Rachel Edwards News

Sean Graney, who recently returned to Chicago to resume his post as Artistic Director of The Hypocrites, informed the Joseph Jefferson Awards Committee that he just learned the theater company had been operating under an Equity CAT-N contract for the duration of the 2014-2015 Non-Equity season.  Over the past year, requests for judging its productions were made to the Non-Equity Wing without the committee having knowledge of the company's Equity status. The Jeff Committee was aware that two of the productions had Equity performers (as indicated in the program); however, the committee has now confirmed that these were not guest contracts.  As such, the company's productions are not eligible for consideration in the Non-Equity Wing, and all related Non-Equity Jeff Award nominations have been rescinded.  The productions in question will be shifted to the Equity Wing for awards consideration during its current season, which commenced on August 1, 2014 and will end on July 30, 2015.

The Jeff Awards Committee today announced 118 nominations in 24 categories for the 42nd Annual Non-Equity Jeff Awards for productions that opened between April 1, 2014, and March 31, 2015. The Non-Equity Awards honor excellence in Chicago theatres not under a union contract. Jeff judges attended opening nights of 133 productions offered by 56 Non-Equity producing organizations. The Jeff Committee recommended 62 of those shows, making them eligible for Non-Equity Jeff Award nominations. Of the 62 Jeff Recommended productions, 46 received nominations, representing 23 theatre companies.

The Demon Barber is back! With the seal approval of the highest authority in musical theatre, Tooting Arts Club have transported their pie shop from SW17 to W1 to recreate one of 2014's smash hits.

After taking a one-year hiatus from production, Chicago Dramatists is officially launching its new season with the highly-anticipated world premiere of The Mecca Tales written by Resident Playwright Rohina Malik and directed by Associate Artistic Director Rachel Edwards Harvith. The production, which was developed in conjunction with the Goodman Theatre, is running tonight, March 13 to April 12 at Chicago Dramatists (1105 W. Chicago Avenue). Press nights are March 13 and 14 at 8:00 p.m.

Tooting Arts Club's acclaimed production of Sweeney Todd is to move to a new home on Shaftesbury Avenue this spring whilst Harrington's Pie and Mash Shop undergoes refurbishment. The pop-up pie shop success story started last October when Tooting Arts offered up lovelorn Mrs Lovett's infamous pies in a grisly, site-specific production of Stephen Sondheim's most famous musical in SW17. Audiences met in the local barbers before being led into London's oldest, functioning pie-shop, established in 1908 and complete with original Victorian decor.

After taking a one-year hiatus from production, Chicago Dramatists is officially launching its new season with the highly-anticipated world premiere of The Mecca Tales written by Resident Playwright Rohina Malik and directed by Associate Artistic Director Rachel Edwards Harvith. The production, which was developed in conjunction with the Goodman Theatre, is running March 13 to April 12 at Chicago Dramatists (1105 W. Chicago Avenue) with previews March 5, 6, 7 and 12. Press nights are March 13 and 14 at 8:00 p.m.

Tooting Arts Club's acclaimed production of Sweeney Todd is to move to a new home on Shaftesbury Avenue this spring whilst Harrington's Pie and Mash Shop undergoes refurbishment. The pop-up pie shop success story started last October when Tooting Arts offered up lovelorn Mrs Lovett's infamous pies in a grisly, site-specific production of Stephen Sondheim's most famous musical in SW17. Audiences met in the local barbers before being led into London's oldest, functioning pie-shop, established in 1908 and complete with original Victorian decor.

Gary Naylor sees an extraordinary production of Stephen Sondheim's extraordinary musical, one embedded in a Pie Shop... and in its local community.

Tooting Arts Club presents: Sweeney Todd. London's oldest pie and mash shop hosts an intimate staging of Sondheim's most famous musical, directed by Bill Buckhurst with musical director Ben Cox. Sweeney Todd features music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Hugh Wheeler. Performances take place at Harrington's Pie and Mash Shop, Tooting, 21st October to 29th November.

Kokandy Productions present their Season 2014 closer - ASSASSINS, directed by Rachel Edwards Harvith with music direction by Kory Danielson and choreography by Mike Ford. ASSASSINS opened on Saturday, June 14 at 8:00pm, and runs at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont in Chicago, and continues through Sunday, July 20, 2014. Scroll down for photos from the show's opening night celebrations!

Kokandy Productions has announced casting for ASSASSINS, directed by Rachel Edwards Harvith with music direction by Kory Danielson and choreography by Mike Ford. ASSASSINS begins performances today, June 13, 2014 with Press Opening on Saturday, June 14th, and runs at Theater Wit in Chicago through Sunday, July 20, 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. 'Cats,' 'Les Miserables' and 'Songs From An Unmade Bed,' rake in the reviews, 'Road Show' and 'Passion' will be followed by 'Assassins,' Theo readies 'The Andrews Sisters,' Kokandy brings back 'The Full Monty' and 'Loving Repeating,' plus two kids shows and more!

Kokandy Productions has announced casting for ASSASSINS, directed by Rachel Edwards Harvith with music direction by Kory Danielson and choreography by Mike Ford. ASSASSINS begins performances on Friday, June 13, 2014 with Press Opening on Saturday, June 14th, and runs at Theater Wit in Chicago through Sunday, July 20, 2014.

Pegasus Players rings in the New Year with its 27th Annual Young Playwrights Festival, an annual professional production of next-generation, one-act plays written by Chicago teens. The 2014 production features three new works by emerging playwrights. Performances are at National Pastime/Preston Bradley Center, 941 W. Lawrence, 4th Floor. Previews are Thursday January 2 through Saturday January 4 at 7:30 p.m. Press and Opening Ceremony is Sunday January 5 at 3 p.m. Performance continue January 10 through 25 on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. For tickets contact the box office at 773-878-8864, or online at www.PegasusPlayers.org.

Raven Theatre's new play development series, called [Working Title], will present a fully staged workshop production of Floating, by New York-based playwright Eric Lane, Monday, November 4 through Wednesday, November 6, 2013. Floating was named finalist at PlayPenn's New Play Conference, Multi-Stages New Works Contest and Berkshire Playwrights Lab. Curtain times for all three performances will be 7:30 pm. Rachel Edwards Harvith will direct.

With the debut of their all-musical 2014 season, Kokandy Productions announces itself as Chicago's newest non-Equity musical theater company, dedicated to producing high-stakes musical theater pieces that authentically mine the emotional truth of the human experience and explore complex, challenging themes.

Performing Identity proudly announces the North Shore theatrical premiere of The Invasion of Skokie, by Steven Peterson and directed by Rachel Edwards Harvith at the theatre in the Mayer Kaplan JCC of the Jewish Community Center of Chicago, 5050 Church Street in Skokie, IL. Previews are Wednesday, May 22, Thursday, May 23 and Saturday, May 25 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, May 26 at 2 p.m. Opening/press night is Wednesday, May 29 at 7 p.m. The regular performance schedule continues Thursdays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 and 7 p.m. through June 23. Preview tickets are $25. Tickets to The Invasion of Skokie are $28 and are currently on sale online at shpieltheatre.com or 800.838.3006. Student tickets are $10 to all performances, based on availability. Senior tickets are $20. Half-priced tickets are sold, one hour before curtain at box office, based on availability. Group Tickets for parties of 10 or more receive a discounted rate and are available by calling 847.814.8206. Free post-performance discussions are available Thursdays and selected additional performances.

ShPIeL-Performing Identity proudly announces the North Shore theatrical premiere of The Invasion of Skokie, by Steven Peterson and directed by Rachel Edwards Harvith at the theatre in the Mayer Kaplan JCC of the Jewish Community Center of Chicago, 5050 Church Street in Skokie, IL. Previews are Wednesday, May 22, Thursday, May 23 and Saturday, May 25 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, May 26 at 2 p.m. Opening/press night is Wednesday, May 29 at 7 p.m. The regular performance schedule continues Thursdays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 and 7 p.m. through June 23. Preview tickets are $25. Tickets to The Invasion of Skokie are $28 and are currently on sale online at shpieltheatre.com or 800.838.3006. Student tickets are $10 to all performances, based on availability. Senior tickets are $20. Half-priced tickets are sold, one hour before curtain at box office, based on availability. Group Tickets for parties of 10 or more receive a discounted rate and are available by calling 847.814.8206. Free post-performance discussions are available Thursdays and selected additional performances. Go to http://shpieltheatre.com/ for complete post-performance discussions and the guest leaders schedule.