Garry Hynes News

Spoleto Festival USA has gone from last year's 40th anniversary geniality to its customary edginess, and Druid Theatre's WAITING FOR GODOT wonderfully keynotes that shift at Dock Street Theatre.

Spoleto Festival USA brings its annual performing arts excellence to the Holy City.

Festival General Director Nigel Redden has announced the program for the 41st annual Spoleto Festival USA, taking place May 26 through June 11, 2017, in Charleston, South Carolina. "On the heels of a hugely exciting 40th season, this year's Festival promises to build on that momentum, with even more dance and theater performances than in previous years," says Redden. "Charleston's rich history in the arts comes alive during each Festival, and we will explore that history and add to it again in 2017."

The Drama League has announced the 2017 Drama League Awards Nominees for Outstanding Play, Outstanding Revival of a Play, Outstanding Musical, Outstanding Revival of a Musical, and the much-coveted Distinguished Performance Award. Scroll down for the full list of nominees!

Three-time Emmy and Tony Award nominee Kate Burton will be joining the faculty of the USC School of Dramatic Arts as professor and master artist, beginning in fall 2017. Burton, who is currently starring with Kevin Kline in the Broadway revival of Noel Coward's backstage comedy, Present Laughter, is recognized as one of the industry's most versatile actresses.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater announces nine productions of the 2017/18 Season-which will engage audiences with timeless stories in transformational settings. The season also marks the introduction of the Theater's new and innovative third performance venue, The Yard at Chicago Shakespeare. Additional productions are to be announced this summer.

Two dozen nominations of outstanding actors, directors, designers and ensembles were announced today by The Boston Theater Critics Association (BTCA), with winners to be revealed at the 35th Annual Elliot Norton Awards on Monday, May 15, 2017 at 7 PM, at Huntington Theatre Company's BU Theatre.  

Villanova Theatre has announced the 11th Annual Philadelphia Theatre Research Symposium (PTRS), featuring a keynote address by renowned director Kwame Kwei-Armah and distinguished dramaturg Gavin Witt of Baltimore Center Stage, one of the leading regional theatres in the nation.

A Public Fit, an emerging Las Vegas theater organization, is presenting the edgy drama, The Tony Award-winning play, 'The Beauty Queen of Leenane' from Feb. 17-March 5.

ArtsEmerson presents the Druid Theatre Company production of Martin McDonagh's THE BEAUTY QUEEN OF LEENANE, directed by Tony Award-winner Garry Hynes and featuring Tony Award-winner Marie Mullen. Rounding out the stellar cast are Aisling O' Sullivan, Marty Rea, and Aaron Monaghan. This is a powerful piece of theater that should not be missed.

The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize has announced 10 Finalists for its prestigious playwriting award, the oldest and largest prize awarded to women playwrights.

Artistic Director Michael Kahn announced today the Company's 2017-2018 Season. Continuing his commitment to explore the classics from a variety of perspectives, Kahn, now in his 31st year with the Company, has put together a diverse season of renowned plays, including celebrated 20th-century playwrights, a classic musical, a world premiere and, of course, Shakespeare.

The 1998 Tony Award ceremony was quite a history-making night, as THE BEAUTY QUEEN OF LEENANE's Garry Hynes became the first woman to be awarded a Tony for directing a play. Her honor was received mere minutes before THE LION KING's Julie Taymor became the first woman awarded a Tony for directing a musical.

Druid Theatre will remount Martin McDonagh's sensational, award-winning dark comedy, The Beauty Queen of Leenane, at BAM's Harvey Theater (651 Fulton St.) this winter.

Festival General Director Nigel Redden announced today the program for the 41st annual Spoleto Festival USA, taking place May 26 through June 11, 2017, in Charleston, South Carolina. "On the heels of a hugely exciting 40th season, this year's Festival promises to build on that momentum," says Redden. "Charleston's rich history in the arts comes alive during each Festival, and we will explore that history and add to it again in 2017."

There are undoubtedly other productions worthy of merit in 2016 which I did not cover. This list is based only on what I saw and reviewed. (alphabetical listings; Equity, Equity-waiver & Non-Equity productions are mixed) (artists performing outside LA may be included in performance categories) No set, costume, technical awards. I leave that to the bigger awards and to the expertise of those who really know those fields inside out.

Druid Theatre will remount Martin McDonagh's sensational, award-winning dark comedy, The Beauty Queen of Leenane, at BAM's Harvey Theater (651 Fulton St.) this winter.

Center Theatre Group opened the Druid production of 'The Beauty Queen of Leenane' this week. See all the fabulous photos from the event below.

For the most part, brilliantly written classic plays make their locale the main character of the piece. Think of Tennessee Williams. All of his plays take place in the American South; poverty-stricken New Orleans sets the background for Streetcar among other plays. In Martin McDonagh's The Beauty Queen of Leenane, the small town of Leenane in Connemara, County Galway, Ireland not only displays the frequent rainy, dismal atmosphere for Mag Folan (Marie Mullen) and daughter Maureen (Aisling O'Sullivan), but it sets the lugubrious tone of isolation that cripples and destroys them. Now on the Taper stage through December 18 the Druid Company of Galway who originated the play in 1996, which went on to win four Tonys on Broadway in 1998, presents a stark portrait that lingers in the mind long after one leaves the theatre.