'Anthem'

The next production from Austin Shakespeare won't be in Austin, and it won't be Shakespeare. The company is headed for New York City with its staging of Ayn Rand's novella Anthem, which is slated for a fall run at the Baryshnikov Arts Center. The company originally mounted the play – adapted by Los Angeles composer Jeff Britting, who manages the Ayn Rand Archives – in 2011 at the Long Center, where it drew sell-out crowds, as well as interest from Ayn Rand fans around the country. That led to discussions of a follow-up production in New York, and enough funding was secured to run for 10 weeks off-Broadway – just in time for the 75th anniversary of the book's publication. Austin Shakespeare Artistic Director Ann Ciccolella will again direct the tale of Equality 7-2521, the young worker who strives to break free of a future world of totalitarian conformity, with lighting by award-winning local designer Jason Amato. Anthem will run Sept. 25-Dec. 2 at the Baryshnikov Arts Center's Jerome Robbins Theater, 450 W. 37th, New York. For more information, call 212/352-3101 or visit www.anthemtheplay.com.