Peter Hall News

Variety is reporting that Idris Elba has been cast on the hit NBC TV show, 'The Office' as a new rival to the show's star (and regional manager) Steve Carrell. Just like his new co-star, Melora Hardin who's currently on Broadway starring in Chicago, Idris Elba has also worked on the stage, including leading roles in 'Coming Home,' an original play written by Oscar Watson and performed at London's Red Lion Pub Theater, and Sir Peter Hall's off-Broadway production of 'Troilus and Cressida,' receiving rave reviews for his portrayal of Achilles. Idris Elba is perhaps best known for his role as the calculating de facto leader of a Baltimore drug empire in HBO's critically acclaimed original series 'The Wire.' In 2005, he received an Image Award nomination for his work on the series. Also for HBO, Elba starred in the movie 'Sometimes In April,' from director Raoul Peck. Set during the Rwandan genocide of 1994, the movie marked his first film starring role. Elba played a Hutu soldier who tries to save his Tutsi wife and family, earning another Image Award nomination for his performance.

Lincoln Center Theater (under the direction of Andre Bishop, Artistic Director, and Bernard Gersten, Executive Producer) has announced that Fred Applegate. Sebastian Arcelus, Miguel Cervantes, Hunter Foster, Joanna Gleason, Ken Page, Robert Petkoff, Jenny Powers, Phyllis Somerville and Pearl Sun will be featured in its upcoming production of the new musical HAPPINESS.

Starry Night Entertainment has announced that performances of the New York premiere of White People, written by J. T. Rogers and directed by Gus Reyes, will begin Wednesday, January 28, at 8pm, at the Atlantic Stage 2, 330 West 16 Street. The opening night is Tuesday, February 3, at 8pm.

McCarter Theatre Center announces the complete cast of George Bernard Shaw's still provocative Mrs. Warren's Profession, the third show of the theater's 2008-2009 season. Directed by McCarter Artistic Director Emily Mann, the production will feature Suzanne Bertish, Robin Chadwick, Edward Hibbert, Madeleine Hutchins, Michael Izquierdo, and Rocco Sisto. Mrs. Warren's Profession begins performances in the Berlind Theatre on Friday, January 9 and runs through February 15. (Press opening Friday, January 16).

PlayShakespeare.com, a comprehensive free website devoted to all things Shakespeare, has established a working partnership with The Shakespeare Society in New York City. The two organizations will collaborate in cross promotion and support.

Rupert Goold's critically acclaimed production of Harold Pinter's No Man's Land, which recouped its production costs last month, will complete run as scheduled at the Duke of York's Theatre on 3 January 2009.

The Bridge Project's inaugural 2009 season, which pairs a new version of The Cherry Orchard by Tom Stoppard with The Winter's Tale begins tonight, January 2nd with the first performance of The Cherry Orchard.

McCarter Theatre Center announces the complete cast of George Bernard Shaw's still provocative Mrs. Warren's Profession, the third show of the theater's 2008-2009 season. Directed by McCarter Artistic Director Emily Mann, the production will feature Suzanne Bertish, Robin Chadwick, Edward Hibbert, Madeleine Hutchins, Michael Izquierdo, and Rocco Sisto. Mrs. Warren's Profession begins performances in the Berlind Theatre on Friday, January 9 and runs through February 15. (Press opening Friday, January 16).

The producers of Garden of Earthly Delights have announced that the show has extended its run through Sunday, March 1 at the Minetta Lane Theatre (18 Minetta Lane).

Sam Mendes directs a transatlantic company of actors in a double-bill of classic works for The Bridge Project's inaugural 2009 season, which pairs a new version of The Cherry Orchard by Tom Stoppard with The Winter's Tale. A formidable transatlantic company and creative team will mount these two new productions for seven internationally renowned theaters. Simon Russell Beale leads the British/American cast, playing Lopakhin in The Cherry Orchard and Leontes in The Winter's Tale. He is joined by Sin?ad Cusack as Madame Ranevskaya and Paulina, Richard Easton as Firs and Old Shepherd, Rebecca Hall as Varya and Hermione, Josh Hamilton as Yasha and Polixenes, Ethan Hawke as Trofimov and Autolycus, and Paul Jesson as Gaev and Camilo.

Visionary director Martha Clarke brings Hieronymus Bosch's provocative painting to life in Garden of Earthly Delights, exploring heaven, hell, and the beauty and sins amid, began performances Saturday, November 8 at Off-Broadway's Minetta Lane Theatre, 18 Minetta Lane.

Rupert Goold's critically acclaimed production of Harold Pinter's No Man's Land, which recouped its production costs last month, will complete run as scheduled at the Duke of York's Theatre on 3 January 2009.

British actress Rebecca Hall was cast as jetsetting Caroline Cushing, one of the few women who might tame notorious lothario David Frost. Ex-wife of wealthy socialite Howard Cushing, she met Frost shortly before he met with Nixon to propose the interview series; Cushing remained his girlfriend for several years thereafter. A former secretary to columnist Liz Smith, she later became successful Hollywood editor Caroline Graham.

As David Frost moved the role to film, however, he grew even more comfortable in Frost's skin. 'I've lived with this character for over a year, and the basics of the way I see him didn't really change from stage to film,' he notes.

59E59 Theaters (Elysabeth Kleinhans, Artistic Director; Peter Tear, Executive Producer) is thrilled to welcome Dublin, Ireland's Rough Magic Theatre Company in their US premiere with their masterful wartime musical comedy IMPROBABLE FREQUENCY, with book and lyrics by Arthur Riordan and music by Bell Helicopter.

Rupert Goold directs Michael Gambon, David Bradley, David Walliams and Nick Dunning in Harold Pinter's No Man's Land, at the Duke of York's Theatre. The production is currently booking until 3 January 2009. A Gate Theatre, Dublin production, No Man's Land is presented by Sonia Friedman Productions and Michael Colgan, with design by Giles Cadle, lighting by Neil Austin and sound and music by Adam Cork. Goold's production transfers to London following its opening at the Gate Theatre, Dublin in August.

Visionary director Martha Clarke brings Hieronymus Bosch's provocative painting to life in Garden of Earthly Delights, exploring heaven, hell, and the beauty and sins amid, beginning performances Saturday, November 8 at Off-Broadway's Minetta Lane Theatre, 18 Minetta Lane.

Next summer, from 26 May to 30 August 2009, a new production of JM Barrie's Peter Pan will be performed in the specially commissioned Neverland Pavilion in London's historic Kensington Gardens.

The Shakespeare Society (Michael Sexton, Artistic Director) will present Liev Schreiber, Richard Easton, and Professor David Scott Kastan in Politics, Prince Hal, and the Making of a Leader on Monday, November 3 at 6:30pm at the Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College, East 68 Street, between Park and Lexington Avenues.