Chicago Shakespeare Theater News

Lyric Opera of Chicago will begin a new chapter in its history with its 61st season - the first to be fully planned by general director Anthony Freud and music director Sir Andrew Davis. Lyric's two artistic leaders announced the repertoire and casting for the 2015-16 season today.

Writers Theatre presents The Diary of Anne Frank by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett, adapted by Wendy Kesselman and directed by Kimberly Senior. The show runs February 24 - June 28, 2015 at Books on Vernon, 664 Vernon Avenue, Glencoe. The Press Openings are Wednesday, March 4, and Thursday, March 5, 2015.

Award-winning, multi-talented performers, Felicia Fields, Chic Street Man and Sugaray Rayford, will be heating up The Rep's Stackner Cabaret this March in Low Down Dirty Blues. Audiences will forget about the cold weather when they come see these powerhouse entertainers belt out the blues. Directed by Randal Myler, the production is set to begin performances in The Rep's Stackner Cabaret March 20, 2015 and runs through May 24, 2015. Opening night is Sunday, March 22, 2015.

The course of love definitely does NOT run smooth when William Shakespeare's family-friendly comedy "A Midsummer Night's Dream" plays on the Clarence Brown Theatre Mainstage February 19 through March 8, 2015. An Open Captioned performance will take place on Sunday, February 22 at 2:00 pm.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. The 'Last Five Years' movie, and three local shows for Valentine's Day about young folks in New York. Plus two new shows based on Jane Austen, Lippa's 'Wild Party,' Sondheim's 'Sondheim,' Aurora's 'Les Miserables and Annaleigh Ashford's return, plus some critical thinking about the late Andrew Patner.

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Today's big news: Encores! LADY, BE GOOD kicks off, TUCK EVERLASTING premieres in Atlanta, and off-Broadway has a busy night!

The Shakespeare Theatre Company (STC) presents Dunsinane, playwright David Greig's majestic sequel to Shakespeare's Macbeth, presented by the National Theatre of Scotland and the Royal Shakespeare Company, and directed by Roxana Silbert. First premiered by the Royal Shakespeare Company at Hampstead Theatre in 2010, this tour marks the U.S. premiere of Dunsinane after a highly successful tour to East Asia and Russia in spring 2014. Hailed by The Guardian as 'a work of compelling intelligence, provocation and wit,' Dunsinane will play at the Sidney Harman Hall (610 F Street NW) from tonight, February 4-21, 2015.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) announces the full casting and creative team for the highly anticipated world premiere of Sense and Sensibility, a musical adaptation of Jane Austen's beloved novel, with book, music and lyrics by Tony Award®-nominated composer Paul Gordon.

Wonderland, Alice's Rock & Roll Adventure, a new family musical created by top Chicago director Rachel Rockwell and music director Michael Mahler, is Chicago Children's Theatre's big 10th anniversary season finale.

WEST SIDE STORY is now officially the fastest-selling production in Drury Lane Theatre's 30 year history. The highly-anticipated musical runs now through March 29. BroadwayWorld has photos from the opening night festivities below!

Peninsula Players Theatre will present a reading of 'Go Back for Murder' by Agatha Christie, a thrilling whodunit from the Queen of Crime, at Bjorklunden, 7p.m., Monday, Feb. 2. This play reading is produced with support from and in coordination with Door County Reads and its exploration of 'Ordinary Grace' by William Kent Krueger. Join the Players reading and travel back in time with Carla Le Marchant as she tries to prove her mother's innocence in her father's death. Admission is free.

Considered one of the Midwest's leading, professional equity theaters that presents both regional and world premieres featuring the area's finest artists, Theatre at the Center kicks off its 25th Anniversary 2015 season with the beloved classic, Ernest Thompson's ON GOLDEN POND.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater presents Short Shakespeare! Macbeth, a 75-minute abridgment of William Shakespeare's tale of political intrigue and personal ambition. This new production from Director Kirsten Kelly, whose decade-long history with CST includes being the co-founder and director of the nationally recognized CPS Shakespeare! program, makes for an outstanding introduction to Shakespeare. In addition to public performances each Saturday, this production will welcome 1,000 students per day during its five-week run in the Courtyard Theater, followed by an extensive tour to schools across the Midwest. Short Shakespeare! Macbeth will be performed for the public Saturdays at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. now through February 14, 2015. After each performance, the actors remain on stage for a question-and-answer session, before joining the audience in the Lobby for one-on-one conversations and photo opportunities.

Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, is kicking off the New Year with WEST SIDE STORY, the revolutionary Tony Award-winning production that forever changed American musical theater. Experience the passion, drama and heart-pounding excitement of WEST SIDE STORY like never before. The production opens tonight, January 22, running through March 22. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast onstage below!

Signal Ensemble Theatre presents the United States premiere of Red Bud by Brett Neveu and directed by Brant Russell at Signal Ensemble Theatre, 1802 W. Berenice Ave., tonight, January 22 - February 28.

The Shakespeare Theatre Company (STC) presents Dunsinane, playwright David Greig's majestic sequel to Shakespeare's Macbeth, presented by the National Theatre of Scotland and the Royal Shakespeare Company, and directed by Roxana Silbert. First premiered by the Royal Shakespeare Company at Hampstead Theatre in 2010, this tour marks the U.S. premiere of Dunsinane after a highly successful tour to East Asia and Russia in spring 2014. Hailed by The Guardian as "a work of compelling intelligence, provocation and wit," Dunsinane will play at the Sidney Harman Hall (610 F Street NW) from February 4-21, 2015.

Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, is kicking off the New Year with WEST SIDE STORY, the revolutionary Tony Award-winning production that forever changed American musical theater. Experience the passion, drama and heart-pounding excitement of WEST SIDE STORY like never before. The production is currently in previews and opens January 22, running through March 22. BroadwayWorld has footage of the company performing 'Something's Coming,' 'America,' and 'Mambo' below!

Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, is kicking off the New Year with WEST SIDE STORY, the revolutionary Tony Award-winning production that forever changed American musical theater. Experience the passion, drama and heart-pounding excitement of WEST SIDE STORY like never before. The production is currently in previews and opens January 22, running through March 22. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast onstage below!

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) announces casting for Short Shakespeare! Macbeth, a 75-minute abridged production of William Shakespeare's tale of political intrigue and personal ambition. This new adaptation by Director Kirsten Kelly, whose decade long history with CST includes being the co-founder and director of the nationally recognized CPS Shakespeare! program, makes for an outstanding introduction to Shakespeare for audiences of all ages.