Derrick Sanders News

American Players Theatre (APT) will launch its 36th Season June 6, 2015 with a preview performance of William Shakespeare's The Merry Wives of Windsor.

The League of Chicago Theatres, Goodman Theatre, the University of Illinois at Chicago and competition organizer Derrick Sanders announce the top three Chiacgo finalists of the 6th Annual August Wilson Monologue Competition.

Twenty Chicago high school students will perform in the August Wilson Monologue Competition Finals tonight, March 10, 2015 at 6:00 pm at the Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn St. for a chance to represent Chicago in the National Competition in New York City. Esteemed judges for the Chicago finals will include Ron OJ Parson and August Wilson's daughter Sakina Ansari Wilson, as well as two judges yet to be announced.

Twenty Chicago high school students will perform in the August Wilson Monologue Competition Finals on Tuesday, March 10, 2015 at 6:00 pm at the Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn St. for a chance to represent Chicago in the National Competition in New York City. Esteemed judges for the Chicago finals will include Ron OJ Parson and August Wilson's daughter Sakina Ansari Wilson, as well as two judges yet to be announced.

?American Players Theatre (APT) announces its 36th Summer Season, June 6 to October 18, 2015, a diverse lineup of eight classical and contemporary plays in repertory that includes the work of two visiting Chicago directors: Derrick Sanders, founding artistic director of Congo Square Theatre Company, makes his APT debut directing The Island by Athol Fugard, John Kani and Winston Ntshona in APT's intimate 200-seat Touchstone Theatre; and Jeff Award winner William Brown returns to direct Tennessee Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire in APT's flagship 1148-seat outdoor amphitheater Up the Hill.

Eclipse Theatre Company announces League of Chicago Theatres Executive Director Deb Clapp as the recipient of theirSixth Annual Corona Award, which honors an individual who plays an important role in supporting and nurturing the growth of the Chicago theatre community as well as small- to medium-sized organizations such as Eclipse.

Round House Theatre's FETCH CLAY, MAKE MAN illuminates a thrilling piece of history: a little known friendship between two monumental men - Muhammad Ali, a monument in the boxing ring, and Stepin Fetchit, a monument in Hollywood.

Round House Theatre continues its 2014/15 season with the area premiere of Fetch Clay, Make Man by Will Power. Directed by Derrick Sanders ('The Raisin Cycle' at CenterStage), Fetch Clay, Make Man is based on the true story of the improbable friendship that formed between Muhammad Ali and Stepin Fetchit. A co-production with Marin Theatre Company, Fetch Clay, Make Man runs at Round House Theatre from today, October 10 thru November 2, 2014. Opening night is Monday, October 13, 2014.

Round House Theatre continues its 2014/15 season with the area premiere of Fetch Clay, Make Man by Will Power. Directed by Derrick Sanders ("The Raisin Cycle" at CenterStage), Fetch Clay, Make Man is based on the true story of the improbable friendship that formed between Muhammad Ali and Stepin Fetchit. A co-production with Marin Theatre Company, Fetch Clay, Make Man runs at Round House Theatre from October 10 thru November 2, 2014. Opening night is Monday, October 13, 2014.

Marin Theatre Company, in a bi-coastal co-production with Maryland's Round House Theatre, will open its 48th Season with the West Coast premiere of Fetch Clay, Make Man, an historical drama that draws its inspiration from a peculiar event from the Civil Rights Era: a press conference at which heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali, ne Cassius Clay, introduced his 'secret strategy man' - the former Hollywood comedic actor Stepin Fetchit, ne Lincoln Theodore Monroe Andrew Perry.

Fetch Clay, Make Man by Will Power will make its West Coast premiere with Marin Theatre Company, directed by Derrick Sanders (Fences) and running today, August 14 - September 7, 2014, with an Opening Night slated for Tuesday, August 19. Previews: Thursday, August 14 - Sunday, August 17.

Marin Theatre Company, in a bi-coastal co-production with Maryland's Round House Theatre, will open its 48th Season with the West Coast premiere of Fetch Clay, Make Man, an historical drama that draws its inspiration from a peculiar event from the Civil Rights Era: a press conference at which heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali, ne Cassius Clay, introduced his "secret strategy man" - the former Hollywood comedic actor Stepin Fetchit, ne Lincoln Theodore Monroe Andrew Perry.

Fetch Clay, Make Man by Will Power will make its West Coast premiere with Marin Theatre Company, directed by Derrick Sanders (Fences) and running August 14 - September 7, 2014, with an Opening Night slated for Tuesday, August 19. Previews: Thursday, August 14 - Sunday, August 17. Casting to be announced.

Chicago, IL-The League of Chicago Theatres celebrated the Chicago theater industry and community during its elegant annual Gala on Monday, June 9, 2014. This one-night-only event brought together friends of Chicago theatre and raised $120,000 for programs to support Chicago's 240 member theatre companies. This year's event was held at the Swissotel Chicago, 323 E Upper Wacker Dr, Chicago. Check out some photos of the event below!

Fetch Clay, Make Man by Will Power will make its West Coast premiere with Marin Theatre Company, directed by Derrick Sanders (Fences) and running August 14 - September 7, 2014, with an Opening Night slated for Tuesday, August 19. Previews: Thursday, August 14 - Sunday, August 17. Casting to be announced.

Marin Theatre Company, in association with Lorraine Hansberry Theatre, will stage August Wilson's Fences, the 1950s entry into his Century Cycle (also known as his Pittsburgh Cycle) - a decade-by-decade exploration of the black experience in 20th century America. Directed by Derrick Sanders, the Pulitzer Prize and two-time Tony Award-winning play will feature veteran film and television actor Carl Lumbly as Troy Maxson, Steven Anthony Jones, the artistic director of Lorraine Hansberry Theatre, as Jim Bono and award-winning actor, playwright and director Margo Hall as Rose, as well as Oregon Shakespeare Festival's Eddy Ray Jackson as Cory, Adrian Roberts as Gabriel,Tyee Tilghman as Lyons and two Marin City youths - Jade Sweeney, who attends Willow Creek Academy, and Makaelah Bashir, Bayside Martin Luther King, Jr. Academy - splitting the role of Raynell. Scroll down for a first look at the stars!

Marin Theatre Company, in association with Lorraine Hansberry Theatre, will stage August Wilson's Fences, the 1950s entry into his Century Cycle (also known as his Pittsburgh Cycle) - a decade-by-decade exploration of the black experience in 20th century America. Directed by Derrick Sanders, the Pulitzer Prize and two-time Tony Award-winning play will feature veteran film and television actor Carl Lumbly as Troy Maxson, Steven Anthony Jones, the artistic director of Lorraine Hansberry Theatre, as Jim Bono and award-winning actor, playwright and director Margo Hall as Rose, as well as Oregon Shakespeare Festival's Eddy Ray Jackson as Cory, Adrian Roberts as Gabriel,Tyee Tilghman as Lyons and two Marin City youths - Jade Sweeney, who attends Willow Creek Academy, and Makaelah Bashir, Bayside Martin Luther King, Jr. Academy - splitting the role of Raynell. Scroll down for a first look at the stars!