Northwestern University News

Jack Garfein, theater-film director and acting teacher, has written a book, LIFE and ACTING: Techniques for the Actor (Northwestern University Press). Mr. Garfein is one of the last living links to the Golden Age of The Actors Studio. Required reading for anyone interested in theatre, the book is being launched with a signing at The Drama Book Shop this Friday, March 18th, 5:30-7:00 pm.

Adventure Stage Chicago (ASC) presents the second full production of their 2010-2011 season for young audiences - Charles Way's adventure saga SINBAD: THE UNTOLD TALE, directed by Amanda Delheimer.

April at The Metropolitan Room

Adventure Stage Chicago (ASC) hosts the annual benefit Spring Fling: An Arabian Extravaganza this Saturday, April 9 from 2:00-6:00pm.

Lookingglass Theatre Company proudly announces its 2011-2012 season, featuring three productions about three moments in American history-The Great Fire that razed Chicago, Jackie Robinson's game-changing signing with the Brooklyn Dodgers, and the 1915 Chicago tragedy of the sinking of The Eastland.

Screen and stage actor, writer, and director Zach Braff will host the Huntington Theatre Company's 2011 Spotlight Spectacular! gala benefit on Monday, May 9, 2011 at the Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel. The event will honor Boston playwright Lydia R. Diamond and Trustee Bill McQuillan with The Wimberly Award, the Huntington's highest honor. The evening's entertainment will be announced shortly.

Presented by the South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) and Midtown Direct Rep, RATED P makes its long-awaited premiere from Friday, May 5th to Sunday, May 8th at SOPAC.

Songwriting duo Sam Carner and Derek Gregor-the team behind the award-winning NYMF hit Unlock'd-will showcase their songs on Tuesday, March 15, 2011 at 8pm in a concert titled Carner & Gregor's Barely Legal Showtune Extravaganza. Hosted by Hair's Andrew Kober and Avenue Q's Sarah Stiles, the event will bring together nine of the most-talented musical theatre students currently studying at schools across the U.S. The concert will take place at the new East Village venue DROM (85 Avenue A between 5th & 6th Streets).

he SF Playhouse (Bill English, Artistic Director; Susi Damilano, Producing Director) announce casting for the Regional Premiere of Wirehead by Matt Benjamin and Logan Brown. Susi Damilano will direct a cast of SF favorites, including Madeline H.D. Brown, Scott Coopwood*, Lauren Grace*, Craig Marker*, Gabriel Marin*, and Cole Alexander Smith.

Lauren Molina has released her newest music video to the song 'Try to Say' off of her latest album 'Seat for Two.' According to Molina, the video concept was born out of the idea of an actor's nightmare, morphing int on 'Alice in Wonderland' like chacse through a mirror to find a run away heart. Molina teamed up with animator Noella Borie and the video was created using traditional paper cut animation.

The new musical DANGEROUS BEAUTY by Jeannine Dominy (book and verse), Michele Brourman (music) and Amanda McBroom (lyrics). Tony Award-nominee Sheryl Kaller directs a cast of twenty that is led by Jenny Powers (Broadway's Grease) as Veronica Franco. The production will close on March 13, 2011 at The Pasadena Playhouse (39 S. El Molino Avenue).

People's Light & Theatre presents Mark Twain's The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, adapted for the stage by Laura Eason. It closes March 13, 2011 on the Main Stage.

Laws of Attraction! Sexual politics and legal brinksmanship collide in this whip-smart romantic comedy making its West Coast Premiere at Diversionary Theatre. Directed by James Vasquez (2010 Craig Noel Award Winner for Best Direction) and featuring Amanda Sitton, Jacque Wilke, Wendy Maples, Wyatt Ellison and Stephen Schmitz, Fair Use will close on March 13.

The OBIE Award-winning National Asian American Theatre Company (NAATCO) - now in its 21st season - presents A NUMBER, OBIE Award-winner and 2010 Theatre Hall of Fame inductee Caryl Churchill's acclaimed play about human cloning and identity, starring OBIE Award-winner James Saito and Joel de la Fuente, with previews set to begin March 12 prior to it official press opening March 17 at Cherry Lane Studio Theatre (38 Commerce Street) in Manhattan.

The OBIE Award-winning National Asian American Theatre Company (NAATCO) - now in its 21st season - presents A NUMBER, OBIE Award-winner and 2010 Theatre Hall of Fame inductee Caryl Churchill's acclaimed play about human cloning and identity, starring OBIE Award-winner James Saito and Joel de la Fuente, with previews set to begin March 12 prior to it official press opening March 17 at Cherry Lane Studio Theatre (38 Commerce Street) in Manhattan.

Asolo Repertory Theatre today announced its selections and details for the 2011 Unplugged festival of new plays. Playwrights include Jeff Baron, one of the world's most-produced playwrights in the past decade; Jamie Pachino, winner of this year's Francesca Primus Prize from the American Theatre Critics Association; Bill Rosenfeld, who was nominated for 30 Grammy Awards and won 4 times; and Mat Smart, winner of two Jerome Fellowships and the San Diego Playbill Award for Best New Play.

Still humming the tunes from their Jeff-nominated Boojum!, Caffeine Theatre is proud to announce their next project for Spring 2011... and it's a long way from Wonderland. Stage 773 serves as the arena for two devastating plays performed in rotating repertory: Brutal Imagination by Cornelius Eady, directed by Caffeine Managing Director Jason Beck, and Wreckage by Caridad Svich, directed by Joanie Schultz.

The song and tap extravaganza 42nd STREET previews March 30th, opens April 10th and runs through May 29th at the Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire, IL. The Broadway production of 42nd STREET won the Tony Award for Best Musical and Choreography in 1980, and Best Revival in 2001. The Marriott Theatre's production will feature Direction and Musical Staging by 2010 Jeff Award winner Rachel Rockwell, Choreography by 2010 Jeff Award winner Tammy Mader, with Musical Direction by multi-Jeff Award winner Doug Peck.

Talented young songwriters and writing teams working in any popular music genre are encouraged to apply for a no-fee program presented by The Johnny Mercer Foundation and the American Music Theatre Project (AMTP) at Northwestern University this summer.

Though Joshua Radin enjoyed singing during his childhood, the Cleveland native never intended to be a professional musician. Instead, he studied drawing and painting at Northwestern University, following his college years with stints as an art teacher, screenwriter, and art gallery employee. Eventually, Radin took a stab at songwriting and played one of his earliest compositions, 'Winter,' for his friend Zach Braff. The burgeoning actor/director took an immediate liking to the song, and 'Winter' soon found its way onto Braff's hit television show Scrubs in early 2004. After fans began to request more of his music, Radin decided to pursue a songwriting career and signed with Columbia Records, which issued his debut album, We Were Here, in 2006. Radin relocated to Los Angeles and aligned himself with the Hotel Cafe, a unique Hollywood venue specializing in performances by singer/songwriters. He soon found himself playing national tour dates with a number of Hotel Cafe regulars, including Ingrid Michaelson, Sara Bareilles, and Meiko. Meanwhile, he issued a pair of digital EPs (via iTunes) while readying the release of his sophomore album, Simple Times, which arrived in late 2008.