Chicago Dramatists News

New Light Theater Project announces their 7th season with two NYC premieres and a remount of last spring's sold-out run of IMAGINING MADOFF.

Sideshow Theatre Company announce sits 2019-20 Season, launching this fall with the U.S. premiere of Alistair McDowall's mind-bending sci-fi thriller X, directed by artistic director Jonathan L. Green. The season concludes next spring with the world premiere of Brynne Frauenhoffer's brash, incisive comedy PRO-AM, directed by artistic associate Regina Victor.

First Floor Theater announces their eighth season, featuring one world premiere and two Chicago premieres.First Floor Theater announce their eighth season, featuring one world premiere and two Chicago premieres.

Court Theatre, under the continuing leadership of Charles Newell, Marilyn F. Vitale Artistic Director, and Angel Ysaguirre, Executive Director, has announced casting for August Wilson's King Hedley II, directed by Resident Artist Ron OJ Parson. King Hedley II runs September 12 - October 13, 2019 at Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis Ave. The press opening is Saturday, September 21, 2019 at 7:30pm.

Haven Theatre, newly rebranded as "Haven," announces its 2019-20 Season, kicking off this fall with its fifth consecutive DIRECTORS HAVEN, three short plays showcasing the talents of early career directors, each with razor-sharp and inspiring visions for their work and our industry. Helming this year's productions are Lauren Katz, Aaron Mays and AJ Schwartz.

The New Colony, under the artistic direction of Fin Coe* and Stephanie Shum*, announces its full 2019-20 season, to presented at its resident home, The Den Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood.

National New Play Network, the country's alliance of professional theaters that collaborate in innovative ways to develop, produce, and extend the life of new plays, announces its 2019-20 grant recipients, including the 2019 Smith Prize for Political Theatre, seven Producer Residencies, and eight Collaboration Fund awards that will support partnerships between multiple Member Theaters, playwrights, and other theater makers in various projects.

Collaboraction Theatre Company will launch its 2019-20 mainstage season at Kennedy-King College (KKC) at 63rd and Halsted in the college's 292-seat, state-of-the-art mainstage theater, with its fourth annual Peacebook Festival, Thursday through Saturday, August 15-17.

Red Bull Theater today announced the selections for their ninth annual festival of 10-minute plays of heightened language and classic themes, featuring two brand new commissions from Kia Corthron and Marcus Gardley, alongside six brand new plays that have been chosen from hundreds of submissions from playwrights across the country: Kate Abbruzzese, Terry Glaser, Eric Pfeffinger, BrIdgette Dutta Portman, David Lerner Schwartz, Sofya Levitsky Weitz, and Matthew Wells.

Goodman Theatre announces a line-up of free readings written by members of its Playwrights Unit-a year-long residency for Chicago-based writers to develop their plays-in-progress with the Goodman's artistic team, in partnership with Chicago Dramatists. Members of the 2018/2019 Playwrights Unit include Georgette Kelly, Dianne Nora, Marisela Treviño Orta and Stacey Rose. Free, one-time-only readings take place July 5-7 at Goodman Theatre (170 N. Dearborn); to make a reservation call 312.443.3800 or visit GoodmanTheatre.org/PlaywrightsUnitReadings. Availability is extremely limited. More information about each writer follows; headshots can be found in the Press Room.

THE WHITE DRESS, written by Roger Q. Mason and directed and choreographed by Adin Walker will have a limited engagement Summer run, July 5-20 at the Access Theater, 380 Broadway. Based on the playwright's true-life experience, this is a genderqueer coming-of-age tale for the they/them generation.

Amy Rubenstein, Artistic Director and Evelyn Jacoby, Managing Director of Windy City Playhouse (3014 W. Irving Park Rd.) announce the promotion of Carl Menninger to Associate Artistic Director and welcome David H. Bell as an Artistic Associate for the Playhouse effective immediately.

In support of their continued commitment to new play development through their Foundry Stage Series, First Stage, one of the nation's leading theaters for young people and families, is proud to announce their Playwrights-in-Residence: Alice Austen, James DeVita, John Maclay and Alvaro Saar Rios.

Artistic Director Robert Falls has named Kimberly Senior the newest member of Goodman Theatre's Artistic Collective-ten American theater artists whose work has cemented the theater's international reputation for excellence over three decades. The Collective, which Falls established when he became Artistic Director, currently includes award-winning playwrights, directors and actors: Brian Dennehy, Rebecca Gilman, Henry Godinez, Dael Orlandersmith, Steve Scott, Chuck Smith, Regina Taylor, Henry Wishcamper and Mary Zimmerman.

Diversionary Theatre, the Nation's 3rd Oldest LGBT Theatre presents The 3rd Annual Spark New Play Festival featuring a program of new plays never before seen in San Diego.

Chicago Dramatists today announces its schedule for new summer classes. The exciting schedule includes classes designed for new writers who are just starting their creative journey as playwrights, as well as seasoned dramatists. It includes classes for actors and other artists who want to develop solo story-telling skills or develop their own solo shows.

Sideshow Theatre Company and Rivendell Theatre Ensemble present the Midwest premiere of Selina Fillinger's breathtaking new drama SOMETHING CLEAN, directed by Lauren Shouse, playing June 16 - July 21, 2019 at Victory Gardens Richard Christiansen Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave. in Chicago.

The annual Momentum Festival of New Plays at Different Stages will close the 2018-19 City Theatre season with four days of an intergenerational epic, an unconventional comedy, a chilling thriller, and a touching story of hope. Supported by The Fine Foundation, the festival runs May 30 - June 2, 2019, and is free and open to the public, though reservations are required as seating is limited. Reservations may be made at CityTheatreCompany.org or by calling the box office at 412-431-CITY (2489). Event schedule and project descriptions below.

Cloudgate Theatre announces the world premiere of Strange Heart Beating, July 9 - July 27, at The Frontier, 1106 W. Thorndale.

Do you have stories to tell? Characters to create? Lyrics to be sung? Bring your creativity to life at Chicago Dramatists. Meet us on Saturday, May 11th  for our Open House and a chance to meet our new Artistic Director, Carson Becker.