Mia McCullough News

Steppenwolf Theatre Company announces casting for First Look 2015, a program dedicated to new play development, August 11 - 16, 2015 in the Upstairs Theatre (1650 N Halsted St). First Look 2015 features six staged readings, providing an early look at works-in-progress from some of the most dynamic playwrights in the field. The mission of First Look is to develop new plays for future production at Steppenwolf and other theaters across the country.

] Step Up Productions is pleased to announce its full 2015-16 Season, kicking off this fall with Neil Simon's Tony Award-winning romantic comedy BAREFOOT IN THE PARK, directed by Michael Driscoll. Then, Step Up rings in the holidays with its third annual HOLIDAZE, a hilarious and heartfelt collection of original, holiday-themed short works by some of the industry's most talented young playwrights. The season concludes next spring with Noel Coward's comedy of manners PRIVATE LIVES, directed by Ian Frank. Step Up's full 2015-16 Season will be performed at its resident home, The Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport Ave. in Chicago. Season subscriptions ($60 for all three productions) are currently available at www.stepupproductions.org or by calling The Athenaeum Box Office at (773) 935-6875. Single tickets for all productions will go on sale at a later date.

GFour Productions, winners of 54 Drama Desk and 44 Tony Awards, today announced the cast of leading ladies for the Memphis production of the international hit show Menopause The Musical, which will play the Orpheum Theatre for 3 performances, August 1-2, 2015. Tickets are available for purchase online at the official Orpheum Theatre website, www.orpheum-memphis.com, The Orpheum Box Office (901.525.3000), the ticket counter at The Booksellers at Laurelwood, and all Ticketmaster centers (901.743.ARTS).

Where does art belong and who gets to make it? Acclaimed playwright Idris Goodwin and Louder Than a Bomb creator Kevin Coval asked these questions in Steppenwolf for Young Adult's recent production of This is Modern Art (Based on True Events). This is Modern Art represents the true story of Chicago graffiti crew MUL, depicting the events leading up to and following their decision to carry out the biggest graffiti bomb of their career on the modern wing of the Art Institute of Chicago. This is Modern Art asked audiences to start a revolution, and the Chicago theatre community did- more than anyone expected.

Where does art belong and who gets to make it? Acclaimed playwright Idris Goodwin and Louder Than a Bomb creator Kevin Coval asked these questions in Steppenwolf for Young Adult's recent production of This is Modern Art (Based on True Events). This is Modern Art represents the true story of Chicago graffiti crew MUL, depicting the events leading up to and following their decision to carry out the biggest graffiti bomb of their career on the modern wing of the Art Institute of Chicago. This is Modern Art asked audiences to start a revolution, and the Chicago theatre community did- more than anyone expected.

Fear not fans of subversive holiday entertainment. Theater Wit is re-gifting Chicago with its 11th annual production of The Santaland Diaries, based on David Sedaris' true comic tale of his hilarious stint as one of Santa's elves at Macy's Department Store.

Steppenwolf for Young Adults (SYA) is thrilled to announce casting for the second production of its 2014/15 season, the world premiere of This Is Modern Art (based on true events) by acclaimed playwright Idris Goodwin and "Louder Than A Bomb" founder Kevin Coval. Directed by Lisa Portes, the cast of professional actors features Brittani Arlandis Green, Jerry MacKinnon, J. Salome Martinez Jr., Kelly O'Sullivan, Jessie D. Prez and Chris Rickett.

Pivot Arts has announced the November/December 2014 line-up of its monthly POP UP! PERFORMANCE SERIES - connecting artists, local businesses and arts patrons on Chicago's Far north Side. The upcoming installments of the series will be performed at Pivot Arts' newest partner venue: Uncommon Ground, 1401 W. Devon St. in Chicago. The line-up includes:

Fear not fans of subversive holiday entertainment. Theater Wit is re-gifting Chicago with its 11th annual production of The Santaland Diaries, based on David Sedaris' true comic tale of his hilarious stint as one of Santa's elves at Macy's Department Store.

A new crop of local talent joins Goodman Theatre's artistic team for the 2014/2015 Season.

The Theatre School at DePaul University will present IN THE HEIGHTS, music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, book by Quiara Alegria Hudes, and conceived by Lin-Manuel Miranda, in the Fullerton Stage Theatre in the new Theatre School building located at Racine and Fullerton. The production, directed by Lisa Portes, premieres on Friday, October 3, and runs through Sunday, October 12, 2014. Performances are Wednesdays through Saturdays at 7:30 PM and Sundays at 2 PM. Previews are tonight, October 1 and tomorrow, October 2, at 7:30 PM.

The Theatre School at DePaul University will present IN THE HEIGHTS, music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, book by Quiara Alegria Hudes, and conceived by Lin-Manuel Miranda, in the Fullerton Stage Theatre in the new Theatre School building located at Racine and Fullerton. The production, directed by Lisa Portes, premieres on Friday, October 3, and runs through Sunday, October 12, 2014. Performances are Wednesdays through Saturdays at 7:30 PM and Sundays at 2 PM. Previews are on October 1 and 2, at 7:30 PM.

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 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.

Steppenwolf for Young Adults (SYA) has announced its 2014/15 season: George Orwell's Animal Farm, adapted for the stage by Althos Low, directed by SYA Artistic and Educational Director Hallie Gordon; and the world premiere of This Is Modern Art by Kevin Coval and Idris Goodwin, directed by Lisa Portes.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company has announced the line-up for the ninth annual First Look Repertory of New Work, featuring three developmental productions of new plays presented in rotating repertory July 26 - August 24, 2014 in the Garage Theatre (1624 N Halsted St). First Look 2014 includes: Ironbound by Martyna Majok, Hushabye by Tanya Saracho and Okay, Bye by Joshua Conkel. The 2014 festival also features readings of two new plays, American Beauty Shop by Dana Lynn Formby and Opium Den by Julie Marie Myatt. Tickets to First Look Repertory of New Work ($20) are on sale now. To purchase tickets or RSVP for the free readings, call Audience Services at 312-335-1650.

SIS Productions presents the full West Coast Premiere of Impenetrable by Mia McCullough, running today, April 11 - May 3, 2014.

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.