Goodman Theatre News

The producers of ONCE, winner of eight Tony Awards including Best Musical and winner of the 2013 Grammy Award winner for Best Musical Theater Album, have just announced casting for the first North American touring company. The tour opens at the Providence Performing Arts Center in Providence, RI with performances beginning on October 1, 2013.

The award-winning Equity professional East Lynne Theater Company, after a successful summer, continues its exciting 33rd season into the fall with 'The Late Christopher Bean,' a comedy, with a cast of nine, under the direction of ELTC's artistic director, Gayle Stahlhuth.

Walnut Street Theatre opens its landmark 205th season with the groundbreaking 21st century musical IN THE HEIGHTS. Directed by Bruce Lumpkin, with choreography by Michelle Gaudette, this exhilarating musical about chasing your dreams and finding your true home begins previews tonight, September 3rd, opens on September 11th and runs through October 20th on the WST Mainstage.

Aurora's Paramount Theatre will launch its third Broadway subscription series this September with the first local professional staging of In the Heights, one of Broadway's most acclaimed contemporary musicals, a potent reminder of the importance of chasing one's dreams, and the show all of Chicago will be talking about this fall. Performances are September 11 through October 6, 2013. Press opening is Saturday, September 14 at 8 p.m. Scroll down for a first look at the cast!

Producing Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside and American Blues Theater, Chicago's second oldest Equity ensemble, are proud to announce the first production in American Blues Theater's 'Legends and Legacies' season, Hank Williams: Lost Highway, by Randal Myler and Mark Harelik, directed by Damon Kiely, music director Malcolm Ruhl and starring Matt Brumlow as 'Hank Williams,' tonight, August 30 - October 6, at the Greenhouse Theater Center's Downstage Mainstage Theater, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Tonight's Fall Theater Preview Party, the three big local premieres, upcoming: 'Spamalot' and two new works, 'Death Boogie' and 'The Old Man And The Old Moon,' plus a 'Schoolhouse Rock Live' milestone, the Dramatists Guild conference and more!

Now in its 10th year, Goodman Theatre's 2013 New Stages festival features five FREE new plays-two fully staged workshop productions performed in repertory plus three staged readings-in the Owen Theatre, December 7 - 22. All five plays celebrate Latino playwrights: The Upstairs Concierge, a contemporary farce about celebrity and baseball by Pulitzer Prize finalist (for The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity) Kristoffer Diaz; and The Solid Sand Below, an examination of the intoxicating nature of war which Martin Zimmerman developed during his time as a member of the Goodman's Playwrights Unit, and which was selected for the 2013 National Playwrights Conference at The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center in Connecticut. The three staged readings, which complement the two workshop productions over the December 13 - 15 "Industry Weekend," are TBA. Tickets are free, but reservations are required: 312.443.3800, GoodmanTheatre.org or visit the box office (170 N. Dearborn).

The Jungle has arrived in Boston! Rehearsals at the Huntington Theatre Company begin today for the world premiere adaptation of The Jungle Book. The production, wholly reimagined for the stage by Tony Award winner Mary Zimmerman (Candide) is based on Nobel Laureate Rudyard Kipling's 1893 collection of stories set in the Indian jungle and Walt Disney's 1967 animated film. Zimmerman's adaptation is a music-and movement-filled adventure of young Mowgli's coming-of-age in the animal kingdom featuring the movie's best-loved songs in wholly new Indian-inspired arrangements. Legendary Academy Award and Grammy winner Richard M. Sherman - whose numerous songwriting credits with brother Robert B. Sherman include the motion pictures The Jungle Book, Mary Poppins, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and The AristoCats - collaborates on this production, providing Music Director Doug Peck access and permission to adapt songs that Sherman and his brother wrote for the film, plus never-before-heard material. Tony Award-winning choreographer Christopher Gattelli with Indian dance consultant Hema Rajagopalan combine elements of classical Indian dance forms with jazz, tap, and more to enhance the storytelling.

A new season rich with laughter and compelling drama was announced today for the Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum by Michael Ritchie, CTG Artistic Director.

Mercury Theater Chicago's production of THE COLOR PURPLE, based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker, opened last night, Monday, August 26 at 7:30p.m., and will continue through October 27, 2013. THE COLOR PURPLE stars Trisha Jeffrey (Broadway's Rent, All Shook Up, and Little Shop of Horrors and the first National Tour of Sister Act) as 'Celie,' Jasondra Johnson (Crowns at Goodman Theatre) as 'Sophia,' and Adrienne Walker (Marriott Theatre's Dreamgirls) as 'Shug.' This highly anticipated production is led by multiple Jeff Award winners L. Walter Stearns (Director), Eugene Dizon (Musical Director), and Brenda Didier (Choreographer). Check out a look back at last night's festivities below!

THE COLUMN Awards Board of Directors and Executive Director/Producer/Founder John Garcia have the esteemed honor to announce today that one of Broadway's biggest and most sought after stars, Rachel York will serve as Co-Host for the 15th Annual Column Awards Gala. The gala will be held Monday February 24, 2014 at the Patty Granville Performing Arts Complex with a cocktail reception at 7:00pm, curtain at 8:00pm. For all info and tix info go towww.thecolumnawards.org

Primary Stages continues its 29th season with a new production of their acclaimed 1995 OBIE Award winner, The Model Apartment, by Pulitzer Prize winner Donald Margulies (Shipwrecked!, Time Stands Still, Dinner with Friends, Sight Unseen). Directed by Evan Cabnet (A Kid Like Jake at Lincoln Center Theater, The Performers on Broadway), the production will feature Mark Blum (The Assembled Parties and Gore Vidal's The Best Man on Broadway), Diane Davis (Old Acquaintance on Broadway, Regrets Only at MTC), two-time Obie Award-winner Kathryn Grody (The Marriage of Bette & Boo, Top Girls, A Mom's Life), and Hubert Point-Du Jour (Angels in America andThe Brother/Sister Plays Off-Broadway). The Model Apartment runs September 24 - November 1 at Primary Stages at 59E59 Theaters. Opening night is Tuesday, October 15 at 7PM.

Mercury Theater Chicago, 3745 N Southport Ave., presents the Broadway musical THE COLOR PURPLE, based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker, opening Monday, August 26 at 7:30p.m., and running through October 27, 2013. THE COLOR PURPLE stars Trisha Jeffrey (Broadway's Rent, All Shook Up, and Little Shop of Horrors and the first National Tour ofSister Act) as 'Celie,' JaSondra Johnson (Crowns at Goodman Theatre) as 'Sophia,' and Adrienne Walker (Marriott Theatre's Dreamgirls) as 'Shug.' Check out a first look at highlights of the show below!

Goodman Theatre Resident Director Chuck Smith presents the Chicago premiere production of Cheryl L. West's Pullman Porter Blues-a 2013 Helen Hayes/Charles MacArthur Award nominee for Outstanding New Play/Musical. This blues-infused 'glorious ride' (DCist) follows three generations of African American Pullman porters in the 1930s-an era that no longer enslaves them, but still exploits them-in an updated production especially for the city of Pullman's origin. Below, BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the cast and creative team in rehearsal!

This coming Wednesday night, August 28, 2013, is the FALL THEATER PREVIEW PARTY from BroadwayWorld Chicago. It's from 8:00 pm to midnight, and YOU'RE invited!

Berkshire Theatre Group presents Eugene O'Neill's Pulitzer Prize-Winning play Anna Christie at the Fitzpatrick Main Stage. Opening Night is tomorrow, August 24 at 8pm. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Dallas Theater Center has announced the regional premiere of Clybourne Park, running in rotating rep with A Raisin in the Sun, to launch the theater's 55th season. Clybourne Park will be directed by DTC Associate Artistic Director Joel Ferrell. Clybourne Park begins with a Pay-What-You-Can performance on Friday, October 4 and runs through Sunday, October 27 at the Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre in the AT&T Performing Arts Center.