Chicago Dramatists News

Joyce Award-recipient Naomi Iizuka brings her tale of family ties, a lingering debt, mystical stories-and magical food-to the Goodman stage in her newest work, Ghostwritten, April 4 - May 3, 2009. Lisa Portes, who has shepherded this play from its first appearance at the 2007 New Stages Series, directs its world-premiere production with a cast of Chicago favorites led by Lisa Tejero (Mirror of the Invisible World and Metamorphoses) and Kim Martin-Cotten (King Lear).

The Cleveland Play House Artistic Director Michael Bloom announces the world premiere production of Thornton Wilder's novel Heaven's My Destination, adapted by award-winning playwright Lee Blessing. The play is the centerpiece of the fourth annual FusionFest, a multidisciplinary performing arts festival.

Bristol Riverside Theatre continues its America Rising: Voices of Today reading series with Brett Neveu's Harmless. This reading will take place Sunday, March 29 at 5 p.m. at St. James Parish Hall, 225 Walnut Street in Bristol. Individual reading tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students. Tickets include entertainment, a post-show discussion and a soul food dinner.

Rubicon Theatre Company continues its 'Brave New World' Season with FIDDLER ON THE ROOF. The musical begins previews Thursday, March 19, open on Saturday, March 21 at 7pm and run through Sunday, April 26, 2009 at Rubicon Theatre, 1006 E. Main Street in Ventura. FIDDLER ON THE ROOF is the Tony Award? winning musical that captured the hearts of people all over the world with its universal appeal. The play tells the story of Tevye, a Jewish milkman coping with day-to-day 'shtetl' life, Jewish traditions and the women in his life in pre-Revolutionary Russia.

Joyce Award-recipient Naomi Iizuka brings her tale of family ties, a lingering debt, mystical stories-and magical food-to the Goodman stage in her newest work, Ghostwritten, April 4 - May 3, 2009. Lisa Portes, who has shepherded this play from its first appearance at the 2007 New Stages Series, directs its world-premiere production with a cast of Chicago favorites led by Lisa Tejero (Mirror of the Invisible World and Metamorphoses) and Kim Martin-Cotten (King Lear).

The 16th Annual Merritt Award for Excellence in Design and Collaboration program, honoring world class scenic designer Todd Rosenthal (August: Osage County), will take place on Monday, April 27, at the Steppenwolf Merle Reskin Garage Theatre. The doors open at 5:30 p.m. with a viewing of the third annual ?Theater Design Expo' showcasing the works of over 20 Chicago-area emerging theatrical designers and a student portfolio review. Martha Lavey, Artistic Director of Steppenwolf Theatre Company, will moderate an inclusive discussion, 'Moving Chicago Productions to New York and Beyond' with the awardees, Director Anna Shapiro and Joshua Schmidt, composer and librettist, from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Rubicon Theatre Company continues its ?Brave New World? Season with Fiddler on the Roof. The musical begins previews Thursday, March 19, open on Saturday, March 21 at 7pm and run through Sunday, April 26, 2009 at Rubicon Theatre, 1006 E. Main Street in Ventura.

Bristol Riverside Theatre continues its America Rising: Voices of Today reading series with Brett Neveu's Harmless. This reading will take place Sunday, March 29 at 5 p.m. at St. James Parish Hall, 225 Walnut Street in Bristol. Individual reading tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students. Tickets include entertainment, a post-show discussion and a soul food dinner.

Court Theatre continues its 2008-09 season with Frederick Knott's classic thriller Wait Until Dark, directed by Resident Artist Ron OJ Parson. The production will run at Court Theatre, 5535 S Ellis Avenue, March 5 - April 5, 2009. The press opening is Saturday, March 14, 2009 at 8:00 p.m. A cool-as-ice psychopath smooth talks his way into the home of an unsuspecting blind woman. Unbeknownst to Susie, she's harboring a dangerous prize, and he'll use every trick to get it. Spend an evening on the edge of your seat with the genre Hitchcock made classic. This psychological thriller probes which frightens us more - the evil you can see coming, or the one you can't?

Rubicon Theatre Company continues its 'Brave New World' Season with FIDDLER ON THE ROOF. The musical begins previews Thursday, March 19, open on Saturday, March 21 at 7pm and run through Sunday, April 26, 2009 at Rubicon Theatre, 1006 E. Main Street in Ventura. FIDDLER ON THE ROOF is the Tony Award? winning musical that captured the hearts of people all over the world with its universal appeal. The play tells the story of Tevye, a Jewish milkman coping with day-to-day 'shtetl' life, Jewish traditions and the women in his life in pre-Revolutionary Russia.

Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans announce the Chicago Premiere of Mauritius by Theresa Rebeck, directed by Rick Snyder. The production, featuring Anne Adams, Lance Baker, Gary Houston, Dan Kuhlman and Suzanne Lang runs February 25- April 5, 2009 at Northlight Theatre, 9501 Skokie Blvd in Skokie. The press performance is Thursday, March 5, 2009, at 7:30 p.m.

SiNNERMAN Ensemble presents their third production, the world premiere of 'Bible B-Sides,' an original, multi-media show created from several lesser known Old Testament Bible stories, adapted by the ensemble and director Matt Miller. Sometimes hilarious, sometimes tragic, the company delves into the universal humanity, complex relationships and exciting discoveries of these inherently relevant and surprising stories. The Bible stories featured will include Abraham, Sarah and Hagar; Deborah; David and Bathsheba; David and Mephibosheth; Ehud and Eglon; Hosea and Gomer; Jephthah and his daughter; Lot and his daughters; and the rape of Tamar. 'Bible B-Sides' runs ninety minutes without intermission. SiNNERMAN, formed out of a Steppenwolf Theatre summer program, is spelled with all caps except for the 'i', and is named after the Nina Simone song.

Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans announce the Chicago Premiere of Mauritius by Theresa Rebeck, directed by Rick Snyder. The production, featuring Anne Adams, Lance Baker, Gary Houston, Dan Kuhlman and Suzanne Lang runs February 25- April 5, 2009 at Northlight Theatre, 9501 Skokie Blvd in Skokie. The press performance is Thursday, March 5, 2009, at 7:30 p.m. The stakes are high when half-sisters inherit a book of rare stamps that may include the 'crown jewel' of the stamp-collecting world. The battle for possession takes a dangerous turn when three rival collectors enter the sisters' world, willing to go to any lengths to stake their claim on the find. Named one of Time Magazine's 'Top Ten Plays of 2007,' Mauritius is a gripping blend of sharp comedy and heart-pounding drama that combines the best aspects of Hitchcock, Chandler and Mamet. Mauritius was written by the Pulitzer Prize nominated author of Omnium Gatherum and The Scene.

Our Lady of the Underpass by Teatro Vista Resident Playwright Tanya Saracho will be produced at the Greenhouse Theatre Center, Teatro Vista Ensemble Member Sandra Marquez will direct. The play will run from February 19th through March 29th in the Downstairs Mainstage at the Greenhouse Theatre Center, 2257 N Lincoln, Chicago, IL 60614. Opening night (press) is Monday, February 23. The play features Charin Alvarez (Teatro Vista Ensemble), Chris Catelmi, Ilana Faust (Teatro Luna Artistic Associate), Suzette Mayobre (Teatro Luna Ensemble Member), Rosie Newton, and Juan Gabriel Ruiz (Teatro Vista Junior Ensemble).

Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans announce the Chicago Premiere of Mauritius by Theresa Rebeck, directed by Rick Snyder. The production, featuring Anne Adams, Lance Baker, Gary Houston, Dan Kuhlman and Suzanne Lang runs February 25- April 5, 2009 at Northlight Theatre, 9501 Skokie Blvd in Skokie. The press performance is Thursday, March 5, 2009, at 7:30 p.m. The stakes are high when half-sisters inherit a book of rare stamps that may include the 'crown jewel' of the stamp-collecting world. The battle for possession takes a dangerous turn when three rival collectors enter the sisters' world, willing to go to any lengths to stake their claim on the find. Named one of Time Magazine's 'Top Ten Plays of 2007,' Mauritius is a gripping blend of sharp comedy and heart-pounding drama that combines the best aspects of Hitchcock, Chandler and Mamet. Mauritius was written by the Pulitzer Prize nominated author of Omnium Gatherum and The Scene.

Court Theatre continues its 2008-09 season with Frederick Knott's classic thriller Wait Until Dark, directed by Resident Artist Ron OJ Parson. The production will run at Court Theatre, 5535 S Ellis Avenue, March 5 - April 5, 2009. The press opening is Saturday, March 14, 2009 at 8:00 p.m. A cool-as-ice psychopath smooth talks his way into the home of an unsuspecting blind woman. Unbeknownst to Susie, she's harboring a dangerous prize, and he'll use every trick to get it. Spend an evening on the edge of your seat with the genre Hitchcock made classic. This psychological thriller probes which frightens us more - the evil you can see coming, or the one you can't?

Our Lady of the Underpass by Teatro Vista Resident Playwright Tanya Saracho will be produced at the Greenhouse Theatre Center, Teatro Vista Ensemble Member Sandra Marquez will direct. The play will run from February 19th through March 29th in the Downstairs Mainstage at the Greenhouse Theatre Center, 2257 N Lincoln, Chicago, IL 60614. Opening night (press) is Monday, February 23. The play features Charin Alvarez (Teatro Vista Ensemble), Chris Catelmi, Ilana Faust (Teatro Luna Artistic Associate), Suzette Mayobre (Teatro Luna Ensemble Member), Rosie Newton, and Juan Gabriel Ruiz (Teatro Vista Junior Ensemble).

In conjunction with its world premiere production of Not Enough Air by Masha Obolensky, TimeLine Theatre Company will present a series of concert readings of the landmark play that inspired Obolensky's work, MACHINAL by Sophie Treadwell. Machinal will be directed by Rachel Walshe and will run for eight performances only, opening Sunday, February 8 at 7 p.m. and running Sundays and Mondays at 7 p.m. through March 2, 2009. Performances will be held at TimeLine Theatre, 615 W. Wellington Ave., Chicago. The Press Opening performance is Sunday, February 8 at 7 p.m.

Berkeley's acclaimed Aurora Theatre Company announces the four plays chosen as winners for the Global Age Project (GAP), the company's new works initiative that promotes the creation of forward-looking theatre: The First Grade by Joel Drake Johnson; Birnham Woods by Wendy MacLeod; Right? by Dan Hoyle; and and when we awoke there was light and light by Laura Jacqmin. The selected plays will be presented as staged readings in a four-week festival at the Aurora Theatre, Mondays, February 2-23, 7:30pm, coinciding with the company's fully-staged West Coast Premiere of George Packer's provocative Lucille Lortel-winning play Betrayed (January 23-March 1).

In conjunction with its world premiere production of Not Enough Air by Masha Obolensky, TimeLine Theatre Company will present a series of concert readings of the landmark play that inspired Obolensky's work, MACHINAL by Sophie Treadwell. Machinal will be directed by Rachel Walshe and will run for eight performances only, opening Sunday, February 8 at 7 p.m. and running Sundays and Mondays at 7 p.m. through March 2, 2009. Performances will be held at TimeLine Theatre, 615 W. Wellington Ave., Chicago. The Press Opening performance is Sunday, February 8 at 7 p.m.