Goodman Theatre News

Erica Herd and L.E. Swenson's breakout comedic masterpiece, THE YEAR OF DEAD CATS, which had its World Premiere on Sunday, June 16 at Stage Left Studio (214 West 30th Street - between Seventh & Eighth Avenues - Sixth Floor) has extended through September during which time the show will also participate in Cheryl King's acclaimed Women At Work Festival.

First Folio Theatre (Mayslake Peabody Estate, 31st St. & Rt. 83), presents the rollicking World Premiere of SHAKESPEARE'S CYMBELINE: A FOLK TALE WITH MUSIC, opening Saturday, June 22 at 8:15 p.m. and running through July 21, 2013. Check out a look back at opening night below!

It may be an economy sized production, but it fills the bill as one of the funniest musical comedies ever conceived. Williamstown Theatre Festival goes all out to deliver a full course of music, theatre and dance for this venerable joyride.

Tune has, well, fine-tuned the show since Miami, and will open it in Los Angeles in the fall. The Nederlanders are quiet backers, and if 'Fifty Four Forever' is well-received, look for its disco ball to twirl above Broadway next spring, just in time, perhaps, to upend next year's Tony Award race.'

Goodman Theatre's world premiere of The Jungle Book began previews on June 21 (opening night is July 1) and, with a second extension week just added, now runs through August 11. We've got a first look at scenes from the production below!

Goodman Theatre's world premiere of The Jungle Book opens on July 1 and, with a second extension week just added, now runs through August 11. Tony Award winner Mary Zimmerman reimagines Walt Disney's 1967 animated hit into a wholly original new work for the stage, drawing from both the film as well as Rudyard Kipling's 1894 collection of stories set in the Indian jungle and featuring original Indian-inspired music and dance. As previously announced, 10-year-old Akash Chopra makes his Chicago debut as young 'man cub' Mowgli, who comes of age with the help of the anthropomorphic singing and dancing jungle animals; joining him in the role at select performances is Roni Akurati, who most recently appeared at the Goodman as Tiny Tim in the 2011 production of A Christmas Carol. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the production shots below!

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. It's the TOP TEN HOT TOPIX in the Mosh Pit for January through June, 2013! And our 203rd weekly column. Check out what YOU've been talking about!

Barrel of Monkeys is pleased to kick-off its 16th season with the 12th year of its long-running, critically acclaimed revue THAT'S WEIRD, GRANDMA, conceived and written by Chicago Public School students, adapted for the stage and performed by Barrel of Monkeys Company Members and directed by Artistic Director Molly Brennan. Clever and funny - touching and poignant - the weekly collection of short sketches are equally entertaining for both adults and children. The line-up changes each week by audience vote - so no two shows are ever the same.

Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, presents the Tony Award-winning 2008 Broadway revival version of the hit comedy BOEING-BOEING, opening Thursday, June 20 at 8 p.m. and running through August 4, 2013. Scroll down for photos from the cast and creative team on opening night!

Chicago's acclaimed Jefferson Award nominated actress and winner of the After Dark Award for 'Outstanding Cabaret Artist' and the Chicago Cabaret Professionals Gold Coast Award, Suzanne Petri brings ' A Little Touch of Coward in the Night' to Davenport's, 1383 N. Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago tonight and Thursday June 26th and 27th at 8pm.

Two-time Tony Award nominee and Broadway legend Andre De Shields, has been invited to be the featured speaker at the Conference of the International Council of Fine Arts Deans (ICFAD). The prestigious conference will take place on Friday, October 25 at the Hotel Monteleone in New Orleans. De Shields' presentation topic is The Artist As Alchemist. The presentation will be attended by more than 100 Deans and administrators of fine arts colleges and universities from around the world.

Due to popular demand, The Flea Theater is extending of the World Premiere of a cautionary tail by christopher oscar peña. a cautionary tail is a play of impossible choices set in a world of magical characters. First generation Chinese-Americans growing up in New York City, Vivienne and Luke confront a confused tangle of family, a diverse array of friends, and their rampant sexuality. In our digital age, how can they navigate the traditional expectations of their mother with their American culture of individuality?

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 August 7 through 11, in Ojai, California. The OPC Summer New Works Festival will feature eleven events over five days with established and up-and-coming playwrights. Participating in this year's conference with new works are Luis Alfaro, Lucy Alibar, Richard Cabral, Samuel D. Hunter, Sean Lewis, Jiehae Park, Laura Schellhardt and David Wiener.

Fox Valley Rep's Got Talent? Contest is an event that showcases the talents of young performers in acting and singing. It is open to contestants who have completed 1st-12th grade in the United States. It is a talent contest and talent show, and it provides an opportunity for young people to showcase their abilities and pursue their dreams.

Wicker Park's historic Flat Iron Arts Building - home to over 30 artist studios, six small businesses, a Bank of America branch, and Collaboraction Theatre Company - turns 100 years old this year.

Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, presents the Tony Award-winning 2008 Broadway revival version of the hit comedy BOEING-BOEING, opening Thursday, June 20 at 8 p.m. and running through August 4, 2013. Check out a first look below!

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 July 30 - September 1, 2013, in Pierce Hall at The Historic Chicago Temple Building, 77 W. Washington St, Chicago.

The poignant and provocative new musical, A Minister's Wife, makes its West Coast premiere at San Jose Rep today, June 20 - July 14, 2013. Based on George Bernard Shaw's well-known play Candida, this musical soars with its emotive and dazzling score by the award-winning composer of Adding Machine, Joshua Schmidt, and its beautiful lyrics by Jan Levy Tranen. The smart script by Austin Pendleton, a Tony-nominated director, actor and playwright, and graceful directing by the originator and award-winning director, Michael Halberstam, shape this musical into an adventurous evening of theatre. The Wall Street Journal says, 'This is the most important new musical since The Light in the Piazza ... to say that you mustn't miss it is to grossly understate the case.'

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 Jungle Book' opens, Audra and Sondheim visit, Stephen Wallem's St. Louis 'Shrek,' Make Music Chicago, 'The Land Of Smiles,' the Auditorium's cabaret series, Idina in Aurora and more!

The New Group launches its 2013-2014 Off-Broadway season with the New York premiere of Pulitzer Prize winner Beth Henley's The Jacksonian, arriving in Fall 2013. Directed by Tony Award winner Robert Falls, this production features Ed Harris, Glenne Headly, Amy Madigan and Bill Pullman. The Jacksonian was first produced at the Geffen Playhouse in 2012. In Winter 2014, as the second production in the company's season, The New Group delivers the world premiere of Thomas Bradshaw's Intimacy, directed by Scott Elliott. The third production of The New Group's upcoming season is to be announced.