Jessica Redish

An all-star line-up of Chicago natives and stars who got their start in the Windy City have come together for a new music video, performing the Blues anthem a?oeSweet Home Chicago.a?? 

Tonight, at a celebration honoring theatre excellence on stages across the Washington area, theatre artists, administrators, patrons, and special guests gathered in the National Theatre's Helen Hayes Gallery for theatreWashington's announcement of nominees for the 36th Annual Helen Hayes Awards, which will be presented on Monday, May 18 at an event at the Anthem.

When Nina enters her first air guitar competition, she thinks winning will be easy. But as she befriends a group of charismatic nerds all committed to becoming the next champion, she discovers that there's more to this art form than playing pretend; it's about finding yourself and performing with raw joy. Airness is “unmitigated pleasure... filled with dignity and delight” (Chicago Reader). Airness is a regional premiere co-production with Keegan Theatre. The production will transfer from Keegan to 1st Stage and begin performances on December 5 at 1st Stage's theatre space.

When Nina enters her first air guitar competition, she thinks winning will be easy. But as she befriends a group of charismatic nerds all committed to becoming the next champion, she discovers that there's more to this art form than playing pretend; it's about finding yourself and performing with raw joy. Airness is a?oeunmitigated pleasurea?? filled with dignity and delighta?? (Chicago Reader). Airness is a regional premiere co-production with Keegan Theatre. The production will transfer from Keegan to 1st Stage and begin performances on December 5 at 1st Stage's theatre space.

'What does air guitar teach us? Everything we need to rock, is already inside us' is a line that the character of Golden Thunder delivers midway through this fun and fresh play. It's a line that sums up this play for me: air guitarists competing nationally and internationally, doing so because they love it, and making relationships, helping and sometimes finding out more about each other and themselves along the way.

What allows a child or person to say yes or no to any request. To use intellect and free will to voice their choice? First Stage follows a World Premiere with another World Premiere this spring by presenting an adaptation of Gail Carson Levine's 1997 Newbery Award winning book Ella Enchanted. The novel garnered a cult follwoing for this Cinderella story turned on edge. First Stage commissioned the production together with Adventure Theatre MTC in Maryland while two more women Karn Zacarias wrote the stage play and lryics alongside composer Deborah Wicks LaPuma. With more than ten original musical numbers, the production celebrates young girls and women in every sense, although young men have a place in Ella's heart.

Gallery Players presents 'TIL DEATH DO US PART, a New Musical by Bobby Cronin & Caroline Prugh, presented as part of the Overtures Series at the Gallery Players.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'Beaches,' 'Kinky Boots' and 'Gotta Dance' show how a pre-Broadway tryout is done, while 'Fancy Nancy,' 'The Little Mermaid' and 'Pinocchio' go for a younger demographic. Meanwhile, Ravinia, Grant Park and Three Oaks (MI) do summer concerts, and The Music Theatre Company announces its own surprise demise.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Musical television series abound! Also special nights for 'Allegro' and 'Reefer Madness,' that Dolphin show at Annoyance, Mercury's 'Addams Family,' a big children's premiere, the return of 'Option Up!' and a surprising, real live 'Beauty!'

The Music Theatre Company joins forces with The Ravinia Festival for a special one night engagement of OSCAR & RICHARD & JOE: An Evening About Rodgers & Hammerstein's Allegro on Saturday, January 31 at 8:30 pm at Ravinia Festival's Bennett Gordon Hall, 200 Ravinia Park Rd., Highland Park, IL. Tickets for OSCAR & RICHARD & JOE are $10 and available by calling the Ravinia Festival Box Office at (847) 266-5100 or visiting www.ravinia.org.

The Music Theatre Company will launch its 2014-15 season with THE 48-HOUR MUSICALS: ENCORE!, featuring four 15-minute musicals originally written and rehearsed in just 48 hours by Scotty Arnold, Diana Lawrence, Michael Mahler and J. Oconer Navarro plus the world premiere of a 20-minute musical by Smashing Pumpkins frontman and Chicagoland native Billy Corgan.

The Music Theatre Company will launch its 2014-15 season with THE 48-HOUR MUSICALS: ENCORE!, featuring four 15-minute musicals originally written and rehearsed in just 48 hours by Scotty Arnold, Diana Lawrence, Michael Mahler and J. Oconer Navarro plus the world premiere of a 20-minute musical by Smashing Pumpkins frontman and Chicagoland native Billy Corgan.

Founding Artistic Director Jessica Beth Redish and Co-Artistic Director Jess McLeod are pleased to announce The Music Theatre Company's (TMTC) 2014-2015 season, which begins December 4, 2014 and runs through August 2015.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. The Jeff Awards, Tony Tunes and our very own Tony Award Viewing Party are upon us! Plus 'Carrie' and 'Godspell,' the new musicals 'Days Like Today,' 'Saudade' and 'Flux Capacitor,' news from Annoyance Theatre, Movies In the Parks and more!

Kander & Ebb's THE ACT, featuring Anna Chlumsky, Tony winners Randy Graff and Cady Huffman, and more, will play 54 Below in a concert version tonight, April 3 (7 and 9:30 p.m.) and April 4 (8 and 11 p.m.).

This April, May and June at 54 BELOW presents an exciting lineup of the brightest talent from Broadway and beyond. Located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54thStreet. For a detailed schedule of upcoming performances at 54 Below and to purchase tickets, visit www.54Below.com.

Kander & Ebb's THE ACT, featuring Anna Chlumsky, Tony winners Randy Graff and Cady Huffman, and more, will play 54 Below in a concert version on April 3 (7 and 9:30 p.m.) and April 4 (8 and 11 p.m.).

This March, April and May at 54 BELOW presents a lineup of the brightest talent from Broadway and beyond. Located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street. For a detailed schedule of upcoming performances at 54 Below and to purchase tickets, visit www.54Below.com.