James Sherman News

Grippo Stage Company is pleased to present a revival of the touching and humorous play THE GOD OF ISAAC, playwright James Sherman's semi-autobiographical account of a young American Jew searching for his Jewish identity in the wake of the threatened neo-Nazi march in the Chicago suburb of Skokie in 1977. The new production is helmed by Dennis Za?ek, who directed the play's world premiere at Victory Gardens Theater in 1985, the beginning of a decades-long collaboration between Sherman and Za?ek. THE GOD OF ISAAC will play July 8 - August 27, 2017 at Piven Theatre at Noyes Cultural Arts Center, 927 Noyes St. in Evanston. Tickets are currently available at grippostagecompany.com or by calling (800) 838-3006. 

When Penguin Rep Theatre opens its month-long run of COBB, Lee Blessing's play about the legendary baseball player Ty Cobb, today, it will be exactly 40 years to the day since the enterprising company gave its first performance...

Grippo Stage Company is pleased to present a revival of the touching and humorous play THE GOD OF ISAAC, playwright James Sherman's semi-autobiographical account of a young American Jew searching for his Jewish identity in the wake of the threatened neo-Nazi march in the Chicago suburb of Skokie in 1977.

The Players Centre for Performing Arts is heating up with the first installment of the 2017 Summer Sizzler Series, the hilarious comedy, BEAU JEST. Written by James Sherman, this beloved play will get your summer off to the right start in what The Wall Street Journal calls 'Very funny...The well crafted play has a lot to say about nuclear families of any ethnic persuasion.'

Feeling the urge to let your imagination run wild, your spirit to soar or to just leave the world in which you live and go on an adventure? Sounds like a trip to the theater is in order! Luckily, companies all over the Volunteer State have been hard at work, creating new productions to transform and to transport, shows that will entertain you this summer. That's where THE NASHVILLE THEATER CALENDAR comes in handy: Peruse our listings every week to find out what shows you should see!

Grippo Stage Company is pleased to present a revival of the touching and humorous play THE GOD OF ISAAC, playwright James Sherman's semi-autobiographical account of a young American Jew searching for his Jewish identity in the wake of the threatened neo-Nazi march in the Chicago suburb of Skokie in 1977. The new production is helmed by Dennis Za?ek, who directed the play's world premiere at Victory Gardens Theater in 1985, the beginning of a decades-long collaboration between Sherman and Za?ek. THE GOD OF ISAAC will play July 8 – August 27, 2017 at Piven Theatre at Noyes Cultural Arts Center, 927 Noyes St. in Evanston. Tickets are currently available at grippostagecompany.com or by calling (800) 838-3006. 

Funny and familiar, James Sherman's Beau Jest might well be considered perfect dinner theater fare: spread across two hours, the comedy is easily digested and the players - this time, the estimable ensemble assembled by director Martha Wilkinson for the latest incarnation at Chaffin's Barn Dinner Theatre - charming and likable. The plot remains relevant, even years after it was first produced, and the dialogue flows at an accessible pace, spoken by characters who are altogether believable. And while Beau Jest likely won't push any envelopes or venture outside anyone's pre-conceived creative box, it nonetheless seems current and up-to-date.

Penguin Rep Theatre, the award-winning professional Equity theatre under the leadership of founding artistic director Joe Brancato and executive director Andrew M. Horn, opens its 40th season with Trayf, a new play by Lindsay Joelle.

Victory Gardens Theater, under the leadership of Artistic Director Chay Yew and Managing Director Erica Daniels, announces a one-night-only Earth Day event surrounding its World Premiere production of Queen, written by Madhuri Shekar and directed by Joanie Schultz.  

Grippo Stage Company is pleased to present a revival of the touching and humorous play THE GOD OF ISAAC, playwright James Sherman's semi-autobiographical account of a young American Jew searching for his Jewish identity in the wake of the threatened neo-Nazi march in the Chicago suburb of Skokie in 1977. The new production is helmed by Dennis Za?ek, who directed the play's world premiere at Victory Gardens Theater in 1985, the beginning of a decades-long collaboration between Sherman and Za?ek. THE GOD OF ISAAC will play July 8 – August 27, 2017 at Piven Theatre at Noyes Cultural Arts Center, 927 Noyes St. in Evanston. Tickets are currently available at grippostagecompany.com or by calling (800) 838-3006.

Penguin Rep Theatre, the award-winning professional Equity theatre in Stony Point (Rockland County), New York under the leadership of founding artistic director Joe Brancato and executive director Andrew M. Horn, announces its 40th anniversary season.

Victory Gardens Theater continues its 42nd season with the Chicago Premiere of Native Gardens, written by Karen Zacarias and directed by Marti Lyons.

The Mandel Jewish Community Center of the Palm Beaches Arts & Culture and The Donald M. Ephraim Palm Beach Jewish Film Festival are partnering to present this weekend the Florida premiere of THE BEN HECHT SHOW, a one-man theatrical production about the fascinating life of the Chicago newspaperman turned legendary playwright (The Front Page) and screenwriter (Stagecoach, Notorious, Scarface, Twentieth Century).

Joe Brancato was a high school English and drama teacher in 1977 when he peered into an abandoned 1880's hay barn in Stony Point, New York, and visualized his future: a theatre of his own.

Victory Gardens Theater continues its 42nd season with the World Premiere of Queen, written by Madhuri Shekar and directed by Joanie Schultz.

???????The Mandel Jewish Community Center of the Palm Beaches Arts & Culture and The Donald M. Ephraim Palm Beach Jewish Film Festival are partnering to present the Florida premiere of THE BEN HECHT SHOW.

Victory Gardens Theater, under the leadership of Artistic Director Chay Yew and Managing Director Erica Daniels, announces the lineup for its 2017-2018 Season. Victory Gardens' 43rd Season will include the groundbreaking, Tony Award-winning musical Fun Home with music by Jeanine Tesori and book and lyrics by Lisa Kron; the Chicago premieres of Fade, a co-production with Teatro Vista, by Tanya Saracho, and Mies Julie, a contemporary reworking of August Strindberg's classic Miss Julie by Yael Farber, as well as the world premieres of Breach: a manifesto on race in america through the eyes of a black girl recovering from self-hate by Antoinette Nwandu and Doing It by Boo Killebrew.

Artistic Director Chay Yew and Managing Director Erica Daniels announce a one-week extension to the World Premiere, hit production of A Wonder In My Soul, written by ensemble playwright Marcus Gardley and directed by Chay Yew, with music direction by Jaret Landon. A Wonder In My Soul will now run through March 19, 2017 at Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue.

Rubicon Theatre Company celebrates Black History Month with THE DEVIL'S MUSIC: THE LIFE AND BLUES OF BESSIE SMITH, starring singer and actress Miche Braden of the original Off-Broadway production (named one of the 10 Best Off-Broadway productions of the year by the N.Y. Daily Times). Described by CBC as a, "bawdy, bluesy, boozy rollicking night out at the theatre," the show follows the life, loves and career of blues and jazz singer Bessie Smith, called the "Empress of the Blues." 

Reviews are out, and Beau Jest at Patio Playhouse, written by improv master James Sherman and directed by Samantha Goldstein, is an absolute hit! 'Highly recommended for those who need a laugh... a very talented cast and superb direction brought fast-paced action and lots of laughs from a clever script. Kudos to all.' 'Great intimate theatre with outstanding cast. Not a bad seat in the house. Loved the energy; you can tell they do this because they love the craft.' 'One word: enchanting.'