The Bard days of summer are almost here, and they’re free, too!

On Friday, July 18, Citi Performing Arts Center will kick off its three-week engagement on Boston Common performing William Shakespeare’s much-loved romantic comedy As You Like It.

The talented cast bringing the production to life includes Obie winners Marin Ireland as Rosalind and Fred Weller (of USA Network’s hit series In Plain Sight) as Orlando, along with Larry Coen as Touchstone, Johnny Lee Davenport as Duke Senior, Jennie Israel as Phebe, Ali Marsh (Weller’s wife) as Celia, Paul Melendy as Silvius, Dan Roach as Oliver, Fred Sullivan, Jr. as Jacques, and Noah Tuleja as Duke Frederick. Commonwealth Shakespeare Company’s founding artistic director Steven Maler directs.

As You Like It, set in the Forest of Arden, tells the tale of adventurous Rosalind and her quest to find true love. Banished from her home, she flees disguised as a man and eventually ends up with smitten Orlando after teaching him a thing or two.

Performances, which are suitable for all ages, will be held at the Parkman Bandstand on Tuesdays through Saturdays at 8pm and on Sundays at 7pm. When the run on Boston Common concludes, the production will then relocate to Forest Park in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Visit Citi Performing Arts Center online for more information about the event or call 617-482-9393/617-482-5757 (TTY).

Post from: The Boston Traveler

Now some 28 years after its January 1980 premiere and, according to the website, over 11,000 performances, the stage hit has earned its spot in the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest-running play in the history of American theater.

Shear Madness is currently available in three U.S. locations: Boston, Washington, D.C., and Chicago, with the first two productions permanent. The local production at Boston’s Charles Playhouse (74 Warrenton Street, Boston, 617-426-5225) is the original and most enduring variant, while the D.C. engagement at Kennedy Center’s Theater Lab is next in seniority at 20 years. International runs have also been staged in Budapest, Calgary, Mexico City, Rome, Seoul, and Warsaw thus far.

The central plot of the comedy spoof revolves around a murder that takes place above a hair salon local to whichever city the production is in. As details emerge about potential motives and perpetrators in the whodunit, audience members actively participate to determine what happened to the victim themselves.

What they don’t know — or at least what they aren’t supposed to know — is that their deliberations actually help shape the murder mystery’s eventual outcome. In other words, the play never ends the same exact way because attendees not only witness clues, but they also question the characters to elicit the information they most want to know.

It’s no surprise that this type of interactive entertainment all about one of human beings’ favorite preoccupations and pastimes, namely crime, is a huge hit with audiences both young and old. In Boston, Shear Madness‘ popularity has resulted in eight regularly scheduled two-hour performances each week, from Tuesday through Saturday, all priced at $40. Discounts are offered occasionally, as well.

Whether you already live in or near the city or plan to visit in the future, Shear Madness makes for a nice few hours of interesting, humorous relaxation. Take a look at the official website for more information on how to purchase tickets and participate in a slice of ongoing history.

Post from: The Boston Traveler

Saturday | January 26

A Conversation with Playwright Douglas Carter Beane

First up on Saturday is “A Conversation with Playwright Douglas Carter Beane.” A Tony Award nominee in 2007 for the Broadway comedy The Little Dog Laughed, Douglas Carter Beane also wrote, among many other things, the screenplay for the 1995 feature film To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar, starring Wesley Snipes, Patrick Swayze, and John Leguizamo.

Beane will discuss his ample work—and presumably take questions from attendees—in the same location where SpeakEasy Stage Company is currently staging The Little Dog Laughed through February 16. The afternoon engagement requires advance registration and will start at 12:30pm at the Boston Center for the Arts’ Calderwood Pavilion (527 Tremont Street, Boston).

Sunday | January 27

Making Movies in Massachusetts

Both events scheduled for Sunday will be hosted at the Institute of Contemporary Art (100 Northern Avenue, Boston). The first, “Making Movies in Massachusetts” from 1:30pm–3pm, will explore the reasons underlying Massachusetts’ present and future popularity as a location for filming movies. Nick Paleologos, the executive director of the Massachusetts Film Office, and producer-director Sam Weisman will lead the registration-required discussion.

A Look at Avenue Q

A half-hour later, at 3:30pm, the 90-minute discussion “A Look at Avenue Q” will begin. It also requires advance registration to gain an inside perspective on the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical-comedy Avenue Q, which is about one cash-strapped college graduate’s attempts to acquire fame in the Big Apple. Producer Jeffrey Seller and puppet conceiver and designer (yes, the production uses puppets à la Sesame Street) Rick Lyon share their experiences while leading the talk.

Post from: The Boston Traveler

Based on the famous and beloved essay written by best-selling author David Sedaris and debuted by him during a 1992 reading on National Public Radio, the play recounts the writer’s real-life experiences when he had the great misfortune to take on a gig as an elf named Crumpet at a New York Macy’s during the Christmas season. The essay brought Sedaris’ unique brand of biting humorous storytelling to the attention of the world, helping him launch a career as a successful and highly in-demand author of such titles as Me Talk Pretty One Day and Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim.

I had intended to add the current stage run of The SantaLand Diaries to my earlier post about notable holiday events over this last weekend preceding Christmas. Yet, when I checked the ticketing website to verify costs and dates, I found that all times were sold out until next Wednesday, the day after Christmas.

Fortunately, the Arsenal Center for the Arts, which houses the New Repertory Theatre, has extended the show and added additional late-night dates. If you want to experience the holiday event that’s been mesmerizing Boston residents, then you’d better get your tickets now.

When: Wednesday 12/26 at 10pm, Thursday 12/27 at 10pm, Monday 12/31 at 7pm, Tuesday 1/1/08 at 3pm and 7pm

Where: Arsenal Center for the Arts/New Repertory Theatre, 321 Arsenal Street, Watertown

How Much: $30 Plus Fees

What Else: Learn more about David Sedaris’ “SantaLand Diaries” and listen to the original 1992 radio broadcast on Morning Edition at the NPR website [Length: 7 minutes 3 seconds]

Website: http://www.newrep.org/0708santaland.php

Post from: The Boston Traveler