Behzad Dabu News

Center Theatre Group has announced casting for Ayad Akhtar's Pulitzer Prize-winning play DISGRACED, which begins previews June 8, opens June 19 and continues through July 17, 2016, at the Mark Taper Forum. Directed by Kimberly Senior, the cast features J Anthony Crane, Behzad Dabu, Hari Dhillon, Karen Pittman and Emily Swallow.

Henry Wishcamper's contemporary take on Thornton Wilder's THE MATCHMAKER -- the inspiration for the musical Hello, Dolly! -- revealing social truths through mistaken identity, outrageous misbehavior and spontaneous romance, appears in Goodman Theatre's 856-seat Albert Theatre, now through April 10, 2016. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

BroadwayWorld Chicago is bringing you 10 on Tuesday, featuring artists in and around Chicago. This week's questionnaire participant - Lavina Jadhwani!

TimeLine Theatre Company announces that Chicago artists Behzad Dabu and Ron OJ Parson have been named Company Members at the theater, effective immediately.

In theater, as with any art form, playwrights can walk a fine line between telling a riveting and honest story and saying things simply for shock value. Ayad Akhtar's Pulitzer Prize winning play "Disgraced", currently playing at the Seattle Rep, walks that line. And while on the whole this extremely powerful piece opens its audiences up to an examination of who we are at our core, in retrospect I'll admit to feeling a bit manipulated as I recall harsh one-liners piled on top of each other culminating in a crescendo of shock. Effective shock but at times dipping its toe over the line into shock for shock sake and feeling a bit contrived.

Casting is complete for Henry Wishcamper's contemporary take on Thornton Wilder's The Matchmaker-the inspiration for the musical Hello, Dolly!, revealing social truths through mistaken identity, outrageous misbehavior and spontaneous romance.

Due to an overwhelming positive response from critics and audiences alike, Berkeley Rep has announced that the west coast premiere of the Pulitzer Prize- winning play, Disgraced will extend for an additional week. Originally scheduled to close on December 20, the critically acclaimed play will run through Sunday, December 27.

Berkeley Repertory Theatre is proud to present the West Coast premiere of Disgraced by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Ayad Akhtar.

Berkeley Repertory Theatre is proud to present the West Coast premiere of Disgraced by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Ayad Akhtar.

Chicago stage, TV and film star Michael Shannon did the honor of announcing the nominees for the 2014-2015 Equity Jeff Awards. A video of the presentation is available at www.JeffAwards.org.

Jackalope Theatre Company wraps up its 7th season with The 6th Annual Living Newspapers Festival. In homage to the 1930's Living Newspapers of the Federal Theatre Project, Jackalope has assembled an exciting group of Chicago playwrights, directors, and actors to dramatize stories ripped from recent newspaper headlines. Presented for a five-performance limited engagement at The Frontier, 1106 W. Thorndale Ave, the festival will run today, August 19, through August 23, Wednesday - Sunday at 7:30pm.

Jackalope Theatre Company wraps up its 7th season with The 6th Annual Living Newspapers Festival. In homage to the 1930's Living Newspapers of the Federal Theatre Project, Jackalope has assembled an exciting group of Chicago playwrights, directors, and actors to dramatize stories ripped from recent newspaper headlines. Presented for a five-performance limited engagement at The Frontier, 1106 W. Thorndale Ave, the festival will run August 19-23, Wednesday - Sunday at 7:30pm.

Chicago Inclusion Project Founder and Producer Emjoy Gavino announces the launch of The Chicago Inclusion Project, a collective dedicated to championing inclusion and diversity in Chicago theatre.

As the world is shocked by news reports and video images of antiquities and literary treasures being destroyed in Mosul, Iraq, TimeLine Theatre Company announces the Chicago premiere of INANA by Michele Lowe, about an Iraqi museum curator desperately plotting to save his country's cherished antiquities-including the only remaining statue of ancient mother goddess Inana-from destruction in advance of the U.S. invasion in 2003.

Continuing its 40th Anniversary Season, Victory Gardens Theater announces the world premiere of Samsara by Lauren Yee, directed by Seth Bockley. Samsara runs now through March 8, 2015 with the press performance tonight, February 13, 2015, at Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Continuing its 40th Anniversary Season, Victory Gardens Theater announces the world premiere ofSamsara by Lauren Yee, directed by Seth Bockley. Samsara runs February 6 - March 8, 2015 with the press performance on Friday, February 13, 2015, at Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue. Check out a first look at highlights below!

TimeLine Theatre Company is pleased to announce the expansion of its full-time staff with the addition of Dan McArdle as General Manager; the appointment of new Associate Artists, including Chicago-based and soon-to-be Broadway director Kimberly Senior; and the election of new leadership for its Board of Directors, including President John M. Sirek.

TimeLine Theatre Company has announced the addition of several new artists and community leaders to its ranks with the creation of a new Playwrights Collective, plus the naming of four new Associate Artists and eight members to its Board of Directors. TIMELINE PLAYWRIGHTS COLLECTIVE Eight playwrights have been named to the inaugural year of TimeLine's Playwrights Collective: Alice Austen, Aaron Carter, John Conroy, Emily Dendinger, Wendell Etherly, Frances Limoncelli, Susan McLaughlin Karp and Brett Neveu.

TimeLine Theatre Company concludes its 2012-13 season with a play that was named among the Top 10 of 2011 by The New York Times. The Chicago premiere of Blood and Gifts by J.T. Rogers, directed by TimeLine Associate Artistic Director Nick Bowling, runs tonight, May 9 - July 28, 2013 (previews April 30 - May 8) at TimeLine Theatre, 615 W. Wellington Ave, Chicago. Press Opening performance is tonight, May 9, 2013 at 7:30 p.m.

TimeLine Theatre Company concludes its 2012-13 season with a play that was named among the Top 10 of 2011 by The New York Times. The Chicago premiere of Blood and Gifts by J.T. Rogers, directed by TimeLine Associate Artistic Director Nick Bowling, runs May 9 - July 28, 2013 (previews April 30 - May 8) at TimeLine Theatre, 615 W. Wellington Ave, Chicago. Press Opening performance is Thursday, May 9, 2013 at 7:30 p.m.