Northwestern University News

The Pearl Theatre Company continues its 30th anniversary season-the second season in its new home on West 42nd Street-with a new production of No Exit by Jean-Paul Sartre, adapted from the French by Paul Bowles. Linda Ames Key, making her Pearl debut, directs this touchstone of French existentialism in its first Off-Broadway production in over 15 years. The cast includes Pearl Resident Acting Company (RAC) member Jolly Abraham as Inez and Pearl RAC member Branford Cover as Cradeau along with Sameerah Luqmaan-Harris as Estelle and Pete McGilligot as Valet.

In 2012, Playwrights Theatre began the New Jersey Emerging Women Playwrights Project (NJEWP) as part of its larger ongoing effort to provide meaningful support to playwrights through an authentic development process that focuses on the specific and individual needs of the writer.

The Bushwick Starr will present a collaboration between stage and film director Daniel Fish and dance and theater artist Andrew Dinwiddie. Using nearly seven weeks of residency time at the Bushwick Starr, and in collaboration with actor T. Ryder Smith (War Horse, Passion Play) and designers Blanca Añon (ETERNAL, Owned) and Daniel Kluger (Nikolai and the Others, A Map of Virtue), they will create PHIL. 176 / OBIT, an episodic performance installation that draws simultaneously on the text of Shelly Kagan's renowned Yale College philosophy course, 'PHIL 176: Death,'* and on current American obituaries and death notices.

The Music Box Theatre continues its partnership with the UK's National Theatre Live - produced by Northwestern alum David Sabel - to exhibit live stage performances beamed to Chicago from England. Next weekend: Tom Hiddleston (The Avengers, Thor) stars in Coriolanus, Shakespeare's searing tragedy of political manipulation and revenge. Coriolanus bows Sunday, February 16, 11:30 am at Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport Avenue.

A Chicago Premiere, Love and Understanding by Joe Penhall, will open Saturday, March 1, 2014 at Redtwist Theatre, directed by Jaclynn Jutting.

Audiences will have the opportunity to leave mid-winter's sub-freezing temperatures behind when they step into the sizzling atmosphere of 'Cabaret.' The Tony Award-winning Broadway musical is the second winter production in the Theatre and Interpretation Center (TIC) at Northwestern University's 2013-14 Mainstage Season.

Mercury Theater Chicago and The Hypocrites will feature Stephen Sondheim: The Man and The Music, a post-show talk back discussion on the renowned composer with Dr. Mark E. Lococo, Professor and Director of Theatre at Loyola University Chicago; Dr. Sarah Gabel, Chairperson for the Department of Fine and Performing Arts at Loyola University Chicago; and Director Geoff Button, following the 8:00 p.m. performance of INTO THE WOODS tonight, February 7 at the Mercury Theater Chicago, 3745 N. Southport Ave. With music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and the book by James Lapine, The Hypocrites bring their heightened and playful sense of theatricality to the musical INTO THE WOODS through March 30.

Hot off of four BroadwayWorld Chicago Awards, Williams Street Repertory (WSR) has begun gearing up for their next musical, She Loves Me. Directed by Roger Zawacki, the delightfully endearing production opens tonight, February 7 at 8:00 pm, and runs for select dates and times through February 16 at Raue Center For The Arts in Crystal Lake, Illinois.

Good Works Productions & Fig Tree Productions in association with Stage Left Studio, are excited to announce The Gifted Series, two riveting and unique solo-shows written by acclaimed award-winning playwright Monica Bauer (Emerging Playwright Award, Urban Stages). The Gifted Series includes The Year I Was Gifted, performed by Monica Bauer and directed by Carolyn Ladd; and Made For Each Other, performed by John Fico and directed by John FitzGibbon.

Adventure Stage Chicago (ASC) closes their 10th season with the world premiere of SPARK: Chapter One of The Prometheus Project, which runs April 5 - May 8, 2014 at ASC's Vittum Theater, 1012 N. Noble St., Chicago. SPARK is written by Tom Arvetis (ASC Producing Artistic Director) and directed by Rives Collins (Theatre and Drama for Youth Specialist, Northwestern University).

Victory Gardens Theater continues its season with the World Premiere of The Gospel of Lovingkindness by Victory Gardens Ensemble Playwright Marcus Gardley, directed by Artistic Director Chay Yew. The Gospel of Lovingkindness runs February 28 - March 30, 2014 at Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue.

A roster of accomplished young singing actors from the Chicago area will portray the von Trapp Family children in Lyric Opera of Chicago's new production of The Sound of Music, the company announced today. The new production will be led by Jenn Gambatese.

A roster of accomplished young singing actors from the Chicago area will portray the von Trapp Family children in Lyric Opera of Chicago's new production of The Sound of Music, the company announced today.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'Ain't Misbehavin' and 'Ragtime' get ready, the 'Lyle' and 'Schoolhouse' kids' musicals, two stagings of 'Cabaret,' The Phantom and Raoul to visit Stage 773, KT Sullivan in Hyde Park, the Belmont Theater District is born, and more!

Silk Road Rising to present three staged readings of Rituals of Signs and Transformations, written by Saadallah Wannous, translated from Arabic into English by Nada Saab and Robert Myers, and directed by Sahar Assaf, on March 8 and 9, 2014.

Roundabout Theatre Company has announced the third annual Roundabout Underground Reading Series. The series will celebrate seven critically-acclaimed seasons of Roundabout Underground productions. Roundabout Underground Reading Series is a five night event that will include a nightly reading of a new play written and directed by an emerging artist.

Theatre Seven of Chicago and Stage Left Theatre announce the upcoming world premiere of Principal Principle, written by Theatre Seven Associate Artist Joe Zarrow and directed by Stage Left ensemble member Scott Bishop. Principal Principle is the third production of Stage Left's 32nd season and the second production of Theatre Seven's eighth season. Press opening is Friday, April 18th at 8:00 PM at Theater Wit, 1229 W Belmont. The production runs through May 18th.

The Chicago Humanities Festival (CHF) hosts award-winning author Karen Russell on Thursday, February 13, at 6 p.m. at First United Methodist Church at The Chicago Temple (77 W Washington St). The author of St. Lucy's Home for Girls and the Pulitzer Prize Award finalist Swamplandia!, Russell comes to Chicago to discuss her latest work, Vampires in the Lemon Grove, with Time Out Chicago's Laura Pearson. Tickets are on sale now for $10-15 and can be purchased online at chicagohumanities.org or at 312-494-9509.

Lorrie Farrelly is proud to announce the release of her novel 'Terms of Surrender' in paperback, eBook, and audiobook formats. 'Terms of Surrender' is a western historical romance novel, the story of former Confederate cavalry Captain Michael Cantrell. He wanders the frontier, haunted and alone, until one spring day, near the Wind River in Wyoming, he suddenly finds himself in the middle of Annie Devlin's war. Standing with the stubborn young rancher will test the limits of Michael's courage - and his passion. The compelling book trailer for 'Terms of Surrender' was revealed today on DGT Book Promotion news. In addition, Farrelly shared her insights in an interview this week on the Reading and Writing Addiction blog about herself and the inspiration for 'Terms of Surrender.' Lorrie Farrelly's interview can be followed at www.readinwritin.blogspot.com and the official 'Terms of Surrender' trailer can be viewed on YouTube. About The Book Paroled Confederate cavalry Captain Michael Cantrell wanders the West, his heart filled with bitterness and loss, his only companions his bone-deep honor and sheer stubbornness. His journey leads him straight into another war. A determined, spirited young woman's life and home are at stake - and Michael's decision to stand with her will test his courage, his mettle, and above all, his passion. For its pulse-pounding excitement, stirring romance, and deeply felt emotion, 'Terms of Surrender' is a Readers' Favorite 5-Star novel and an Orange Rose Award finalist. Praise for 'Terms of Surrender': 'Heart-racing, pulse-pounding story of the healing, redeeming power of love after the chaos and pain of war.' - Amazon reviews 'A mixture of passion and nail-biting suspense (that) will engage you and continue to hold on until you read the last page!' - Reader's Favorite About The Author Lorrie Farrelly is the author of a Western historical romance trilogy, contemporary romantic suspense novels, and sci fi/paranomal romantic suspense novels. A graduate of the University of California, Santa Cruz, and Northwestern University, she has earned Readers' Favorite 5-Star novel and an Orange Rose Award finalist. She's been a Renaissance nominee for Teacher of the Year, a ranch hand at Disneyland's Circle D Ranch, and a 'Jeopardy!' champion. She and her family live in Southern California. 'Terms of Surrender' (346 pages, ISBN: 978-1468182521) is available at Amazon.com. To learn more about Lorrie Farrelly and 'Terms of Surrender,' visit her on Facebook at facebook.com/LorrieFarrellyAuthor or Twitter @lorriewrites, or at her website sites.google.co/site/yourbestreads.

Porchlight Music Theatre and Managing Artistic Director Michael Weber are proud to announce the Tony Award-winning Thomas 'Fats' Waller' musical revue, Ain't Misbehavin', today, February 1 - March 9, 2014, at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave.