Rebecca Spence

The Heartstrings Awards serve to acknowledge the most meaningful performances and productions of the year in Chicago. They are bestowed by Life and Times, under the direction of chief theatre critic Rikki Lee Travolta. Learn more about this year's winners here!

Court Theatre will open its 2023/24 season with The Lion in Winter directed by Resident Artist Ron OJ Parson. Learn more about the production and how to get tickets here!

In its 52nd annual celebration of theater excellence, the Jeff Awards has recognized 39 recipients for the 2020 awards, selected from among 142 theater artist nominees across 30 artistic and technical categories.

The Jeff Awards has announced the nominees for the 52nd annual awards for theater excellence that include 142 theater artists across 30 artistic and technical categories. The awards will be presented in an online program on Monday, November 9, 2020 at 7:00PM.

In 1905, a black seamstress named Esther sews her way out of poverty stitch by delicate stitch, creating fine lingerie for her Manhattan clientele while longing for a husband and a future. She finds common ground with a Jewish fabric merchant, a relationship they both know cannot grow.

Northlight Theatre, under the direction of Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans, continues its 2019-2020 season with Intimate Apparel, written by Lynn Nottage and directed by Tasia A. Jones. Intimate Apparel runs March 12 a?" April 19, 2020 at Northlight Theatre, 9501 Skokie Blvd in Skokie. The press opening is Friday, March 20, 2020 at 8pm.

Northlight Theatre continues its 2019-2020 season with Intimate Apparel, written by Lynn Nottage and directed by Tasia A. Jones. Intimate Apparel runs March 12 a?" April 19, 2020 at Northlight Theatre, 9501 Skokie Blvd in Skokie. The press opening is Friday, March 20, 2020 at 8pm.     

Remy Bumppo Theatre Company has announced the cast for the second show of its 2019-2020 season, TOP GIRLS, playing January 16 - February 22, 2020 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Avenue in Chicago.

Windy City Playhouse will present the Chicago premiere of Duncan Macmillan's critically-acclaimed “Every Brilliant Thing” in a brand-new third performance space at the Playhouse's South Loop location (2229 S. Michigan Ave.).

Windy City Playhouse will present the Chicago premiere of Duncan Macmillan's critically-acclaimed a?oeEvery Brilliant Thinga?? in a brand-new third performance space at the Playhouse's South Loop location (2229 S. Michigan Ave.).

The Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities opens the children's musical Seussical on October 10 - December 29, 2018. Based on the stories of Dr. Seuss, the musical is an amalgamation of many of his most famous books, like Horton Hears a Who! and Dr. Seuss's Gertrude McFuzz. Seussical is directed by David and Julie Payne, with musical direction by Keith Ewer and choreography by Piper Arpan. The Arvada Center Artistic Producer of Musical Theatre is Rod A. Lansberry. Seussical is sponsored by US Bank, Xcel Energy, and the Fine Arts Foundation.

Under Jonathan Berry's direction, Simon Stephens's THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME has found its emotional center at Steppenwolf. Based upon the novel by Mark Haddon, CURIOUS INCIDENT marks the first Steppenwolf for Young Adults production of this season, and this staging brings the show's theme of human connection to the forefront. I saw this play both on Broadway and on tour when it passed through Chicago in 2016, and the more poignant parts of the narrative felt swallowed up by the cavernous venues. In Steppenwolf's comparably smaller Downstairs Theatre, CURIOUS INCIDENT has considerably more emotional heft while also offering up a unique visual and aural landscape.

Steppenwolf for Young Adults (SYA) opens with the Tony Award-winning production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Simon Stephens, directed by Jonathan Berry and featuring ensemble member Caroline Neff.

Steppenwolf for Young Adults (SYA) begins rehearsals next week for its first play of the 2018-19 season, which asks, 'When you feel lost, how do you find your way?' Steppenwolf Artistic Producer Jonathan Berry directs SYA's production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

The Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities opens the children's musical Seussical on October 10 - December 29, 2018. Based on the stories of Dr. Seuss, the musical is an amalgamation of many of his most famous books, like Horton Hears a Who! and Dr. Seuss's Gertrude McFuzz. Seussical is directed by David and Julie Payne, with musical direction by Keith Ewer and choreography by Piper Arpan. The Arvada Center Artistic Producer of Musical Theatre is Rod A. Lansberry. Seussical is sponsored by US Bank, Xcel Energy, and the Fine Arts Foundation.

Steppenwolf for Young Adults (SYA) begins rehearsals next week for its first play of the 2018-19 season, which asks, 'When you feel lost, how do you find your way?'

Steppenwolf for Young Adults (SYA) begins rehearsals next week for its first play of the 2018-19 season, which asks, 'When you feel lost, how do you find your way?' Steppenwolf Artistic Producer Jonathan Berry directs SYA's production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Steppenwolf for Young Adults (SYA) announces the full casting for its first show of the 2018/19 season, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. This Tony Award-winning play is adapted by Simon Stephens, based on the book by Mark Haddon and directed by Steppenwolf Artistic Producer Jonathan Berry.

16-year-old Cyd (Jessie Pinnick) decides to take a break from her depressive single father and spend a summer in Chicago with her aunt Miranda (Rebecca Spence), a well-known novelist. Soon after her arrival, Cyd encounters Katie (Malic White), a young barista behind the counter. The two make plans to meet up after Katie's shift and a new, charged relationship begins. The Chicago landscape expands, and we navigate intimate and fragile moments between Cyd and Katie as they explore their new attraction. Miranda functions as a counterpart to young Cyd's new explorations of sexuality and love, and as the summer continues they develop a strong relationship founded on a shared openness and healthy criticism of particular personal moments.