Jeannie Affelder News

Oak Park Festival Theatre returns to its Austin Gardens outdoor performance space this summer to present 21 in-person performances of William Shakespeare's “The Tempest.”

Oak Park Festival Theatre triumphantly returns to its beloved Austin Gardens outdoor performance space this summer to present 21 in-person performances of William Shakespeare's “The Tempest.”

Betrayed and overthrown, Prospero, the rightful Duke of Milan, and his only child Miranda have lived for years in exile on an island of refuse and waste. Now the time has come for a reckoning as Prospero conjures a mighty and catastrophic storm to deliver his enemies to him and begin their torment.

TimeLine Theatre, furthering its mission of presenting stories that explore today's social and political issues through the lens of the past, will resurrect this Fall a groundbreaking feminist play from the early 20th century, Rutherford and Son by Githa Sowerby.

TimeLine Theatre, furthering its mission of presenting stories that explore today's social and political issues through the lens of the past, will resurrect this Fall a groundbreaking feminist play from the early 20th century, Rutherford and Son by Githa Sowerby.

The red carpet was full of beauty and style at the Opening Night of Steel Magnolias at Theatre at the Center on Sunday, February 25.  Cory Goodrich, in the role of M'Lynn, Landree Fleming, as Shelby, and Heidi Kettenring as Truvy, lead the cast of Theatre at the Center's Steel Magnolias with Joslyn Yvonne Jones as Ouiser, Jeannie Affelder as Clairee and Myesha-Tiara as Annelle.  The show continues through March 25.

Cory Goodrich, in the role of M'Lynn, Landree Fleming, as Shelby, and Heidi Kettenring as Truvy, lead the cast of Theatre at the Center's Steel Magnolias with Joslyn Yvonne Jones as Ouiser, Jeannie Affelder as Clairee and Myesha-Tiara as Annelle. Previews begin February 22 with Opening Night on February 25 for the run through March 25.

The Jeff Awards announced, via a special video presentation, a total of 127 nominations in 26 categories for the 44th Annual Non-Equity Jeff Awards for productions that opened between April 1, 2016, and March 31, 2017.  Hosting the video presentation were Alexis Roston and Lillian Castillo, who will be this year's Mistresses of Ceremonies at the Awards event on June 5 at The Athenaeum.

Experience the true story of Henrietta Swan Leavitt, one of the historic female astronomers at Harvard's observatory in the early 20th century, as it comes to life in First Folio's SILENT SKY, opening in March 29th, 2017 at 8:00PM and running through April 30th, 2017 at the First Folio Theatre located at Mayslake Peabody Estate, 31st St. & Rt. 83.

 The true story of Henrietta Swan Leavitt, one of the historic 'computer ladies' at Harvard's observatory in the early 20th century. Despite never being allowed to use the telescope, Henrietta made ground-breaking discoveries that shook the foundations of astronomy and made possible the work of Dr. Edwin Hubble and every astronomer to follow. Alternately poignant and funny, Silent Sky is a sweet, surprising look at one of the long-forgotten women of history.

Eclipse Theatre Company, the only Midwest theatre company to feature one playwright in one season, continues their 24th anniversary, 2016 Stephen Adly Guirgis season with the Chicago Premiere of The Little Flower of East Orange, with Eclipse ensemble member Steve Scott directing.

Jackalope's 7th season concludes with Lunacy!, written by resident playwright Andrew Burden Swanson*, directed by founding company member Gus Menary*, with the full cast and production team announced below. The show runs May 11 - June 20, 2015 at Broadway Armory Park, 5917 N. Broadway. Tickets are available April 1 via jackalopetheatre.org. The press performance is Monday, May 18, 2015 at 7:30pm.

TO MASTER THE ART, by William Brown and Doug Frew, enters its final two weeks at the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place (175 E. Chestnut). The six week engagement will end Oct. 20, 2013. The Chicago Commercial Collective produced this staging of the 2010 TimeLine Theatre world premiere hit. Check out a first look below!

Karen Janes Woditsch reprises her celebrated 2010 off-Loop role of chef, author and TV personality Julia Child in a not-to-be-missed show.

Broadway In Chicago has announced that TO MASTER THE ART, by William Brown and Doug Frew, has been extended by popular demand and will play an additional two weeks at the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place (175 E. Chestnut). The six week engagement will begin Sep. 10 and run through Oct. 20, 2013. The Chicago Commercial Collective will produce the 2010 TimeLine Theatre world premiere hit.

TimeLine Theatre Company, dedicated to presenting plays inspired by history that connect to today's social and political issues, has finalized casting for three of the four productions of its 2013-14 season, as the company embarks upon its most ambitious season ever with major revivals (A Raisin in the Sun, The Normal Heart and the musical Juno), a new play (The How and the Why), and a pioneering partnership with the Chicago Commercial Collective and Broadway In Chicago to remount a previous hit show (To Master the Art).

Broadway In Chicago has announced that individual tickets for TO MASTER THE ART by William Brown and Doug Frew go on-sale to the public starting today, July 12, 2013 at 10 a.m. Directed by William Brown, TO MASTER THE ART will play the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place (175 E. Chestnut) for a limited engagement beginning September 10, 2013. The Chicago Commercial Collective will produce the 2010 TimeLine world premiere hit.

Broadway In Chicago is thrilled to announce that individual tickets for TO MASTER THE ART by William Brown and Doug Frew go on-sale to the public starting this Friday, July 12, 2013 at 10 a.m. Directed by William Brown, TO MASTER THE ART will play the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place (175 E. Chestnut) for a limited engagement beginning September 10, 2013. The Chicago Commercial Collective will produce the 2010 TimeLine world premiere hit.

Eclipse Theatre Company (www.eclipsetheatre.com), the only theatre company in the Midwest to feature the works of one playwright in one season, will open their 2013 season featuring the works of Sir Alan Ayckbourn with his dark comedy Woman in Mind, directed by Eclipse Ensemble Member and Goodman Theatre Associate Producer/Artistic Associate Steve Scott.