Chicago News Desk - Page 2

ATC breaks ground with unprecedented mid-run cast switch, offering audiences the rare chance to see two versions of each play

Imagine - a concert for a new America! Nine of Chicago's top entertainers unite to present Imagine, a concert that is diverse as America itself, featuring music by Stevie Wonder, Irving Berlin, Pete Seeger, Madonna, Marvin Gaye, Lennon and McCartney, and many more.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater's (CST) international programming initiative, the World's Stage Series, brings to Chicago world-renowned playwright Peter Weiss's The Investigation, based on transcripts of the 1964 Frankfurt World War II crimes trials.

A new version of the classic tale, Beauty and the Beast, will mark Winnetka Theatre?s fifth season presenting popular, one-hour musicals for children ages 3-10. The production, directed by professional director/choreographer Stacey Flaster (Evanston), opens January 17 and runs through February 1 at the Winnetka Community House, 620 Lincoln Ave, Winnetka.

Northlight Theatre continues its 2008-2009 Season with the World Premiere of Po Boy Tango by Kenneth Lin, directed by Chay Yew. The production, featuring Ken Narasaki, Jeanne Sakata and Jacqueline Williams, runs January 7-February 15, 2009 at Northlight Theatre, 9501 Skokie Blvd in Skokie.

Court Theatre continues its 2008-09 season with the World Premiere translation of Henrik Ibsen's modernist classic The Wild Duck, directed by Artistic Director Charles Newell. The production will run at the MCA Stage at the Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 East Chicago Avenue, January 15 - February 15, 2009.

Batterymouth brings its unique and hilarious brand of improv to Chicago?s Apollo Theater Studio, 2540 N Lincoln Ave., every Wednesday night from January 21 through February 25, 2009. Each week, a different Chicago improv group will perform as an opening act for Batterymouth.

Jeffrey A. Katz, presents the world premiere of 'Slaphappy,' a romantic comedy of lost lovers and tormented ducks, by Chicago playwright Gary Slezak. Set in a Paris hotel, the play explores the idea of happiness through the eyes of four Americans, a loopy bellboy, an astute concierge, and a society of pâté lovers. Battling couples, exploding rockets, mistaken medications and a taste of foie gras come together in a delirious confection. This Equity show runs about two hours plus two intermissions. The poster illustration is by New Yorker cartoonist Pat Byrnes (copy below; more info at www.patbyrnes.com).

TimeLine Theatre Company announces the world premiere of Not Enough Air by Masha Obolensky. The play, directed by Nick Bowling, runs January 24 through March 22, 2009 (previews January 21 through January 23) at TimeLine Theatre

The Mill premieres Ken Urban's The Private Lives of Eskimos (or 16 words for snow.) Eskimos opens Sunday January 11, 2009 at 8pm at Stage Left Theatre, 3408 N. Sheffield Ave. in Chicago.

Profiles Theatre continues its 20th Anniversary Season with the acclaimed new comedy-drama Great Falls by Lee Blessing, directed by Profiles Artistic Director Joe Jahraus. The production runs January 15 - March 1, 2009, at Profiles Theatre, 4147 N. Broadway.

Chicago Dramatists continues its 30th anniversary season with resident playwright Will Dunne's new comedy, 'How I Became an Interesting Person.'

It's official! Mary-Arrchie Theatre Co. will be extending the Jeff Recommended US Premiere of Our Bad Magnet at Angel Island, 735 W. Sheridan.

Actor and writer Anthony Nikolchev presents the Chicago premiere of his solo show, ?Look, What I Don?t Understand,? as part of Thirteen Pocket?s first season devoted to original works. This one-man drama accesses the historical narratives experienced by Nikolchev?s family during their 1960s escape from the totalitarian hostility of communist Bulgaria to detainment in America

Broadway In Chicago is proud to present GREASE, the classic musical that has made generations of audiences root for Sandy and Danny?s lighting romance. Tickets are now available for Chicago audiences to bop and jive with the Pink Ladies and the T-Birds at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University during a limited engagement January 6 - 18, 2009.

Chicago Folks Operetta's production of Peter and Paul in the Land of Nod features 5 singers who have sung roles at Lyric Opera of Chicago; 23 children from the Children's Operetta Workshop; 4 leading professional ballet dancers as well as up and coming local dancers from the Chicago area being choreographed August Tye, the ballet mistress at the Lyric Opera of Chicago and a professional thirteen piece orchestra. This is a holiday show not to be missed!

Experience the New Residents' Showcase, January 10, 2009 at Chicago Dramatists. The new Residents in this 30th anniversary season are Mary Ruth Clarke, Cheryl Coons, Christopher De Paola, Sarah Gubbins, David Scott Hay, and Jon Steinhagen.

The touching Broadway musical and international sensation Miss Saigon, previews December 31, opens January 8 and runs through March 8, 2009 at Drury Lane Oakbrook, 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace, IL. Set in 1975 in the days before Saigon's fall to Communist forces at the end of the Vietnam War, Miss Saigon is the epic love-story of an American GI, Chris, played by Kevin Vortmann, and a young Vietnamese woman, Kim, played Melinda Chua Smith (who starred in the Broadway, German and both national touring companies of Miss Saigon) and Katie Boren during matinee performances.

Village Players Performing Arts Center Month-At-A-Glance: December

Chicago Shakespeare opens three shows in the month of January reflecting the Theater's diverse programming. Artistic Director Barbara Gaines stages Macbeth in the Courtyard Theater, January 2-March 8, 2009; CST's World's Stage international program initiative, presents a company from Rwanda performing The Investigation in the Theater Upstairs at Chicago Shakespeare, January 21-31, 2009; and CST welcomes families to the theater with an abridged production of one of Shakespeare's most popular comedies, Short Shakespeare! A Midsummer Night's Dream, January 24-March 7, 2009, on Saturdays in the Courtyard Theater.