Renee Matthews News

Director Melissa Findley tackles a test of cunning, wits, and nuance.

At the gala 46th Annual Equity Jeff Awards held at Drury Lane Oakbrook on Monday, October 13, awards were spread among numerous theatres honoring a season of outstanding productions. From Writers Theatre, "The Dance of Death", a battle of wits between a tyrant and his manipulative wife, received the Production-Play award for a large theatre, along with its two principal actors Larry Yando and Shannon Cochran. "The Normal Heart", Larry Kramer's tale of the early indifference in N.Y. about the HIV/Aids crisis, presented by TimeLine Theatre Company, was honored with awards for Production-Play for a midsize theatre and for Director Nick Bowling.

The 46th Annual Jeff Awards ceremony honoring excellence in professional theatre produced within the immediate Chicago area is tonight, October 13 at Drury Lane Oakbrook, 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace.

Chicago actress, TV and film star Jane Lynch did the honor today of announcing the nominees for the 2013-2014 Equity Jeff Awards.

Now in its fifth month at the Royal George Theatre, 1641 N. Halsted Street, the hit comedy, OLD JEWS TELLING JOKES continues to make news, by eliminating winter parking woes and offering free valet parking at the theater on weeknights!

Now in its fifth month at the Royal George Theatre, 1641 N. Halsted Street, the hit comedy, OLD JEWS TELLING JOKES continues to make news, by eliminating winter parking woes and offering free valet parking at the theater on weeknights!

Author, humorist and panelist on National Public Radio's Wait Wait, Don't Tell Me program Roy Blount, Jr., plus Chicago media personalities Janet Davies (ABC7) and Steve Downes (WDRV-FM, The Drive) are the latest not-so-old, not-necessarily-Jewish joke tellers making one-night-only appearances in the hit comedy, OLD JEWS TELLING JOKES at the Royal George Theatre, 1641 N. Halsted Street, to raise funds for the charities of their choice. A popular addition to the hit comedy production since launching in mid-December, celebrities are making a cameo appearance with their own comedic shtick during the OLD JEWS TELLING JOKES show, with a portion of proceeds from that performance donated to the non-profit charity of the celebrity's choice.

Nationally acclaimed authors Scott Turow and Sara Paretsky, Illinois Senate President John Cullerton (6th District), Illinois State Representative (12th District) Sara Feigenholtz and Chicago society scribe "Candid Candace" Jordan are among some of Chicago's favorite not-so-old, not-necessarily-Jewish joke tellers making one-night-only appearances in the hit comedy, OLD JEWS TELLING JOKES at the Royal George Theatre, 1641 N. Halsted Street, to raise funds for the charities of their choice. Officially launching on Tuesday evening, Dec. 17, and continuing at various performances through the coming months, a local celebrity will make a cameo appearance with their own comedic shtick during the OLD JEWS TELLING JOKES show, and a portion of proceeds from that performance will be donated to the non-profit charity of the celebrity's choice.

The laughs will keep emanating from the Royal George Theatre for an additional 12 weeks as OLD JEWS TELLING JOKES announces a new block of tickets on sale for performances through Sunday, February 16, 2014. The hit off-Broadway comedy, now playing on the Main Stage of the Royal George Theatre, 1641 N. Halsted Street, features a quintet of Chicago favorites: Dara Cameron, Alex Goodrich, Tim Kazurinsky, Renee Matthews and Gene Weygandt.

Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership proudly presents an evening of storytelling and laughs with Peter Gethers and Dan Okrent, the creators of the off-Broadway hit comedy, OLD JEWS TELLING JOKES, at Spertus, 610 S. Michigan Avenue, Thursday, Oct. 3, at 7pm. The program will be moderated by Chicago's own humorist Mike Leiderman, and will feature video excerpts from the Chicago stage production which begins performances here at the Royal George Theatre, Sept. 24, and officially opens Oct. 2.

The producers of the hit Off-Broadway show OLD JEWS TELLING JOKES have announced that the upcoming engagement at Chicago's Royal George Theatre will feature a quintet of familiar (and not-so-old) faces: Dara Cameron, Alex Goodrich, Tim Kazurinsky, Renee Matthews and Gene Weygandt. OLD JEWS TELLING JOKES begins performances on the Main Stage of the Royal George Theatre, 1641 N. Halsted Street, Tuesday, September 24, and officially opens Wednesday, October 2, at 7:30p.m.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'Fiddler' and the Paramount triumph and make plans, two Sondheim shows next year from Gary Griffin, the return of 'Hank Williams' and 'Last Five Years,' 'Parade' and 'Pirates' in short runs, and two Victorian musical dramas, spanning the pond...and more!

The newest tradition in Aurora is enjoying critically acclaimed, smash hit, 'Better than Broadway' musicals in the beautiful 1,888-seat Paramount Theatre in the heart of the city's growing downtown business district. Next, the Paramount wraps only the second season of itsself-produced Broadway musical series with the all-time family classic, Fiddler on the Roof. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the production in the photos below!

The Paramount wraps only the second season of its self-produced Broadway musical series, already playing to nearly 20,000 subscribers, with Fiddler on the Roof. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek below.

The Paramount wraps only the second season of its self-produced Broadway musical series, already playing to nearly 20,000 subscribers, with Fiddler on the Roof.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. The next seven national tours to hit the Windy City (SEVEN!--and all before April), plus 'Fiddler On The Roof' at the Paramount, 'Barnum' at the Mercury, Ricky Ian Gordon at Northwestern and a twofer from the Mueller family!

The Paramount wraps only the second season of its self-produced Broadway musical series, already playing to nearly 20,000 subscribers, with the all-time family classic, Fiddler on the Roof. Nominated for 10 Tony awards, and winner of nine, Fiddler on the Roof is a musical journey of love, loss, faith and family, and ultimately, a celebration of life and all its challenges. From the rich orchestrations andbeautiful score to the powerful production numbers and emotionally charged story, Fiddler is a show everyone should experience.

Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, makes a splash with the effervescent musical comedy SINGIN' IN THE RAIN, opening November 30 and running through January 13, 2013. SINGIN' IN THE RAIN features one of the largest all-star casts ever assembled on the Drury Lane stage, led by Tony Yazbeck. Yazbeck's Broadway creditsinclude starring as "Billy Flynn" in the long running revival of CHICAGO, "Phil Davis" in Irving Berlin's White Christmas, "Tulsa" in the recent revival of Gypsy starring Patti LuPone (for which he earned an Outer Critics Circle Award nomination), "Al" in A Chorus Line, Never Gonna Dance, Oklahoma! and Gypsy with Tyne Daly. His Off-Broadway credits include the City Center Encores! productions of On The Town, Gypsy, The Apple Tree, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn and Pardon My English, as well as the York Theatre production of Fanny Hill.