Goodman 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. Monday night's Jeff Awards at the Drury Lane, and 'Amazing Grace' at the BOAT! Plus 2014's other Broadway In Chicago shows, The Grinch at the Chicago Theatre, local productions of 'Parade,' 'Camelot' and 'Mary Poppins,' the new 'A Christmas Memory,' and the sold-out Humanities Festival tribute to the Tonys!

On the heels of their critically acclaimed hit ALL OUR TRAGIC, The Hypocrites are pleased to continue their 2014-15 Season with another world premiere: a playful re-imaging of Gilbert and Sullivan's comic opera H.M.S. PINAFORE, adapted and directed by Founding Artistic Director Sean Graney, co-directed by Thrisa Hodits with new arrangements by Matt Kahler* and Andra Velis Simon.

Continuing its 40th Anniversary Season, Victory Gardens Theater announces the Midwest Premiere of The Testament of Mary by Colm Toibin, directed by Dennis Za?ek and featuring Linda Reiter. The Testament of Mary runs November 14-December 14, 2014, with the press performance on Friday, November 21, 2014 at 7:30pm, at Victory Gardens Theatre, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue.

Steppenwolf for Young Adults (SYA) presents the first production of its 2014/15 season, George Orwell's Animal Farm, a world premiere adaptation by Althos Low. Directed by SYA Artistic and Educational Director Hallie Gordon, the cast of professional actors features Will Allan, Jasmine Bracey, Lucy Carapetyan, Amelia Hefferon, Matt Kahler, Mildred Marie Langford, Blake Montgomery, Dana Murphy, Lance Newton and Sean Parris. Animal Farm runs today, October 15 - November 9, 2014; the press performance is on Saturday, October 18 at 3pm.

Lyric Opera of Chicago's 60th anniversary starts in style with a brand-new production of Mozart's Don Giovanni, conducted by Sir Andrew Davis, Lyric's music director, and staged by director Robert Falls, artistic director of Chicago's Goodman Theatre. It opens on Saturday, September 27 with 10 performances through Wednesday, October 29. Performance dates are Sept. 27, 30, Oct. 11, 14, 17, and 29 at 7:30pm; Oct. 2, 5, 8, and 24 at 2pm. Check out the trailer, behind-the-scenes videos and more below!

At the gala 46th Annual Equity Jeff Awards held at Drury Lane Oakbrook on Monday, October 13, awards were spread among numerous theatres honoring a season of outstanding productions. From Writers Theatre, "The Dance of Death", a battle of wits between a tyrant and his manipulative wife, received the Production-Play award for a large theatre, along with its two principal actors Larry Yando and Shannon Cochran. "The Normal Heart", Larry Kramer's tale of the early indifference in N.Y. about the HIV/Aids crisis, presented by TimeLine Theatre Company, was honored with awards for Production-Play for a midsize theatre and for Director Nick Bowling.

Rubicon's Theatre Company's trips to New York and London typically sell-out within days of being announced. The company's trips have earned a reputation for offering unique behind-the-scenes experiences that cannot be arranged privately. This year, the company has added a new tour -- a first-ever theatre excursion to Chicago later this month.

RLS Productions will present the West Coast premiere of DIRTY, written by Kennedy Center Playwright Award-winner Andrew Hinderaker and directed by Obie Award-winner Shannon Cochran (August: Osage County, Bug). DIRTY will preview on Wednesday, November 12; Thursday, November 13 & Friday, November 14 at 8pm and will open on Saturday, November 15 at 8pm and will run through Sunday, December 21 at the Zephyr Theatre, 7456 Melrose Ave., in West Hollywood.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company hosts its first EXPLORE event of the season on Thursday, October 23 at 5:30pm prior to that evening's 7:30pm performance of The Night Alive. EXPLORE events invite audiences to further engage with the ideas and themes of the play through interactive and fun pre-show gatherings.

A new crop of local talent joins Goodman Theatre's artistic team for the 2014/2015 Season.

Chicago's Eclipse Theatre Company, the Midwest's only theatre company to focus on a single playwright each season, will feature the works of award-winning American playwright Terrence McNally for their 2015 Season. Eclipse will explore the range of McNally's output with three full productions, plus readings and public events about the playwright.

The 46th Annual Jeff Awards ceremony honoring excellence in professional theatre produced within the immediate Chicago area is tonight, October 13 at Drury Lane Oakbrook, 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace.

Matrix Teen Company presents its popular annual Haunted Theatre production Thursday, October 30 and Friday, October 31 at 9 pm. This year they've created an original show of terror and suspense as they share the secrets and scary stories that comprise the history of the theatre's building at 2730 Bagley.

First Folio Theatre presents Mayhem in the Mansion, a special Halloween event filled with spooky activities and a bone-chilling performance of THE GRAVEDIGGER on Friday, October 31, 2014, with festivities beginning at 8:30 p.m.

Laughter can be found at Bristol Riverside Theatre in Neil Simon's dramedy Lost in Yonkers playing on November 11-30. Directed by Keith Baker, the ensemble cast features Joy Franz, David Nate Goldman, Bruce Graham, Eleanor Handley, Kyle Klein II, Karen Peakes, and Danny Vaccaro.

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.

Casting is complete for the three developmental productions featured in 2014 New Stages, a free annual festival of new American plays that also includes three staged readings.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. The BroadwayWorld Chicago Awards are back with nominations open now! Plus the Jeff Awards on Monday night, three acclaimed recent openings, two shows proudly closing, three local shows that may never end, and NBC's live 'Peter Pan' is ready to fly!

American Theater Company (ATC), 1909 W. Byron Street, continues its 30th Anniversary season with the World Premiere of The Humans, written by Pulitzer Prize finalist and ATC signature playwright Stephen Karam and directed by ATC Artistic Director PJ Paparelli,November 14 - December 21; with an official opening night of Monday, November 17. The Humans is produced here under special arrangement with New York's Roundabout Theatre Company where it will premiere in New York next season.

CHICAGO, IL (October 7, 2014)—Chicago nonprofit 3Arts has increased the amount of its annual unrestricted awards for women artists, artists of color, and artists with disabilities to$25,000, effective with the 7th annual 3Arts Awards tonight, Oct. 6, 2014. Ten Chicago-area artists working in the performing, teaching, and visual arts will receive a total of $250,000 in a celebratory gathering at the Museum of Contemporary Art. Previously, 3Arts presented annual awards of $15,000.