Chicago Shakespeare Theater News

Producers Jonas Neilson, Paul Lambert and Elizabeth Williams announced today that they've found the founding members of the First Wives Club for the new Broadway-bound musical's premiere at Chicago's Oriental Theatre. Tony Award-winner Faith Prince will play 'Brenda,' Mamma Mia's Christine Sherrill will play 'Elise,' and Wicked star Carmen Cusack will play 'Annie,' in the iconic roles created on film by Bette Midler, Goldie Hawn and Diane Keaton, respectively.

You haven't seen A Christmas Story until you've seen it live on stage at Cleveland Play House! This hilarious comedy based on the short stories of author Jean Shepherd has been delighting TV audiences for over 30 years. But instead of waiting for the 24-hour TV marathon to start, why not experience the magic of the holiday season live on stage with your loved ones at the Allen Theatre? Cleveland Play House's exuberant production of this beloved holiday classic will have you in stitches as you follow the trials and tribulations of little Ralphie Parker in his quest for the "holy grail" of Christmas gifts. With so many memorable moments and iconic images, it's no wonder that an illuminated leg lamp and pink bunny suit have become synonymous with the holiday season! Experience the magic for yourself November 28 - December 21 in the Allen Theatre at PlayhouseSquare.

This December, Marin Theatre Company continues its 48th Season with a presentation of Reduced Shakespeare Company performing their The Complete History of Comedy (abridged), starring writer/directors Reed Martin and Austin Tichenor, with Dominic Conti. The "Bad Boys of Abridgement" will leave no joke untold as they deconstruct the entire history of comedy in a dizzying night's entertainment.

John Douglas Thompson will lead a company of 19 actors playing 60 roles in the first major New York production since Broadway 1956 of Christopher Marlowe's 1587 epic Tamburlaine, Parts I and II, Jeffrey Horowitz, Founding Artistic Director of Theatre for a New Audience, announced. Directed and edited by Olivier Award-winner Michael Boyd, former Artistic Director of the Royal Shakespeare Company, Marlowe's two-part drama will be performed as one 3.5-hour play, plus a 30-minute intermission.

Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts (aka 'The Wallis') presents the return engagement of Love, Noel: The Letters and Songs of Noel Coward, devised and written by Coward authority Barry Day, and directed by Jeanie Hackett. Love, Noel transforms the Lovelace Studio Theater into an intimate lounge for cocktails, comedy and Coward.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) announces today the casting and creative team for William Shakespeare's riveting odyssey Pericles, staged by CST veteran director David H. Bell and featuring Stratford Festival company member Ben Carlson in the title role.

WAM Theatre's Artistic Director Kristen van Ginhoven is pleased to announce the cast and creative team for the New England premiere of In Darfur, by Winter Miller. A timely, compelling drama, In Darfur will run from tonight, October 30 - November 16 at Shakespeare & Company in the Berry Family Studio of the Elayne P. Bernstein Center.

The Cultural Services of French Embassy is pleased to announce two major theater productions from France debuting in New York: Six Characters in Search of an Author by Luigi Pirandello, directed by Emmanuel Demarcy-Mota, a production of Theatre de la Ville in Paris, at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (October 29 to November 2) and Kindertotenlieder by Gisele Vienne at New York Live Arts (October 29 to November 1).

Milwaukee Repertory Theater's Stackner Cabaret once again welcomes the glittering costumes and chandeliers of Liberace!. Brilliant local musician and performer Jack Forbes Wilson will reprise his triumphant portrayal of Liberace, the man who defined four decades of music and pop culture, after an acclaimed world premiere production which ran during The Rep's 2010/11 Season. This loving tribute to Liberace is written and directed by Rep Associate Artistic Director Brent Hazelton, with original music direction and composition by Jack Forbes Wilson. Liberace! runs in The Rep's Stackner Cabaret from November 7, 2014 - January 11, 2015 and opens Sunday, November 9.

Griffin Theatre Company launches its 2014-15 season with a new, intimate version of the Tony Award-winning Best Musical TITANIC, with music and lyrics by Maury Yeston (Nine, Phantom), book by Peter Stone (Woman of the Year, 1776), new orchestrations by Ian Weinberger, directed by Scott Weinstein (Griffin Theatre's Spelling Bee, Chicago Shakespeare Theater's Seussical) and music direction by Elizabeth Doran (Timeline's Juno). TITANIC will play through December 7, 2014 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago. Tickets are available at www.theaterwit.org, in person at the Theater Wit Box Office or by calling (773) 975-8150.

Haven Theatre Company opens their 2014 - 2015 Season with the Chicago premiere of Catherine Trieschmann's Hot Georgia Sunday, directed by Marti Lyons, at The Den Theatre, 1333 N. Milwaukee Ave., November 22 - December 21. Previews are Saturday, Nov. 22 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 23 at 2 p.m. Opening night is Monday, Nov. 24 at 7:30 p.m. The regular schedule is Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. Regular tickets are $30, senior tickets are $25, previews tickets are $20 and industry/student tickets are $10. You can purchase tickets and get more information at www.haventheatrechicago.com.

The Old Globe today announced the cast and creative team for the Old Globe/University of San Diego Graduate Theatre Program presentation of William Shakespeare's Pericles, Prince of Tyre, directed by Ray Chambers and running November 15 - November 23 in the Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre, part of the Globe's Conrad Prebys Theatre Center. Opening night is Saturday, November 15 at 8:00 p.m.

Pittsburgh CLO has announced the Pittsburgh Premiere of the Off-Broadway sensation Murder For Two, today, October 22-January 18 at the CLO Cabaret. Everyone is a suspect in this exciting production where classic musical comedy meets Agatha Christie.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) brings audiences a fresh take on a beloved classic, A Q Brothers' Christmas Carol, developed with hip-hop sensations the Q Brothers and CST Creative Producer Rick Boynton. After a special work-in-progress presentation last season, Chicago Shakespeare is proud to premiere this hip-hop reinterpretation of the perennial holiday favorite by Charles Dickens. A Q Brothers' Christmas Carol rocks the theater Upstairs at Chicago Shakespeare for a limited engagement, November 19-December 31, 2014.

Chicago-October 20, 2014-Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) brings audiences a fresh take on a beloved classic, A Q Brothers' Christmas Carol, developed with hip-hop sensations the Q Brothers and CST Creative Producer Rick Boynton. After a special work-in-progress presentation last season, Chicago Shakespeare is proud to premiere this hip-hop reinterpretation of the perennial holiday favorite by Charles Dickens. A Q Brothers' Christmas Carol rocks the theater Upstairs at Chicago Shakespeare for a limited engagement, November 19-December 31, 2014.

Griffin Theatre Company will launch its 2014-15 season with a new, intimate version of the Tony Award-winning Best Musical TITANIC, with music and lyrics by Maury Yeston (Nine, Phantom), book by Peter Stone (Woman of the Year, 1776), new orchestrations by Ian Weinberger, directed by Scott Weinstein (Griffin Theatre's Spelling Bee, Chicago Shakespeare Theater's Seussical) and music direction by Elizabeth Doran (Timeline's Juno). TITANIC will play today, October 18 - December 7, 2014 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago. Tickets are available at www.theaterwit.org, in person at the Theater Wit Box Office or by calling (773) 975-8150. The press opening is Sunday, October 26 at 7 pm.

'So Ya Wanna Be a Broadway Star?,' a BroadwayWorld TV exclusive series, is teaming up with musical theatre songwriting duo KINOSIAN & BLAIR. Kinosian & Blair will be writing the 11 o'clock number to a musical adaptation of a 1980s cult television hit that series lead, Micki Manuel Minnelli, is auditioning for!

Roundabout Theatre Company presents Tom Stoppard's Tony Award-winning play, The Real Thing, starring Ewan McGregor as 'Henry' and Maggie Gyllenhaal as 'Annie' in their Broadway debuts; Cynthia Nixon as 'Charlotte' and Josh Hamilton as 'Max.' The Real Thing officially opens tonight, October 30, 2014 at the American Airlines Theatre on Broadway. Scroll down to learn more about the full cast and watch interviews with the company below!