Brennan Buhl

PlayMakers Laboratory will celebrate the 20th anniversary of its popular sketch comedy revue That's Weird, Grandma with a free digital special on Thursday, August 5 from 5:30 – 7:30 pm. PML will host an in-person viewing party at The Annoyance Theater, 851 W. Belmont Ave. (proof of vaccine required) in Chicago or guests may stream the show on Facebook Live.

Company members old and new will reunite as Barrel of Monkeys celebrates 15 years of its hit revue THAT'S WEIRD, GRANDMA with two special anniversary performances on Sunday April 17 at 2 pm and Monday, April 18 at 8 pm at its long-time home, the Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N. Ashland Ave. in Chicago. Tickets are available at www.barrelofmonkeys.org or by calling (773) 506-7140.

The Chicago Theater Beat (formerly the Chicago Theater Blog) today announced the nominees for the 1st Annual Chicago Theater Critics' Beat Awards. The Beat Awards provide an opportunity for Chicago's critics to give recognition to outstanding achievements in Chicago's theatre community and the artists involved.

The Emerald City is known for many things: angst-ridden rock music, questionable fashion choices, gorgeous scenery, and just a tad too much rain. The Broadway world knows there is now another reputation Seattle can boast: great success with world premiere musicals. 'We chose Seattle for a reason,' says Chicago-based playwright Michael Govier, who is bringing his new comedic musical, The King's Proposal (or the Marriage of Princess Guido) to the city as part of Seattle Musical Theatre's 33rd season next month. 'There's a rich history here, and this city is a hot spot for musical debuts-just look at Hairspray, Young Frankenstein, Next to Normal... there are dozens of big guns that have started here.'

The Emerald City is known for many things: angst-ridden rock music, questionable fashion choices, gorgeous scenery, and just a tad too much rain. The Broadway world knows there is now another reputation Seattle can boast: great success with world premiere musicals. 'We chose Seattle for a reason,' says Chicago-based playwright Michael Govier, who is bringing his new comedic musical, The King's Proposal (or the Marriage of Princess Guido) to the city as part of Seattle Musical Theatre's 33rd season next month. 'There's a rich history here, and this city is a hot spot for musical debuts-just look at Hairspray, Young Frankenstein, Next to Normal... there are dozens of big guns that have started here.'

Danger ahead! The boys are back in the Neo-Futurists' season opener, Daredevils' Hamlet, opening Saturday, August 21, 2010 at The Neo-Futurarium, 5153 N. Ashland.

Danger ahead! The boys are back in the Neo-Futurists' season opener, Daredevils' Hamlet, opening Saturday, August 21, 2010 at The Neo-Futurarium, 5153 N. Ashland. There will be previews on August 19 and 20.

Danger ahead! The boys are back in the Neo-Futurists' season opener, Daredevils' Hamlet, opening Saturday, August 21, 2010 at The Neo-Futurarium, 5153 N. Ashland.

Danger ahead! The boys are back in the Neo-Futurists' season opener, Daredevils' Hamlet, opening Saturday, August 21, 2010 at The Neo-Futurarium, 5153 N. Ashland. There will be previews on August 19 and 20.

In September 2009, Barrel of Monkeys began its twelfth year of serving at-risk Chicago public school students with writing workshops that lead to professionally-performed theatrical presentations in the show That's Weird, Grandma.

The Neo-Futurists, acclaimed Chicago off-Loop theater troupe and 'one of the most imaginative experimental theater ensembles in the country' (The Economist), bring Goodman Theatre's 21st century Exploration of Eugene O'Neill to a triumphant close with Strange Interlude March 6 - 8.

Strawdog Theatre Company kicks off their 21st season with Karel Čapek's science fiction drama R.U.R. (Rossum's Universal Robots), directed by Strawdog Artistic Associate Shade Murray. Set in the 1920s at the island factory of Rossum's Universal Robots, 'R.U.R.' follows a team of scientists who have created the model to factory-produce the world's first robotic workforce.

Strawdog Theatre Company continues Late Night offerings into their 21st anniversary season, with free or low-cost shows following Friday and Saturday performances of 'R.U.R. (Rossum's Universal Robots).' The Friday offering is called 'Strawdog Welcomes,' and features guest artists and companies to present various entertainment acts.

Strawdog Theatre Company kicks off their 21st season with Karel Čapek's science fiction drama 'R.U.R. (Rossum's Universa Robots),' directed by Strawdog Artistic Associate Shade Murray. Set in the 1920s at the island factory of Rossum's Universal Robots, 'R.U.R.' follows a team of scientists who have created the model to factory-produce the world's first robotic workforce. When an idealistic young woman arrives on a quest to free the 'souls' of the robots (and discovers there is no such thing), she manipulates the scientists to biologically remedy that fact. Soon after these 'improved' and extremely humanlike robots have been shipped all over the world, the inevitable robot revolution explodes, leaving questions about the survival of humanity and what actually makes a human.