Bill Kurtis News

The hilarious holiday musical sequel to the record-breaking FOREVER PLAID, PLAID TIDINGS, will play for Theatre at the Center audiences November 15 through December 23 at 1040 Ridge Road, Munster. The press performance will be November 18 at 7 p.m. Stuffed with such "Plaid-erized" Christmas standards as "Mr. Santa," "Let It Snow" and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," PLAID TIDINGS is described as 'one holiday treat that is truly heaven-sent.' Theatre at the Center Artistic Director William Pullinsi will direct the production starring Rod Thomas as "Francis", Scott Stratton as "Smudge", Frank J. Paul as "Jinx" and Jonathan Wagner as "Sparky". CBS Chicago's own Bill Kurtis also lends his celebrity voice for a special part in the production.

The Chicago Sinfonietta's final concert of the 2011-2012 season, titled Passion. Tragedy. Love., led by Music Director Mei-Ann Chen, continues to offer diversity in both musicians and musical styles with contemporary works, unique guest performers and a brand new orchestral arrangement of Leonard Bernstein's iconic musical West Side Story. The Chicago Sinfonietta presents Passion. Tragedy. Love. at the Wentz Concert Hall of North Central College in Naperville on Saturday, June 16 at 8 pm and at Orchestra Hall of Symphony Center in downtown Chicago on Monday, June 18 at 7:30 pm.

The 2011-2012 school year marks Chicago Academy for the Arts' 30th anniversary year, and a year-long series of events and activities celebrating the occasion will culminate with A Taste for the Arts/30th Anniversary Gala, tonight, May 10, 2012 at the Harris Theater and Millennium Park Terrace. This evening, hosted by Rick and Deann Bayless and Donna LaPietra and Bill Kurtis, and chaired by Stephen Flach and Chris Fryson, with honorary chair Mayor Rahm Emanuel, civic committee chair Barbara Levy Kipper and arts committee chair Jim Belushi, will highlight student and alumni art and performance alongside the dazzling cuisine of Chicago's top chefs, including Rick Bayless, Sarah Grueneberg, Tony Mantuano, Stephanie Izard, Chris Jones, Richie Farina, Dale Levitski, Amanda Rockman, Heather Terhune and Takashi Yagihashi.

The 2011-2012 school year marks CAA's 30th anniversary year, and a year-long series of events and activities celebrating the occasion will culminate with A Taste for the Arts/30th Anniversary Gala, May 10, 2012 at the Harris Theater and Millennium Park Terrace. This evening, hosted by Rick and Deann Bayless and Donna LaPietra and Bill Kurtis, and chaired by Stephen Flach and Chris Fryson, with honorary chair Mayor Rahm Emanuel, civic committee chair Barbara Levy Kipper and arts committee chair Jim Belushi, will highlight student and alumni art and performance alongside the dazzling cuisine of Chicago's top chefs, including Rick Bayless, Sarah Grueneberg, Tony Mantuano, Stephanie Izard, Chris Jones, Richie Farina, Dale Levitski, Amanda Rockman, Heather Terhune and Takashi Yagihashi.

Award-winning actor and musician Hershey Felder (George Gershwin Alone, Monsieur Chopin, Beethoven As I Knew Him) returns to Chicago with Maestro: The Art of Leonard Bernstein. Combining first-person narrative with the music of composer Bernstein and the artists who inspired him, Maestro: The Art of Leonard Bernstein is the story of the legendary American composer and longtime music director of the New York Philharmonic. Helmed by award-winning director Joel Zwick, Hershey Felder will return to Chicago's Royal George Theatre, 1641 N. Halsted, where from September 2004 through January 2006, he held residence with George Gershwin Alone and the World Premiere of Monsieur Chopin, culminating in 70 weeks of live performances. Maestro will begin previews on November 1st with press opening November 9th, and will play through December 30.

The Chicago Human Rhythm Project (CHRP), the world's first year-round presenter of American tap dance and contemporary percussive arts, hosts JUBALEE, its annual gala benefit supporting performance, education and community programs.

The Chicago Human Rhythm Project (CHRP), the world's first year-round presenter of American tap dance and contemporary percussive arts, hosts JUBALEE, its annual gala benefit supporting performance, education and community programs.

Broadway In Chicago and the company of WORKING are pleased to announce their 'Local Heroes' program, created to honor and complement the new musical WORKING, which begins previews February 15, 2011, at the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place (175 E. Chestnut). The program is designed to pay tribute to Studs Terkel's vision of showcasing everyday people. WORKING will honor Chicago's own through post-show conversations about who they are, what they do in life and how they make a difference. These conversations will include fascinating professions from doctors to firemen, to waitresses, assistants and sanitation workers and professions from every spectrum of our lives along with cast members of WORKING.

The Chicago Council on Science and Technology and Children's Memorial Research Center will host a lecture, book signing and special dinner, featuring Veteran Journalist Bill Kurtis and Rebecca Skloot, critically acclaimed author of the New York Times bestseller The Immortal Life of HEnrietta LAcks, on Tuesday, November 16, 2010.

The Chicago Council on Science and Technology and Children's Memorial Research Center will host a lecture, book signing and special dinner, featuring Veteran Journalist Bill Kurtis and Rebecca Skloot, critically acclaimed author of the New York Times bestseller The Immortal Life of HEnrietta LAcks, on Tuesday, November 16, 2010. The one-night-only event will be held at Thorne Auditorium at Northwestern University's Chicago Campus, 375 East Chicago Ave. A Members-Only cocktail reception will be held at 5 p.m., followed by a 6 p.m. presentation and Q & A, a 7 p.m. book signing and an invited guest dinner at 8 p.m. This not-to-be-missed presentation is made possible by the Bea Schriesheim Memorial Research Fund. Tickets to the presentation are $10 for Members and $15 for Non-Members; tickets to the dinner are $50. Limited seating is available. Buy the BookThe event I For reservations or more information, visit www.c2st.org, call 312-567-5829 or email crhodes@c2st.org.

The Chicago Council on Science and Technology and Children's Memorial Research Center will host a lecture, book signing and special dinner, featuring Veteran Journalist Bill Kurtis and Rebecca Skloot, critically acclaimed author of the New York Times bestseller The Immortal Life of HEnrietta LAcks, on Tuesday, November 16, 2010.

The Chicago Council on Science and Technology and Children's Memorial Research Center will host a lecture, book signing and special dinner, featuring Veteran Journalist Bill Kurtis and Rebecca Skloot, critically acclaimed author of the New York Times bestseller The Immortal Life of HEnrietta LAcks, on Tuesday, November 16, 2010. The one-night-only event will be held at Thorne Auditorium at Northwestern University's Chicago Campus, 375 East Chicago Ave. A Members-Only cocktail reception will be held at 5 p.m., followed by a 6 p.m. presentation and Q & A, a 7 p.m. book signing and an invited guest dinner at 8 p.m. This not-to-be-missed presentation is made possible by the Bea Schriesheim Memorial Research Fund. Tickets to the presentation are $10 for Members and $15 for Non-Members; tickets to the dinner are $50. Limited seating is available. Buy the BookThe event I For reservations or more information, visit www.c2st.org, call 312-567-5829 or email crhodes@c2st.org.

MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET celebrated its opening night yesterday evening on Sunday, April 11, 2010. BroadwayWorld was there to capture the performance arrivals!

American Theater Company's Board of Trustees and Gala Committee announces the company's annual gala, Chocolate & Pearls. The 2009 Gala celebrates 24 years of creating professional, ensemble-based theater in Chicago. The event will be emceed by legendary television producer and journalist Bill Kurtis and will be held on April 30, 2009 at Germania Place, 108 W. Germania Place, Chicago, IL.

The Theatre School at DePaul University is pleased to announce that MICHAEL SHANNON (actor, REVOLUTIONARY ROAD, BEFORE THE DEVIL KNOWS YOU'RE DEAD, BUG) will join ANGELA BASSETT (actress, NOTORIOUS, WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT, ER) and Theatre School alumnus DENNIS DUGAN (director, I NOW PRONOUNCE YOU CHUCK AND LARRY, BIG DADDY) as a recipient of the 2009 Award for Excellence in the Arts on Tuesday, April 28, 2009.

Steppenwolf celebrated its 33rd season with GALA 2009: A Celebration of the Season of the Imagination on Saturday, April 18, 2009 at Steppenwolf Theatre Company, 1650 N. Halsted St. The ?urban chic? event was attended by 550 guests and raised nearly $1 million for Steppenwolf?s artistic and community programming.

The Theatre School at DePaul University is pleased to announce that MICHAEL SHANNON (actor, REVOLUTIONARY ROAD, BEFORE THE DEVIL KNOWS YOU'RE DEAD, BUG) will join ANGELA BASSETT (actress, NOTORIOUS, WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT, ER) and Theatre School alumnus DENNIS DUGAN (director, I NOW PRONOUNCE YOU CHUCK AND LARRY, BIG DADDY) as a recipient of the 2009 Award for Excellence in the Arts on Tuesday, April 28, 2009.

American Theater Company's Board of Trustees and Gala Committee announces the company's annual gala, Chocolate & Pearls. The 2009 Gala celebrates 24 years of creating professional, ensemble-based theater in Chicago. The event will be emceed by legendary television producer and journalist Bill Kurtis and will be held on April 30, 2009 at Germania Place, 108 W. Germania Place, Chicago, IL.