Northwestern University News

The Weitzenhoffer School of Musical Theatre at the University of Oklahoma welcomes Tony nominee Jeff Blumenkrantz to the Campus Corner Cabaret at 7pm on Thursday, September 5, 2013 at Othello's in Norman.

Three Cat Productions is excited to announce its first full season, three world premieres of new works by Chicago playwrights, produced in partnership with the Chicago Park District's Berger Park Cultural Center at 6205 N. Sheridan Road. The 2013/14 season kicks off in fall with Joint Attention, a drama about the struggles of a young couple with an autistic child, by Pat Curtis. For the holidays, Three Cat presents Tell Me When It Hurts, a farcical romantic comedy, by Lisa Scott. The season concludes in spring with a new musical revue, Hang Your Hat at Mr. K's, about the stars who performed at one of Chicago's most famous jazz clubs; book written by Jarrin Davis. All three productions will be directed by Jason Paul Smith, Three Cat Productions Artistic Director. Tickets are now on sale at threecatproductions.com.

Known for its commitment to supporting young individuals in their talented pursuits, Rudy Foundation is proud to announce its new fundraising program for the arts, MUSICAL FUSION FUNDRAISERS (MFF). MFF presents its first story-telling showcase, LIFE IS A CABARET: A STORY ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS, featuring local directors, educators and performers from Las Vegas' most celebrated productions, Saturday, Sept. 21 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 22 at 2 p.m. at The Summerlin Library and Performing Arts Center (1771 Inner Circle Drive).

According to her official website, Patti LuPone, who will soon star in the upcoming season of FX's American Horror Story, will make a series of concert appearances from September through April 2014. Check out the full itinerary below:

Chicago Opera Theater (COT) offers more opportunities to look inside its operas through its new initiative, “Viewpoints.” These collaborations with Chicago cultural institutions draw audiences even further into the passionate world of COT's 2013 Season, “Power of Love – Love of Power,” and offer new insight and perspective on the artistry and vision of upcoming productions.

The distinguished American pianist Ursula Oppens will perform Faure's Piano Quintet No. 1 in D Minor with the Cassatt Quartet at Music Mountain this afternoon, August 25th, at 3:00 p.m. at Gordon Hall, 225 Music Mountain Rd., Falls Village, CT. The program will also include works by Shostakovich and Beethoven.

Artist, John Sabraw, who currently teaches at the Ohio University, explores the fundamental properties of creating art. Check out some of his works below!

Stage Left Theatre announces the recipients of the Downstage Left Playwright Residencies for Season 32. Residencies are designed to help playwrights take a project from the conceptual stage all the way to a production-ready script. Playwrights work closely with ensemble directors and members of the literary team to design a process tailored to the particular needs of their project.

-The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra (SPCO), Minnesota Public Radio (MPR), and American Composers Forum (ACF) are pleased to announce the second season of the Composer Conversation Series, events of which will take place at Amsterdam Bar & Hall in downtown Saint PaulSeptember 2013 through April 2014. A co-presentation of the SPCO, MPR and ACF, the Composer Conversation Series is intended for music lovers of all stripes. The series will feature some of today's most original, prominent, and prestigious voices in composition discussing their worldviews, artistic perspectives, and how their life experiences have shaped them into the artists they are today. The 2013-14 season will feature live interviews with distinctive creators John Harbison; Shawn Jaeger and Dawn Upshaw; Matthias Pintscher; Serengeti, Son Lux, and Sufjan Stevens with visual artist Jim Hodges (at The Walker Art Center); Timo Andres with Gabriel Kahane, Ted Hearne, Becca Stevens, and Nathan Koci; John Luther Adams; and Vivian Fung. The events will include time devoted for audience Q&A and informal pre- and post-show receptions.

The House Theatre of Chicago announces the addition of 10 artists to its roster of Company Members. This marks first addition of Company Members since 2008.

The Beautiful Dark, a world premiere by Erik Gernand and directed by Josh Altman, is extending 1 week to September 8, 2013. The show plays Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays at 7:30pm; Sundays at 3pm. The Beautiful Dark must close September 8.

Scenes and Monologues from Steinberg/ATCA New Play Award Finalists, 2008-2012 (Applause Books, Sept. 2013, $19.99) presents some of the finest, sharpest scenes and monologues from the award finalists of 2008-2012. The chosen scripts include groundbreaking and contemporary work by promising playwrights such as Sara Ruhl, Tracy Letts, Donald Margulies, Bill Cain, Rinne Groff, Quaira Alegria Hudes, Yussef El Guindi, and Rebecca Gilman.

The Judas Redux team (led by Executive Producers Julia Albain and Corey Lubowich of Team StarKid fame) presents a new production of The Last Days of Judas Iscariot by Stephen Adly Guirgis, and directed by Julia Albain. The Last Days of Judas Iscariot will be presented at Stage 773, 1225 West Belmont in Chicago, for 18 performances, today, August 23 - September 8, 2013. The Press Opening is scheduled for Sunday, August 25 at 6:00 p.m.

Crabapple Productions is thrilled to announce their inaugural production which will be the culminating effort of Something Incredibly Marvelous Happens, a festival of magical realism. The festival takes place now through September 1 throughout Chicago.

Berkshire Playwrights Lab will present a staged reading of Christina Gorman's Far From the Trees, directed by Tim Raphael, tonight, August 21 at 7:30pm at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center (14 Castle Street, Great Barrington, Mass.). There is no charge for admission, however, Berkshire Playwrights Lab suggests a $10.00 donation to help offset its programming costs. For reservations, call 413.528.0100 or visit the Mahaiwe box office in person.

Rati Gupta is set to bring her Hollywood Fringe and FringeNYC hit NOT ANOTHER TEEN SOLO SHOW to Chicago's own Fringe Festival for a series of performances beginning on August 29 at Hold The Pickles Stage.

Abingdon Theatre Company-which has produced 81 new American plays since 1993 - celebrates its 21st season with the second annual ABINGDON BAY RIDGE ONE-ACT FESTIVAL, an evening of three world-premiere short plays, commissioned by Abingdon Theatre Company, by Allston James, Stephen Kaplan and Katalina Mustatea, today, August 17 at 7:00pm at Christ Church Bay Ridge (7301 Ridge Boulevard) in Brooklyn.

Today marks the start of the 100-day countdown to the historic launch of FOX Sports 1, FOX Sports' new national multi-sport network, and much has been accomplished since its official unveiling just over two months ago.

The Chicago Humanities Festival (CHF) revealed today the complete schedule for the 24th Annual Fall Festival, 88 events which will explore the theme of Animal: What Makes Us Human, Oct. 13 on the Northwestern Universitycampus, Oct. 20 on the University of Chicago campus, and Nov. 1-10 at venues across Chicago. This year's presenters include political consultant and former Senior Advisor to President Obama David Axelrod, revolutionary chef, restaurateur, and TV personalityRick Bayless, celebrated author of Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close and Eating Animals Jonathan Safran Foer, Tony Award-winning choreographer and Kennedy Center Honors recipient Bill T. Jones, 59 Grand Slam title-winning tennis player Martina Navratilova, critically-acclaimed director of Boys Don't Cry and the upcoming film remakeCarrie Kimberly Peirce, Boardwalk Empire and Man of Steel actor Michael Shannon as a featured performer in White Rabbit, Red Rabbit, author of A Series of Unfortunate EventsLemony Snicket (Daniel Handler), and many more.