Charles Cooper News

Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C), a program of the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF), is proud to announce the Hollywood community is once again joining forces to support the fifth biennial televised fundraising special tonight, Sept. 9 (8:00 - 9:00 PM ET/PT / 7:00 PM CT).

The lineup of celebrities participating in Stand Up To Cancer's fifth biennial telecast, the second inclusive of Canada, onFriday, Sept. 9 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT / 7:00 PM CT),got longer today.

More than 90 historic buildings and landmarks across Canada and the United States will be illuminated in the colours of Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) during the week leading up to the fifth biennial

Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C), a program of the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF), is proud to announce the Hollywood community is once again joining forces to support the fifth biennial televised fundraising special on Friday, Sept. 9 (8:00 - 9:00 PM ET/PT / 7:00 PM CT).

Grab your friends and head out for an evening of humor, heart, and harmony as Chick Flick the Musical comes to The Royal George Theatre Cabaret, 1641 N. Halsted Street in Chicago. This uniquely female-positive new musical begins previews November 1, and opens November 10 for an open run.

"The Hairy Ape"- Eugene O'Neill's expressionist play presented in a stark, brutal and imaginative setting; "Byhalia, Mississippi"- a new work of southern love and forgiveness, and "Rent"- the musical update of "La Boheme" performed in a small storefront theatre, took home the most honors on Monday, June 6, at Park West during the 43rd Annual Non-Equity Jeff Awards ceremony recognizing excellence in non-union Chicago theatre. 

?The Gift Theatre, Chicago's most intimate Equity theater, presents John Steinbeck's Pulitzer Prize-winning tale, The Grapes of Wrath, centering on an American family forced off of their land during the Great Depression and their epic journey west to California. New ensemble member Erica Weiss (Vigils) returns to direct the extraordinary and emotionally wrenching The Grapes of Wrath, adapted by Frank Galati.  The Grapes of Wrath opens Thursday, June 23 at The Gift Theatre, 4802 N. Milwaukee Avenue. Press performance is on Monday, June 20 at 7:30pm.

The Jeff Awards Committee today announced 121 nominations in 24 categories for the 43rd Annual Non-Equity Jeff Awards for productions that opened between April 1, 2015, and March 31, 2016. The Non-Equity Awards honor excellence in Chicago theatres not under a union contract. Jeff judges attended opening nights of 148 productions offered by 67 Non-Equity producing organizations. The Jeff Committee recommended 65 of those shows (or 44%), making them eligible for Non-Equity Jeff Award nominations. Of the 65 Jeff Recommended productions, a record 53 (or 82%) received nominations, representing 32 theatre companies.

Rivendell Theatre Ensemble (RTE), Chicago's only Equity theatre dedicated to producing new work with women at the core, announces the midwest premiere of Dry Land by Ruby Rae Spiegel. The production, directed by RTE member Hallie Gordon, runs April 22 - May 28, 2016, at Rivendell Theatre Ensemble, 5779 N. Ridge Avenue in Chicago. The press opening is Wednesday, April 27, 2016 at 7:00pm.

The Gift Theatre, Chicago's most intimate Equity theater, presents John Steinbeck's Pulitzer Prize-winning tale, The Grapes of Wrath, centering on an American family forced off of their land during the Great Depression and their epic journey west to California. New ensemble member Erica Weiss (Vigils) returns to direct the extraordinary and emotionally wrenching The Grapes of Wrath, adapted by Frank Galati. 

TimeLine Theatre Company announces that Chicago artists Behzad Dabu and Ron OJ Parson have been named Company Members at the theater, effective immediately.

Bye Bye Birdie, the four-time Tony Award-winning musical, begins performances at Drury Lane on January 14 to conclude the 2015 - 2016 Season. The funny, irreverent musical takes audiences back to 1959 in quiet Sweet Apple, OH, where rock star Conrad Birdie shakes things up when he arrives to give one lucky teenage girl a special goodbye kiss. With a cast led by 2015 Jeff Award Best Supporting Actor winners Michelle Aravena as Rosie and Matt Crowle as Conrad's agent, Albert, Bye Bye Birdie is directed and choreographed by multiple Jeff Award winner Tammy Mader. Featuring musical theater classics such as "Kids," "Put on a Happy Face," and "A Lot of Livin' to Do," the inspired cast and creative team promise to bring a decidedly fresh touch to the timeless story. 

Peninsula Players Theatre, America's Oldest Professional Resident Summer Theater and Door County's theatrical icon, continues its 80th season tonight, July 8, through July 26 when it presents the classic suspense-filled thriller, 'Dial M for Murder' by Frederick Knott. 'Dial M for Murder' was first staged on Broadway in 1952 and Knott adapted the script for Alfred Hitchcock's 1954 classic film.

Peninsula Players Theatre, America's Oldest Professional Resident Summer Theater and Door County's theatrical icon, continues its 80th season July 8 through 26 when it presents the classic suspense-filled thriller, 'Dial M for Murder' by Frederick Knott. 'Dial M for Murder' was first staged on Broadway in 1952 and Knott adapted the script for Alfred Hitchcock's 1954 classic film.

InFusion Theatre Company presents Crystal Skillman's Another Kind of Love, directed by InFusion Artistic Director Mitch Golob with music direction by Jefferey Thomas and original music by Tony-nominated and Obie-winner Heidi Rodewald, lyrics by Caroline Dorsen and Crystal Skillman, now through June 14, at The Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division Ave. Opening night is slated for tomrorow, May 15. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Bailiwick Chicago will conclude its 2014-15 season with the Chicago premiere of the intense off-Broadway rock musical MURDER BALLAD, conceived by and with book and lyrics by Julia Jordan, music and lyrics by Juliana Nash, directed and choreographed by James Beaudry with musical direction by Nicholas Davio. MURDER BALLAD will play April 2 - May 9, 2015 at the Flat Iron Arts Building, 1579 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago. Tickets are currently available at bailiwickchicago.com. The press opening is Tuesday, April 7 at 7:30 pm.

Bailiwick Chicago will conclude its 2014-15 season with the Chicago premiere of the intense off-Broadway rock musical MURDER BALLAD, conceived by and with book and lyrics by Julia Jordan, music and lyrics by Juliana Nash, directed and choreographed by James Beaudry with musical direction by Nicholas Davio. MURDER BALLAD will play tonight, April 2 - May 9, 2015 at the Flat Iron Arts Building, 1579 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago.

InFusion Theatre Company is proud to announce Crystal Skillman's Another Kind of Love, directed by InFusion Artistic Director Mitch Golob with music direction by Jefferey Thomas, original music by Tony-nominated and Obie-winner Heidi Rodewald and lyrics by Caroline Dorsen and Crystal Skillman, May 10 - June 14, at The Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division Ave. Scroll down for a sneak peek at the cast!

Bailiwick Chicago will conclude its 2014-15 season with the Chicago premiere of the intense off-Broadway rock musical MURDER BALLAD, conceived by and with book and lyrics by Julia Jordan, music and lyrics by Juliana Nash, directed and choreographed by James Beaudry with musical direction by Nicholas Davio. MURDER BALLAD will play April 2 - May 9, 2015 at the Flat Iron Arts Building, 1579 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago.

As the world is shocked by news reports and video images of antiquities and literary treasures being destroyed in Mosul, Iraq, TimeLine Theatre Company announces the Chicago premiere of INANA by Michele Lowe, about an Iraqi museum curator desperately plotting to save his country's cherished antiquities-including the only remaining statue of ancient mother goddess Inana-from destruction in advance of the U.S. invasion in 2003.