Allison Hendrix News

Brown Paper Box Co. continues its 2016/2017 season with The Broad-Way: A Ladies Cabaret, a night of songs written by women, celebrating women. This joyful evening of music from all genres highlights the work of artists like Tori Amos, Carol King, and Joni Mitchell, plus selections from musicals like Fun Home and The Secret Garden.

Underscore Theatre Company is pleased to present its third annual CHICAGO MUSICAL THEATRE FESTIVAL, featuring 14 new musical productions. Created to showcase and support Chicago's burgeoning field of musical theatre creators, this year's festival will be held August 9 - 28, 2016 at Victory Gardens Richard Christiansen Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave. in Chicago. Each production will receive four performances during the Festival. The full schedule (Tuesdays - Sundays) and can be found at www.cmtf.org, with tickets currently on sale ($20 per show, $200 all-festival rush passes). The press "sneak preview," featuring a sampling of songs from the 2016 Festival, is Monday, August 8 at 7:30 pm.

Kokandy Productions is pleased to celebrate its fifth anniversary with an expanded season featuring four fully produced musicals, including two Chicago premieres and two guest directors. The 2017/18 Season will also include numerous readings and workshops - adding fresh voices to Kokandy's "New Works Initiative" and emphasizing the company's commitment to becoming an increasingly relevant part of Chicagoland's musical theater and new work development communities. The new season also marks Kokandy's transition to a not-for-profit organization.

Writers Theatre, under the leadership of Artistic Director Michael Halberstam and Executive Director Kathryn M. Lipuma, announces a one-week extension to Company, featuring music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by George Furth. The production is directed by William Brown. Company features original orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick, Orchestral Reductions by Ian Weinberger, music direction by Tom Vendafreddo and choreography by Brock Clawson. The show, originally slated to run through July 31, 2016, will add an additional week, through August 7, in the Alexandra C. and John D. Nichols Theatre at 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe.

Underscore Theatre Company is pleased to announce the full line-up for its third annual CHICAGO MUSICAL THEATRE FESTIVAL, featuring 14 new musical productions. Created to showcase and support Chicago's burgeoning field of musical theatre creators, this year's festival will be held August 8 - 28, 2016 at Victory Gardens Richard Christiansen Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave. in Chicago. Each production will receive four performances during the Festival. The full schedule (Tuesdays - Sundays) can be found at www.cmtf.org, with single tickets and festival passes currently on-sale. The press preview, featuring songs from all of the 2016 productions, is Monday, August 8 at 7:30 pm.

Kokandy Productions presents the funny, intimate and moving musical TOMORROW MORNING with book, music and lyrics by Laurence Mark Wythe, directed by Co-Artistic Director John D. Glover, music direction by Kory Danielson and choreography by Cameron Turner.

Writers Theatre, under the leadership of Artistic Director Michael Halberstam and Executive Director Kathryn M. Lipuma, announces a one-week extension to Company, featuring music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by George Furth. The production is directed by William Brown. Company features original orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick, Orchestral Reductions by Ian Weinberger, music direction by Tom Vendafreddo and choreography by Brock Clawson. The show, originally slated to run through July 31, 2016, will add an additional week, through August 7, in the Alexandra C. and John D. Nichols Theatre at 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe.

To be or not to be … married. That is the question facing Robert throughout COMPANY, the Stephen Sondheim/George Furth musical that concludes Writers Theatre's current season at its spiffy new venue in Glencoe.

Writers Theatre, under the leadership of Artistic Director Michael Halberstam and Executive Director Kathryn M. Lipuma, concludes its 2015/16 season with Company, featuring music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by George Furth. The production is directed by William Brown. Company features original orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick, Orchestral Reductions by Ian Weinberger, music direction by Tom Vendafreddo and choreography by Brock Clawson. The show runs June 15 - July 31, 2016 in the Alexandra C. and John D. Nichols Theatre at 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe. The Press Opening is Wednesday, June 22, at 7:30 pm.

Writers Theatre concludes its 2015/16 season with Company, featuring music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by George Furth. The production is directed by William Brown. Company was originally produced and directed on Broadway by Harold Prince, and features original orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick, music direction by Tom Vendafreddo, and choreography by Brock Clawson. The show runs June 15, 2016 - July 31, 2016 in the Alexandra C. and John D. Nichols Theatre: 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe. The Press Opening is Wednesday, June 22 at 7:30 p.m.

The Jeff Awards Committee today announced 121 nominations in 24 categories for the 43rd Annual Non-Equity Jeff Awards for productions that opened between April 1, 2015, and March 31, 2016. The Non-Equity Awards honor excellence in Chicago theatres not under a union contract. Jeff judges attended opening nights of 148 productions offered by 67 Non-Equity producing organizations. The Jeff Committee recommended 65 of those shows (or 44%), making them eligible for Non-Equity Jeff Award nominations. Of the 65 Jeff Recommended productions, a record 53 (or 82%) received nominations, representing 32 theatre companies.

Kokandy Productions just announced its 'new' summer 2016 production: the funny, intimate and moving musical TOMORROW MORNING with book, music and lyrics by Laurence Mark Wythe, directed by Co-Artistic Director John D. Glover, music direction by Kory Danielson and choreography by Cameron Turner.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Details on the arrivals of 'Hamilton' and 'If/Then,' and Bill Pullinsi's and Michael Flatley's retirements mark the end of two eraa. 'Far From Heaven' and 'Heathers' will premiere locally, and 'Bel Canto' bows at the Lyric Opera. 'Daddy Long Legs' streams, 'Option Up!' debuts new works, and voting for the BroadwayWorld Chicago Awards heats up!

Kokandy Productions invites you to pour yourself some eggnog and make yourself at home for a family-sized portion of holiday cheer at A KOKANDY CHRISTMAS, an evening of festive stories and songs old and new. Kokandy Productions' first ever holiday show will play now through December 23, 2015 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago. The press opening is tonight, December 4, and BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Kokandy Productions invites you to pour yourself some eggnog and make yourself at home for a family-sized portion of holiday cheer at A KOKANDY CHRISTMAS, an evening of festive stories and songs old and new performed by five of Chicago's brightest musical theater talents.

Kokandy Productions is pleased to launch its 2016 season with the Chicago premiere of the dark 'mean teen' comedy HEATHERS: THE MUSICAL, based on the hit 1980s cult film of the same name, from the award winning-team of creative team of Kevin Murphy (Reefer Madness, Desperate Housewives), Laurence O'Keefe (Bat Boy, Legally Blonde) and Andy Fickman (Reefer Madness, She's the Man). Directed by Co-Artistic Director Allison Hendrix, with music direction by Kory Danielson and choreography by Sawyer Smith, HEATHERS: THE MUSICAL will play February 28 - April 24, 2016 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago. Casting will be announced shortly. Tickets are currently available at www.kokandyproductions.com, by calling (773) 975-8150 or in person at the Theater Wit Box Office. The press opening is Friday, March 4 at 8 pm.

Kokandy Productions invites you to pour yourself some eggnog and make yourself at home for a family-sized portion of holiday cheer at A KOKANDY CHRISTMAS, an evening of festive stories and songs old and new performed by five of Chicago's brightest musical theater talents: Emily Grayson (Melancholy Play, Titanic), Christina Hall (Sweet Smell of Success, The Wild Party), Garrett Lutz (Dogfight, The Full Monty), Jaymes Osbourne (Smokey Joe's Cafe, Dessa Rose) and Sasha Smith (The Wild Party, Plastic Revolution).

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 Equity Jeff Awards get it right! 'Scottsboro,' 'Cyclone' and 'Hollywood' serve up new delights, 'Pinafore' does it old school, and 'Goblin Market' and 'Nightmare Before Christmas' scare us. Christmas comes via Kokandy and the Q Brothers, and 'Grease: Live' is set for FOX-TV!