Chris Jones News

The Phoenix Theatre of Indianapolis announces the Midwest Premiere of This, by Melissa James Gibson, opening Thursday, March 31, 2011 on the Phoenix Mainstage and playing through Sunday, April 24, 2011.

Having received unanimous rave reviews and nightly accolades from delighted audiences, through The Chicago Tribune's Chris Jones calls WORKING, 'REMARKABLE! Moving and fresh! Knock out young performers! A rich and accomplished ensemble paying homage to Chicago workers.' Chicago Sun?Times' Hedy Weiss raves, 'Highly recommended! Superb! Ingenious! Winningly re-imagined!' Comcast Network host Paul Lisnek exclaims, 'WORKING will make you proud to be a Chicagoan; the show has heart, warmth and depth!'

Having received unanimous rave reviews and nightly accolades from delighted audiences, Broadway In Chicago and the producers of WORKING are thrilled to announce a four-week extension through June 5, 2011 at the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place (175 E. Chestnut St., Chicago)

The national tour of the new musical comedy THE ADDAMS FAMILY, based on the bizarre and beloved family of characters created by legendary cartoonist Charles Addams, will make its Boston premiere February 7-19, 2012 at the Citi Performing Arts Center Shubert Theatre as part of the LEXUS 2011-12 Broadway Across America - Boston Series.

From February 15 to March 13, we shuffle off to 1950's Buffalo with Over the Tavern, Tom Dudzick's autobiographical play about his childhood and growing up in his family's small apartment over his father's bar and grill.

The Public Theater's new Tony-winning production of HAIR is now on tour, will next play Boston's Colonial Theatre March 21- April 10. HAIR won the 2009 Tony Award for Best Musical Revival as well as the Drama Desk, Drama League, and Outer Critics Circle award for Outstanding Revival of a Musical. The HAIR cast recording was also nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album.

PNC Broadway Across America - Pittsburgh and Pittsburgh CLO announce the presentation of the hit Broadway musical, THE ADDAMS FAMILY, based on the bizarre and beloved family of characters created by legendary cartoonist Charles Addams.

Segerstrom Center for the Arts (formerly the Orange County Performing Arts Center) just announced its brand new Broadway Series for the 2011 - 2012 Season, a year which also coincides with the Center's 25th Anniversary. For it's BROADWAY SERIES, the Center will host touring companies of SHREK THE MUSICAL, BLUE MAN GROUP, IRVING BERLIN'S WHITE CHRISTMAS, MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, LES MISERABLES, and LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, plus 'Curtain Call Series' shows COME FLY AWAY, TRACES and AMERICAN IDIOT.

Broadway In Chicago presents WORKING, which began previews February 15, 2011, at the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place (175 E. Chestnut). WORKING is a vital new musical based on the book by Pulitzer Prize-winning author and Chicago's own Studs Terkel. Newly adapted by Stephen Schwartz (WICKED, PIPPIN and GODSPELL) from the original adaptation by Stephen Schwartz and Nina Faso, WORKING is the working man's A CHORUS LINE. A musical exploration of 26 people from all walks of life, with songs by all-star composers Craig Carnelia, Micki Grant, Tony AwardTM winning Lin-Manuel Miranda, Mary Rodgers, Susan Birkenhead, Stephen Schwartz and Grammy AwardTM winning James Taylor. WORKING celebrates everyday people in a genuinely funny and touching way. Portrayed by some of Chicago's brightest stars including E. Faye Butler, Barbara Robertson and Gene Weygandt, Emjoy Gavino, Michael Mahler and Gabriel Ruiz, WORKING fills you with hope and inspiration and is the perfect musical for everyone who has ever worked a day in their lives.

TimeLine Theatre Company, named the nation's theater 'Company of the Year' for 2010 by Terry Teachout in The Wall Street Journal and 'one of the Chicago theater's most impressive growth stories' by Chris Jones in the Chicago Tribune, announces its four-play 2011-12 season

Ordway Center for the Performing Arts today unveiled its 2011-2012 performance season. The diverse schedule will offer a full menu of entertaining experiences, from dinner with The Addams Family to the amusingly intimate car ride during a blind date, and transport audiences from the streets of Africa to the darkened stage of a Parisian opera house.

Victoria Theatre Association announced the 2011-2012 Miami Valley & Good Samaritan Hospitals Broadway Series, Variety Series, Star Attractions and PNC Family Series tonight at a special event for subscribers, donors and friends of the Victoria Theatre Association.

WOW, what a season! The Durham Performing Arts Center just announced its 2011-2012 SunTrust Broadway Series live from New York City! Do not wait. Get your tickets while you can. The 2011-2012 season is spectacular - filled with great music, Tony Award winning shows and high-kicking showgirls! There's something for everyone this season at DPAC. Direct from New York, next year's season combines the best of the new touring productions and some of your classic favorites to create another exciting Broadway lineup at DPAC. Plus WICKED makes a triumphant return to the Triangle!

The Phoenix Theatre of Indianapolis announces the Midwest Premiere of The Storytelling Ability of a Boy, by Carter W. Lewis, opening Thursday, March 3, 2011 in the Frank and Katrina Basile Theatre and playing through Sunday, March 27, 2011.

Chris Jones reports in the Chicago Tribune today that a new musical comprised of songbook selections from Stephen Schwartz will make it's world premiere at the Northlight Theatre this fall. The romantic comedy will feature a book by David Stern and include songs from Pippin, Godspell, Working and Wicked, among others. Ken Sawyer directs.

From February 15 to March 13, we shuffle off to 1950's Buffalo with Over the Tavern, Tom Dudzick's autobiographical play about his childhood and growing up in his family's small apartment over his father's bar and grill.

BroadwayWorld.com was the first to report that multiple critics from major newspapers have indeed purchased tickets in recent days to SPIDER-MAN: Turn Off the Dark, and they have come out in force. All but a few papers have filed reviews timed to tonight's performance which was, until the most recent delay, scheduled to be the show's opening night. Here are all the reviews for SPIDER-MAN: Turn Off the Dark to date and we'll keep updating as new ones come in.

Here's what Chris Jones had to say for the Chicago Tribune:'After the $65 million spent, the endless delays, the injuries, the cast changes, the incessant spinning of stories on the Web, Julie Taymor's 'Spider-Man Turn Off the Dark' now has to be willing to stand in the light. Deck chairs can be rearranged forever.

The Phoenix Theatre of Indianapolis announces a special display of photographs to appear in their Mainstage lobby during the run of Goldie, Max and Milk from February 3 through 27, 2011.

In February, 2006, THE EARL, an over the top, powerful comedy noir from the very thought-provoking native Chicago playwright BRETT NEVEU, opened to raves at A RED ORCHID THEATRE on Wells Street in Chicago.