Chicago Shakespeare Theater News

Yesterday, at the top of the museum's Grand Staircase leading to the Impressionist Galleries, a full-sized replica of Georges Seurat's A Sunday on La Grande Jatte-1884 was installed but devoid of most of the foreground characters, leaving visitors puzzled by the strange new version. In anticipation of Chicago Shakespeare Theater's upcoming production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's musical Sunday in the Park with George, characters from this famous painting came to life for a surprising musical performance. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the event below!

Yesterday, at the top of the museum's Grand Staircase leading to the Impressionist Galleries, a full-sized replica of Georges Seurat's A Sunday on La Grande Jatte-1884 was installed but devoid of most of the foreground characters, leaving visitors puzzled by the strange new version. In anticipation of Chicago Shakespeare Theater's upcoming production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's musical Sunday in the Park with George, characters from this famous painting came to life for a surprising musical performance. Watch the performance below!

Yesterday, at the top of the museum's Grand Staircase leading to the Impressionist Galleries, a full-sized replica of Georges Seurat's A Sunday on La Grande Jatte-1884 was installed but devoid of most of the foreground characters, leaving visitors puzzled by the strange new version. In anticipation of Chicago Shakespeare Theater's upcoming production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's musical Sunday in the Park with George, characters from this famous painting came to life for a surprising musical performance.

In response to the CPS teachers' strike, Court Theatre is offering a special free performance of August Wilson's Jitney, directed by Resident Artist Ron OJ Parson, for any CPS student (and one parent/guardian) with a valid CPS ID. This free matinee will be Thursday, September 13, 2012 at 10:30am at Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis Avenue. There is no need to RSVP, simply present a valid CPS ID at the theatre.

FREUD'S LAST SESSION will celebrate its 200th performance on Thursday, Sept. 20 at 7:30 p.m. at the Mercury Theater, 3745 N. Southport, in Chicago.

Court Theatre kicks off its 2012-13 season with August Wilson's Jitney directed by Resident Artist Ron OJ Parson.Jitney is the fourth play in Wilson's Century Cycle to be produced at Court Theatre under Parson's direction. The production will run tonight, September 6 - October 14, 2012 at Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis Avenue. The press opening will be Saturday, September 15, 2012 at 8:00 p.m.

John Douglas Thompson, described by the New York Times as one of the most compelling classical stage actors of his generation, will make his Long Wharf Theatre debut in Satchmo at the Waldorf, by Terry Teachout, directed by Artistic Director Gordon Edelstein. The one-man show will take place Wednesday, October 3 through Sunday, November 4 on Stage II.

Assassins will be directed at The Milwaukee Rep by Artistic Director Mark Clements. This will be the third musical he has directed since he began his tenure at The Rep following last season's hit Next to Normal and Cabaret from his first season. With the selection of Assassins for the 2012/13 Season, Milwaukee Repertory Theater shows its commitment to continuing to produce full-scale musicals as part of its repertoire. Clements has assembled a top-notch cast for this production featuring many performers with extensive Broadway credits. Assassins runs in the Quadracci Powerhouse from tonight, September 4 - October 7, and opens on Friday, September 7.

On August 23rd, BroadwayWorld Chicago opened voting on a new poll, entitled, 'What new Chicago area musical production is the one you are most eager to see next month?' And now that it IS next month, we figured we should take a look at the results!

Porchlight Music Theatre launches its 18th season with the Chicago premiere of A Class Act, tonight, September 1 - October 7, at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. A Class Act's music and lyrics are by Edward Kleban and the book is by Linda Kline and Lonny Price.

American Theater Company announces two American classics never-before-paired on a single night-The Catholic Repertory: Doubt & Agnes of God-directed by ATC Artistic Director PJ Paparelli and featuring Ensemble Member Sadieh Rifai, Lance Baker, Penelope Walker and Kate Skinner.

Assassins will be directed at The Milwaukee Rep by Artistic Director Mark Clements. This will be the third musical he has directed since he began his tenure at The Rep following last season's hit Next to Normal and Cabaret from his first season. With the selection of Assassins for the 2012/13 Season, Milwaukee Repertory Theater shows its commitment to continuing to produce full-scale musicals as part of its repertoire. Clements has assembled a top-notch cast for this production featuring many performers with extensive Broadway credits. Assassins runs in the Quadracci Powerhouse from September 4 - October 7, and opens on Friday, September 7.

TimeLine Theatre Company opens its 16th season with the Chicago premiere of 33 Variations by Moises Kaufman, directed by Nick Bowling, tonight, August 30 - October 21, 2012 (previews August 24 - 29). Note that performances will be held at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. Chicago. Press Opening performance is Thursday, August 30, 2012 at 7:30 p.m.

Northlight Theatre, under the direction of Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans, presents My Baby Just Cares For Me, a special fall benefit concert featuring the married musical theater duo Michael and Angela Ingersoll. The event will take place Monday, October 1 and Tuesday, October 2 at 8:00pm at Northlight Theatre, 9501 Skokie Blvd.

Composer/lyricist Neil Bartram and book writer Brian Hill, Drama Desk Nominated authors of Broadway's The Story of My Life, will workshop their newest musical Something Wicked This Way Comes, adapted from the novel by Ray Bradbury, with the Weitzenhoffer School of Musical Theatre at the University of Oklahoma in October 2012.

In keeping with the trans-Atlantic relationship, Chicago Shakespeare and Scotland's theater community are engaged in a cultural exchange-one CST production, The Q Brothers' Othello: The Remix, is now playing to wildly enthusiastic response at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the very festival that launched two critically acclaimed National Theatre of Scotland (NTS) productions that are slated for Chicago Shakespeare's fall 2012 World's Stage series: The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart, and the return engagement of Black Watch.

New BroadwayWorld.com Poll - What new Chicago area musical production is the one you are most eager to see next month?

Victory Gardens opens its 2012-13 season with the Chicago Premiere of Equivocation, written by Bill Cain and directed by Sean Graney. The production runs September 14 - October 14, 2012 at the Victory Gardens Biograph Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue in Lincoln Park. The Press Opening is Monday, September 24, 2012 at 7:30 p.m.

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 2012 Equity Jeff Award nominees, 'Xanadu' at Drury Lane, upcoming shows at Porchlight and Theo Ubique, dueling 'Assassins,' a summer theater surprise and more!

Fall 2012 will see Chicago continue to produce some of the most exciting theater in the country. Offerings from the city's more than 200 producing theaters includes a range of special fall programming, featuring everything from the latest musicals to highly anticipated world premieres.