Shawn Thompson News

The Jerome L. Greene Performance Space at WNYC and WQXR, the state-of-the-art venue of the nation's most listened-to news/talk and classical public radio stations, will make history this fall when it creates, for the first time, exclusive recordings of all 10 of August Wilson's American Century Cycle Plays.

The Toronto Fringe begins performances this Wednesday night, and some familiar faces from film and television will be hitting the boards in the new musical It's Always You written by Dan Redican with music by Scott White (Top Gun! The Musical).

Ain't No Crying the Blues (In The Memory of Howlin Wolf), written by Black Ensemble Theater Founder and CEO Jackie Taylor, is directed by Associate Director Rueben Echoles, with assistant director Associate Director Daryl Brooks and musical director Robert Reddrick. The show is currently running through August 11, 2013, at the Black Ensemble Theater Cultural Center, 4450 N. Clark Street. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast onstage below!

Black Ensemble Theater announces Ain't No Crying the Blues (In The Memory of Howlin Wolf), written by Black Ensemble Theater Founder and CEO Jackie Taylor, directed by Associate Director Rueben Echoles, and starring Rick Stone, one of the stars of the classic movie Cooley High. Ain't No Crying the Blues will be presented at the new Black Ensemble Theater Cultural Center, 4450 N. Clark Street in Chicago, tonight, June 1 - August 11, 2013. The official press opening is scheduled for Sunday, June 9, 2013 at 3:00PM.

Black Ensemble Theater Founder and Executive Director Jackie Taylor announces a special Mother's Day concert, To Mother - With Love (A Concert Just For Her), featuring the stars of Black Ensemble. The one-day-only concert will be held on Mother's Day, today, May 12 at 3 p.m. at the new Black Ensemble Theater Cultural Center, 4450 N. Clark Street in Chicago.

Black Ensemble Theater announces Ain't No Crying the Blues (In The Memory of Howlin Wolf), written by Black Ensemble Theater Founder and CEO Jackie Taylor, directed by Associate Director Rueben Echoles, and starring Rick Stone, one of the stars of the classic movie Cooley High. Ain't No Crying the Blues will be presented at the new Black Ensemble Theater Cultural Center, 4450 N. Clark Street in Chicago, June 1 - August 11, 2013. The official press opening is scheduled for Sunday, June 9, 2013 at 3:00PM.

Black Ensemble Theater Founder and Executive Director Jackie Taylor announces a special Mother's Day concert, To Mother - With Love (A Concert Just For Her), featuring the stars of Black Ensemble. The one-day-only concert will be held on Mother's Day, Sunday, May 12 at 3 p.m. at the new Black Ensemble Theater Cultural Center, 4450 N. Clark Street in Chicago.

Soldiers' characters are put to the test in Raven Theatre's A Soldier's Play by Charles Fuller, directed by Michael Menendian. Opening night is scheduled for Monday, February 18 at 7:30 p.m. at Raven Theatre, 6157 N. Clark, with a reception following in Raven's lobby. Tickets and information are available at www.raventheatre.com or 773-338-2177.

The Jeff Awards Committee announced 197 nominations in 34 categories for Chicago Equity theatrical productions, which opened between August 1, 2011, and July 31, 2012. The Jeff Awards judges attended opening nights of 118 Equity productions offered by 55 producing organizations. From these openings, 96 productions were 'Jeff Recommended,' which made them eligible for award nominations.

The Jeff Awards Committee today announced 197 nominations in 34 categories for Chicago Equity theatrical productions, which opened between August 1, 2011, and July 31, 2012. The Jeff Awards judges attended opening nights of 118 Equity productions offered by 55 producing organizations. From these openings, 96 productions were 'Jeff Recommended,' which made them eligible for award nominations.

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 new musicals 'Eastland' and 'Hero,' new and newish shows based on hats, songbooks, TV shows and recordings, 'Floyd Collins' and Ashley Brown, and more!

Black Ensemble Theater's production of THE MARVIN GAYE STORY celebrates its press opening tonight, May 20, 2012. The show runs now through July 29 at the Black Ensemble Theater Cultural Center, 4450 N. Clark Street.

Black Ensemble Theater presents the World Premiere of The Marvin Gaye Story (Don't Talk About My Father Because God Is My Friend), written, produced and directed by Black Ensemble Theater Founder and CEO Jackie Taylor. The Marvin Gaye Story will be presented at the new Black Ensemble Theater Cultural Center from tonight, May 11 to July 29, 2012.

Black Ensemble Theater's production of THE MARVIN GAYE STORY celebrates its press opening Sunday, May 20, 2012. The show runs now through July 29 at the Black Ensemble Theater Cultural Center, 4450 N. Clark Street.

Black Ensemble Theater announces the World Premiere of The Marvin Gaye Story (Don't Talk About My Father Because God Is My Friend), written, produced and directed by Black Ensemble Theater Founder and CEO Jackie Taylor. The Marvin Gaye Story will be presented at the new Black Ensemble Theater Cultural Center from May 11 to July 29, 2012.

Black Ensemble Theater announces the extension of its production The Jackie Wilson Story, written, produced and directed by Black Ensemble Theater Founder and CEO Jackie Taylor. All cast members are continuing in their roles, including Kelvin Roston Jr., Dawn Bless, RaShawn Thompson, Melanie McCullough, Trinity Murdock, Carrie, Lawrence Williams, Lyle Miller, Rueben Echols and Robin Beamen. The Jackie Wilson Story launched Black Ensemble Theater's 2011-2012 Legendary Season of Rhythm & Blues and has been extended through March 18, 2012.

Black Ensemble Theater, under the direction of founder & CEO Jackie Taylor, will host a special one night-only Valentine's Day event featuring some of the most famous love songs of all time performed by Black Ensemble performers Rick Stone, Dawn Bless, RaShawn Thompson, Lyle Miller, Melanie McCullough, David Simmons, Theo Huff, Katrina Miller, Lawrence Williams, Rueben Echoles, Carrie Abernathy, Stori Johnson and Daryl Brooks. The one-night only cabaret is February 14, 2012 at 7:30pm at the Black Ensemble Theater Cultural Center, 4450 N. Clark Street.

Black Ensemble Theater announces the extension of its production The Jackie Wilson Story, written, produced and directed by Black Ensemble Theater Founder and CEO Jackie Taylor. All cast members are continuing in their roles, including Kelvin Roston Jr., Dawn Bless, RaShawn Thompson, Melanie McCullough, Trinity Murdock, Carrie, Lawrence Williams, Lyle Miller, Rueben Echols and Robin Beamen. The Jackie Wilson Story launched Black Ensemble Theater's 2011-2012 Legendary Season of Rhythm & Blues and has been extended through March 18, 2012.

Black Ensemble Theater, under the direction of founder & CEO Jackie Taylor, will host a special one night-only Valentine's Day event featuring some of the most famous love songs of all time performed by Black Ensemble performers Rick Stone, Dawn Bless, RaShawn Thompson, Lyle Miller, Melanie McCullough, David Simmons, Theo Huff, Katrina Miller, Lawrence Williams, Rueben Echoles, Carrie Abernathy, Stori Johnson and Daryl Brooks. The one-night only cabaret is February 14, 2012 at 7:30pm at the Black Ensemble Theater Cultural Center, 4450 N. Clark Street.

The celebration of the opening of the new facility for Chicago's 34-year-old Black Ensemble Theater, coming on a lonesome stretch of commercial street in western Uptown during a dismal economy, was a remarkable thing last weekend. The $19 million Black Ensemble Theater Cultural Center, lovely...