Chicago Shakespeare Theatre News

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Chicagoans in New York, Splash, Therapy, Marie's Crisis Cafe, 'Funny Girl,' Noel Coward, 'Chess,' more.....

The passionate world of opera comes to life in Philadelphia Theatre Company's world premiere of Terrence McNally's Golden Age on January 22 - February 14.

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director) will present the New York premiere of THE ELABORATE ENTRANCE OF CHAD DEITY, a new play written by Kristoffer Diaz and directed by Edward Torres.

THIS HOLIDAY SEASON IS GOING TO BE 'DREAM-Y' - David Elzer, Peter Schneider and Crooning Crabcakes, LLC are thrilled to announce that the Ovation nominated (Best Musical Intimate Theatre, Best Featured Actor - Jim Holdridge), critically-acclaimed (LA Times CRITICS' CHOICE, Backstage CRITIC'S PICK, LA WEEKLY GO!) smash-hit world premiere production of LIFE COULD BE A DREAM, written and directed by Roger Bean (The Marvelous Wonderettes) with choreography by Lee Martino (Reprise On Your Toes, On The Town) and musical direction by Michael Paternostro (Kiss of the Spider Woman, Thrill Me) is EXTENDING AGAIN through February 28 at the Hudson Mainstage Theatre, 6539 Santa Monica Blvd. in Hollywood.

The Chicago Shakespeare Theatre will present a new staging of Noel Coward's PRIVATE LIVES. The play, set in a hotel balcony, will presented in the round in the new staging, by acclaimed Chicago director Gary Griffin. Performances for the production will begin January 6th. The company has added new seating to its Courtyard Theatre in order to accommodate Griffin's idea, adding seats around the proscenium.

Northlight Theatre, under the direction of Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans, continues its 35th Season with Awake and Sing!, Clifford Odets' Tony Award-winning play, directed by Amy Morton.

59E59 Theaters (Elysabeth Kleinhans, Artistic Director; Peter Tear, Executive Producer) is thrilled to present the US premiere of SIMON GREEN: TRAVELING LIGHT at Brits Off Broadway. Performed by Simon Green with musical arrangement and accompaniment by David Shrubsole, SIMON GREEN TRAVELING LIGHT begins performances on Tuesday, December 15 for a limited engagement through Sunday, January 3. Press opening is Sunday, December 20 at 7:30 PM. The performance schedule is Tuesday at 7:30, Wednesday - Friday at 8:30 PM; Saturday at 6:30 PM and 9:00 PM; and Sunday at 3:30 PM and 7:30 PM.

Northlight Theatre, under the direction of Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans, continues its 35th Season with Awake and Sing!, Clifford Odets' Tony Award-winning play, directed by Amy Morton.

Scandals, secrets and diabolical plans set the stage for comedy in Bristol Riverside Theatre's production of the Obie Award-winning play The Foreigner by Larry Shue, running January 26-February 14.

THIS HOLIDAY SEASON IS GOING TO BE 'DREAM-Y' - David Elzer, Peter Schneider and Crooning Crabcakes, LLC are thrilled to announce that the Ovation nominated (Best Musical Intimate Theatre, Best Featured Actor - Jim Holdridge), critically-acclaimed (LA Times CRITICS' CHOICE, Backstage CRITIC'S PICK, LA WEEKLY GO!) smash-hit world premiere production of LIFE COULD BE A DREAM, written and directed by Roger Bean (The Marvelous Wonderettes) with choreography by Lee Martino (Reprise On Your Toes, On The Town) and musical direction by Michael Paternostro (Kiss of the Spider Woman, Thrill Me) is EXTENDING AGAIN through SUNDAY, DECEMBER 27 at the Hudson Mainstage Theatre, 6539 Santa Monica Blvd. in Hollywood.

The passionate world of opera comes to life in Philadelphia Theatre Company's world premiere of Terrence McNally's Golden Age on January 22 - February 14.

The Kennedy Center today announced the casting for Golden Age, a new play by Terrence McNally. Following its world premiere with the Philadelphia Theatre Company, the production will run March 12 to April 4, 2010 in the Kennedy Center Family Theater as part of Terrence McNally's Nights at the Opera, a five-week event featuring three of the playwright's works performed concurrently on three Kennedy Center stages.

American Theater Company (ATC) continues its 25th anniversary season with the Chicago premiere of Distracted, written by Lisa Loomer. The production is directed by Artistic Director PJ Paparelli and will run January 28 - February 28, 2010 at American Theater Company, 1909 W. Byron Street, Chicago. Press Opening is to be determined.

Northlight Theatre, under the direction of Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans, announces a one-night only event, New Year's Eve with E. Faye Butler and her Trio. The special event is at 8:00 p.m. on December 31, 2009, at Northlight Theatre, 9501 Skokie Blvd in Skokie.

59E59 Theaters (Elysabeth Kleinhans, Artistic Director; Peter Tear, Executive Producer) is thrilled to present the US premiere of SIMON GREEN: TRAVELING LIGHT at Brits Off Broadway. Performed by Simon Green with musical arrangement and accompaniment by David Shrubsole, SIMON GREEN TRAVELING LIGHT begins performances on Tuesday, December 15 for a limited engagement through Sunday, January 3. Press opening is Sunday, December 20 at 7:30 PM. The performance schedule is Tuesday at 7:30, Wednesday - Friday at 8:30 PM; Saturday at 6:30 PM and 9:00 PM; and Sunday at 3:30 PM and 7:30 PM.

Go Comedy! Improv Theater is now taking registrations for its biggest term of classes ever at Go U! The Improv Academy.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) welcomes Russia's illustrious Maly Drama Theatre of Saint Petersburg with its production of Anton Chekhov's Uncle Vanya. Hailed by Peter Brook as 'the finest ensemble in Europe' and led by Artistic Director Lev Dodin, the Maly Drama Theatre has found worldwide critical acclaim for this production of Chekhov's classic which comes to Chicago for the 150th anniversary of the Russian playwright's birth.

David Elzer, Peter Schneider and Crooning Crabcakes, LLC are have announced that the critically-acclaimed (LA Times CRITICS' CHOICE, Backstage CRITIC'S PICK, LA WEEKLY GO!) smash-hit world premiere production of LIFE COULD BE A DREAM, written and directed by Roger Bean (The Marvelous Wonderettes) with choreography by Lee Martino (Reprise On Your Toes, On The Town) and musical direction by Michael Paternostro (Kiss of the Spider Woman, Thrill Me) is EXTENDING through Sunday, November 29 at the Hudson Mainstage Theatre, 6539 Santa Monica Blvd. in Hollywood.

59E59 Theaters (Elysabeth Kleinhans, Artistic Director; Peter Tear, Executive Producer) is thrilled to present the US premiere of SIMON GREEN: TRAVELING LIGHT at Brits Off Broadway. Performed by Simon Green with musical arrangement and accompaniment by David Shrubsole, SIMON GREEN TRAVELING LIGHT begins performances on Tuesday, December 15 for a limited engagement through Sunday, January 3. Press opening is Sunday, December 20 at 7:30 PM. The performance schedule is Tuesday at 7:30, Wednesday - Friday at 8:30 PM; Saturday at 6:30 PM and 9:00 PM; and Sunday at 3:30 PM and 7:30 PM.

The Marriott Theatre presents a one night only performance of Just In Time: An Evening with E. Faye Butler and her Orchestra on Monday, November 16th at 7:30 pm at The Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Dr. in Lincolnshire. Tickets are currently on sale.