Opening nights and premieres galore

With Matthew Bourne's Sleeping Beauty here at Center Theatre Group, Macbeth at Lincoln center, and more premiering shows around the country, the LA and NY stage scenes are extremely busy.

Opening Nights

1. Review: In 'Matthew Bourne's Sleeping Beauty,' imagination awakes by Lewis Segal [LATimes.com]
November 22, 2013

"Matthew Bourne's Sleeping Beauty" opened Thursday at Center Theatre Group, and this gothic romance "exploited our lust for the undead in surprising, resourceful ways." Bourne's staging of this Tchaikovsky masterwork, onstage at the Ahmanson Theatre through Dec. 1, combines the traditional story with a modern fairy-tale twist.

2. Come, You Spirits! Step Inside the Thrilling Opening Night of Shakespeare's Macbeth, Starring Ethan Hawke by Broadway.com staff [Broadway.com]
November 22, 2013

"Lincoln Center Theater’s revival of Shakespeare's terrifying tragedy Macbeth opened at Broadway’s Vivian Beaumont Theatre on November 21. Hear from stars Ethan Hawke, Anne-Marie Duff and more as they toast to their big opening night."

3. Review: 'Play Dead' with glee as Todd Robbins conjures chills by Margaret Gray [LATimes.com]
November 21, 2013

The Geffen Playhouse is reviving the 2010 off-Broadway show "Play Dead," but they are not willing to reveal their new tricks and experience. This show about magicians in the 1930s successfully "scares the wits" out of audience members.

Premiering Shows

4. Wicked Fave Louise Dearman to Headline U.K. Premiere of New Musical The Water Babies by Damian Bellino [Broadway.com]
November 22, 2013

"Louise Dearman will headline the world premiere of The Water Babies at the U.K's Curve Theatre. Dearman, the first actress to ever portray both Elphaba and Glinda in Wicked, will take on the role of Mrs D in the new musical inspired by Charles Kingsley’s classic novel."

5. Labyrinth Theater Company to Present New York Premiere of Stephen Belber's The Muscles in Our Toes by Damian Bellino [Broadway.com]
November 21, 2013

The Labyrinth Theatre Company announced that they will be adding The Muscles in Our Toes to their season. This dark comedy, about "four friends [who] meet at their high school reunion, and ponder a plan to free their old friend who’s been kidnapped by a radical political group," will open in late spring 2014.