Andrew Cutler News

Survival Of The Fittest

The plays of Actors Theatre's annual free Tens festival take on the issues of our day, racial tensions, violence, and police harassment, but weave them amid the promise and angst of new relationships.

Artistic Director Les Waters and Managing Director Kevin E. Moore are delighted to announce Fifth Third Bank's A Christmas Carol, based on the book by Charles Dickens, adapted by Barbara Field and directed by Drew Fracher. Dickens' classic tale of hope and redemption finds extraordinary new life in Actors Theatre's joyous staging. Celebrate the splendor of the holidays with this spectacular production brimming with festive fun, soaring ghosts and cheerful carols that will charm audiences of all ages. A Christmas Carol will preview November 22 and November 23, openNovember 25 and run through December 23 in the Pamela Brown Auditorium.

Artistic Director Les Waters has introduced the 2016-2017 Professional Training Company (formally known as the Apprentice/Intern Company).

First Floor Theater has announced their fourth season, the Chicago premiere ?of ?Johnna Adams'? WORLD BUILDERS,? a funny, intimate portrayal of two individuals trying to balance mental illness and meaningful human connection, by the playwright of the Chicago hit, ?Gidion's Knot.? FFT Company Member J?esse Roth?directs this powerful Chicago premiere,?playing J?une 5 ­ July 2 a?t ?Collaboraction's The Vault Theater in The Flat Iron Arts Building?. Tickets for ?WORLD BUILDERS are available at http://firstfloortheater.com/. ?The press opening will be Sunday, June 5, 2016 at 6:00 p.m.

First Floor Theater (FFT) is thrilled to announce its fourth annual literary festival, FITZFEST, a festival of eight world premiere plays, by some of the country's most exciting playwrights, inspired by the life and work of F. Scott Fitzgerald. FITZFEST will play August 5 - August 13, 2016 at Collaboraction's Pentagon Theatre in The Flat Iron Arts Building. Tickets will be available at http://firstfloortheater.com/.

First Floor Theater (FFT) is thrilled to announce the third show of their fourth season, the Chicago premiere of Johnna Adams' WORLD BUILDERS, a funny, intimate portrayal of two individuals trying to balance mental illness and meaningful human connection, by the playwright of the Chicago hit, Gidion's Knot.

First Floor Theater continues their acclaimed third season with an explosive world premiere written by Company Member Emmett Rensin, directed by FFT Artistic Producer Will Bishop, and developed collaboratively by the company - a first for FFT - playing April 19-May 9 at The Pentagon Theatre in The Flat Iron Arts Building. Tickets for THE PARANOID STYLE IN AMERICAN POLITICS will be available at http://firstfloortheater.com/. The press opening is Sunday, April 19, 2015 at 4:00 p.m.

First Floor Theater (FFT) announces the casting of FFT Marketing Director Nora Bingham, with Kate Healy in their season opener MATT & BEN, playing November 16 - December 13 at Collaboraction's Pentagon Theatre in The Flat Iron Arts Building. Tickets forMATT & BEN will be available at http://firstfloortheater.com/.

Heading into its third season, First Floor Theater continues its commitment to visceral acting, immersive design, and collaborative dramaturgy with a new artistic process, refined mission statement and staff changes reflective of this new approach. This new process explores radical collaboration between actors and designers, where all are invited to define the world of the stories we stage.

First Floor Theater has announced its Second Annual LitFest, TWAIN'S WORLD, a kaleidoscope of new work inspired by the life and work of one of America's greatest writers. Last year's GrimmFest brought together some of Chicago's most exciting writers and directors, including Bonnie Metzgar, Seth Bockley, Philip Dawkins and Greg Allen. Given the choice of three classic authors, the attendees of this year's annual season kick-off party selected Mark Twain. This moved an exciting, diverse group of playwrights to bring their voice to a conversation around themes in Twain's work, like establishing a new American identity, racism, and the satirization of civilized society. This year's fest promises a full range of adaptation, with everything from page-to-stage to a shadow puppet musical. The press opening will be tonight, July 11, 2014 at 8 pm.

First Floor Theater is thrilled to announce its Second Annual LitFest, TWAIN'S WORLD, a kaleidoscope of new work inspired by the life and work of one of America's greatest writers. Last year's GrimmFest brought together some of Chicago's most exciting writers and directors, including Bonnie Metzgar, Seth Bockley, Philip Dawkins and Greg Allen. Given the choice of three classic authors, the attendees of this year's annual season kick-off party selected Mark Twain. This moved an exciting, diverse group of playwrights to bring their voice to a conversation around themes in Twain's work, like establishing a new American identity, racism, and the satirization of civilized society. This year's fest promises a full range of adaptation, with everything from page-to-stage to a shadow puppet musical. The press opening will be Friday, July 11, 2014 at 8 pm. Tickets are available at firstfloortheater.com.

First Floor Theater will kick off their second season with POLAROID STORIES, Naomi Iizuka's masterful mash-up of Roman myth and documentary theatre, directed by FFT Artistic Producer Hutch Pimentel, playing tonight, November 21 - December 21, 2013 at Red Tape Theatre.

First Floor Theater will kick off their second season with POLAROID STORIES, Naomi Iizuka's masterful mash-up of Roman myth and documentary theatre, directed by FFT Artistic Producer Hutch Pimentel, playing November 21 - December 21, 2013 at Red Tape Theatre. Tickets for POLAROID STORIES will be available at http://firstfloortheater.com/. Check out a first look at the cast in action below!

First Floor Theater will kick off their second season with POLAROID STORIES, Naomi Iizuka's masterful mash-up of Roman myth and documentary theatre, directed by FFT Artistic Producer Hutch Pimentel, playing November 21 - December 21, 2013 at Red Tape Theatre. Tickets for POLAROID STORIES will be available at http://firstfloortheater.com/. The press opening is Thursday, November 21, 2013 at 8:00 p.m.

First Floor Theater is thrilled to kick off their second season withPOLAROID STORIES, Naomi Iizuka's masterful mash-up of Roman myth and documentary theatre, directed by FFT Artistic Producer Hutch Pimentel, playing November 21 - December 21, 2013 at Red Tape Theatre. Tickets for POLAROID STORIES will be available at http://firstfloortheater.com/. The press opening is Thursday, November 21, 2013 at 8:00 p.m.

Florida Studio Theatre (FST) will hold a community forum about the Pulitzer Prize-winning musical Next to Normal on Wednesday, January 11, 2012 at 5:00PM in the Keating Theatre (located at 1241 North Palm Avenue, Sarasota FL, 34236). The forum is free to attend, but requires reservations. Reservations can be made by calling the box office at (941) 366-9000.