John Mohrlein News

Producing Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside and American Blues Theater, Chicago's second oldest Equity ensemble, are proud to announce the summer engagement of American Blues Theater's Hank Williams: Lost Highway, by Randal Myler and Mark Harelik, directed by Damon Kiely, music director Malcolm Ruhl and starring Matthew Brumlow as "Hank Williams," July 25 - August 31 at the Greenhouse Theater Center's Downstage Mainstage Theater, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave. Pink Previews, where tickets sales benefit the Lynn Sage Foundation for breast cancer research, are Friday, July 25 and Saturday, July 26 at 7:30 p.m. Opening night is Friday August 1 at 7 p.m.

Producing Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside and American Blues Theater, Chicago's second oldest Equity ensemble, are proud to announce the Saturday, June 21 performance of Grounded, by George Brant and directed by Lisa Portes, at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave. is a benefit performance for Children of War Foundation. Proceeds from the performance will go directly to surgery and medical treatment for Shah Bibi Tarakhail, an Afghan Child Affected by War. The running time is approximately 80 minutes. Grounded runs through July 13. The performance schedule is Thursdays - Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $19 - $49 and are available at 773.404.7336 or americanbluestheater.com.

Producing Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside of American Blues Theater is proud to announce American Blues Theater is hosting a staged reading of the 2014 Blue Ink Playwriting Award-winning play Comden Mall Community Activists, by Chicagoan Douglas Post, Sunday, June 29 at 4:30 p.m. at Greenhouse Theater Center, Upstairs Studio, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave., directed by American Blues Theater Ensemble member Heather Meyers. Admission is a suggested donation of $5 payable at the door. For more information go to americanbluestheater.com.

Producing Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside and American Blues Theater, Chicago's second oldest Equity ensemble, are proud to announce the Chicago premiere of Grounded, by George Brant and directed by Lisa Portes, today, June 6 - July 13 at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave.

Producing Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside and American Blues Theater, Chicago's second oldest Equity ensemble, are proud to announce the Chicago premiere of Grounded, by George Brant and directed by Lisa Portes, June 6 - July 13 at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave. The running time is approximately 80 minutes. Pink Previews, where tickets sales benefit the Lynn Sage Foundation for breast cancer research, are Friday, June 6 and Saturday, June 7 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, June 8 at 2:30 p.m. Opening Night is Thursday, June 12 at 7 p.m. The performance schedule is Thursdays - Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $19 - $49 and are available at 773.404.7336 or americanbluestheater.com.

Producing Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside announces the American Blues Theater's Season 29 'Lost & Sound' at the 'Blue Bash,' their annual fundraiser, Thursday, Feb. 27 from 5:30 - 9 p.m., at the office of Seyfarth Shaw, Suite 2400, 131 S. Dearborn. Complete performance schedules, venues, casting and ticket information will be announced at a later date. Flex passes for Season 29 'Lost & Sound' are available now. Details on each production are included in this release. For more information on the current and next season's productions visit americanbluestheater.com. Season 29 includes:

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'Wicked' at Sidetrack, three more versions of 'A Christmas Carol,' four radio productions of 'It's A Wonderful Life,' BET's original 'dancesical,' Davenport's, the 'Black Nativity' and sing-a-long 'Grease' films, the Bar Show and more!

Producing Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside and American Blues Theater, Chicago's second oldest Equity ensemble, present the return of the critically-acclaimed It's a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago!, directed by Marty Higginbotham, now at its new venue: the mainstage of the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave. now through December 29, 2013. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Producing Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside and American Blues Theater, Chicago's second oldest Equity ensemble, recently announce the return of the critically-acclaimed It's a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago!, directed by Marty Higginbotham, now at its new venue: the mainstage of the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave., tonight, November 22 - December 29.

American Blues Theater, one of Chicago's oldest Equity ensemble, and Producing Director Gwendolyn Whiteside are proud to announce the return of the critically acclaimed It's a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago!, directed by Marty Higginbotham, now at its new venue: the mainstage of the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave., November 22 - December 29. Pink Previews, where tickets sales benefit the Lynn Sage Foundation for breast cancer research, are Friday, Nov. 22 and Saturday, Nov. 23 at 7:30 p.m. The press/opening night performance is Sunday, Nov. 24 at 2:30 p.m. The running time is approximately 90 minutes. Tickets are $19-$49 and are on sale now through the box office 773.404.7336 or online at americanbluestheater.com. The performance schedule is Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. Additional holiday performances are scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 30 at 4:30 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 1 at 5:30 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 8 and 15 at 5:30 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 21 at 4:30 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 22 at 5:30 p.m. Limited complimentary parking is available at the former Children's Memorial Hospital lot, 2316 N. Lincoln Ave. For more information visit www.americanbluestheater.com.

Producing Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside of American Blues Theater, Chicago's second oldest Equity ensemble, announces the Ensemble's 28th season. The season begins with the Chicago professional premiere of Hank Williams: Lost Highway by award-winning playwrights Randal Myler and Mark Harelik, directed by Damon Kiely, today, September 5 - October 6; the 12th smash year of It's a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago! , now at the 199-seat Greenhouse Theater Center, directed by Ensemble member Marty Higginbotham, November 22 - December 29; world premiere of 2012 Blue Ink Playwriting Award-winning script American Myth by Christina Gorman, directed by Steve Scott, February - March 2014; Chicago premiere of 2012 Smith Prize winner Grounded by George Brant, June 2014. American Blues also announces year-long development and public reading of Ensemble member's Nambi E. Kelley's adaptation of Richard Wright's Native Son which will receive a production in fall of 2014.

American Blues Theater, one of Chicago's oldest Equity ensemble, and Producing Director Gwendolyn Whiteside have announced the return of the critically acclaimed It's a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago!, directed by Marty Higginbotham, now at its new venue: the mainstage of the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave., November 22 - December 29. BroadwayWorld has a first look at highlights of the show below!

American Blues Theater, one of Chicago's oldest Equity ensemble, and Producing Director Gwendolyn Whiteside have announced the return of the critically acclaimed It's a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago!, directed by Marty Higginbotham, now at its new venue: the mainstage of the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave., November 22 - December 29. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the production below!

American Blues Theater, one of Chicago's oldest Equity ensemble, and Producing Director Gwendolyn Whiteside have announced the return of the critically acclaimed It's a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago!, directed by Marty Higginbotham, now at its new venue: the mainstage of the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave., November 22 - December 29.

Producing Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside of American Blues Theater, Chicago's second oldest Equity ensemble, announces the Ensemble's 28th season. The season begins with the Chicago professional premiere of Hank Williams: Lost Highway by award-winning playwrights Randal Myler and Mark Harelik, directed by Damon Kiely, September 5 - October 6; the 12th smash year of It's a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago! , now at the 199-seat Greenhouse Theater Center, directed by Ensemble member Marty Higginbotham, November 22 - December 29; world premiere of 2012 Blue Ink Playwriting Award-winning script American Myth by Christina Gorman, directed by Steve Scott, February - March 2014; Chicago premiere of 2012 Smith Prize winner Grounded by George Brant, June 2014. American Blues also announces year-long development and public reading of Ensemble member's Nambi E. Kelley's adaptation of Richard Wright's Native Son which will receive a production in fall of 2014.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Three theatrical radio plays called 'It's A Wonderful Life,' two Second City touring companies, Gilbert and Sullivan in rep, the Rockettes, Karen Mason in town, holiday films we fancy, Congo Square's 'Nativity' and a special holiday thought....

IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE: LIVE AT THE BIOGRAPH!, directed by ABT Ensemble member Marty Higginbotham, through December 30 at Victory Gardens Biograph Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue. Tickets are on sale for $19-$49 through the box office or online. Photos from the production inside!

American Blues Theater (ABT), Chicago's second oldest Equity ensemble, continues its 2012-2013 season with a return engagement of the critically acclaimed It's a Wonderful Life: Live at the Biograph!, directed by Marty Higginbotham, at the Victory Gardens Biograph Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave., November. 23 - December 30.