Chuck Smith News

Windy City Playhouse, Chicago's newest Equity theater, will premiere in March of 2015. Partnering with Chicago's own Henry Godinez, Chuck Smith, and William Brown, the Playhouse promises to combine high level artistry with highly accessible material. The mission of the new theater is to reinstate live performance as an entertaining and largely social experience. Its first season, featuring four full-length productions, will focus on contemporary, non-musical pieces that embrace a new era of theater audience.

Pivot Arts launches its second annual celebration of innovative performance events, today, May 28 - June 14, throughout Chicago's Uptown, Edgewater and Rogers Park neighborhoods. The PIVOT ARTS FESTIVAL serves to bring audiences together for unique performance events. This year the festival's focus highlights the intersection between the performing arts and science.

Tonight, 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.

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.

Pivot Arts launches its second annual celebration of innovative performance events, May 28 - June 14, throughout Chicago's Uptown, Edgewater and Rogers Park neighborhoods. The PIVOT ARTS FESTIVAL serves to bring audiences together for unique performance events. This year the festival's focus highlights the intersection between the performing arts and science. Tickets go on sale for "Art Meets Science" April 20, with a range of free events and entrance fees no higher than $15 per event. To purchase tickets and for complete festival information, visit www.pivotarts.org/festival or call 773.609.0782.

Chicago's most established resident theater presents a 90th anniversary "season to celebrate," a line-up of new and contemporary works on its two stages-the 856-seat Albert Theatre and 400-seat flexible Owen Theatre. Today, Artistic Director Robert Falls and Executive Director Roche Schulfer announced six plays (of eight)-half of which were developed by commission and/or workshop in the Goodman's new play development programs-that comprise the 2014/2015 Season, plus co-productions with Chicago's off-Loop theaters. Remarked Falls, "We are proud to present this Season in the same spirit that launched the Goodman in 1925: 'an array of dramatic fare, from classics to noteworthy contemporary works, innovative and oft controversial, embracing genres from farces to searing social dramas.' We hope to give our audiences compelling, relevant experiences from a range of culturally and aesthetically diverse artists, from bold new talents to acclaimed local and national voices." For a limited time, Subscriptions start at $90 in honor of the milestone season; call 312.443.3800 or visit GoodmanTheatre.org. Individual tickets go on sale in August. Two Albert plays are TBA.

Get Away Today has announced the addition of several new vacation packages, including packages that will take travelers to Disneyland. For many years, the company has sent travelers to this particular destination, and many industry insiders regard Get Away Today as the expert when it comes to Disneyland vacation packages. With their new additions, it seems that Get Away Today will also become the most comprehensive provider of travel packages to Disneyland.

Goodman Theatre introduces a new subscription package for 2014, 'Great Women at Play,' featuring works written and directed by a handful of the most popular female playwrights working in the American theater today. This special package for women-and men-includes five plays for the price of four, a complimentary visit to the exclusive Goodman Lounge and the opportunity to win a $100 gift certificate from the Goodman's preferred restaurant partner, Petterino's. Visit GoodmanTheatre.org/GreatWomen for more information, and check out a video of the artists involved below!

Support two of Gwinnett's great non-profits today, January 14 at Aurora Theatre. Guests will get a chance to rub elbows with former NFL players and get an exclusive sneak-peek at The Brand Signature Series production Lombardi by Eric Simonson, based on the book When Pride Still Mattered - A Life of Vince Lombardi written by David Maraniss.

Support two of Gwinnett's great non-profits on January 14 at Aurora Theatre. Guests will get a chance to rub elbows with former NFL players and get an exclusive sneak-peek at The Brand Signature Series production Lombardi by Eric Simonson, based on the book When Pride Still Mattered - A Life of Vince Lombardi written by David Maraniss. The idea came from former Detroit Lion and Life After the Game founder, LaMar Campbell who thought this event would be a great way to support the arts in our community and bring awareness and support to the new Concussion Institute at Gwinnett Medical Center. Concussion safety and treatment is a topic near and dear to many current and former NFL stars and Mr. Campbell has thrown his full support behind this event. With that in mind, several former NFL greats scheduled to attend, including: David Greene (UGA & Seattle Seahawks), Chuck Smith (Atlanta Falcons), Matt Stinchcomb (UGA, Oakland Raiders & Tampa Bay Buccaneers), as well as Super Bowl Champions from the Green Bay Packers - Eric Matthews and Georgia Tech alum Dorsey Levens. And more are expected. Tickets include a VIP reception at the theatre at 7pm and the show beginning at 8pm. The cost to attend this once-in-a-lifetime event is just $25 and the proceeds benefit the Concussion Institute at Gwinnett Medical Center and Aurora Theatre.

The most wonderful time of the year is underway as Goodman Theatre's A Christmas Carol begins its 36th annual production. Directing the holiday favorite for the first time, Henry Wishcamper's production features all-new on stage magic-set elements, special effects and more. The cast of 27 (below, includes 14 new and 13 returning cast members) stars Larry Yando, who most recently appeared in Mary Zimmerman's production of The Jungle Book as Shere Khan, in his sixth turn as Ebenezer Scrooge and 8-year-old Matthew Abraham as Tiny Tim for the second year. A Christmas Carol runs now through December 28 in the Goodman's Albert Theatre. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

An oral history of Chicago's African American theatre and dance communities in the last 40 years is only the third book to explore the long history of Chicago's dynamic theatre scene and the first to focus exclusively on black theatre artists.

Julie Taymor, the Oscar and Tony Award-winning director of film, theatre and opera comes to 92Y tonight, November 17 to talk about her work in a conversation moderated by actor Harry Lennix, who received a Golden Satellite Award in Taymor's Titus.

The most wonderful time of the year is underway as rehearsals begin this week for Goodman Theatre's A Christmas Carol, 'a joyous present for the entire family' (Chicago Sun-Times), in its 36th annual production. Directing the holiday favorite for the first time, Henry Wishcamper's production features all-new on stage magic-set elements, special effects and more. The cast of 27 (below, includes 14 new and 13 returning cast members) stars Larry Yando, who most recently appeared in Mary Zimmerman's production of The Jungle Book as Shere Khan, in his sixth turn as Ebenezer Scrooge and 8-year-old Matthew Abraham as Tiny Tim for the second year. A Christmas Carol runs tonight, November 16 - December 28 in the Goodman's Albert Theatre.

Goodman Theatre introduces a new subscription package for 2014, 'Great Women at Play,' featuring works written and directed by a handful of the most popular female playwrights working in the American theater today. This special package for women-and men-includes five plays for the price of four, a complimentary visit to the exclusive Goodman Lounge and the opportunity to win a $100 gift certificate from the Goodman's preferred restaurant partner, Petterino's. Visit GoodmanTheatre.org/GreatWomen for more information, and check out a video of the artists involved below!

The most wonderful time of the year is underway as rehearsals begin this week for Goodman Theatre's A Christmas Carol, 'a joyous present for the entire family' (Chicago Sun-Times), in its 36th annual production. Directing the holiday favorite for the first time, Henry Wishcamper's production features all-new on stage magic-set elements, special effects and more. The cast of 27 (below, includes 14 new and 13 returning cast members) stars Larry Yando, who most recently appeared in Mary Zimmerman's production of The Jungle Book as Shere Khan, in his sixth turn as Ebenezer Scrooge and 8-year-old Matthew Abraham as Tiny Tim for the second year. A Christmas Carol runs November 16 - December 28 in the Goodman's Albert Theatre.

Julie Taymor, the Oscar and Tony Award-winning director of film, theatre and opera comes to 92Y on Sunday, November 17 to talk about her work in a conversation moderated by actor Harry Lennix, who received a Golden Satellite Award in Taymor's Titus. The event -From Stage to Screen and Back Again - will be illustrated with clips from her productions. Taymor is acclaimed for infusing her work with a uniquely theatrical vision - from the internationally acclaimed stage musical The Lion King, to the Beatles-inspired screen musical, Across the Universe, the timeless magic of Shakespeare on screen in Titus and The Tempest, to Shakespeare on stage, with her highly-anticipated upcoming production of A Midsummer Night's Dream for Theatre for a New Audience.

The 2013 Corona Award will be presented to Chuck Smith, Resident Director at The Goodman Theatre on Monday November 11th, 2013 at The Athenaeum Theatre Mainstage 2936 N. Southport Ave. Chicago IL.

It's "a story that belongs in downtown Chicago" (Chicago Tribune). By popular demand, Goodman Theatre adds six performances of Cheryl L. West'sPullman Porter Blues, directed by Chuck Smith: October 23 at 7:30pm; October 24 at 7:30pm; October 25 at 8pm; October 26 at 2pm and 8pm; and October 27 at 2pm (closing). Tickets ($30 - $78) for the added performances are on sale now and can be purchased at GoodmanTheatre.org/Pullman, by phone at 312.443.3800 or at the box office (170 North Dearborn).

Best Musical, a completely improvised show, will be coming to the UP Comedy Club in Chicago for a limited run. Porchlight has also announced Porchlight Revisits, which are one night showings of some of their favorite shows, this year includes GOLDEN BOY and FADE OUT - FADE IN, both for one night only.