On the occasion of the 400th Anniversary of Shakespeare's legacy in 2016, Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) prepares to begin an epic theatrical endeavor-Artistic Director Barbara Gaines' Tug of War, which distills six Shakespeare histories into two action-packed dramas. Adapted and directed by Gaines as the Theater's centerpiece of the yearlong Shakespeare 400 Chicago festival, the Tug of War saga traces the injustice and intrigues of war from the perspectives of both kings and common soldiers through two, six-hour marathon productions-Foreign Fire (Edward III, Henry V and Henry VI, Part 1) in the spring and Civil Strife (Henry VI, Parts 2 and 3 and Richard III) in the fall. Featuring some of Chicago's most celebrated actors, the dynamic ensemble cast of 19 performs over 100 characters throughout the electrifying drama. The musicality of Shakespeare's text is complemented with live music performances ranging from Bach and the blues, to contemporary pop and folk anthems. Songs from P!nk, Pete Townshend and Tim Buckley are accompanied onstage by a band of ensemble members on electric guitar, cello, keyboard, ukulele and percussion. Tug of War: Foreign Fire debuts on the Courtyard Theater stage for a limited run of only 18 performances, May 12-June 12, 2016.
Chicago's Sarah Siddons Society recently announced winners of their prestigious annual Actor of the Year Award to be presented on May 16, 2016 at Northwestern University's Pick Staiger Concert Hall. Two of Broadway's most popular performers, Sutton Foster and Brian D'Arcy James, will be this year's recipients. The event is being co-sponsored by Northwestern's School of Communication, Barbara O'Keefe, Dean.
A new series of professionally shot web videos promoting Chicago's neighborhood theater scene is debuting online today, the work of a new non-profit named Friends of Chicago's Neighborhood Theatres. The group's plan is to release one You Tube video every two to three months as part of a new viral marketing campaign promoting Chicago theater titled 'A City of Stories.'
Chicago's Sarah Siddons Society recently announced winners of their prestigious annual Actor of the Year Award to be presented on May 16, 2016 at Northwestern University's Pick Staiger Concert Hall. Two of Broadway's most popular performers, Sutton Foster and Brian D'Arcy James, will be this year's recipients. The event is being co-sponsored by Northwestern's School of Communication, Barbara O'Keefe, Dean.
The Bard is back! Shakespeare 400 Chicago today announced the festival line-up for 2016, featuring 850 events on stages and in museums, restaurants, parks, schools and neighborhoods across Chicago.
Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) presents Shakespeare's spectacular tale of revenge and romance -- The Tempest -- staged by award-winning directors Aaron Posner and Teller, of the magic duo Penn & Teller. This inventive reimagining features the music of Tom Waits and Kathleen Brennan, as well as choreography from the pioneering dance troupe Pilobolus led by Associate Artistic Director Matt Kent.
Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) announces the full casting and creative team for Shakespeare's spectacular tale of revenge and romance-The Tempest, staged by award-winning directors Aaron Posner and Teller, of the magic duo Penn & Teller.
Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) announces the full casting and creative team for Shakespeare's spectacular tale of revenge and romance-The Tempest, staged by award-winning directors Aaron Posner and Teller, of the magic duo Penn & Teller.
Producing Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside and American Blues Theater, Chicago's second oldest Equity ensemble, announce a staged reading of Other Than Honorable, the 2015 Blue Ink Award-winner by Jamie Pachino and directed by Kimberly Senior, Saturday, June 27 at 3 p.m. at Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave. Tickets are available for a suggested donation of $10 and will be available June 2 at 312.725.4228 or AmericanBluesTheater.com.
?The Chicago Philharmonic presents works by Debussy, Ravel, and De Falla in Scents of Beauty at Northwestern University's Pick-Staiger Hall on April 19, 7pm. The performance will feature world-renowned pianist Jorge Federico Osorio as the orchestra continues its 2014-15 subscription series dedicated to the five senses. Artistic Director Scott Speck conducts.
Chicago Inclusion Project Founder and Producer Emjoy Gavino announces the launch of The Chicago Inclusion Project, a collective dedicated to championing inclusion and diversity in Chicago theatre.
The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Special events on the horizon from Porchlight, FWD and Option Up! Plus new-to-Chicago works from Piven and Bailiwick, colleges do 'Spring Awakening' and 'The Wild Party,' and Emerald City Theatre and Chicago Children's Theatre head for the big time!
The Chicago Philharmonic presents works by Debussy, Ravel, and De Falla in Scents of Beauty at Northwestern University's Pick-Staiger Hall on April 19, 7pm. The performance will feature world-renowned pianist Jorge Federico Osorio as the orchestra continues its 2014-15 subscription series dedicated to the five senses. Artistic Director Scott Speck conducts.
The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'Carousel,' 'The King And I' and 'The Merry Widow' at Lyric Opera, and the upcoming season at Porchlight. Plus 'Merman' transfers, 'Mormon' arrives, 'First Wives Club' and 'Gotta Dance' try out, the 'Pride And Prejudice' reading moves, Quest Theatre mounts two, Pasek and Paul's 'Peach,' Bailiwick's 'Wonderful Town,' the Mosh Pit in the Tribune and more honors for Jessie Mueller! Whew!
Option Up!, the acclaimed musical theater cabaret and talk-show, celebrates its one-year anniversary on Sunday, February 8, 2015 in The Cab at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Avenue, Chicago. Featuring Aaron Benham and Christopher Pazdernik, Option Up! runs the second Sunday of each month through May 10 at 7:30 PM.
Pacific Symphony Youth Wind Ensemble (PSYWE) opens its 2014-15 season with a new music director, Gregory X. Whitmore, who leads the ensemble in a lively display of youthful musicality and captivating wind repertoire. Titled “Exclamations!” the fall concert features two works by one of the 20th century's most prolific composers of music for concert band, Alfred Reed. His majestic “Alleluia! Laudamus Te!” opens the program, while the authentic folk melodies of “Armenian Dances” serve as the finale. In between, Scandinavian composer Johan Halvorsen's “Entry March of the Boyars”—a stately yet lively piece, tinged with exoticism and full of rhythmic excitement—is followed by Eric Whitacre's beautiful poem-based composition “Lux Aurumque,” originally written for a virtual choir. PSYWE's concert takes place on Sunday, Nov. 16, at 1 p.m., in the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall.
From the bustling streets of "New York, New York" comes the first major Chicago production of the iconic musical comedy, ON THE TOWN, which started previews August 13 and opened August 20, running through October 12 at The Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire, IL.
When the Marriott Theatre in far north suburban Lincolnshire announced it was mounting a production of the 1944 landmark musical comedy 'On The Town,' most cognoscenti were excited. I mean, this is a show that everyone who takes musical theater seriously has studied, but that few have actually seen.
From the bustling streets of 'New York, New York' comes the first major Chicago production of the iconic musical comedy, ON THE TOWN, which opens tonight, August 20, and runs through October 12 at The Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire, IL.
From the bustling streets of 'New York, New York' comes the first major Chicago production of the iconic musical comedy, ON THE TOWN, currently in previews and opening August 20, and running through October 12 at The Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire, IL. Check out highlights from the show in the video below!
