John Kelly News

CAROL LIPNIK -- the spellbinding, darkly-humorous singer and songwriter who blends folk music and art song with the classic nightclub tradition -- will extend her celebrated performance residency at Pangea (178 Second Avenue in New York) with a season of Sunday evening performances at 7:30 PM from September 13, 2015 through January 31, 2016.

Strawdog Theatre Company, Artistic Director Hank Boland and Hugen Hall Artistic Director Anderson Lawfer are proud to announce the first production in its 2015-2016 Hugen Hall season, the United States premiere of Julia Lederer's With Love and a Major Organ, tonight, September 12, through October 14, directed by Thrisa Hodits at Hugen Hall in Strawdog Theatre Company, 3829 N. Broadway St. Opening night performance is Monday, Sept. 14 at 8 p.m.

There are few bands that have been as tenaciously creative, exploratory, eclectic and inclusive as Church of Betty. On Swirled World, their new release, produced by Two-time Independent Music Awards Winner Kenny Siegal (Langhorne Slim & The Law, Chris Whitley, Spottiswoode & His Enemies), frontman Chris Rael's ever-evolving musical palette effortlessly crosses genres (world, rock, pop, folk, classical) and is as fertile and explosive as ever. Rael is at the top of his game as vocalist, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist.

The Hypocrites launch their 2015-16 season with the Chicago premiere of the smash Broadway musical AMERICAN IDIOT, featuring music by Grammy Award-winning punk rock band Green Day, book by Green Day frontman/guitaristBillie Joe Armstrong and Michael Mayer and lyrics by Armstrong, direction by Steven Wilson, musical direction by Andra Velis Simon and choreography by Katie Spelman. BroadwayWorld has procured a video of the cast performing 'Wake Me up When September Ends,' so check it out here!

First Floor Theater (FFT) is thrilled to announce the first show of their fourth season, the world premiere of ANIMALS COMMIT SUICIDE, playwright J. Julian Christopher's high-octane and darkly comic story of desire, disease, and contemporary queer life.

The Hypocrites launch their 2015-16 season with the Chicago premiere of the smash Broadway musical AMERICAN IDIOT, featuring music by Grammy Award-winning punk rock band Green Day, book by Green Day frontman/guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong and Michael Mayer and lyrics by Armstrong, direction by Steven Wilson, musical direction by Andra Velis Simon and choreography by Katie Spelman. AMERICAN IDIOT will play now through October 25, 2015 at The Den Theatre's Heath Main Stage, 1329 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood. The press opening is this Sunday, September 6 at 7 pm. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Catalina Film Festival (CFF) today announced featured tributes and events for the Sept. 24 - 27 festival, held on the famed Catalina Island. Among the honorees for the 5th annual Festival are inaugural recipient of the Soundtrack of Our Lives Award, legendary songwriter Diane Warren; Avalon Award recipient, Mena Suvari (American Beauty, American Pie); Isla Earth Award recipient, Kristin Davis (Sex & the City, Couples Retreat); and Crest Award recipient, Lucas Till (X-Men: Apocalypse, Bravetown). CFF will also pay tribute to Wes Craven, a supporter of the Festival who graciously founded the annual Craven Award for excellence in horror filmmaking and personally selected the winning films.

The Hypocrites are thrilled to launch their 2015-16 season with the Chicago premiere of the smash Broadway musical AMERICAN IDIOT, featuring music by Grammy Award-winning punk rock band Green Day, book by Green Day frontman/guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong and Michael Mayer and lyrics by Armstrong, direction by Steven Wilson, musical direction by Andra Velis Simon and choreography by Katie Spelman. AMERICAN IDIOT will play tonight, August 28 - October 25, 2015 at The Den Theatre's Heath Main Stage, 1329 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood.

The New Colony is pleased to continue its 2015 season with the pop-infused world premiere musical comedy STANLEY IN THE NAME OF LOVE by Mr. Margaret Svetlove, directed by Sean Kelly, with music by The Delicious Moons (Nickolas Blazina, Henry Riggs, Alex Kliner and Sean Kelly). STANLEY IN THE NAME OF LOVE will play July 30 - August 29, 2015 at The New Colony's resident home, The Den Theatre (Upstairs Mainstage), 1333 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Strawdog Theatre Company, Artistic Director Hank Boland and Hugen Hall Artistic Director Anderson Lawfer are proud to announce the first production in its 2015-2016 Hugen Hall season, the United States premiere of Julia Lederer's With Love and a Major Organ, September 12 - October 14, directed by Thrisa Hodits at Hugen Hall in Strawdog Theatre Company, 3829 N. Broadway St.

The New Colony is pleased to continue its 2015 season with the pop-infused world premiere musical comedy STANLEY IN THE NAME OF LOVE, written and directed by Mr. Margaret Svetlove, with an original score by The Delicious Moons (Nickolas Blazina, Henry Riggs, Alex Kliner and Sean Kelly). STANLEY IN THE NAME OF LOVE will play tonight, July 30, through August 29, 2015 at The New Colony's resident home, The Den Theatre (Upstairs Mainstage), 1333 N. Milwaukee Ave.

There are few bands that have been as tenaciously creative, exploratory, eclectic and inclusive as Church of Betty. On Swirled World, their new release, produced by Two-time Independent Music Awards Winner Kenny Siegal (Langhorne Slim & The Law, Chris Whitley, Spottiswoode & His Enemies), frontman Chris Rael's ever-evolving musical palette effortlessly crosses genres (world, rock, pop, folk, classical) and is as fertile and explosive as ever. Rael is at the top of his game as vocalist, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist.

The Hypocrites are thrilled to launch their 2015-16 season with the Chicago premiere of the smash Broadway musical AMERICAN IDIOT, featuring music by Grammy Award-winning punk rock band Green Day, book by Green Day frontman/guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong and Michael Mayer and lyrics by Armstrong, direction by Steven Wilson, musical direction by Andra Velis Simon and choreography by Katie Spelman. AMERICAN IDIOT will play August 28 - October 25, 2015 at The Den Theatre's Heath Main Stage, 1329 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood.

A glamorous dose of the legendary Lypsinka, John Epperson's iconic creation, will once again be doled out this summer when the acclaimed LYPSINKA! THE BOXED SET returns for a limited Off-Broadway engagement.  LYPSINKA! THE BOXED SET will be performed Wednesday, July 22nd through Saturday, September 12th at the ravishing jewel-box Connelly Theater, located at 220 East 4th Street (between Avenues A and B) in Manhattan's East Village. The Opening is Saturday, July 25th at 8 PM.  Tickets ($35 - $65) will go on sale on Monday, April 27th at 10 am online at www.lypsinka.com and www.tweedtheater.org/lypsinka, or by calling 866-811-4111.

The New Colony is pleased to continue its 2015 season with the pop-infused world premiere musical comedy STANLEY IN THE NAME OF LOVE by Mr. Margaret Svetlove, directed by Sean Kelly, with music by The Delicious Moons (Nickolas Blazina, Henry Riggs, Alex Kliner and Sean Kelly). STANLEY IN THE NAME OF LOVE will play July 30 - August 29, 2015 at The New Colony's resident home, The Den Theatre (Upstairs Mainstage), 1333 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood. 

The Gift Theatre's artistic director Michael Patrick Thornton, co-founder William Nedved and associate artistic director Paul D'Addario are proud to announce nine artists have joined the company ensemble: playwrights Will Eno and Laura Marks; directors Marti Lyons and Erica Weiss; and actors Cyd Blakewell, Darci Nalepa, Keith Neagle, Mary Ann Thebus, and Kyle Zornes. Conceived in 1997 by Michael Patrick Thornton and William Nedved, The Gift's mission was to grow and nurture an ensemble while laying roots in an artistically underserved Chicago neighborhood. Today, The Gift Theatre thrives in Jefferson Park as Chicago's most intimate Equity theater and is home to a nationally respected acting ensemble.

The Other Theatre Company and Artistic Director Carin Silkaitis have announced the company's second production in its inaugural season, Bent, written by Martin Sherman and directed by Keira Fromm, at Strawdog Theatre, 3829 N. Broadway, tonight, June 27 - July 26.

About Face Theatre is pleased to continue its 2014-15 season with the Chicago premiere of ABRAHAM LINCOLN WAS A F*GG*T by Bixby Elliot, directed by Artistic Director Andrew Volkoff, playing now through July 5, 2015 at the Greenhouse Theater Center (Upstairs Studio), 2257 N. Lincoln Ave. in Chicago. BroadwayWorld has new photos of the cast onstage below! Plus click here to check out more production pics!