Theodore Ward

First Stage will kick off its 2023/24 season with the world premiere production DREAM, QUICKIE! DREAM!, a story for all ages inspired by the life of Donald 'Quickie' Driver, written by playwright Gloria Bond Clunie and directed by popular Milwaukee actor/producer/director Dimonte Henning.

Recognizing a lifetime of theater excellence, the Joseph Jefferson Awards will honor director Chuck Smith at the organization’s 54th Anniversary Equity Awards ceremony Monday, October 17th at Drury Lane Theatre.

As General Director Timothy 2 O’Leary and Artistic Director Francesca Zambello announced today, the company’s 2022– 2023 season balances groundbreaking new work with audience favorites.

The Lewis Center for the Arts' Program in Theater at Princeton University will present A Past Becomes a Heritage: The Negro Units of the Federal Theatre Project, an evening of play readings and a panel discussion in collaboration with New York City-based collective CLASSIX, on March 30 at 7:30 p.m.

WP THEATER has announced the 15 artists selected for the 2020-2022 WP Lab. The two-year residency begins now and culminates with the biennial WP Pipeline Festival.

WP Theater announced today that Rebecca Martinez and Cori Thomas will be joining the staff as BOLD Associate Artistic Director and Mellon Foundation Playwright in Residence, respectively.

Strawdog Theatre Company will continue its 32nd season, 'Truth,' with the Midwest premiere of C.A. Johnson's dystopian drama THIRST, directed by Andrea J. Dymond, playing January 9 - February 15, 2020 at 1802 W Berenice Ave. in Chicago's North Center neighborhood. Single tickets are currently available at www.strawdog.org. The press opening is Monday, January 13 at 7:30 pm.

Strawdog Theatre Company is pleased to announce casting for its Midwest premiere of C.A. Johnson's dystopian drama THIRST, directed by Andrea J. Dymond.

Strawdog Theatre announces the final production of its 32nd season, the Midwest premiere of C.A. Johnson's dystopian drama THIRST, directed by Andrea J. Dymond, set for January 9 a?" February 15, 2020. The press opening is Monday, January 13 at 7:30 pm.

Geva Theatre Center's 46th Season concludes with the world premiere of Revival: The Resurrection of Son House, written and directed by Keith Glover, with music by Son House, Billy Thompson and Keith Glover, musical direction by Billy Thompson and choreography by Norwood Pennewell, in the Elaine P. Wilson Stage from May 1 through June 2, 2019.

American Blues Theater announces the addition of five new Ensemble members and one new Artistic Affiliate to the Blues family. Joining the Ensemble is director, designer and Associate Producer Elyse Dolan, who directed several works in past Ripped and Blue Ink festivals; designer Jared Gooding, lighting designer of Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story; actor Philip Earl Johnson, who is slated to appear in the upcoming Chicago premiere of Steven Dietz's On Clover Road; director Chuck Smith, director of the recent American Blues production of Pearl Cleage's Flyin' West; and actress and playwright Wandachristine, who won many awards for her solo performance Beauty's Daughter. Actor Zachary Stevenson has been named an Artistic Affiliate. Stevenson recently made his Chicago debut as 'Buddy Holly' in American Blues Theater's Joseph Jefferson Award-winning musical Buddy - the Buddy Holly Story, in which he also won a Jeff Award for Performance in a Musical.

Goodman Theatre celebrates the lives of "two strong, vibrant women dispensing joy and wisdom" (Chicago Tribune) in a major revival of Emily Mann's Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years. Directed by the Goodman's longtime Resident Director Chuck Smith, the production features Ella Joyce and Marie Thomas as the Delany centenarians, Bessie (1891 - 1995) and Sadie (1889 -1999), respectively. The sisters were discovered in 1991 when Amy Hill Hearth interviewed them for The New York Times. Following the article, the trio co-authored the book, Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years-a New York Times bestseller and heartfelt reflection of their family history and triumphs over prejudices in times of social unrest. Mann adapted it for the stage, first at McCarter Theatre Center in Princeton, New Jersey and then to Broadway, where it ran for 317 performances. Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years appears May 5 - June 10, 2018 in the Albert Theatre (opening night is Monday, May 14). Tickets ($20 - $75; subject to change) are now on sale at GoodmanTheatre.org/HavingOurSay, by phone at 312.443. 3800 or at the box office (170 North Dearborn). ComEd is the Major Corporate Sponsor, Conagra Brands Foundation is the Major Production Sponsor and ITW and PwC are the Corporate Sponsor Partners. 

The New Black Fest and The Lark, two theater organizations dedicated to celebrating and advocating for stories that explore the intersection of art and social justice, are proud to announce the fifth annual The New Black Fest at The Lark. This week-long event is aimed at showcasing diverse and provocative work in a festival of Black theater artists from throughout the Diaspora, and will feature talkbacks, a panel event, and staged readings of four plays-in-progress. The festival will take place April 9-13, 2018, and will include works by 2017 Djerassi Writer in Residence France-Luce Benson (Deux Femmes On the Edge De La Revolution), 2018 Laurents/Hatcher Foundation Award recipient Donja R. Love (soft), 2015 Princess Grace Award-Winner Jonathan Payne (Brother Rabbit), and artist, activist, and The New Black Fest alum Liza Jessie Peterson (Sistergurls and the Squirrel) who has performed excerpts of her one-person play The Peculiar Patriot in over 35 penitentiaries across the country.

City Theatre's season of bold new work progresses with the world premiere of Citizens Market by Cori Thomas, which explores the lives and complications of a group of immigrants as they find their footing in America. Thomas's work was last seen at City Theatre with the world premiere of When January Feels Like Summer, winner of the 2011 Osborne New Play Award. Directed by Artistic Producer Reginald L. Douglas, Citizens Market runs on the Main Stage March 3 - 25, 2018. Tickets are on sale now.

"Life is short, and it's up to you to make it sweet." - Sadie Delany (1889 -1999). Goodman Theatre revives Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years, Emily Mann's "warming theatrical event" (Variety)that celebrates the lives of "two strong, vibrant women dispensing joy and wisdom" (Chicago Tribune). Goodman Theatre Resident Director Chuck Smith's production features Ella Joyce and Marie Thomas as the Delany centenarians, Bessie (1891 - 1995) and Sadie (1889 -1999), respectively, as they trace their lives in a heartfelt reflection of their family history and triumphs over prejudices in times of social unrest.

City Theatre's season of bold new work progresses with the world premiere of Citizens Market by Cori Thomas, which explores the lives and complications of a group of immigrants as they find their footing in America. Thomas's work was last seen at City Theatre with the world premiere of When January Feels Like Summer, winner of the 2011 Osborne New Play Award. Directed byArtistic Producer Reginald L. Douglas, Citizens Market runs on the Main Stage March 3 - 25, 2018. Tickets are on sale now.

In what has become an annual ritual, a total of 36 established and emerging composers, lyricists, and librettists will converge on the Goodspeed campus from mid-January through mid-February 2018 to participate in the Johnny Mercer Foundation Writers Colony at Goodspeed Musicals. The writing teams, representing 18 new musicals, will populate the campus, creating a truly exciting environment for discovery and inspiration.

Greenhouse Theater Center is pleased to present USE IT OR LOSE IT: An Evening of Short Plays About Your Rights, original works inspired by contemporary and historic legal battles the ACLU has fought on behalf of Americans' rights and freedoms

Greenhouse Theater Center (GTC) and Artistic Director Jacob Harvey are pleased to announce the formation of the new MC-10 Playwrights Ensemble, a collection of ten of the country's most sought-after established and mid-career Chicago playwrights and theatre-makers. The ensemble will be in residence at the Greenhouse Theater Center and will create new works for its stages. Beginning with the 2018-19 season, the Greenhouse will present one play per season by MC-10 member playwrights, eventually expanding to two MC-10 productions per season. These world and regional premieres aim to expand the scope, diversity and visibility of work happening at the Greenhouse and underscore the institution's commitment to creating new vital works for the American theatrical canon.

Four Seasons Books in Shepherdstown will host a book signing by award-winning playwright and author Kara Lee Corthron on June 24th at 1pm. Corthron is the playwright of Welcome to Fear City¸ receiving its world premiere at the Contemporary American Theater Festival this July.