Chaon Cross News

Recognizing a strong return to the spotlight over the 2021-2022 Equity theater season, the Joseph Jefferson Awards in Chicago announced its nominations for theater excellence. This year’s nominees include 201 theater artists across 38 categories of excellence in theater production among shows from 43 companies.

The Joseph Jefferson Awards have announced this year's Equity nominations, including 201 theater artists across 38 categories.  The 54th anniversary Equity Jeff Awards will take place October 17, 2022, at Drury Lane in Oakbrook, IL. 

Court Theatre, under the continuing leadership of Charles Newell, Marilyn F. Vitale Artistic Director, and Angel Ysaguirre, Executive Director, continues its 2021/22 season with The Lady from the Sea by Henrik Ibsen, translated by Richard Nelson, and directed by Shana Cooper. The Lady from the Sea now runs February 25 – March 27, 2022 at Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis Ave. 

Court Theatre, under the continuing leadership of Charles Newell, Marilyn F. Vitale Artistic Director, and Angel Ysaguirre, Executive Director, will continue its 2021/22 season with The Lady from the Sea by Henrik Ibsen, translated by Richard Nelson, and directed by Shana Cooper.

Court Theatre has announced a return to live theatrical programming with its 2021/22 Season. The 2021/22 Season has Court returning to the stage with The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice which will now open the 2021/22 Season in October, specifically conceived for a smaller audience.

Writers Theatre Artistic Director Michael Halberstam and Executive Director Kathryn M. Lipuma have announced changes to the company’s 2020/21 Season, to include additional digital programming and updates to previously announced productions.

The Jeff Awards has announced the nominees for the 52nd annual awards for theater excellence that include 142 theater artists across 30 artistic and technical categories. The awards will be presented in an online program on Monday, November 9, 2020 at 7:00PM.

a??a??a??a??a??a??a??Chicago Shakespeare Theater invites audiences to spend their Saturday with Shakespeare in this cleverly abridged, 75-minute production of Short Shakespeare! The Comedy of Errors on Saturdays at 11:00am, January 25a?"February 29, 2020 in The Yard at Chicago Shakespeare. Filled to the brim with acrobatics and mayhem, the hilarity and hijinks of Shakespeare's comedy are larger-than-life in this vibrant and fast-paced production, making it the perfect introduction to Shakespeare for audiences of all ages.

The 51st Annual Jeff Awards Ceremony took place on October 21, 2019, during a spirited evening at Drury Lane Oakbrook. 'Frankenstein,' produced by Remy Bumppo Theatre Company, took home five awards, including Best Production a?' Play in the Midsize category. Court Theatre also took home five awards, including the coveted Ensemble Award for 'For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow is Enuf' and four awards for a?oePhotograph 51.a?? Steppenwolf Theatre Company's production of 'Downstate' received the Jeff Award for Best Production - Play in the Large category. The award for Best Production - Musical in the Large category went to 'Six' at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, and the award for Best Production - Musical in the Midsize category went to 'Caroline, or Change,' produced by Firebrand Theatre in partnership with TimeLine Theatre Company.

On Midsummer's Eve, two 35-year-olds drink alone in an Edinburgh dive bar. Helena, a well-dressed divorce lawyer, sips a £40 bottle of wine while waiting for her married lover to arrive. Bob, a petty criminal, waits for a colleague to transfer the keys of a stolen car. When Helena's date stands her up and she impulsively asks Bob to help her finish the wine, the stage is set for an unconventional, thoroughly Scottish romantic comedy by playwright David Greig, with a folk-pop score by indie singer-songwriter Gordon McIntyre. Despite its lack of fairies and forests, MIDSUMMER (A PLAY WITH SONGS) captures the wild freedom of its Shakespearean namesake and channels the Celtic knack for pairing dry, self-deprecating humor with poetic, poignant truths.

Greenhouse Theater Center and Proxy Theatre present the Midwest premiere of MIDSUMMER (A Play with Songs), written by Scottish playwright David Greig, with music by indie-favorite Gordon McIntyre and direction by Randy White. MIDSUMMER will play September 4 – October 6, 2019 in The Greenhouse Theater Center's Downstairs Main Stage, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave. in Chicago.

Eleven world premiere plays and musicals seen first by Chicago audiences were among those receiving nominations by the Jeff Awards, announced today. A total of 192 nominations were made in 34 categories that honor Chicago Equity theatrical productions that opened between August 1, 2018 and July 31, 2019. During the 2018-19 season, Jeff Awards judges attended opening nights of 132 Equity productions offered by 43 producing organizations and from these openings, 112 productions were a?oeJeff Recommendeda?? and eligible for award nominations.

Greenhouse Theater Center and Proxy Theatre present the Midwest premiere of MIDSUMMER (A Play with Songs), written by Scottish playwright David Greig, with music by indie-favorite Gordon McIntyre and direction by Randy White.

Greenhouse Theater Center and Proxy Theatre are delighted to announce that the Midwest premiere of the musical comedy MIDSUMMER (A Play with Songs) will feature celebrated Chicago actors Chaon Cross and Patrick Mulvey.

Court Theatre, under the leadership of Charles Newell, Marilyn F. Vitale Artistic Director, and Executive Director Angel Ysaguirre, announces the extension of its critically acclaimed hit The Adventures of Augie March, a play by David Auburn, based on the novel by Saul Bellow, and directed by Charles Newell, due to overwhelming demand.

Court Theatre, under the leadership of Charles Newell, Marilyn F. Vitale Artistic Director, and Executive Director Angel Ysaguirre, concludes its 2018/19 season with the World Premiere of The Adventures of Augie March, a play by David Auburn, based on the novel by Saul Bellow, and directed by Charles Newell. The Adventures of Augie March runs May 9 - June 9, 2019 at Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis Ave. The press opening is Saturday, May 18, 2019 at 7:30pm.

By popular demand, Goodman Theatre adds five performances of Sweat by Lynn Nottage, directed by Ron OJ Parson-on stage through April 21.

Court Theatre, under the leadership of Charles Newell, Marilyn F. Vitale Artistic Director, and Executive Director Angel Ysaguirre, concludes its 2018/19 season with the World Premiere of The Adventures of Augie March, a play by David Auburn, based on the novel by Saul Bellow, and directed by Charles Newell. The Adventures of Augie March runs May 9 June 9, 2019 at Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis Ave. The press opening is Saturday, May 18, 2019 at 7:30pm.

Lynn Nottage's 2017 Pulitzer Prize-winning SWEAT, now in its Chicago premiere at Goodman Theatre under the direction of Ron OJ Parson, focuses on a group of blue-collar factory workers in Reading, Pennsylvania. Bound together by the toils of working-class life in the town's steel-tubing factory, these friends and family members gather at a local bar to let off steam and celebrate special occasions. And though the work at the factory may not be fulfilling, Nottage makes clear this work is vital for the characters' livelihoods. For many of them, a life of working at the factory dates back generations. As the play toggles between 2000 and 2008, Nottage also reflects how her characters' lives intersect with current events and questions of race, class, and success in America.

Powerful drama: still made in America. Lynn Nottage's 2017 Pulitzer Prize-winning play Sweat opens tonight in its Chicago premiere at Goodman Theatre. Ron OJ Parson directs the collision of race, class and friendship at a pivotal moment in America-hailed as 'extraordinarily moving' (The New York Times) and 'passionate and necessary...a masterful depiction of the forces that divide and conquer us' (Time Out New York). Sweat marks the fourth Nottage play to be produced at the Goodman, following Crumbs from the Table of Joy (2006), Ruined (a 2008 world-premiere Goodman commission that earned the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for Drama) and By the Way, Meet Vera Stark (2013). Sweat appears through April 14 in the Albert Theatre. Tickets ($20 - $80; subject to change) are available at Goodmantheatre.org/Sweat, by telephone at 312.443.3800 or at the box office (170 N. Dearborn).