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BROADWAY WORLD INTERVIEWS ROBERT FOXWORTH

OLD GLOBE/USD ALUM JIM PARSONS WINS EMMY AWARD

(8/12/10) • Jim Parsons, a graduate of the Old Globe/University of San Diego Masters of Fine Arts program, was awarded the Emmy Award for best lead actor in a comedy for his performance as Sheldon Cooper in the CBS sitcom "The Big Bang Theory."

"As it turns out, his time studying Shakespeare and the classics at USD and the Old Globe was the perfect preparation for his job playing a formula-spouting, pop-culture-pontificating theoretical physicist on network TV," said Karla Peterson in the San Diego Union-Tribune. "The Emmy statue may end up sitting on top of his piano, but part of it belongs in San Diego."

"'I cannot say, and I mean this quite sincerely, how often my time at grad school at USD enters my mind,' said Parsons. 'The type of work I did in that program to get through some of those Shakespearean texts is very similar to the work strategy I use to get through these scientifically dense speeches I have to get through now. My time at USD and the Old Globe was priceless in very specifically getting me ready for this role.'”

Congratulations, Jim!

Read the full story in the San Diego Union-Tribune.

(top left, Jim Parsons and James Winker in Da, directed by Richard Seer at The Old Globe in 2001)

(bottom left, AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

TEENS PRESENT TWELFTH NIGHT & AS YOU LIKE IT

(8/24/10) • The Old Globe’s third annual Summer Shakespeare Intensive for teens concluded on Monday, August 16 with a sold out performance of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night and As You Like It. The four week program is a unique opportunity for local High School actors and actresses to refine their skills as performers in a professional setting.

This year’s Summer Shakespeare Intensive participants, all who received scholarships, were Eddy Allen (Point Loma High School), Matthew Bantock (Scripps Ranch High School), Zach Bunshaft (Coronado High School), Daniela Camilleri (Canyon Crest Academy), Celeste Conowich (San Francisco State University), Jennifer Cox (Coronado High School), Emma DePuy (home school), Taylor Fugere (The School for the Creative & Performing Arts), Jennifer Garcia (University of Notre Dame), Rebecca Gold (The Bishop’s School), Amanda Grant (The School for the Creative & Performing Arts), Angela Han (Canyon Crest Academy), Megan Hollingsworth (Grossmont Middle College High School), Emily Hoolihan (San Marcos High School), Audriana Hull (Westview High School), Jack Koester (University of California, Riverside), Geoff Lizar (Mira Mesa High School), Julia Lusitana (Grossmont Middle College High School), Tracy McDowell (Canyon Crest Academy), Naomi McPherson (High Tech High School), Jack Mullen (The Bishop’s School), Rebecca Myers (High Tech High School), Emma Perkis (Classical Academy), Sara Phelps (La Jolla High School), Caleb Puckett (Monte Vista High School), Caleb Roitz (Scripps Ranch High School), Chloe Schneider (Westview high School), Marie Shelton (The Academy of Our Lady of Peace), Kayla Solsbak (The School for the Creative & Performing Arts), Steven Turk (Linfield College), Daniel Valdez (Monte Vista High School), Paul Williams (St. Augustine High School), Christopher Yim (Classical Academy) and Laura Zablit (Scripps Ranch High School).

Below is a group photo of the energetic teens on the Lowell Davies Festival Stage with photos from Twelfth Night (above) and As You Like It (below). (Photos by J. Katarzyna Woronowicz.)

2010 GLOBE GALA

(8/23/10) • The 2010 Globe Gala was the most successful fundraising event in the Globe's 75-year history. Held on Saturday, July 31, the amazing evening began in the Alcazar Garden with cocktails and a silent auction. The guests then enjoyed a live auction followed by a performance of the current hit musical, Robin and the 7 Hoods, in the Old Globe Theatre. After the show, Gala guests enjoyed an elegant dinner and dancing under the stars on the Globe's Copley Plaza.

The Honorary Chairs of the Gala were Darlene Shiley, Audrey Geisel and Marion Ross. The Co-Chairs were Karen Cohn, Valerie Cooper, Deni Jacobs, Sandy Redman and Debbie Turner. Thanks to the generous support of the Gala's attendees, the Globe will maintain the highest standards of artistic quality while reaching out to thousands of children throughout the community with its many education programs. (Photos by Douglas Gates.)

ROBIN'S WILL CHASE AND STEPHANIE GIBSON ON NBC

WATCH THE 2010 SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL VIDEO PREVIEWS!

(8/18/10) • There's still time to see the three plays of the 2010 Shakespeare Festival. The shows are performed in repertory with cast members playing multiple parts on different nights through Sept. 26. Read what the crtics are saying and catch a glimpse of the stellar productions!

THE MADNESS OF GEORGE III

“A sparkling play. All praise to The Old Globe for mounting it so stylishly.” - THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

“A must see! A towering performance from Miles Anderson. Stunning!” - TALKIN' BROADWAY

“It’s hard to imagine any actor anywhere besting Miles Anderson’s astonishing performance. It’s the sort of memory-making tour de force that audiences will talk about all year. Deirdre Clancy’s costumes are perhaps the finest, most historically accurate and most detailed ever seen on the festival stage.” - NORTH COUNTY TIMES

“Witty and suspenseful! A rush of delicious plotting. A rare entertainment, indeed.” - VARIETY

THE TAMING OF THE SHREW

“Critic's Choice! This attractive duo (Jonno Roberts as Petruchio and Emily Swallow as Katherine) reveals sensitively layered details of their evolving characters, to intelligent, hilarious and finally touching effect. This fun-filled reading seems certain to fill the Festival Theatre for the summer’s duration.” - THE LOS ANGELES TIMES

“Great, giddy fun and beautifully realized. In the riveting, passionate and forceful performances of Jonno Roberts and Emily Swallow, we are swept up in the relationship. Special mention must be made of the costumes by Deirdre Clancy which are jaw-dropping gorgeous.” - SAN DIEGO NEWS NETWORK

“Critic's Choice! King size fun! Crackling performances from Emily Swallow as Kate and Jonno Roberts as Petruchio, with inventive staging from director Ron Daniels.” - THE SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE

KING LEAR

“A splendid piece of work that no one in or near southern California should miss.” - THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

“This is one evening of Shakespearean theater you really should not miss. With so much actorly and directorial authority at the top, it’s little wonder the dozen roles plus many minor speaking parts feel transparently alive at the Globe. Top to bottom, the acting goes from strength to strength.” - NORTH COUNTY TIMES

“Critics Choice! A fine ensemble cast speaks the classic tragedy’s poetry with a crispness that informs nearly every aspect of the show.” - THE SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE

MIDDLE SCHOOL SUMMER INTENSIVE

(8/17/10) • The Globe's Middle School Summer Intensive wrapped up its first successful summer session. Participating students in grades 6, 7 and 8 discovered new approaches to acting through lessons in voice and speech, movement, stage combat, improvisation and much more. On Friday, Aug. 6, the graduating class performed a showcase for parents and friends in Hattox Hall. The students performed short scenes and reveled in demonstrating their newly aquired stage combat techniques! For more information about the Globe's education offerings, contact GlobeLearning@TheOldGlobe.org.

DIRECTOR CASEY NICHOLAW ON ROBIN AND THE 7 HOODS

REHEASALS BEGIN FOR THE NEIL SIMON PLAYS

(8/16/10) • The cast and creative team assembled on Tuesday, Aug. 10 for the first day of rehearsal for Neil Simon’s Brighton Beach Memoirs and Broadway Bound. Excitement permeated the room as director Scott Schwartz talked about his vision for the productions. Scott directed last season's smash hit production of Lost in Yonkers, so the Simon duet is in expert hands. Just like the Globe's annual Shakespeare Festival, the two plays will be performed in repertory with a rotating schedule. Tony Award winner Karen Ziemba, last seen at the Globe in The First Wives Club and Six Degrees of Separation, will play Kate Jerome in the plays. Her two sons will be played by two sets of actors. Sloan Grenz will play Stanley and Austyn Myers (who appeared in Lost in Yonkers) will play Eugene in Brighton Beach Memoirs, and Joseph Parks will play Stanley and Brandon Uranowitz will play Eugene in Broadway Bound. The plays will run in the Old Globe Theatre Sept. 14 – Nov. 7.

Here's the complete cast lineup for the Neil Simon plays: Brighton Beach Memoirs features David Bishins (Jack Jerome), Bonnie Black (Blanche Morton), Sloan Grenz (Stanley Jerome), Austyn Myers (Eugene Jerome), Allie Trimm (Nora Morton), Julia Vanderwiel (Laurie Morton) and Karen Ziemba (Kate Jerome). Broadway Bound features David Bishins (Jack Jerome), Bonnie Black (Blanche Morton), Howard Green (Ben Epstein), Joseph Parks (Stanley Jerome), Brandon Uranowitz (Eugene Jerome) and Karen Ziemba (Kate Jerome).

GRINCH SINGLE TICKETS ON SALE FRIDAY, SEPT. 3

(8/12/10) • Single tickets for Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! will go on sale Friday, Sept. 3 at 12:00 noon. The annual holiday musical, directed by James Vasquez with book and lyrics by Timothy Mason and music by Mel Marvin, will run in the Old Globe Theatre November 20 – December 26. Ticket prices range from $39 to $77 for adults and from $20 to $57 for children. Performances are restricted to children 3 years and up except for the 11:00 a.m. performances for which tickets can be purchased for children of all ages. Tickets can be purchased online, by phone at (619) 23-GLOBE or by visiting the Box Office.

(left, Jeff Skowron as The Grinch and Anna Bahen as Cindy-Lou Who in last season's production of Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! Photo by Craig Schwartz.)

FREE SCREENING OF "THE CAT IN HAT KNOWS A LOT ABOUT THAT!"

(8/12/10) • The Old Globe, in partnership with KPBS, will host a special screening of “The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That!,” a new animated television series that will air daily in San Diego on KPBS-TV at 8:30 a.m. starting Sept. 6 and is designed to support science learning for preschoolers. The free event will take place on Monday, September 6 in the Old Globe Theatre. Doors open at 3:00 p.m. with screenings at 4:00 and 5:00 p.m. To RSVP, please call the Globe’s box office at (619) 23-GLOBE.

All children in attendance will receive complimentary goody bags and may have their photos taken with The Cat in the Hat himself. The Grinch from the Globe’s annual holiday production of Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! will also make a special appearance.

Photo by Francisco Santos.

“We are thrilled to help introduce the next generation to another of Ted Geisel’s immortal creations, The Cat in the Hat,” said Executive Producer Lou Spisto. “Audrey Geisel’s generous gift of Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! has allowed the Globe to provide hundreds of thousands of children with their first live theater experience. We are so grateful for her ongoing generosity and support of the Old Globe, the arts and children’s education and literacy.”

ROBIN AND THE 7 HOODS VIDEO CLIP

THE OLD GLOBE UNVEILS PHOTO EXHIBIT

(8/6/10) • A permanent exhibit of photos in celebration of the Globe’s 75th anniversary has been unveiled in the Karen and Donald Cohn Education Center and the Old Globe Theatre lobby. The exhibit uses photographs and graphics to present images of the Globe’s 75 years including the many artists who have worked both on and off the stage.

Click here to view a video about the making of the exhibit.

“As we celebrate the 75th anniversary of The Old Globe we thought it important to create a permanent visual display which highlights the theater and its artists, and gives the theater lover a better understanding of the art and craft of theater and the origins of the art form,” said Executive Producer Lou Spisto.

The exhibit is comprised of four parts: “Bringing Art to Life,” “Lineage of the Globe,” “Artists of the Globe” and “History of the Globe.” Curated and designed by Llance Bower, the exhibit includes more than 150 images, custom wall-mounted illustrations, motion-activated digital picture frames and lenticular printing that allows images to change when viewed from different angles.

The exhibit can be viewed by the public as part of the Globe’s regularly scheduled “Behind the Scenes” tours. The 90-minute tours take place on Saturdays and Sundays at 10:30 a.m. and cost $5 for adults and $3 for students and seniors. No reservations are necessary. Group tours can be scheduled for selected weekdays. For more information, or to book a tour, please contact Kim Montelibano Heil. (Photos by Jeff Wiant.)

GREGG BARNES AND PATRICIA CONOLLY NAMED ASSOCIATE ARTISTS

(8/4/10) • Tony Award-winning costume designer Gregg Barnes and actress Patricia Conolly have been named Associate Artists of The Old Globe.  They are the 54th and 55th artists to receive the prestigious honor which recognizes their unique contributions to the institution.
 
“I am delighted to name these two incredible talents as Associate Artists of The Old Globe,” said Executive Producer Lou Spisto. “Gregg’s renowned design skills are currently on full display on the Old Globe stage with his absolutely incredible costumes for Robin and the 7 Hoods.  His intricate designs, sophisticated color scheme, and outrageous sense of humor are the trademarks of his success.  Patricia has a long history with our institution, having first appeared as Rosalind in Jack O’Brien’s 1976 production of As You Like It.  Her prestigious career has led her to Broadway, the West End, Canada and Australia, and yet Patricia’s artistic home has remained the Old Globe. I’m thrilled to welcome her back with our wonderful production of The Last Romance.”

Read the press release.

OUR KIND OF TOWN (SAN DIEGO IS)

(8/2/10) • The cast, staff, crew and invited guests celebrated a "ring-a-ding ding" opening night of the new Broadway-bound musical comedy Robin and the 7 Hoods in the Globe's Hattox Hall last Friday night. The crowd was "walkin' happy"and "comin' on strong" the whole night long!