Chicago Shakespeare Theater News

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) presents a contemporary retelling of William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, staged by acclaimed British director Jonathan Munby in his Chicago debut, tonight, February 5-March 24, 2013 in CST's Courtyard Theater.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST), Benito Juarez Community Academy and Latinos Progresando announced today a joint partnership to present a concert version of In the Heights at Juarez Performing Arts Center in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood on Monday, April 8 at 7 p.m.

The Shakespeare Theatre Company, recipient of the 2012 Regional Theatre Tony Award, probes the burdens of leadership and the price of power in its Hero/Traitor Repertory of Coriolanus and Wallenstein. In the hands of The Studio Theatre's Artistic Director David Muse and STC's Artistic Director Michael Kahn, this pairing of Shakespearean and German epics challenges the concept of control among military and government institutions. Coriolanus and Wallenstein play at Sidney Harman Hall (610 F Street NW) from March 28-June 2, 2013.

Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, presents Andrew Lloyd Webber's triumphant Broadway musical SUNSET BOULEVARD, opening Friday, February 1 at 8:30 p.m., and running through March 24. The all-star cast is led by Christine Sherrill as "Norma Desmond" (National Tour of Mamma Mia!, Legally Blonde at Marriott Theatre and Xanadu and Curtains at Drury Lane Theatre) and Will Ray as "Joe Gillis" (National Tour of Little House on the Prairie, the new musical Allegiance at the Old Globe Theater, and Irish Repertory's Meet Me In St. Louis). SUNSET BOULEVARD is directed by William Osetek (Drury Lane Theatre's smash hit production of Spamalot and Jeff Award nominee for Best Director and Best Production for Thoroughly Modern Millie.)

The Old Globe today announced the complete cast and creative team for the world premiere of A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, a new musical comedy with book by Robert L. Freedman, music by Steven Lutvak and lyrics by Freedman and Lutvak. Former Old Globe Co-Artistic Director Darko Tresnjak returns to the Globe to direct the production. Based on the novel Israel Rank by Roy Horniman, the musical also features choreography by Peggy Hickey. A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder will run March 8 - April 14, 2013 on the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage in the Old Globe Theatre, part of the Globe's Conrad Prebys Theatre Center. Preview performances run March 8 - March 12. Opening night is Wednesday, March 13 at 7:00 p.m. A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder is a co-production with Hartford Stage. Single tickets go on sale Sunday, Feb. 3 at 12 noon. Tickets can be purchased online at www.TheOldGlobe.org, by phone at (619) 23-GLOBE or by visiting the Box Office at 1363 Old Globe Way in Balboa Park.

In the video below, funny lady and Broadway veteran Nicole Parker parodies the big screen adaptation of LES MIS with director Tom Hooper's 'next movie musical' LES SOUND- a new adaptation of THE SOUND OF MUSIC. Starring in this film are Diane Keaton, Emma Stone, Leslie Mann, Ellen Degeneres and more.

"It's almost like being in love!" Goodman Theatre proudly announces a Summer 2014 production of the 1947 musical Brigadoon, with book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe-marking the first major revival of the musical in nearly 20 years. Award-winning Chicago director/choreographer Rachel Rockwell, hailed as "a theatrical magician" (Chicago Sun-Times) and "2012 Chicagoan of the Year" (Chicago Tribune) for her recent reinvestigations of American musicals, directs the piece in her Goodman debut. With permission from the Lerner and Loewe estates, the Goodman and Rockwell will consider some revisions to the book for this production. Only Goodman Subscribers and Groups are guaranteed priority access to Brigadoon tickets; subscriptions for Goodman's 2013/2014 Season (additional projects and dates for Brigadoon to be announced) will be available for purchase in March. Call 312.443.3800 or visit GoodmanTheatre.org.

Belarus Free Theatre makes its way to the United States in January, despite several police raids last month at underground performance spaces in the capital of Minsk. The raids came on the eve of the company bringing its newest political piece, Minsk, 2011: A Reply to Kathy Acker, to Chicago Shakespeare Theater tonight, January 30-February 3, 2013.

Continuing its 25th Anniversary Season, Lookingglass Theatre Company presents the 2010 Pulitzer Prize Finalist Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo, written by Rajiv Joseph and directed by Ensemble Member Heidi Stillman. Tickets are now on sale for the production, running tonight, January 30 - March 17, 2013 at Lookingglass Theatre Company.

The Colony Theatre will present the fifth production of its 'Season of Premieres' with the Los Angeles Premiere of I'LL BE BACK BEFORE MIDNIGHT, written and directed by Peter Colley. I'LL BE BACK BEFORE MIDNIGHT will preview on Wednesday, February 6; Thursday, February 7; and Friday, February 8 at 8:00pm. It will open on Saturday, February 9 at 8:00pm and continue through Sunday, March 3 at The Colony Theatre, 555 North Third Street (at Cypress) adjacent to the Burbank Town Center.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) announced today casting for Short Shakespeare! Romeo and Juliet, a 75-minute abridged production of Shakespeare's tragedy of true love found-and tragically lost, adapted and staged by Jeff Award-winning director and Chicagoan of the Year in Theater Rachel Rockwell. Providing a quality, family-friendly introduction to Shakespeare on Saturday mornings from February 23 to March 23, 2013, the cast of Rockwell's production includes Chicago actors Christopher Allen and Laura Rook, who make their CST debuts in the title roles.

Newcity publishes The Players 2013: The 50 People Who Really Perform in Chicago this week. Alternating each year between on-stage artistic achievement and behind-the-scenes power, The Players 2013 lists the most powerful individuals in the city's theater, dance, comedy and opera.

Yale Repertory Theatre presents Paul Giamatti in HAMLET by William Shakespeare, directed by James Bundy, at the University Theatre (222 York Street), March 15-April 13. Opening Night is Thursday, March 21, at 7:30PM.

A delightful midwinter night's dream, ALMOST, MAINE by John Cariani will play TheaterWorks in downtown Hartford. The sweet and poignant comedy runs tonight, January 25 - March 3, 2013, directed by Amy Saltz.

Goodman Theatre Artistic Director Robert Falls announces the cast for his revival of the rarely-produced Measure for Measure-William Shakespeare's "last comedy and his blackest-pitched" in which the "unquenchable influence of sex in society is a central theme" (New York Times). This production marks Falls' first return to Shakespeare's work since his critically-acclaimed 2006 revival of King Lear, starring Stacy Keach in the title role.

Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, presents Andrew Lloyd Webber's triumphant Broadway musical SUNSET BOULEVARD, previewing tonight, January 24, opening Friday, February 1 at 8:30 p.m., and running through March 24.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Two Lloyd Webber shows from our most important resident musical theater houses, two big shows from the 1950s in brief appearances, three special shows for Valentine's Day (from Cory Goodrich, Felicia Fields and CPaz), our two favorite showtune TV shows and more!

Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, presents Andrew Lloyd Webber's triumphant Broadway musical SUNSET BOULEVARD, previewing January 24, opening Friday, February 1 at 8:30 p.m., and running through March 24. The all-star cast is led by Christine Sherrill as "Norma Desmond" (National Tour of Mamma Mia!, Legally Blonde at Marriott Theatre and Xanadu and Curtains at Drury Lane Theatre) and Will Ray as "Joe Gillis" (National Tour of Little House on the Prairie, the new musical Allegiance at the Old Globe Theater, and Irish Repertory's Meet Me In St. Louis). SUNSET BOULEVARD is directed by William Osetek (Drury Lane Theatre's smash hit production of Spamalot and Jeff Award nominee for Best Director and Best Production for Thoroughly Modern Millie.)