Chicago Shakespeare Theater News

Profiles Theatre announces the final extension for the Midwest premiere of Cock by Mike Bartlett, directed by Artistic Director Darrell W. Cox. The production opened February 20, 2014 and will extend for the second time through June 29, 2014. Cast members Torrey Hanson, Eleni Pappageorge, Jake Szczepaniak continue their roles with Nik Kourtis joining the cast. Performances are held at The Main Stage, 4139 N. Broadway.

Court Theatre closes its 2013-2014 season with the Chicago premiere of M. Butterfly written by David Henry Hwang and directed by Artistic Director Charles Newell, with choreography by Jamie Guan. M. Butterfly will run today, May 8 - June 8, 2014 at Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis Avenue. Press Opening is Saturday, May 17, 2014 at 8:00PM.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) presents William Shakespeare's epic Henry V, directed by celebrated British director Christopher Luscombe in his Chicago debut. In a rousing finale to the 2014 season, the play that inaugurated Chicago Shakespeare Theater in 1986 on the rooftop of Lincoln Park's Red Lion Pub comes to the Courtyard Theater for the first time. Shakespeare's powerful history play explores the consequences of war and the capacity of language to inspire and transform. Leading the troops as the charismatic, young monarch is Harry Judge in the titular role. Henry V will be performed in CST's Courtyard Theater April 29 through June 15, 2014. BroadwayWorld has a first look at highlights below!

Philadelphia Theatre Company announces four of its five plays for next year's 40th Anniversary season including Lisa D'Amour's disturbing yet bracingly funny drama Detroit, the Tony Award nominated Outside Mullingar by Pulitzer, Oscar and Tony Award-winning writer John Patrick Shanley, the runaway hit of this year's Humana Festival of New American Plays, brownsville song (b-side for tray) by rising playwright Kimber Lee, and Joe Kinosian and Kellen Blair's musical whodunit Murder for Two, nominated for this year's Drama League and Outer Critics Circle Awards. A final mainstage production will be announced shortly.

Artistic Director Michael Halberstam and Executive Director Kathryn M. Lipuma announce Writers Theatre's World Premiere production of Days Like Today, with music and lyrics by Alan Schmuckler and book by Laura Eason, directed by Artistic Director Michael Halberstam, music direction by Doug Peck and choreography by Tommy Rapley. The production runs today, May 6-July 13, 2014 at 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe. The press opening is May 22, 2014 at 7:30pm.

PICT Theatre's Artistic and Executive Director Alan Stanford has selected a bold assortment of classic plays for PICT's 18th season, Something Wicked This Way Comes. Each play contains its own version of wickedness, with the Noel Coward classic Blithe Spirit opening the season tonight, May 3rd (May 1 and 2 previews.)

People's Light is proud to announce new play commissions for Eisa Davis, Colman Domingo, Kate Fodor, Karen Hartman, Dominique Morisseau, and Kathryn Petersen. These six playwrights are the first participants in our New Play Frontiers residency program. New Play Frontiers is an initiative to conceive, develop, and produce new plays that explore our American identity through stories of deep meaning to specific populations in the five-county region that surround our theatre.

Victory Gardens Theater continues its 2013-2014 season with Death and the Maiden by Ariel Dorfman, directed by Artistic Director Chay Yew. Death and the Maiden runs June 13 - July 13, 2014, with the press performance on June 20, 2014, at Victory Gardens Theatre, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue. Tickets to Death and the Maiden go on sale to the public at noon on May 2, 2014.

MURDER FOR TWO celebrated their 200th performance on Monday night, April 28. Below, Check out a photo of the company and another of Brett Ryback and Jeff Blumenkrantz cutting the cake!

Todd London - writer, scholar, and current artistic director of New Dramatists in New York - has been named the new Executive Director of the School of Drama at the University of Washington. Dr. London will also serve as a professor in the School. He will be relocating to Seattle from New York this summer and will officially assume his role as Executive Director on August 1, 2014. This appointment is pending formal approval by the University of Washington Board of Regents.

The Fox Valley Rep Performing Arts Academy welcomes youth who have completed 1st-12th grade to apply for the Academy's 2nd annual talent contest, 'Got Talent?,' sponsored by Delnor Express Care. Submissions are due Friday, May 23, 2014. This contest provides young people with the opportunity to not only showcase their abilities, but to pursue their dreams in the performing arts. The youth attain experience in performing up on-stage in front of an audience and receive critiques of their performance by casting professionals from some of Chicago's biggest theatres and talent agencies. The contest will take place on Saturday, June 7, 2014 from 10am-2pm on the Pheasant Run Mainstage and is free for the public to attend.

Court Theatre closes its 2013-2014 season with the Chicago premiere of M. Butterfly written by David Henry Hwang and directed by Artistic Director Charles Newell, with choreography by Jamie Guan. M. Butterfly will run May 8 - June 8, 2014 at Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis Avenue. Press Opening is Saturday, May 17, 2014 at 8:00PM.

On May 13, Goodman Theatre celebrates the life and creative contributions of Robert (Bob) Christen, its longtime Resident Lighting Designer and one of the most prolific live performance designers in the country, who passed away last month at age 64.

Two world premiere children's musicals helmed by A-list Chicago theater artists - Leo Lionni's Frederick, directed by Stuart Carden, and Wonderland, Alice's Rock & Roll Adventure, co-created by Michael Mahler and Rachel Rockwell, were announced today as the opening and closing productions of Chicago Children's Theatre's 2014-15 season. Chicago Children's Theatre (CCT) will also celebrate its 10th birthday season by bringing back its 2008 smash hit The Selfish Giant by Blair Thomas and Michael Smith.

'The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess,' winner of the 2012 Tony Award for Best Musical Revival, opens at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre tonight, April 23 and play through June 1, 2014.

Artistic Director Michael Halberstam and Executive Director Kathryn M. Lipuma announce Writers Theatre's World Premiere production of Days Like Today, with music and lyrics by Alan Schmuckler and book by Laura Eason, directed by Artistic Director Michael Halberstam, music direction by Doug Peck and choreography by Tommy Rapley. The production runs May 6-July 13, 2014 at 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe. The press opening is May 22, 2014 at 7:30pm.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) along with Chicago's civic and cultural leaders celebrate William Shakespeare's 450th Birthday with the premiere of 'Our City, Our Shakespeare,' a documentary exploring Shakespeare's enduring presence in Chicago, featuring Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Art Institute of Chicago, Joffrey Ballet, among others. Produced by Emmy award-winning HMS Media, the program premieres May 1 at 8:00 p.m. on WTTW Channel 11. Shakespeare's 450th birthday on April 23 begins the internationally recognized Shakespeare Quadricentennial Celebration through 2016, marking 400 years of Shakespeare's legacy since his death in 1616. On this occasion, Chicago's cultural community heralds the prolific poet and playwright's lasting impact on our lives-through our everyday speech and in cultural institutions, schools and neighborhoods across the city.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'Cats,' 'Les Miserables' and 'Songs From An Unmade Bed,' rake in the reviews, 'Road Show' and 'Passion' will be followed by 'Assassins,' Theo readies 'The Andrews Sisters,' Kokandy brings back 'The Full Monty' and 'Loving Repeating,' plus two kids shows and more!

Continuing its 26th Season, Lookingglass Theatre Company presents the World Premiere of In the Garden: A Darwinian Love Story, by Artistic Associate Sara Gmitter and directed by Jessica Thebus. In the Garden runs today, April 16 - June 15, 2014 at Lookingglass Theatre Company, located inside Chicago's historic Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave. at Pearson. The Press Opening is Saturday, April 26, 2014 at 7:30 p.m..