Chicago Shakespeare Theatre News

With many sold out performances and limited availability in the first booking period, the producers of SIX today announce that it is extending to January 5, 2020.

Drury Lane Theatre announces casting for its production of the international megahit Mamma Mia!, with music and lyrics by Benny Andersson and Bj rn Ulvaeus, some songs with Stig Anderson, and book by Catherine Johnson. Originally conceived by Judy Craymer, Mamma Mia! is directed by Artistic Director William Osetek and choreographed by Jane Lanier with music direction by Roberta Duchak. Mamma Mia! runs February 7 April 14, 2019, at Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace. The press opening is scheduled for Thursday, February 21 at 8:00 p.m.

Porchlight Music Theatre continues its "lost" musicals in staged concert series with Porchlight Revisits Can-Can, music and lyrics by Cole Porter and book by Abe Burrows with direction by Adrian Abel Azevedo, musical direction by Linda Madonia and choreography by Shanna VanDerwerker.  Porchlight Revisits Can-Can is presented for three performances-only Wednesday, March 6 at 7:30 p.m. and Thursday, March 7 at 2 p.m. and  7:30 p.m. at The Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn Street. Two-show discounted subscriptions and single tickets for $37 are available at porchlightmusictheatre.org or by calling the Porchlight Music Theatre box office at 773.777.9884.

BoHo Theatre announces the directors for its upcoming 2019 season, its first as a resident theatre at the Greenhouse Theater Center in Lincoln Park. BoHo is focused on bringing people together through an eclectic mix of musicals, dramas, and classic plays, inspiring its community to make caring, thoughtful relationships the highest priority.

As the Green Bay Packers celebrate their 100th Season, the Weidner Center wanted to offer their own tribute to the team. The legacy of Packers' coach, Vince Lombardi, remains strong in the streets of Green Bay.

Asolo Repertory Theatre proudly presents the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for Drama winner and Tony nominee for Best Play: SWEAT, penned by one of today's foremost playwrights, two-time Pulitzer Prize-winner Lynn Nottage. Directed by Nicole A. Watson, this poignant new drama humanizes the U.S. labor crisis and its impact on Reading, Pennsylvania. SWEAT previews February 6 and 7, opens February 8 and runs through April 13 in rotating repertory in the Mertz Theatre, located in the FSU Center for the Performing Arts. 

Victory Gardens Theater continues its 44th season with the Chicago Premiere of Pipeline, written by 2018 MacArthur Fellow Dominique Morisseau and directed by Cheryl Lynn Bruce. Pipeline runs February 1 March 3, 2019, with press performance on Friday, February 8, 2019 at 7:30pm at Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue.

Raven Theatre is pleased to announce casting for its Chicago premiere of Anna Jordan's drama YEN directed by Elly Green.

With the dust settled from midterm elections and freshman members of Congress learning to navigate the maze of Capitol Hill 2.5 miles away, Studio Theatre presents Kings, part of its Studio X series, written by Alexandria, VA native Sarah Burgess and directed by Marti Lyons. With a deft hand at the fast talk and power dynamics of lawmaking and fundraising, Burgesss play is a swamp tour of the Beltway power-broking that fuels her hometown. A Susan Smith Blackburn Prize finalist, Burgess quickly rose to notoriety exploring the cutthroat world of finance in her breakout play, Dry Powder, at the Public Theater in New York, which starred Claire Danes, John Krasinski, and Hank Azaria.

TRIPTYCH THEATRE GROUP presents the West Coast premiere of STOCKHOLM, written by Bryony Lavery (Frozen), with choreography by Stephen Buescher and directed by Kim Rubenstein. STOCKHOLM will preview on Friday, January 11 at 8pm and open on Saturday, January 12 at 8pm will run through Monday, January 28 at The Pico Playhouse, 10508 W. Pico Blvd. in West Los Angeles.  

Just in time for the holiday season, THE WOMAN IN BLACK is inviting guests to try something new this year with a holiday ticket package. For those looking to bond over a spine-tingling live theater performance, THE WOMAN IN BLACK will include a drink from the bar with the purchase of a ticket using the code HOLIDAY through January 6, 2019. An experience surely not to miss, the production has been called "Spectacular" by the Chicago Sun-Times, and "Brilliant" by Chicago Theater Review, receiving rave reviews from critics across the board. 

Yale Repertory Theatre will present the world premiere of Good Faith: Four Chats about Race and the New Haven Fire Department by Karen Hartman, directed by Kenny Leon, February 1-23, 2019 at Yale Repertory Theatre (1120 Chapel Street). Opening Night is Thursday, February 7.

Remy Bumppo Theatre Company is pleased to announce that Mike Durst, Yeaji Kim, Christopher Kriz, Joe Schermoly, and Ellen Willett have been the first to be named Associate Artists of the company. The newly created Associate Artist program honors the work of these talented collaborators and will give them more opportunities to work with the company on future projects.

William Shakespeare's Hamlet produced by Orlando Shakes in partnership with UCF runs from February 6 - March 24, 2019. Hamlet will play in repertory with the world premiere of Gertrude and Claudius by Mark St. Germain. Tickets (starting at $30) are available now by phone (407) 447-1700 ext. 1, online at orlandoshakes.org, or in person at the John and Rita Lowndes Shakespeare Center (812 East Rollins Street).

Director Linda Fortunato has cast Neil Friedman as Kris Kringle, Stella Rose Hoyt as Susan, Courtney Jones as Doris and Christopher Kale Jones as Fred for Theatre at the Center's Miracle On 34th Street: The Musical. Previews began November 15 with Opening Night on November 18 and a continued run through December 23. This production is sponsored in part by American Community Bank.

Milwaukee Repertory Theater is pleased to announce the complete cast and creative team for the Midwest premiere of Junk by Milwaukee native and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Ayad Akhtar. Since its Broadway premiere at Lincoln Center last year, Ayad Akhtar along with Artistic Director Mark Clements have continued to hone Junk to bring Milwaukee audiences a new, two hour no intermission riveting story set in the financial world of the 1980s.

Chance Theater, Anaheim's official resident theater company, is delighted to introduce Jane Austen's Emma: The Musical to Orange County for the first time as part of our 2018 Holiday Literature Series!  Book, lyrics, and music by Tony-nominated composer Paul Gordon, directed by Casey Long, and with music direction by Bill Strongin, Jane Austen's Emma: The Musical will preview from November 23rd through November 30th; regular performances will begin December 1st and continue through December 23rd on the Cripe Stage at Chance Theater @ Bette Aitken theater arts Center.

Griffin Theatre Company Artistic Director William Massolia today announced the addition of nine new ensemble members: Isa Arciniegas, Larry Baldacci, Peter Byrne, Jermaine Hill, Nicole Laurenzi, Ryan McBride, Rochelle Therrien, Jason VonRohn and Scott Weinstein. Additionally, Griffin is pleased to add six new artistic associates: Will Kiley, Dorothy Milne, Mechelle Moe, Alexander Ridgers, Rachel Sypniewski and Brandon Wardell.

Porchlight Music Theatre announces the extension of Gypsy, A Musical Fable, through December 29, at The Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn Street. Porchlight Music Theatre's Gypsy stars E. Faye Butler as "Rose," is directed by Michael Weber, music directed by David Fiorello and choreographed/associate directed by Chris Carter.

Everyone's favorite characters from Cleveland Street are back for their 11th production with Cleveland Play House (CPH) during the 2018 holiday season. A Christmas Story will once again delight Cleveland audiences with the story you know and love, based on the original motion picture that was filmed in Cleveland. CPH's production of A Christmas Story has quickly become an annual holiday tradition for families of all generations. Each year, these performances attract thousands of new guests to live theatre at Cleveland Play House. Previews begin November 23rd with press opening on November 30th at the Allen Theatre in Playhouse Square. This production will be sponsored by Dollar Bank and Pinecrest.