Chicago Shakespeare Theater News

Yale Repertory Theatre presents the world premiere of Sarah Ruhl's DEAR ELIZABETH, a play in letters from Elizabeth Bishop to Robert Lowell and back again, directed by Les Waters, at Yale Repertory Theatre (1120 Chapel Street), November 30-December 22. Opening Night is tonight, December 6. The cast of DEAR ELIZABETH is Mary Beth Fisher and Jefferson Mays. Click below to go backstage with the stars, plus watch highlights from the show!

Yale Repertory Theatre presents the world premiere of Sarah Ruhl's DEAR ELIZABETH, a play in letters from Elizabeth Bishop to Robert Lowell and back again, directed by Les Waters, at Yale Repertory Theatre (1120 Chapel Street), November 30-December 22. Opening Night is tonight, December 6. The cast of DEAR ELIZABETH is Mary Beth Fisher and Jefferson Mays. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the pair onstage in the photos below!

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 January 30 - March 17, 2013 at Lookingglass Theatre Company, located inside Chicago's historic Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave. at Pearson. The Press Opening is Saturday, February 9, 2013 at 7:30 p.m.

The world premiere production of the Frank McGuinness adaptation of James Joyce's The Dead will play Dublin's Abbey Theatre, under the direction of former Abbey and current Guthrie Artistic Director Joe Dowling. The Dead will begin previews tonight, December 5, will open December 11 and will play through January 19, 2013.

The Art Institute of Chicago and Chicago Shakespeare Theater partnered to co-present The Fashion History Symposium, November 27-28 at their respective venues in Chicago. The two day fashion event included lectures, panel discussions and displays focusing on the 19th century fashions that were showcased in CST's fall production of the Sondheim and Lapine musical, Sunday in the Park with George, inspired by Georges Seurat's most famous work A Sunday on La Grande Jatte-1884, on display and in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.

The Guthrie today announced that BEHOLD, its 50th-anniversary one-time gala performance, will be directed by New York-based Peter Flynn, whose extensive credits include directorial work on Broadway, Off-Broadway and in regional theaters. BEHOLD, part of the Guthrie's anniversary weekend celebration, will combine classical text, music, original work, video and dance performed by artists to be announced in the months to come. The event will take place on Saturday, June 22, 2013.

Anthony Freud, Lyric Opera of Chicago's general director, announced today that Ian Robertson, chorus director of San Francisco Opera since 1987, will serve as guest chorus master at Lyric Opera starting December 11. Lyric Opera's search for a permanent chorus master is ongoing.

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.

"The Christmas Schooner" has been performed in the Chicago area every year, except for one, since 1995. And yet, I know for a fact that new theatergoers are discovering it all the time. Hence, it's a good thing that the Mercury Theater on Southport Avenue has mounted this story--based on a real slice of Chicago history--for the second year, and has already announced it for next year as well. It's one of the most popular musicals across the country to originate in Chicago, and we are proud to call it our own.

Lyric Opera of Chicago presents a 70-minute opera adventure created especially for kids ages 5-12 and their families, called, Popcorn & Pasquale. This show, written by David Kersnar (Lookingglass Theater Company) and Jacqui Russell (Chicago Children's Theater), takes place at the Civic Opera House today, December 2 at 2pm.

About Face Theatre blends classic Christmas tales with queer pop culture for its world premiere holiday production WE THREE LIZAS with book and lyrics by AFT Artistic Associate Scott Bradley, music by Alan Schmuckler, directed by AFT Artistic Associate Scott Ferguson, playing tonight, November 30 - December 23, 2012 in The Steppenwolf Garage, 1624 N. Halsted St., Chicago.

First Folio Theatre (Mayslake Peabody Estate, 31st St. & Rt. 83) presents the acclaimed play UNDERNEATH THE LINTEL, directed by Jeff Award nominee Alison C. Vesely, previewing March 27, opening March 30 and running through April 28, 2013. The production stars Kristine Thatcher, a member of the 2001 Tony Award-winning Victory Gardens Playwrights Ensemble, where her play Voice of Good Hope premiered and was nominated for the Joseph Jefferson Award for Best New Work in 2000. Thatcher most recently appeared as Terri in Jeffrey Sweet's new play Immoral Imperatives. Prior to that, she appeared in First Folio Theatre's production of Macbeth. Other credits include 'Hannah Jarvis' in Tom Stoppard's Arcadia at the Goodman Theatre, 'Candida' in George Bernard Shaw's Candida at Writers' Theatre, and 'Regan' in King Lear and 'Kate' in Taming of the Shrew at Chicago Shakespeare Theater.

David Ives' THE SCHOOL FOR LIES honors the comedic and linguistic mastery of Moliere's THE MISANTHROPE in a hip, hilarious update that exploits the English language to the maximum. This ribald comedy opens in preview tonight, November 29th and runs through December 15th.

First Folio Theatre (Mayslake Peabody Estate, 31st St. & Rt. 83) presents the acclaimed play UNDERNEATH THE LINTEL, directed by Jeff Award nominee Alison C. Vesely, previewing March 27, opening March 30 and running through April 28, 2013. The production stars Kristine Thatcher, a member of the 2001 Tony Award-winning Victory Gardens Playwrights Ensemble, where her play Voice of Good Hope premiered and was nominated for the Joseph Jefferson Award for Best New Work in 2000. Thatcher most recently appeared as Terri in Jeffrey Sweet's new play Immoral Imperatives. Prior to that, she appeared in First Folio Theatre's production of Macbeth. Other credits include "Hannah Jarvis" in Tom Stoppard's Arcadia at the Goodman Theatre, "Candida" in George Bernard Shaw's Candida at Writers' Theatre, and "Regan" in King Lear and "Kate" in Taming of the Shrew at Chicago Shakespeare Theater.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) collaborates with The Chicago Chamber Musicians (CCM) for the 11th annual family concert, presenting the Chicago premiere of LEAVE IT TO LUDWIG by Bruce Adolphe, Saturday, January 19 and Sunday, January 20, 2013 at 10 and 11:30 am at Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier.

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!

iLuminate Productions today announced tickets are now on sale for the world premiere of iLuminate's: Artist of Light, a live show in New York City at The Duke on 42nd Street, a New 42nd Street project on West 42nd Street. iLuminate wowed the nation with their groundbreaking light suits on America's Got Talent and then hit the road, performing for awestruck crowds around the globe. Now, they take you on a fantastical journey in their first off-Broadway show. The limited run engagement commences November 23, 2012 and runs through January 5, 2013.

Just in time for the holidays, iLuminate, the sensational dance-in-the-dark act that fuses performance with technology to literally glow in the dark, and earned a third-place finish on season six of 'America's Got Talent,' will debut a live show in New York City at The Duke on 42nd Street, a NEW 42ND STREET project on West 42nd Street. The limited run engagement commences November 23, 2012 and runs through January 5, 2013.