Goodman Theatre News

Kicking off its 26th Season, Lookingglass Theatre Company presents the World Premiere of Marguerite Duras' The North China Lover, adapted and directed by Ensemble Member Heidi Stillman. The North China Lover runs September 25 - October 4, 2013 at Lookingglass Theatre Company, located inside Chicago's historic Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave. at Pearson. The Press Opening is Saturday, October 5, 2013 at 7:30 p.m.

The Ojai Playwrights Conference (OPC), one of the most acclaimed new play developmental programs in the country, announces its 16th season with an extraordinary program of playwrights, new play workshops and special performance events from today, August 7 through 11, in Ojai, California.

Bay Street Theatre presents the final production of the 2013 Mainstage Season with A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM, beginning August 6 and running through September 1. The show stars Peter Scolari with Conrad John Schuck and Jackie Hoffman. The book is by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart with lyrics and music by Stephen Sondheim; music direction by Ethyl Will; and directed and choreographed by Marcia Milgrom Dodge.

Rehearsals began Tuesday for Animal Crackers, the first production of Center Stage's 2013-14 Season. This classic American musical comedy is set to feature City Paper Best Actor Bruce Nelson as Groucho Marx playing the ineffable Captain Spaulding. Under the direction of Northlight Theatre Artistic Director BJ Jones-who previously directed Center Stage's smash production of A Skull in Connemara-Animal Crackers begins previews on September 4 and runs through October 13.

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.

McCarter Theatre Center has announced the appointment of Adam Immerwahr as Associate Artistic Director. Immerwahr, a longtime McCarter staff member with a thriving directorial career, will support McCarter's Artistic Director, Emily Mann, in the planning and execution of the theater's artistic programming. His duties will also include directing for McCarter Theater's main stage, cultivating new works and identifying emerging artists, having primary responsibility for the day-to-day artistic oversight of McCarter's dramatic productions, and coordinating the selection and hiring of freelance artistic personnel.

Bay Street Theatre presents the final production of the 2013 Mainstage Season with A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM, beginning tonight, August 6 and running through September 1. The show stars Peter Scolari with Conrad John Schuck and Jackie Hoffman. The book is by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart with lyrics and music by Stephen Sondheim; music direction by Ethyl Will; and directed and choreographed by Marcia Milgrom Dodge.

Single tickets to the remaining six productions of the Huntington Theatre Company's 2013-2014 Season will go on sale to the general public at midnight on Tuesday, August 6. Single tickets to The Jungle Book, which was recently extended due to popular demand through October 13, 2013, are on sale now. The upcoming season from the recipient of the 2013 Regional Theatre Tony Award and Best of Boston 2013 winner features the return of many celebrated artists who are beloved by Boston audiences.

Tickets go on sale Friday, August 9 for Goodman Theatre Resident Director Chuck Smith's 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.

It's Saturday, and that means it's time for BroadwayWorld's 'Saturday Intermission Pics' round-up. Today's photos feature pics from JUNGLE BOOK, SOUL DOCTOR, TOP HAT, MATILDA, THE WIZARD OF OZ in Toronto, A CHORUS LINE in the West End, KINKY BOOTS, THE NANCE, THE BOOK OF MORMON and tons of regional SIPs!

In advance of its world premiere musical production The Jungle Book, Huntington Theatre Company teams up with Zoo New England in August for Jungle Book Days at the Zoo. Families are invited to visit the Franklin Park Zoo today, August 3 and the 31st and Stone Zoo on August 24 for Jungle Book-themed fun and activities including zookeeper encounters where visitors can learn more about some of the animals featured in Kipling's stories, a scavenger hunt through the zoo among the exhibits, interactive storytelling by Huntington teaching artists, face painting, a coloring contest, and more.

Crabapple Productions is thrilled to announce their inaugural production which will be the culminating effort of Something Incredibly Marvelous Happens, a festival of magical realism. The festival takes place July 20 - September 1 throughout Chicago.

In advance of its world premiere musical production The Jungle Book, Huntington Theatre Company teams up with Zoo New England in August for Jungle Book Days at the Zoo. Families are invited to visit the Franklin Park Zoo on August 3 and 31 and Stone Zoo on August 24 for Jungle Book-themed fun and activities including zookeeper encounters where visitors can learn more about some of the animals featured in Kipling's stories, a scavenger hunt through the zoo among the exhibits, interactive storytelling by Huntington teaching artists, face painting, a coloring contest, and more.

Milwaukee Repertory Theater announced today that multi-award-winning actor Hollis Resnik will perform the lead role in End of the Rainbow, a theatrical homage to the late, great Judy Garland. An accomplished stage, television and film actor, Resnik brings the depth of acting and musical experience to portray the iconic Garland as well as the emotional intensity and high energy that the role demands. End of the Rainbow runs from January 7 - March 9 and opens on Friday, January 10 on The Rep's Quadracci Powerhouse main stage theater.

Mercury Theater Chicago, 3745 N Southport Ave., presents the Broadway musical THE COLOR PURPLE, based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker, previewing August 14, 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 of Sister Act) as 'Celie,' Jasondra Johnson (Crowns at Goodman Theatre) as 'Sophia,' and Adrienne Walker (Marriott Theatre'sDreamgirls) 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).

Following a successful fourth season with productions at Theater Wit and the Athenaeum Theatre, The Ruckus Theater is proud to announce its fifth season in Chicago. Artistic Director Allison Shoemaker and Associate Artistic Director Joshua Davis release today a season of five new plays and workshops. First, Artistic Director Allison Shoemaker takes the helm of a revamped version of The Ruckus' first Chicago production, Heist Play. Through a workshop and development process in 2013, this production has undergone significant rewrites by playwright Mitch Vermeersch and will be performed at The Side Project (Oct. 12- Nov. 10, 2013). The Spring production, The Deer, is penned by Chicago playwright Brooke Allen (Ruby Wilder) and will be directed by Eric Hoff (Hit the Wall). The Deer will be performed at Collaboraction (March 30-April 27, 2014). Additionally, The Ruckus will present three works-in-progress in the late Spring of 2014, including new work Home After Dark by Will Bishop and two pieces to be devised by the company. Further details regarding The Ruckus: Season 5, including casting and ticket information, will be announced in the coming weeks. Please visit www.ruckustheater.org for more information.

Shattered Globe Theatre has announced its 22nd Season, to be performed in its new artistic home as a resident theatre company at Chicago's Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. The 2013-14 Season kicks off this fall with Jerry Sterner's provocative play OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY, directed by Victory Gardens Artistic Director Emeritus Dennis Zacek. In the winter, SGT presents six-time Tony Award nominee and Olivier Award winner OUR COUNTRY'S GOOD by Timberlake Wertenbaker, directed by SGT Artistic Director Roger Smart. The season concludes in the spring with Sally Nemeth's searing drama MILL FIRE, directed by Sandy Shinner. Tickets for SGT's 2013-14 Season will go sale at a future date at www.shatteredglobe.org, in person at the Theater Wit Box office or (773) 975-8150.

Silk Road Rising Artistic Director Jamil Khoury and Executive Director Malik Gillani are proud to announce the Midwest Premiere of Invasion!, written by Jonas Hassen Khemiri, translated by Rachel Willson-Broyles, directed by Anna C. Bahow. Invasion! runs today, July 30 - September 1, 2013, in Pierce Hall at The Historic Chicago Temple Building, 77 W. Washington St, Chicago.

On the heels of its successful July 23 'Community Day' event, Goodman Theatre adds a second dedicated 'Community Day' performance of The Jungle Book on August 13 at 7:30pm to which all guests are invited free of charge.