Brigitte Ditmars News

Bailiwick Chicago will launch its 2013-14 season with the Chicago premiere of the thrilling musical drama DESSA ROSE by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, the Tony Award-winning team behind Ragtime, Once on This Island and Seussical!, directed by Artistic Director Lili-Anne Brown with music direction by Collective Member James Morehead. DESSA ROSE plays March 6 - April 5, 2014 at the Victory Gardens Richard Christiansen Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave. in Chicago. Tickets are available at www.victorygardens.org, by calling (773) 871-3000 or in-person at the Victory Gardens Box Office. The press performance is Sunday, March 9 at 7 pm.

Fox Valley Repertory opens their 2014 theater series with Dan Goggin's international hit like nun-other, Nunsense. Directed and choreographed by Brigitte Ditmars with music direction by Jeffrey Poindexter, performances will take place at the Pheasant Run Resort Mainstage tonight, January 16 - March 9, 2014.

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 BroadwayWorld Chicago Award winners will be announced tonight! Plus 'Ghost' and 'Phantom' haunt the Loop, 'Wicked' casts Tim Kazurinsky, productions like 'Sweet Smell' and 'Nunsense,' The Midtown Men, news out of Circle Theatre and more!

Fox Valley Repertory opens their 2014 theater series with Dan Goggin's international hit like nun-other, Nunsense. Directed and choreographed by Brigitte Ditmars with music direction by Jeffrey Poindexter, performances will take place at the Pheasant Run Resort Mainstage January 16 - March 9, 2014.

Bailiwick Chicago will launch its 2013-14 season with the Chicago premiere of the thrilling musical drama DESSA ROSE by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, the Tony Award-winning team behind Ragtime, Once on This Island and Seussical!, directed by Artistic Director Lili-Anne Brown with music direction by Collective Member James Morehead. DESSA ROSE plays March 6 - April 5, 2014 at the Victory Gardens Richard Christiansen Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave. in Chicago. Tickets go on sale Wednesday, January 15, 2014 at and www.victorygardens.org, by calling (773) 871-3000 or in-person at the Victory Gardens Box Office. The press performance is Sunday, March 9 at 7 pm.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Holiday perennials 'The Christmas Schooner,' 'Winter Pageant,' 'Christmas In Chicago' and more, plus 'The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,' 'Carrie' casting, Griffin's 'Bee,' two from Disney and NBC's 'The Sound Of Music!'

Bailiwick Chicago has announced casting for its 2013-14 Season, which features two stunning musicals in their Chicago premieres. Leading the cast of the stirring musical drama DESSA ROSE are Sydney Charles as Dessa Rose (The Color Purple, The Mercury Theatre; Smokey Joe's Cafe, Theo Ubique) and Collective Member Harmony France as Ruth (Violet, Bailiwick Chicago-Jeff nomination; Tell Me on A Sunday, Bailiwick Repertory) with special guest artist Jayson "JC" Brooks as Nathan (Passing Strange, Bailiwick Chicago). The 2012 Off-Broadway revival version of the infamous 1988 musical CARRIE will star Callie Johnson (Pal Joey, Porchlight Music Theatre-Jeff Award; Next to Normal, Drury Lane Oak Brook) as Carrie and Katherine L. Condit as Margaret White (Chess, Original Broadway Company; Joseph and A Chorus Line, National Tours).

Wicker Park's historic Flat Iron Arts Building - home to over 30 artist studios, six small businesses, a Bank of America branch, and Collaboraction Theatre Company - turns 100 years old this year.

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 Jeff Awards, the Tony Awards (and our BWW Chicago Tony Award Viewing Party!), the return of two special events, 'West Side Story,' upcoming seasons of musicals, and my June 13th cabaret concert, plus more!

Wicker Park's historic Flat Iron Arts Building - home to over 30 artist studios, six small businesses, a Bank of America branch, and Collaboraction Theatre Company - turns 100 years old this year.

A stage tale of troubled families, a true-life story musical about gay servicemen in World War II and a rousing rock'n'roll revue took home top honors Monday, June 3, at Park West during the 40th Annual Non-Equity Jeff Awards ceremony recognizing excellence in non-union Chicago theatre.

The Jeff Awards Committee today announced 120 nominations in 25 categories of Non-Equity Jeff Awards for productions that opened between April 1, 2012, and March 31, 2013. The Non-Equity Awards honor excellence in Chicago theatres not under a union contract. Jeff judges attended opening nights of 146 productions offered by 65 Non-Equity producing organizations. The judges recommended 54 of those shows, making them eligible for Non-Equity Jeff Award nominations. Thirty-three theatre companies received nominations.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'Fiddler' and the Paramount triumph and make plans, two Sondheim shows next year from Gary Griffin, the return of 'Hank Williams' and 'Last Five Years,' 'Parade' and 'Pirates' in short runs, and two Victorian musical dramas, spanning the pond...and more!

Fox Valley Repertory continues their 2013 theater series with the 1950's with Stuart Ross's hit, Forever Plaid. Directed by Brandon Bruce with Music Direction by Jeffrey Poindexter, performances will take place at the Pheasant Run Resort Mainstage on March 28 through May 19, 2013 (4051 E. Main St., St. Charles, IL; box office 630-584-6342).

Voting is now underway for the Chicago Awards and continues until December 15, 2012. Winners will be announced in early January. Check out the live standings below.

Voting is now underway for the Chicago Awards and continues until December 31, 2012. Winners will be announced in early January. Check out the latest standings below.

Voting is now underway for the Chicago Awards and continues until December 31, 2012. Winners will be announced in early January. Check out the live standings below!

Voting is now underway for the Chicago Awards and continues until December 31, 2012. Winners will be announced in early January. Check out the live standings below!

Today, BroadwayWorld.com is proud to announce the slate of nominees for the third annual BroadwayWorld Chicago Awards, the only fan-voted theater awards in the Chicagoland area! Expanded to thirty categories this year, the BCAs (or "Broadies") honor Chicago's theater productions and artists in both Equity and Non-Equity categories, including plays, musicals, revues, Theater for Young Audiences, touring shows and special theatrical events. Productions which opened between November 1, 2011 and October 31, 2012 were eligible for nomination. The BroadwayWorld Chicago Awards are the oldest and most popular of the several dozen regional BroadwayWorld Award competitions now being held in the U.S. And you can join the fun by voting for your favorites, and encouraging your friends to vote as the vote totals pile up!