Bear Bellinger News

The A is For Playwriting Contest and ONE ACT Festival engages playwrights who support abortion rights and reproductive justice. Tickets are on sale for the 3rd annual festival featuring readings of the winning plays at Signature Theatre in NYC on Dec 9-10.

Election results are in! Actors Equity Association members have voted and Kate Shindle will remain the National President of the organization. Dee Hoty will serve as Eastern Regional Vice President and Kelley Faulkner as Central Regional Vice President. 

The Fly Honey's extend the Hive through various online streaming events and classes that are sure to lift spirits during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Internationally acclaimed children's author Christopher Paul Curtis will pay a return visit to Chicago Children's Theatre, 100 S. Racine Ave. in Chicago's West Loop, on Saturday and Sunday, April 13 and 14, for public book signings and to celebrate CCT's world premiere adaptation of his Newbery Medal-winning book, The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963.

Chicago Children's Theatre's 13th season finale is the world premiere of The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963, a civil rights era family drama based on the groundbreaking young adult novel by Christopher Paul Curtis about the 1963 Birmingham church bombing.

Photos for the developmental productions in the 14th annual New Stages Festival have just been released! BroadwayWorld brings you a look inside Lottery Day, Continuity, and Twilight Bowl below!

Casting is complete for the three developmental productions featured in Goodman Theatre's 14th annual New Stages festival - a free celebration of new works by some of the country's finest established and emerging playwrights.

Casting is complete for the three developmental productions featured in Goodman Theatre's 14th annual New Stages festival - a free celebration of new works by some of the country's finest established and emerging playwrights.

 Griffin Theatre Company has announced casting for the Chicago premiere of the off-Broadway hit BAT BOY: THE MUSICAL, with book by Keythe Farley and Brian Flemming, music and lyrics by Laurence O'Keefe (Legally Blonde, Heathers: The Musical), direction by Scott Weinstein, music direction by Charlotte Rivard-Hoster and choreography by Rhett Guter. 

This spring, The Hypocrites are bringing the award-winning, Off-Broadway musical hit ADDING MACHINE: A Musical back to Chicago where it first premiered. Directed by Geoff Button, with music direction by Matt Deitchman and choreography by Katie Spelman, this heartbreaking musical adaptation of Elmer Rice's play The Adding Machine features music by Joshua Schmidt and book and lyrics by Jason Loewith and Schmidt. ADDING MACHINE: A Musical will play now through May 15, 2016 at The Den Theatre's Heath Main Stage, 1329 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood. BroadwayWorld has highlights from the show below!

The controversy over the lack of diversity in the production's casting began with a facebook post from actor Bear Bellinger.

This spring, The Hypocrites are bringing the award-winning, Off-Broadway musical hit ADDING MACHINE: A Musical back to Chicago where it first premiered. Directed by Geoff Button, with music direction by Matt Deitchman and choreography by Katie Spelman, this heartbreaking musical adaptation of Elmer Rice's play The Adding Machine features music by Joshua Schmidt and book and lyrics by Jason Loewith and Schmidt. ADDING MACHINE: A Musical will play now through May 15, 2016 at The Den Theatre's Heath Main Stage, 1329 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood. The press opening is Monday, March 28 at 7 pm. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

The author of 'I'm a black actor. Here's how inequality works when you're not famous' writes a public letter critical of non-Latino casting.

This spring, The Hypocrites are pleased to bring the award winning, Off-Broadway musical hit ADDING MACHINE: A Musical back to Chicago where it first premiered. Directed by Geoff Button, with music direction by Matt Deitchman and choreography by Katie Spelman, this heartbreaking musical adaptation of Elmer Rice's play The Adding Machine features music by Joshua Schmidt and book and lyrics by Jason Loewith and Schmidt. ADDING MACHINE: A Musical will play March 18 - May 15, 2016 at The Den Theatre's Heath Main Stage, 1329 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood.  Tickets are current available at www.the-hypocrites.com. The press opening is Monday, March 28 at 7 pm.

The Chicago-based actor writes of inequities those in power would not be aware of if they've never experienced it.

This spring, The Hypocrites are pleased to bring the award winning, Off-Broadway musical hit ADDING MACHINE: A Musical back to Chicago where it first premiered. Directed by Geoff Button with music direction by Matt Deitchman and choreography by Katie Spelman, this heartbreaking musical adaptation of Elmer Rice's play The Adding Machine features music by Joshua Schmidt and book and lyrics by Jason Loewith and Schmidt. ADDING MACHINE: A Musical will play March 18 - May 15, 2016 at The Den Theatre's Heath Main Stage, 1329 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood.  Tickets are current available at www.the-hypocrites.com. The press opening is Monday, March 28 at 7 pm.

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 is tonight, Friday, July 11, 2014 at 8 pm. Tickets are available at firstfloortheater.com.

Now through March 2, thousands of Chicago-area kids, parents and teachers are going to be grooving to Mr. Chickee's Funny Money, Chicago Children's Theatre's all-new, R&B family musical based on the popular children's book by Newbery Award-winner Christopher Paul Curtis. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast onstage below!

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Sondheim shows 'Gypsy,' 'Road Show,' 'Passion' and 'Waltz,' plus Gambatese in Lyric's 'SOM,' NBC's follow-up, Lamont Dozier's show, Bailiwick's Casting Auction results, Chris and Aaron start a monthly variety show, and more!

Now through March 2, thousands of Chicago-area kids, parents and teachers are going to be grooving to Mr. Chickee's Funny Money, Chicago Children's Theatre's all-new, R&B family musical based on the popular children's book by Newbery Award-winner Christopher Paul Curtis. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast onstage below!