Ericka Ratcliff News

Congo Square Theatre Company, one of the nation’s premier African American theatres, today announced that longtime Company member Ericka Ratcliff will serve as its new Artistic Director, effective immediately.

Congo Square Theatre Company (Congo Square), one of the nation’s premier African American theater companies, has announced its 2021-22 season, a robust and dynamic mix of online and in-person programming, running the gamut from laugh-out-loud sketch comedy to an interactive, thought-provoking ‘community ritual’ touring Chicago neighborhoods.  

The House Theatre of Chicago today announced the appointment of its new Artistic Director, Lanise Antoine Shelley. Shelley is a multi-hyphenate Haitian artist, director, playwright, educator, visual artist and accomplished actress who has performed with some of the country's most prestigious companies.

Lookingglass Theatre Company welcomes five new Ensemble Members and four new Artistic Associates into the Lookingglass family. Joining the Ensemble are Walter Briggs (Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, Moby Dick), Kasey Foster (The Steadfast Tin Soldier, 20,000 Leagues Under the Seas), circus choreographer Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi (The Steadfast Tin Soldier, Mary Shelley's Frankenstein), Anthony Irons (The Steadfast Tin Soldier, Act(s) of God), and composer and sound designer Andre Pluess (The Steadfast Tin Soldier, Eastland). New Artistic Associates include Cordelia Dewdney (Moby Dick, Hard Times), Wendy Mateo (Big Lake Big City, Beyond Caring), costume designer Sully Ratke (Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, 20,000 Leagues Under the Seas) and Matthew C. Yee (Treasure Island, Moby Dick).

SMALL MOUTH SOUNDS is Art with a capital A and is probably suited best for an theatre-goers who are open to a more experimental theatre experience.

Rehearsals are underway for the Alliance Theatre's upcoming production of the Off-Broadway hit comedy and 2016 Critics' Pick SMALL MOUTH SOUNDS, by Drama Desk Award Winner Bess Wohl (Pretty Filthy). 

The Alliance Theatre is pleased to announce the world premiere of ANGRY, RAUCOUS AND SHAMELESSLY GORGEOUS by acclaimed Atlanta author and playwright, Pearl Cleage.  In this funny and hopeful new play, artists from different generations and worldviews must find a way to reconcile their different beliefs and make peace with lingering ghosts from the past.  The play looks closely at women as they age, their place in society as they age, and how women's voices are heard and when throughout their lives.  Directed by the Alliance Theatre's Artistic Director Susan V. Booth, ANGRY, RAUCOUS AND SHAMELESSLY GORGEOUS will premiere on the Alliance's newly renovated Coca-Cola Stage from March 20 - April 14, 2019.  Opening Night is Wednesday, March 27, 7:30 p.m.   

The Alliance Theatre is pleased to announce its upcoming production of A Midsummer Night's Dream.

Lookingglass Theatre Company continues its 30th Anniversary season with the world premiere of Plantation! a new comedy by Ensemble Member Kevin Douglas, directed by Ensemble Member David Schwimmer. Plantation! runs February 21 - April 22, 2018 at Lookingglass Theatre Company, located inside Chicago's historic Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave. at Pearson. The Press Opening is Saturday, March 3, 2018 at 7:30 p.m.

Under the taut direction of David Schwimmer, Kevin Douglas's new comedy PLANTATION! succeeds in making audiences both laugh out loud and cringe. In PLANTATION!, Douglas explores one wealthy white woman's attempt to make reparations for the benefits her family reaped from slavery. Douglas does so by posing the question: Does making amends actually work? And for whom does making amends actually benefit? The twist in PLANTATION!, however, is that these serious questions are explored almost entirely through the lens of broad, dramatic, zinger-filled satire. The all-female cast succeeds in landing each and every joke in this production, which brings the broadly comic nature of Douglas's writing to the forefront.

Lookingglass Theatre Company continues its 30th Anniversary season with the world premiere of Plantation! a new comedy by Ensemble Member Kevin Douglas, directed by Ensemble Member David Schwimmer. Plantation! runs February 21 - April 22, 2018 at Lookingglass Theatre Company, located inside Chicago's historic Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave. at Pearson. The Press Opening is Saturday, March 3, 2018 at 7:30 p.m.

Lookingglass Theatre presents the World Premiere of PLANTATION!, a dark comedy written by ensemble member Kevin Douglas. Starring an all female cast, PLANTATION! examines an old family home and the secrets that it keeps. Directed by David Schwimmer, the production opened on February 21st and will run through April 22nd.

Lookingglass Theatre Company continues its 30th Anniversary season with the world premiere of Plantation! a new comedy by Ensemble Member Kevin Douglas, directed by Ensemble Member David Schwimmer.

Lookingglass Theatre Company announces complete casting for its 2017 2018 Season lineup.

Lookingglass Theatre Company announces complete casting for its 2017 2018 Season lineup.

The House Theatre of Chicago is proud to announce the addition of seven new artists to the critically-acclaimed and award-winning company.  The new Company Members include Kara Davidson, Elana Elyce, Ben Hertel, Derek Matson, Matthew Muñiz, Ericka Ratcliff and Vanessa Stalling.

Victory Gardens Theater announces casting for each of the 2016 IGNITION Festival of New Plays selected works, including The Wayward Bunny by Greg Kotis; BREACH: a manifesto on race in America through the eyes of a black girl recovering from self-hate by Antoinette Nwandu; EOM (end of message) by Laura Jacqmin; Kill Move Paradise by James Ijames; Gaza Rehearsal by Karen Hartman; and Girls In Cars Underwater by Tegan McLeod.

Victory Gardens Theater announces casting for each of the 2016 IGNITION Festival of New Plays selected works, including The Wayward Bunny by Greg Kotis; BREACH: a manifesto on race in America through the eyes of a black girl recovering from self-hate by Antoinette Nwandu; EOM (end of message) by Laura Jacqmin; Kill Move Paradise by James Ijames; Gaza Rehearsal by Karen Hartman; and Girls In Cars Underwater by Tegan McLeod.

Below, check out photos of Northlight Theatre's YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH you, running November 14 - December 13, 2015 at the North Shore!

Northlight Theatre, under the direction of Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans, presents the Pulitzer Prize-winning play You Can't Take It With You, continuing Northlight's 41st Season. You Can't Take It With You, directed by Devon de Mayo, runs November 6 - December 13, 2015 at Northlight Theatre, 9501 Skokie Blvd in Skokie.