Gretchen Hall News

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater kicks off the second year of programming in the company's new home with the 2011/12 Season Opening Celebration September 15, 2011. The evening, which benefits Arena Stage's Community Engagement and educational programs, will include cocktails and dinner featuring the presentation of the American Artist Award to Tony and Emmy award-winning actress Leslie Uggams, followed by the highly anticipated season opening performance of Trouble in Mind by Alice Childress in the Kreeger Theater.

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater kicks off the second year of programming in the company's new home with the 2011/12 Season Opening Celebration September 15, 2011. The evening, which benefits Arena Stage's Community Engagement and educational programs, will include cocktails and dinner featuring the presentation of the American Artist Award to Tony and Emmy award-winning actress Leslie Uggams, followed by the highly anticipated season opening performance of Trouble in Mind by Alice Childress in the Kreeger Theater.

After a memorable and record-breaking inaugural year, Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater celebrates its 61st anniversary season with Trouble in Mind, written by playwright Alice Childress. Childress was the first African-American woman to have her plays professionally produced in New York, and she became the first woman of color to win an Obie Award, in 1956 for Trouble in Mind (Best Original Production).

Ars Nova presents, as part of the Out Loud series, a FREE reading of: THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD by Jenny Connell, directed by Giovanna Sardelli. The cast includes Emily Bergl, Arjun Gupta, Gretchen Hall and Carra Patterson.

Ars Nova presents, as part of the Out Loud series, a FREE reading of: THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD by Jenny Connell, directed by Giovanna Sardelli. The cast includes Emily Bergl, Arjun Gupta, Gretchen Hall and Carra Patterson.

E. Faye Butler, who portrays Aunt Eller in the summer revival of Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater's acclaimed and record-setting production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma!, will transition out of her Helen Hayes-nominated role to begin rehearsals for Arena Stage's 2011/12 season opening play Trouble in Mind. Butler will be replaced by Terry Burrell, who was last at Arena Stage in the 2007/08 world-premiere musical The Women of Brewster Place. Burrell joins the Oklahoma! company August 2, and her first performance will be August 9. Burrell was 'lovely and heartbreaking...spellbinding' in Signature Theatre's Show Boat (TalkinBroadway.com), and will be a strong addition to the cast.

Political scandals are hardly new. But this Circle takes a different turn.

Golden Globe Award winner and Academy Award nominee Marsha Mason and Drama Desk Award winner and Tony Award nominee Paxton Whitehead will head the cast of Westport Country Playhouse's scintillating comedy of manners, 'The Circle,' written by W. Somerset Maugham and directed by Nicholas Martin, playing June 7 - 25. 'The Circle,' the second production in The Playhouse's 80th birthday year, is considered Maugham's wittiest play, a seamless blend of romance and repartee.

Golden Globe Award winner and Academy Award nominee Marsha Mason and Drama Desk Award winner and Tony Award nominee Paxton Whitehead will head the cast of Westport Country Playhouse's scintillating comedy of manners, "The Circle," written by W. Somerset Maugham and directed by Nicholas Martin, playing June 7 - 25.

From an informative talk by a guest speaker to party nights and an afternoon tea, Westport Country Playhouse will offer a myriad of special events and opportunities surrounding its production of the scintillating comedy of manners, 'The Circle,' written by W. Somerset Maugham and directed by Nicholas Martin, playing June 7 - 25.

Golden Globe Award winner and Academy Award nominee Marsha Mason and Drama Desk Award winner and Tony Award nominee Paxton Whitehead will head the cast of Westport Country Playhouse's scintillating comedy of manners, "The Circle," written by W. Somerset Maugham and directed by Nicholas Martin, playing June 7 - 25.

Last week The Creative Coalition and friends celebrated Broadway's romantic comedy Born Yesterday with an exclusive reception at the iconic 'Tobacconist to the World,' Nat Sherman. Jim Belushi along with the cast of Broadway's Born Yesterday enjoyed specialty cocktails, hors d'oeuvres and limited edition Nat Sherman cigars at the flagship store immediately following last night's show. BroadwayWorld was on hand for the event and brings you photo coverage below.

Avery Brooks, Donetta Lavinia Grays, and Gretchen Hall star in Centerstage's production of Let There Be Love by Kwame Kwei-Armah's. The production, directed by Jeremy B. Cohen, runs through March 7.

What a busy week it's been at Center Stage. Sunday was their very successful Radio Auction. The American premiere of Let There Be Love ends Sunday March 7 and a trio of three short works entitled Working It Out (by Aaron Sorkin, Lynn Rosen, and Rick Cleveland) runs to March 28.

Avery Brooks, particularly in his TV parts, often plays a smooth customer. Some roles exhibit this more than others, though as Alfred in 'Let There Be Love,' he's a Scrooge-before-the-Ghosts...but that doesn't mean he isn't smooth. This natural actor's comfort in every role he inhabits translates into a wonderful night of theater for the audience.

Avery Brooks, Donetta Lavinia Grays, and Gretchen Hall are set to star in Centerstage's production of Let There Be Love by Kwame Kwei-Armah's. The production, directed by Jeremy B. Cohen, will run from February 10-March 7. Jeremy B.

CENTERSTAGE will present British artist and international arts advocate Kwame Kwei-Armah on Monday, February 8, in a talk about the innovative ways we can use the arts to exact social change in our communities.

CENTERSTAGE will present British artist and international arts advocate Kwame Kwei-Armah on Monday, February 8, in a talk about the innovative ways we can use the arts to exact social change in our communities.

Avery Brooks, Donetta Lavinia Grays, and Gretchen Hall are set to star in Centerstage's production of Let There Be Love by Kwame Kwei-Armah's. The production, directed by Jeremy B. Cohen, will run from February 10-March 7. Jeremy B.

Oscar Wilde called it a 'trivial comedy for serious people.' Or perhaps it's a serious comedy for trivial people. Whichever, it remains, over a century since it's first performance, 'The Importance of Being Earnest,' now at Center Stage.