Chicago Shakespeare Theater News

Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, continues its 30th anniversary season with the Tony Award-winning musical comedy THE 25th ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, now running through August 17, 2014. Scott Calcagno(Legally Blonde at The Civic Theatre, Grease at The Long Lake Theatre as well as the annual production of A Christmas Carol at Drury Lane Theatre) directs. The show recently celebrated its opening, and BroadwayWorld has photos from the festivites below!

Marina Carr's play Woman and Scarecrow is a perfect embodiment of the bittersweet humor and comical tragedy that pervades the plays of the Irish, much like PICT's production Waiting for Godot that closed June 21. Alan Stanford will direct this third play in PICT's season, which he selected "because of its delicate investigation of the one event in our lives that we all share. The leaving of it."

Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, continues its 30th anniversary season with the Tony Award-winning musical comedy THE 25th ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, now running through August 17, 2014. Scott Calcagno (Legally Blonde at The Civic Theatre, Grease at The Long Lake Theatre as well as the annual production of A Christmas Carol at Drury Lane Theatre) will direct. Scroll down for a first look at the cast in action!

Chicago Shakespeare Theater's (CST) Producers' Guild announced today CST's inaugural Family Gala, Seussapalooza on July 12, 2014, 11:00 a.m. at the Theater's home on Navy Pier.

Northlight Theatre, under the direction of Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans, announces casting for the first three productions of the 40th Anniversary Season.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'Brigadoon' and 'The Last Ship' bust their moves, 'Kinky Boots' and 'Jersey Boys' announce returns, midsummer closings loom, 'Marvelettes,' 'Spelling Bee' and 'Seussical' open, the new shows 'Jim And Dave' and 'Apes Of Wrath,' plus a noteworthy trio at Davenport's and more!

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) celebrated the enduring vitality of Shakespeare on Monday, June 16 with GALA 2014 at its home on Navy Pier, raising nearly $1.2 million for Chicago Shakespeare in Urban Communities. Three hundred and fifty of Chicago's civic, corporate and cultural leaders attended the event benefitting CST's civic engagement and education initiatives, including the citywide summer tradition Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks and Team Shakespeare education programs. The evening culminated in the presentation of the fourth annual Spirit of Shakespeare Awards to this year's Civic Honoree, The Boeing Company and Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Greg Smith and his wife Denise, and Artistic Honoree, Chicago theater legend Mike Nussbaum.

In a recent interview with the San Diego Union-Tribune, Tony-winning director Darko Tresnjak revealed that he is already hard at work with his A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder collaborators on a new musical. Tresnjak has reunited with Robert Freedman and Steven Lutvak for The Campaign of the Century- a musical based on Greg Mitchell's book about Upton Sinclair.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) celebrated the enduring vitality of Shakespeare on Monday, June 16 with GALA 2014 at its home on Navy Pier, raising nearly $1.2 million for Chicago Shakespeare in Urban Communities. Three hundred and fifty of Chicago's civic, corporate and cultural leaders attended the event benefitting CST's civic engagement and education initiatives, including the citywide summer tradition Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks and Team Shakespeareeducation programs.

Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, will continue its 30th anniversary season with the Tony Award-winning musical comedy THE 25th ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, previewing June 19, opening Thursday, June 26 at 8 p.m., and running through August 17, 2014. Scott Calcagno (Legally Blonde at The Civic Theatre, Grease at The Long Lake Theatre as well as the annual production of A Christmas Carol at Drury Lane Theatre) will direct.

Due to early ticket demand, Victory Gardens Theater adds an additional week of performances to the run of Death and the Maiden by Ariel Dorfman, directed by Artistic Director Chay Yew. Death and the Maiden now runs June 13 - July 20, 2014, with the press performance on June 20, 2014, at Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) announces today the 2014/15 World's Stage Series-bringing the most fresh and innovative work from theater companies around the world to Chicago and touring CST-developed productions to festivals abroad. From Australia, South Africa, France, England, Scotland and Belgium, this season's offerings for Chicago audiences feature productions from eight internationally acclaimed theater companies. In keeping with the mission of the World's Stage program to serve as an international cultural ambassador for Chicago, the Theater is also touring CST-produced work abroad to Australia, New Zealand and Canada.

Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, will continue its 30th anniversary season with the Tony Award-winning musical comedy THE 25th ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, previewing tonight, June 19, opening Thursday, June 26 at 8 p.m., and running through August 17, 2014. Scott Calcagno (Legally Blonde at The Civic Theatre, Grease at The Long Lake Theatre as well as the annual production of A Christmas Carol at Drury Lane Theatre) will direct.

Million Dollar Quartet, the longest-running Broadway musical production in Chicago's history, has been extended through January 4, 2015. With over 2,000 performances and nearly 6 smash years in Chicago, the Tony Award-winning rock 'n' roll musical holds the record for the longest-running Broadway musical in Chicago. Tickets will go on sale Friday, June 20, 2014, at 10:00am.

Victory Gardens Theater continues its 2013-2014 season with Death and the Maiden by Ariel Dorfman, directed by Artistic Director Chay Yew. Death and the Maiden runs now through July 13, 2014, with the press performance on June 20, 2014, at Victory Gardens Theatre, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue. The cast of Death and the Maiden includes Raul Castillo, John Judd and Sandra Oh. Below, BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action!

Peninsula Players Theatre, America's Oldest Professional Resident Summer Theater and Door County's theatrical icon, opens its 79th season June 17 with the world premiere comedy "The Tin Woman" by Sean Grennan. The Players premiered another of Grennan' s comedies "Making God Laugh" in 2011.

The Playwrights' Center has announced the 2014-15 recipients of its McKnight Theater Artist Fellowships: costume designer Mathew LeFebvre; actor, director and choreographer Austene Van and actor Sally Wingert.

Peninsula Players Theatre, America's Oldest Professional Resident Summer Theater and Door County's theatrical icon, opens its 79th season June 17 with the world premiere comedy "The Tin Woman" by Sean Grennan. The Players premiered another of Grennan' s comedies "Making God Laugh" in 2011.

Casting has been announced for The Hub Theatre's summer production of the Hub artistic director, Helen Pafumi's new play ABOMINABLE.

First Folio Theatre, presents Shakespeare's classic comedy THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR on its outdoor main stage situated on the scenic slopes of the historic Mayslake Peabody Estate. THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR previews July 9, opens Saturday, July 12 at 8:15 p.m., and runs through August 10, 2014. Guests are encouraged to bring a picnic and enjoy First Folio Theatre's annual 'Shakespeare under the Stars' production, directed by Jeff Award nominee Nick Sandys.