atlantic's main stage Linda Gross Theater in Chelsea following completion of a historic $8.3M renovation.

Joanna Chan, artistic director of Yangtze Repertory Theater of America, has adapted THE CIRCLE OF CHALK by Li QianFu into a multilingual play with arias in the style of Cantonese Opera.

The cast of the American premiere of the Royal Court Theatre's Olivier Award-winning new production, COCK will star Jason Butler Harner as M, Amanda Quaid as W, Cory Michael Smith as John and Cotter Smith as F. Written by Mike Bartlett and directed by James Macdonald, COCK will open Off-Broadway at The Duke on 42nd Street, a NEW 42nd STREET project, 229 West 42nd Street, on Thursday, May 17 and previews will begin Thursday, May 1.

Pittsburgh CLO has announced the creative team for the 2012 Summer Season, running June 5 through August 5 at the Benedum Center. Three Pittsburgh CLO veterans and one newcomer highlight this group selected to helm the organization's 66th year of bringing Broadway's best to Pittsburgh's Cultural District. The season includes the National Tour of Come Fly Away (June 5-10), A Chorus Line (June 15-24), Annie(June 29-July 8), Fiddler on the Roof (July 13-22), Sunset Boulevard (July 24-29) and the National Tour of The Addams Family (July 31-August 5).

In celebration of March Madness and the 35th Anniversay of Marquette's National Championship, the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts is pleased to announce that Cotter Smith will star as Al McGuire in COACH: THE UNTOLD STORY OF COLLEGE BASKETBALL LEGEND AL MCGUIRE and is directed by Heidi Mueller Smith.

In celebration of March Madness and the 35th Anniversay of Marquette's National Championship, the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts is pleased to announce that Cotter Smith will star as Al McGuire in COACH: THE UNTOLD STORY OF COLLEGE BASKETBALL LEGEND AL MCGUIRE and is directed by Heidi Mueller Smith.

Jan McArt, the legendary Florida theater pioneer who two Governors proclaimed to be the 'First Lady of Florida Musical Theatre,' returns to the South Florida stage, this time starring in Tony Finstrom's new comedy thriller MURDER ON GIN LANE.

United Solo Theatre Festival presents Drama, Comedy, Storytelling, Stand-up, and Improv in 'CLUTTER: I'M SAVING MY LIFE AND IT'S KILLING ME' written and performed by NANCY REDMAN directed by AUSTIN PENDLETON

Jan McArt, the legendary Florida theater pioneer who two Governors proclaimed to be the 'First Lady of Florida Musical Theatre,' returns to the South Florida stage, this time starring in Tony Finstrom's new comedy thriller MURDER ON GIN LANE.

United Solo Theatre Festival presents Drama, Comedy, Storytelling, Stand-up, and Improv in 'CLUTTER: I'M SAVING MY LIFE AND IT'S KILLING ME' written and performed by NANCY REDMAN directed by AUSTIN PENDLETON

The first play to be featured will be MURDER ON GIN LANE by Tony Finstrom. Wayne Rudisill will direct the reading and the all-star cast will include Jeffrey Bruce, soon to be seen in JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECNICOLOR DREAMCOAT at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre; Iris Acker, the host of the local Beacon TV series Onstage with iris Acker; Beth Holland, New York actress and local Board of Directors President of The Symphony of the Americas; and Ms. McArt, who is widely recognized as the First Lady of Florida's Musical Theatre.

Having commissioned the world's first Mariachi opera and premiered the work to great acclaim last season, Houston Grand Opera crosses the Atlantic with its pioneering creation for season-opening performances September 23-27 at the illustrious Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris.

Connecticut Repertory Theatre (CRT), concludes its 2011 Nutmeg Summer Series with My Fair Lady, closing July 17 in the Harriett S. Jorgensen Theatre (lower Jorgensen Auditorium) on the UConn Storrs campus.

Ann Arbor's professional theatre turns 30 next year, and as the award-winning troupe wraps up its 29th season with record-breaking attendance, PNT announces its long-awaited 30th anniversary season.

Following sold out runs of Twelfth Night and Richard II last summer, Sonnet Repertory Theatre announces their upcoming production of Brecht's The Caucasian Chalk Circle, directed by Christopher Schilder. The Caucasian Chalk Circle will begin performances on Thursday, July 28, with an official opening slated for Friday, July 29.

Connecticut Repertory Theatre (CRT), concludes its 2011 Nutmeg Summer Series with My Fair Lady, running July 7 - 17 in the Harriett S. Jorgensen Theatre (lower Jorgensen Auditorium) on the UConn Storrs campus. CRT is delighted to have soap opera legend Eileen Fulton, who portrayed Lisa Miller Grimaldi on As the World Turns for almost 50 years, starring as Mrs. Higgins in My Fair Lady.

Connecticut Repertory Theatre (CRT), concludes its 2011 Nutmeg Summer Series with My Fair Lady, running July 7 - 17 in the Harriett S. Jorgensen Theatre (lower Jorgensen Auditorium) on the UConn Storrs campus. CRT is delighted to have soap opera legend Eileen Fulton, who portrayed Lisa Miller Grimaldi on As the World Turns for almost 50 years, starring as Mrs. Higgins in My Fair Lady.