Brian Dennehy News

The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center, announces that composer, actor and Tony Award-winner, Lin-Manuel Miranda will give the opening remarks at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center's Monte Cristo Award Gala, while Academy Award-winning actor and O'Neill Center trustee, Michael Douglas will  present the iconic statue to playwright and screenwriter John Logan, at the gala evening in celebration of Logan's many achievements being held at the Edison Ballroom (New York) on Monday, April 22, 2019.

The 2019 Tribeca Film Festival, presented by AT&T, today unveiled its feature film lineup. Continuing its tradition of elevating exceptional storytelling rooted in today's global film communities, the 18th annual Festival will showcase debut works from emerging talent and new works from notable filmmakers. The program includes discoveries, comedies, music-centered, political and social films. The 2019 Tribeca Film Festival takes place April 24 - May 5.  

Now in its 2nd year, Goodman Theatre selects five Chicagoland elementary schools to participate in the "Disney Musicals in Schools" program--an outreach initiative developed by Disney Theatrical Productions to create sustainable musical theater programs in under-resourced elementary schools. The selected schools include John C. Haines Elementary School (China Town) performing Aladdin KIDS; Jonathan Y. Scammon Elementary School (Logan Square) performing The Lion King KIDS; Richard Yates Elementary School (Humboldt Park) performing Aladdin KIDS; Belmont-Cragin Elementary School (Belmont Cragin) performing The Lion King KIDS; and Gerald Delgado Kanoon Magnet Elementary School (Little Village) performing Aladdin KIDS. Coordinated by Goodman Theatre artists Adrian Azevedo and Anna Gelman, under the leadership of Walter Director of Education and Engagement Willa J. Taylor, the five area public elementary schools received performance rights to a Disney KIDS musical of their choice, at no cost.

Broadway is closer than you think! Now that 3-D Theatricals is the official company in residence at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, theatre lovers from Los Angeles and Orange counties can delight in experiencing the biggest Broadway stars and blockbuster shows just minutes from their front door!

The Provincetown Tennessee Williams Theater Festival is pleased to announce that its Annual Dinner will return on Saturday, June 1, 2019.

Theatre Communications Group just presented its 2019 Gala, directed by Tony Award-winner Michael Mayer and featuring performances from Oklahoma!'s Ali Stroker, Hadestown's Patrick Page and Eva Noblezada, and Angels in America's Beth Malone.

To celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the Broadway debut of 'Love Letters', a Play by A.R. Gurney, Theatre at the Center (TATC) will showcase one exclusive performance on Sunday afternoon, February 3, at 2:30 p.m. This production, under the guidance of artistic advisor Linda Fortunato, will star Phil Potempa, a noted newspaper columnist for the Post Tribune and Crista Zivanovic, features editor of The Times of Northwest Indiana. The performance proceeds will benefit Theatre at the Center in Munster.

Theatre Communications Group has announced that its 2019 Gala will be directed by Tony Award-winner Michael Mayer and feature performances from Oklahoma!'s Ali Stroker, Hadestown's Patrick Page and Eva Noblezada, and Angels in America's Beth Malone.

The Gold Coast International Film Festival is offering a respite for federal workers impacted by the prolonged partial government shutdown; free screenings of Oscar-nominated short films in advance of this year's Academy Awards. The screenings, which are open to the general public, will take place on Sunday, February 10 at 6 p.m. in Port Washington, and Wednesday, February 13 at 7:30 p.m. in Great Neck. A select number of tickets will be set aside at each screening for the government workers.

Broadway is closer than you think! Now that 3-D Theatricals is the official company in residence at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, theatre lovers from Los Angeles and Orange counties can delight in experiencing the biggest Broadway stars and blockbuster shows just minutes from their front door!

2018 is gone, but this tumultuous year for the world brought some pretty incredible theatre performances! This week, the Broadwaysted Crew is pouring out Monkey Shoulder Scotch and Hudson Baby Bourbon with close #FriendoftheShow Andrew Briedis as we discuss our favorite performances and productions of 2018.

Both one-acts in this masterful and memorable double-billing, directed by Steven Robman, are reflective and confessional in nature, with each of the main characters portrayed by masterful actor Brian Dennehy sharing tales of their lives in an attempt to make sense of the way it has turned out for them, especially since the present does not seem to have lived up to the excitement of the past. Perhaps that universal truth is what united these two one acts, with O'Neill and Beckett asking audiences to take a look back at our own lives and realize that even when things seem hopeless and/or meaningless, memories of times past may be the thing to break your downward spiral.

 Composer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Ethan Gold shares his latest collaboration with independent film director and twin brother Ari Gold, the soundtrack for the jazz-inspired drama, “The Song of Sway Lake.” Title tracks from the album feature vocals from American singer John Grant and English indie folk trio The Staves. Lakeshore Records released the soundtrack on all digital platforms. The album is also available on CD through Gold's label Electrik Gold, who will release a limited 7” vinyl on Record Store Day, Friday, Nov. 23rd.

'Before This New Year,' a coming-of-age identity and right-of-first-passage love story by playwright Liana Sonenclar, will play a reading for industry on Monday, November 19th at 7 PM, at the Jerry Orbach Theater at the Theater Center at 210 West 50th Street, and will feature a notable cast. The play is helmed by director Kimberly Loren Eaton, who has been working on the development of the piece with Sonenclar the past several months through her creative development and production company Theatrum Mundi Productions.

Already in previews at the Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater of the Geffen Playhouse, HUGHIE & KRAPP'S LAST TAPE (by Eugene O'Neill & Samuel Beckett, respectively), a double bill starring Brian Dennehy, will open November 14, 2018. I had the chance to chat with director Steven Robman, a frequent collaborator of Brian, as he was driving to a mid-day appointment.

For the first time in six years, Goodman Theatre's Costume Shop hosts a costume sale today, October 20 from 9am - 2pm. More than 100 handmade items by the Goodman's costume shop artisans will be available for sale, priced starting at just $1. From couture gowns to fashionable headwear, attendees can pick selections from acclaimed Goodman productions including-hats and headwear from Artistic Associate Regina Taylor's gospel musical sensation Crowns (2004, 2012); uniforms from Artistic Director Robert Falls' celebrated production of King Lear (2006); the majorette costume from Sweet Bird of Youth (2012) with Academy Award-winning actress Diane Lane and Finn Wittrock; and more. The costume sale takes place today, October 20 from 9am - 2pm at Goodman Theatre (170 N. Dearborn). Admission is free and costume pieces range from $1 - $300+; both cash and credit is accepted. All sales are final and proceeds support the Goodman. Costume previews will not be available prior to the sale. 

Goodman Theatre adds to its 2018/2019 Season a limited engagement of St. Nicholas-an internationally-acclaimed major revival by London's Donmar Warehouse of Conor McPherson's 1997 intimate thriller, directed by Simon Evans. The monologue play stars Olivier Award-winning actor Brendan Coyle ("Mr. Bates" of the smash sensation Downton Abbey, for which he earned an Emmy Award nomination) in "a superlative, mesmerizing performance that's simply not to be missed" (The Arts Review). The U.S. premiere, which appears in the Goodman's 350-seat flexible Owen Theatre, follows two acclaimed recent appearances at the Donmar Warehouse and the Dublin Theatre Festival. The creative team includes Peter McKintosh (Set), Matt Daw (Lighting) and Christopher Shutt (Sound). Goodman Theatre's limited engagement of St. Nicholas appears January 9 - 27, 2019 in the Owen Theatre (170 N. Dearborn). Tickets are available now ONLY with the purchase of a new Classic Membership (4-play packages start at $80). Individual tickets ($25 - $60; subject to change) go on sale Friday, November 9. For tickets and more information, visit GoodmanTheatre.org/StNicholas or call the box office (312.443.3800, 12 noon - 5pm daily).

Pulitzer Prize Finalist Dael Orlandersmith highlights the universal languages of love and music in Lady in Denmark, kicks off the 2018/2019 season in the 350-seat flexible Owen Theatre. Chay Yew, who also helmed the play's 2016 New Stages Festival staged reading, directs Linda Gehringer as Helene-a Danish American woman coping with the death of her husband who finds solace in the hauntingly beautiful music of their favorite singer, Billie Holiday. Orlandersmith's newest play is Helene's journey through the couple's time together-from the smoky jazz clubs of post-war Copenhagen to the home they shared in present-day Andersonville, Chicago. The creative team includes Andrew Boyce (set), Christine Pascual (costumes), Lee Fiskness (lighting) and Mikhail Fiksel (original music and sound). Donald E. Claxon is the production stage manager. Lady in Denmark appears October 19 - November 18, 2018 (opening night is October 29 at 7pm) in the Goodman's Owen Theatre (170 N. Dearborn); tickets ($15-45; subject to change), by telephone 312.443.3800 or online GoodmanTheatre.org/LadyInDenmark.

Nashville businesswoman, philanthropist and arts advocate Martha Rivers Ingram is one of three individuals to be recognized at the annual gala of Theatre Communications Group in 2019. In addition to Ingram, who is co-founder of Nashville Repertory Theatre and who spearheaded the creation of the Tennessee Performing Arts Center, honorees included Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Tony Kushner and Broadway press agent Rick Miramontez, president of DKC/O&M.

Applications are now available for two Goodman Theatre Education and Engagement programs-Disney Musicals in Schools and Cindy Bandle Young Critics-offered at no cost to Chicagoland youth. Applications for Disney Musicals in Schools are available through Monday, October 15 and Cindy Bandle Young Critics through Friday, October 19 at GoodmanTheatre.org/Engage-Learn. For more information, call 312.443.5581.