Goodman Theatre News

Producing Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside of American Blues Theater (ABT), Chicago's second oldest Equity ensemble, proudly announces the Ensemble's 27th season will take place at the Victory Gardens Biograph Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave.. For more information, visit americanbluestheater.com.

Milwaukee Repertory Theater announced casting today for Gutenberg! The Musical, the first production in The Rep's 2012/13 season, and The Mountaintop, which opens this September.

Stage and screen star Sanaa Lathan (A Raisin in the Sun, Contagion) returns to the title role in Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage's By the Way, Meet Vera Stark for its West Coast premiere at the Geffen Playhouse. Lathan, who originated the character of Vera Stark in the critically acclaimed New York run, will once again take the stage as the 1930's era maid turned movie star, reunited with original cast member Kimberly Hebert Gregory (Spike Lee's Red Hook Summer) reprising her role as fellow aspiring African American actress Lottie. Broadway vet and Geffen alum Merle Dandridge (Spamalot, Rent, Aida) will take on the spicy role of Anna Mae, who fakes a Brazilian accent for a slice of fame, and former leading lady of ABC's Man Up, Amanda Detmer, will portray Gloria Mitchell, the white starlet dubbed "America's little sweetie pie" and Vera's first employer. Helmed by award-winning director Jo Bonney, the West Coast premiere cast also features Kevin Carroll (Paid in Full, Being John Malkovich), Spencer Garrett (Iron Man 3, Air Force One) and Geffen alum Mather Zickel (Extraordinary Chambers, Rachel Getting Married).

Profiles Theatre announces the Midwest premiere of Sweet and Sad by Richard Nelson, opening the company's 2012-2013 season. Sweet and Sad, directed by Joe Jahraus and featuring Co-Artistic Director Darrell W. Cox, runs August 17, 2012 - October 7, 2012 with the press opening on Friday, August 24 at 8:00 pm. Performances are held at Profiles newest venue, The Main Stage, 4139 N. Broadway.

TimeLine Theatre Company opens its 16th season with the Chicago premiere of 33 Variations by Moises Kaufman, directed by Nick Bowling, August 30 - October 21, 2012 (previews August 24 - 29). Note that performances will be held at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. Chicago. Press Opening performance is Thursday, August 30, 2012 at 7:30 p.m.

Renaissance Theaterworks (RTW) celebrates the beginning of its 20th season and the 3rd year of its 3-year Diversity Series with ENFRASACADA by Tanya Saracho. Saracho will also direct this comedy featuring Yadira Correa, Annie Henk, Yunuen Pardo and locals Rana Roman and Karen Estrada.

The final play of the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival's 21st season, King John, opens tonight, July 26 in the Schubert Theatre, running through August 5, 2012.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'Oklahoma!' at Lyric Opera, 'Assassins,' Lake County shows like 'Sweeney Todd,' summer musical theater camps, summer show extensions, 'Bunheads' and more!

The final play of the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival's 21st season, King John, previews July 25 and opens July 26 in the Schubert Theatre, running through August 5, 2012.

Williamstown Theatre Festival Artistic Director Jenny Gersten announced today the full cast and creative team for the World Premiere of WHADDABLOODCLOT!!! by Olivier Award-winning playwright Katori Hall, which will be presented from August 8 through August 19 (opening August 9) on the Nikos Stage. The cast began rehearsals today on the bucolic Williams College campus in preparation for their run as the last production of the 2012 season.

Rare Terra Theatre celebrates the Chicago premiere of Wrong Mountain at The Second Stage, 3408 North Sheffield, September 13 - October 7. The witty black comedy, written by award-winning playwright David Hirson, is directed by Rare Terra's Artistic Director Ian Streicher.

Theatre Communications Group (TCG) has announced the publication of Boleros for the Disenchanted and Other Plays, a new collection of four plays by the Obie Award-winning and Oscar-nominated writer Jose Rivera (Marisol, The Motorcycle Diaries), which includes the titular Boleros, as well as Adoration of the Old Woman, Brainpeople and Pablo and Andrew at the Alter of Words. Rivera's writing was last seen Off-Broadway at Rattlestick Playwrights Theater in a revised production of the playwright's Massacre (Sing to Your Children).

Ten Chimneys Foundation has announced the ten actors who will participate in the 2012 Lunt- Fontanne Fellowship Program, a widely acclaimed national program to serve the future of American theatre. Today, July 22-July 29, the Lunt-Fontanne Fellows will join Broadway legend Joel Grey for an intensive, weeklong master class and immersion experience at Ten Chimneys, the National Historic Landmark estate of Broadway legends Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne in Genesee Depot, Wisconsin.

Ten Chimneys Foundation has announced that Washington, D.C. actors E. Faye Butler, Christopher Bloch, and Brad Oscar have been selected as 2012 Lunt-Fontanne Fellows.

Trinity Repertory Company has announced a one-night-only engagement with award-winning television, stage and screen actor Brian Dennehy on Monday, July 30 at 7:00pm in Trinity Rep's Dowling Theater. Together onstage with Trinity Rep resident actor Fred Sullivan, Jr., the pair will discuss and perform the work of America's premier playwright Eugene O'Neill.

Tickets for the Broadway Premiere of Grace, the acclaimed American play written by Award-winning writer Craig Wright (Mistakes Were Made, "Six Feet Under") and directed by Dexter Bullard (Tracy Letts' BUG), are now on sale to the general public, via Telecharge.com or by calling (212) 239-6200.