Brian Dennehy News

Goodman Theatre announces a line-up of free staged readings written by members of its Playwrights Unit-a year-long residency for Chicago-based writers to develop their plays-in-progress with the Goodman's artistic team, in partnership with Chicago Dramatists.

The Off-Broadway League has announced that Terry Byrne was elected as the new President of The Off-Broadway League. Byrne is the first female president in the nearly 60 year history of the League. The organization also announced three new additions to the Board, including Dean Carpenter, Steven Chaikelson and Casey York.

Join Broadway General Manager Peter Bogyo in conversation with Tony Award-winning Producer Margot Astrachan as they discuss the nitty-gritty of the business side of show business. Bogyo will offer fascinating and entertaining glimpses into the inner workings of the normally closed world of theatrical general management. You can also expect some personal anecdotes and bits of theatrical lore. This evening will offer invaluable insight not only to fledgling general managers but to producers, writers, actors... anyone who is interested in the hows and whys of what happens in theatre before the curtain goes up.

Award-winning actor, singer, and dancer, Joel Grey, has been named to a star-studded advisory board to nominate the recipient of the Gold Coast International Film Festival's second annual Burton Moss Hollywood Golden Era Award. Regina Gil, founder and executive director of the Gold Coast Arts Center] and its Gold Coast International Film Festival, announced Grey's appointment to the board which includes such luminaries as Larry King, Richard Thomas, Edwina Sandys, Katherine Quinn, Tippi Hedren, Greg Mullavey, and Carole Shelley.

The Geffen Playhouse today announced that it has added three directors to its upcoming 2018/2019 season, the first from new Artistic Director Matt Shakman. Tony Award nominee Michael Arden will direct Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, adapted by and starring Tony Award winner Jefferson Mays; Obie Award winner Jo Bonney will direct the world premiere of Jose Rivera's The Untranslatable Secrets of Nikki Corona; and Obie Award-winner Robert O'Hara will direct the world premiere of Inda Craig-Galvan's Black Super Hero Magic Mama.

Perry Street Theatricals and Jonathan Demar in association with Frederick M. Zollo and Diane Procter are thrilled to announce that The Saintliness of Margery Kempe by John Wulp, will begin performances on Thursday, July 5, 2018 at New York City's The Duke on 42nd Street (located on 229 West 42nd Street, between 7th and 8th Avenues). The Saintliness of Margery Kempe will hold its opening night on Thursday, July 12.

The Ladies Foursome was based upon an earlier play by Foster entitled The Foursome, in which four men who are old buddies from college, play 18 holes of golf. Foster shifted the story to feature four women instead of four men, and changed the plot in specific ways to fit his new cast of characters. Ladies Foursome premiered at the Morrisburg Theatre in Montreal, Canada in July of 2014. The show received glowing reviews with many critics claiming that this new Foursome was better than the first. Soon after, the play received an American premiere at the B Street Theatre, and since then has been produced at the Bay Theatre in Baltimore, Theatre Baddeck in Cape Brenton Island, and the Toowoomba Theatre in Canada.

Goodman Theatre is pleased to announce the "Disney Musicals in Schools" Student Share Celebration, featuring nearly 200 students from five Chicago schools performing for their classmates, families and community members.

EAM Productions is proud to present a workshop of Lauren Weedman's hysterical one-woman show, Lauren Weedman Doesn't Live Here Anymore for two nights only on June 5-6, 2018! Grappling with heartbreak, betrayal, and preschool moms, Lauren turns to her fast-talking, 70's Variety Show host alter-ego, Tammy Lisa, to find some clarity.  As the world comes crashing down around her sky-high hairdo, Tammy Lisa fights back, one rockin' song at a time.

The world's changing, bro. This summer, Goodman Theatre premieres Support Group for Men, a new comedy by Ellen Fairey, directed by Kimberly Senior. Fairey, whose work has been hailed 'a must-see for anyone who follows important new plays' (Chicago Tribune), explores shifting social and gender roles through the lens of four men who gather every Thursday night to vent about middle-aged maladies.

Dennis Grimaldi will present Tony®Award-winner Len Cariou (Sweeney Todd) in two staged readings ofHarry Townsend's Last Stand, a new play by George Eastman.  Directed by two-time Emmy®Award-winner Peter Scolari (Wicked) and featuring Warren Bub ('Gotham'), the readings will be held on Monday, May 21 and Tuesday, May 22 at 3pm at Nola Studios (250 West 54th Street - 10th Floor/Studio 1).

Music Theater Works (formerly Light Opera Works) presents the Gilbert and Sullivan classic, THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE, at Cahn Auditorium in Evanston, June 9 through 17. A 26-piece orchestra accompanies such well-known songs as "Poor Wand'ring One," "Oh, Better Far to Live and Die" and "I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major General."

Goodman Theatre announces the cast and creative team for the Chicago premiere of Father Comes Home From the Wars (Parts 1, 2 & 3) by Pulitzer Prize winner Suzan-Lori Parks, directed by Niegel Smith. Parks, in her "finest work yet" (New York Times), serves up "an American story as much about our present as it is about our past" (Los Angeles Times). Filled with wit, poetry and original music composed by Grammy Award winner Justin Ellington and performed on stage nightly by Chicago native blues musician Melody Angel, the production follows Hero (Kamal Angelo Bolden), a Texas slave, who faces a simple yet monumental choice: join his master in the Confederate army to win his freedom-or remain enslaved at the plantation. Father Comes Home From the Wars (Parts 1, 2 & 3) appears May 25 - June 24, 2018 (opening night is June 4 at 7pm) in Goodman Theatre's 350-seat flexible Owen Theatre. The estimated run time is 2 hours and 30 minutes. Tickets ($10 - $40; subject to change) are available at GoodmanTheatre.org/Father , by phone at 312.443.3800 or at the box office (170 N. Dearborn). The Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation is the Major Production Sponsor and American Airlines is the Contributing Sponsor.

Award-winning actor, singer, and dancer, Joel Grey, has been named to a star-studded advisory board to nominate the recipient of the Gold Coast International Film Festival's second annual Burton Moss Hollywood Golden Era Award. Regina Gil, founder and executive director of the Gold Coast Arts Center] and its Gold Coast International Film Festival, announced Grey's appointment to the board which includes such luminaries as Larry King, Richard Thomas, Edwina Sandys, Katherine Quinn, Tippi Hedren, Greg Mullavey, and Carole Shelley.

The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center honored multi-discipline creative artist Lin-Manuel Miranda with the 18th Monte Cristo Award, last night at a private dinner at the Edison Ballroom in New York City. An alumnus of the O'Neill, Miranda's first professional production was at the O'Neill's National Music Theater Conference with In The Heights in 2005. The gala dinner featured a conversation with the honoree and raised $575,000 to support the Center's commitment to developing new work and new artists for the stage.

From internationally-celebrated novel, to world-premiere stage adaptation, to groundbreaking online event. Late Chilean author/poet Roberto Bolaño's 2666, co-adapted and co-directed by Goodman Theatre Artistic Director Robert Falls and Chicago-based playwright Seth Bockley, is now streaming.

The Boston Theater Critics Association has announced that Randy Rainbow, comedian, actor, and internet sensation, will be the Guest of Honor at the 36th Annual Elliot Norton Awards on Monday, May 21, 2018 at 7 PM, at the Huntington Avenue Theatre.  

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. 

Chelsea Marcantel is not an air guitarist. Nor is she a part of an air guitar shredding family. She found the world through a former boyfriend she met in Chicago. "I thought...this is the dumbest thing I've ever heard." The relationship did not work out, however, Marcantel found herself going down a "Youtube Wormhole" of air guitar performances. And after watching the acclaimed documentary Air Guitar Nation, she began writing a play about the world of imaginary soloing.

The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center , announces that multi-discipline creative artist Lin-Manuel Miranda will receive the 18th Monte Cristo Award . An alumnus of the O'Neill, Miranda's first professional production was at the O'Neill's National Music Theater Conference with In The Heights in 2005. A gala dinner featuring a conversation with the honoree will be held at the Edison Ballroom (New York) on Monday, April 30, 2018.