Theatre Building Chicago News

Porchlight Music Theatre will present the exotic musical Pacific Overtures at Theatre Building Chicago, 1225 West Belmont. This touching and witty musical tells the story of the painful westernization of Japan through the eyes of two friends. Pacific Overtures begins previews on March 15 with a Press Opening on March 18 at 7:30 p.m. and runs through May 2, 2009. A ground-breaking musical, Pacific Overtures examines the transformation of Japan beginning when U.S. Commodore Matthew Perry brought four black ships into 'a land of changeless order.' Many of the events and characters portrayed in the show- Japan's self-imposed isolation from the world, the fisherman Manjiro, the Tokugawa shogunate, the Meiji revolution and its consequences - are as familiar to an Japanese schoolchild as George Washington and the Revolutionary war are to Americans. This rarely produced show mixes elements of traditional Japanese theatre with the Broadway musical. The original 1976 production was nominated for a whopping ten Tony Awards including best musical, book and score.

THE QUIET MAN TALES, a riveting new play presented by Smock Alley Theater Co., in conjunction with Mavin Productions II and Pullinsi & D'Angelo Productions, will make its world premiere at The Chicago Theatre Downstairs, 175 N. State Street, previewing March 6 and opening Sunday, March 22 at 2:30 p.m. and running through May 24. Susan Felder will direct.

Porchlight Music Theatre will present the exotic musical Pacific Overtures at Theatre Building Chicago, 1225 West Belmont. This touching and witty musical tells the story of the painful westernization of Japan through the eyes of two friends. Pacific Overtures begins previews on March 15 with a Press Opening on March 18 at 7:30pm and runs through May 2, 2009. A ground-breaking musical, Pacific Overtures examines the transformation of Japan beginning when U.S. Commodore Matthew Perry brought four black ships into 'a land of changeless order.' Many of the events and characters portrayed in the show- Japan's self-imposed isolation from the world, the fisherman Manjiro, the Tokugawa shogunate, the Meiji revolution and its consequences - are as familiar to an Japanese schoolchild as George Washington and the Revolutionary war are to Americans. This rarely produced show mixes elements of traditional Japanese theatre with the Broadway musical. The original 1976 production was nominated for a whopping ten Tony Awards including best musical, book and score. With a book by John Weidman (Assassins), Pacific Overtures features music and lyrics by Broadway legend, Stephen Sondheim. Many of the songs in the show rank among the most admired compositions in Broadway history. Sondheim himself recognizes 'Someone in a Tree' and 'A Bowler Hat' as personal favorites.

THE QUIET MAN TALES, a riveting new play presented by Smock Alley Theater Co., in conjunction with Mavin Productions II and Pullinsi & D'Angelo Productions, will make its world premiere at The Chicago Theatre Downstairs, 175 N. State Street, previewing March 6 and opening Sunday, March 22 at 3:00 p.m. Susan Felder will direct. Adapted for the stage by Frank Mahon and Milissa Pacelli, THE QUIET MAN TALES is based on Green Rushes, the classic book of short stories by Maurice Walsh. Published in 1935, the book was the inspiration for the legendary 1952 Academy Award-winning film The Quiet Man, which was directed by John Ford and starred Maureen O'Hara and John Wayne. Set in the sweeping Irish countryside in the midst of the country's battle for freedom from England in 1921 and the years that follow, THE QUIET MAN TALES is a humorous and poignant story of the interconnected lives of the men and women who fought in the Irish War of Independence. The production features beautiful new and traditional Irish music performed by Chicago-area Irish musicians. For the first time ever, this beloved Irish story is told on stage in the rich context of Walsh's other stories, and offers plenty of laughs, plenty of drama, and plenty of action - entertainment in the grand style. Of THE QUIET MAN TALES, Maureen O'Hara says: 'A wonderful script both sensitive and honest to its time frame...You have managed to give uniqueness to the story and its characters that will make it stand on its own...I'm sure Maurice Walsh would approve of this story based on Green Rushes being scripted in such a delightful way.'

Mauckingbird Theatre Company will present Hedda Gabler as a compelling lesbian drama with the professional premiere of playwright Caroline Kava's explosive new adaptation of Henrik Ibsen's classic. After the success of their critically acclaimed and sold-out inaugural season with all-male versions of The Misanthrope and Shakespeare's R & J, Mauckingbird's Hedda Gabler, explores lesbian relationships and the search for personal and sexual identity while exposing class divides, sexism, and the influence of money and status in aristocratic and bourgeois worlds.

Theater Resources Unlimited (TRU) is pleased to announce that an exciting lineup of prominent Broadway producers and general managers has joined the Dollars and Sense panels to follow readings of the winning selections of the 2008 TRU Voices New Musicals Series. The series is unique because it develops new producers as well as new musicals, and in keeping true to its mission, the TRU talkbacks focus on producer concerns regarding the development of these works beyond the series. The panels will follow readings of the works on Mondays, December 8 and 15, 2008 at 7:30pm at the Players Theatre, located at 115 MacDougal Street, NYC.

Theater Resources Unlimited (TRU) is pleased to announce that an exciting lineup of prominent Broadway producers and general managers has joined the Dollars and Sense panels to follow readings of the winning selections of the 2008 TRU Voices New Musicals Series. The series is unique because it develops new producers as well as new musicals, and in keeping true to its mission, the TRU talkbacks focus on producer concerns regarding the development of these works beyond the series. The panels will follow readings of the works on Mondays, December 8 and 15, 2008 at 7:30pm at the Players Theatre, located at 115 MacDougal Street, NYC.

I understand there is someone called David Sedaris. Now, don't shoot me-I've been busy.

Mauckingbird Theatre Company will present Hedda Gabler as a compelling lesbian drama with the professional premiere of playwright Caroline Kava's explosive new adaptation of Henrik Ibsen's classic. After the success of their critically acclaimed and sold-out inaugural season with all-male versions of The Misanthrope and Shakespeare's R & J, Mauckingbird's Hedda Gabler, explores lesbian relationships and the search for personal and sexual identity while exposing class divides, sexism, and the influence of money and status in aristocratic and bourgeois worlds.

Theater Wit brings their hit holiday productions to Theatre Building Chicago for the final year (as they move into their new space next door for 2009 productions. Mitchell Fain stars as David Sedaris' surly holiday elf in The Santaland Diaries, and Steve Scott again directs Tom Mula in Mula's original adaptation of Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol, running in repertory during the 2008 holiday season.

Porchlight Music Theatre, Chicago's most awarded musical theatre invites guests to enjoy their first annual Holiday Sing Along Monday, December 15 at 7:30 p.m. The event will take place at Theatre Building Chicago, 1225 W. Belmont, Chicago. Porchlight Music Theatre's award winning actors will sing popular holiday songs and invite guests to join in the fun.

Theater Resources Unlimited (TRU) is pleased to announce the winning selections of the 2008 TRU Voices New Musicals Series. In a series that is unique because it develops new producers as well as new musicals, two works were chosen from submissions by emerging or established producers, as well as writers. The works will be read on Mondays, December 8 and 15, 2008 at 7:30pm at the Players Theatre, located at 115 MacDougal Street, NYC.

VITALIST THEATRE presents the World Premiere of Anung's First American Christmas, directed by Elizabeth Carlin-Metz and adapted for the stage by Robin Metz from the novella by Carl Nordgren (as told to him by former Tribal Council Chief Steve Fobister (Baminowekapo) of the Keewatin Ojibway, Grassy Narrows First Nation, Canada).

Next month, Tony Award-winning director Mary Zimmerman returns to Berkeley Repertory Theatre with an alluring adaptation of The Arabian Nights. This is Zimmerman's sixth trip to Berkeley Rep, and for the first time she works her magic on the intimate Thrust Stage. The Arabian Nights runs from November 13 through January 4 with the official press night on November 19.

Diamante Productions presents the world premiere of 'All My Love,' a comedy-drama about the perils and pitfalls of open relationships, written and directed by Artistic Director Tony Fiorentino. 'All My Love' is an exploration of alternative 'lovestyles' and a critique of Western society's most cherished notions of monogamy, fidelity, and marriage.

From Hilary A. Williams, London producer of Who's Afraid of Virgina Woolf with Kathleen Turner and The Postman Always Rings Twice with Val Kilmer and the Chicago Director Tom Mullen (Urinetown, I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change) comes the exciting Chicago premiere of Tomorrow Morning, an acclaimed new musical by accomplished U.K. playwright, composer and lyricist Laurence Mark Wythe. Tomorrow Morning runs Friday,Oct 31st through Sunday, Dec. 7 at the Greenhouse Theater, 2257 N. Lincoln Avenue, Chicago.

Theo Ubique Theatre Co. (in association with Michael James) presents another exciting new work with the Premiere of Belle Barth: If I Embarrass You, Tell Your Friends. This original musical reaches its first staged performance at the No Exit Café after highly noted workshop performances during the 2008 Stages Festival of New Musicals at Theatre Building Chicago. Clever original songs underscore funny and touching scenes from the life and bawdy, raucous humor of the 1950s iconic sensation, Belle Barth, who sold millions of records with her audacious 'too-blue-for-Ed-Sullivan' comedy that stood in acute contrast to prude and proper 1950's.

Theater Wit brings their hit holiday productions to Theatre Building Chicago for the final year (as they move into their new space next door for 2009 productions). Mitchell Fain stars as David Sedaris' surly holiday elf in The Santaland Diaries, and Steve Scott again directs Tom Mula in Mula's original adaptation of Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol, running in repertory during the 2008 holiday season.

From Hilary A. Williams, London producer of Who's Afraid of Virgina Woolf with Kathleen Turner and The Postman Always Rings Twice with Val Kilmer and the Chicago Director Tom Mullen (Urinetown, I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change) comes the exciting Chicago premiere of Tomorrow Morning, an acclaimed new musical by accomplished U.K. playwright, composer and lyricist Laurence Mark Wythe. Tomorrow Morning runs Friday,Oct 31st through Sunday, Dec. 7 at the Greenhouse Theater, 2257 N. Lincoln Avenue, Chicago.

Come enjoy a special evening featuring emerging composers and excerpts of new musicals presented by Chicago theater companies this season, including Annoyance Productions, Bare Boned Theatre, Bohemian Ensemble Theatre, Theatre Building Chicago Musical Theater Workshop, a special first look at American Theater Company's Yeast Nation, Victory Gardens' own The Snow Queen, and more.