Darci Nalepa News

Steppenwolf Theatre Company announces casting for First Look 2015, a program dedicated to new play development, August 11 - 16, 2015 in the Upstairs Theatre (1650 N Halsted St). First Look 2015 features six staged readings, providing an early look at works-in-progress from some of the most dynamic playwrights in the field. The mission of First Look is to develop new plays for future production at Steppenwolf and other theaters across the country.

The Gift Theatre's artistic director Michael Patrick Thornton, co-founder William Nedved and associate artistic director Paul D'Addario are proud to announce nine artists have joined the company ensemble: playwrights Will Eno and Laura Marks; directors Marti Lyons and Erica Weiss; and actors Cyd Blakewell, Darci Nalepa, Keith Neagle, Mary Ann Thebus, and Kyle Zornes. Conceived in 1997 by Michael Patrick Thornton and William Nedved, The Gift's mission was to grow and nurture an ensemble while laying roots in an artistically underserved Chicago neighborhood. Today, The Gift Theatre thrives in Jefferson Park as Chicago's most intimate Equity theater and is home to a nationally respected acting ensemble.

Producing Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside and American Blues Theater, Chicago's second oldest Equity ensemble, are proud to announce the Chicago premiere of Yankee Tavern, by Steven Deitz and directed by Joanie Schultz, February 20 - March 22, 2015 at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave.

Producing Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside and American Blues Theater, Chicago's second oldest Equity ensemble, present their 2015 productions of Steven Dietz's Yankee Tavern, today, February 20 - March 22, 2015, directed by Joanie Schultz and Warren Leight's Sideman, April 24 - May 24, 2015,directed by Jonathan Berry. All productions take place at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave.

Jackalope's 7th season concludes with Lunacy!, written by resident playwright Andrew Burden Swanson*, directed by founding company member Gus Menary*, with the full cast and production team announced below. The show runs May 11 - June 20, 2015 at Broadway Armory Park, 5917 N. Broadway. Tickets are available April 1 via jackalopetheatre.org. The press performance is Monday, May 18, 2015 at 7:30pm.

Victory Gardens Theater hosted We Must Breathe: A Response from Chicago Playwrights and Poets, a special event gathering members of Chicago's artistic community to share their views on discrimination, race and inequality and engage Chicagoans in a discussion about these social issues. We Must Breathe featured performances from poets and playwrights directed by Victory Gardens' Associate Artistic Producer Joanie Schultz, and a forum discussion on the performance topics, moderated by Congo Square Theatre's Artistic Director Samuel Roberson. The event was held last night, December 18, 2014 at 7:00pm at Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue. Scroll down for photos!

Producing Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside and American Blues Theater, Chicago's second oldest Equity ensemble, have announced the Chicago premiere of Yankee Tavern, by Steven Deitz and directed by Joanie Schultz, February 20 - March 22, 2015 at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave.

Producing Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside and American Blues Theater, Chicago's second oldest Equity ensemble, are proud to announce the casts for the 2015 productions of Steven Dietz's Yankee Tavern, February 20 - March 22, 2015, directed by Joanie Schultz and Warren Leight's Sideman, April 24 - May 24, 2015,directed by Jonathan Berry. All productions take place at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave.

NATURAL GAS, the five-year-old house improv team of The Gift Theatre, appears Friday nights at Wicker Park's The Den Theatre, performing entirely improvised group sets in addition to their standing Wednesday night set at The Gift in Jefferson Park. Every other week is YOU & ME-a two-person, entirely improvised show featuring ensemble member/The Gift artistic director Michael Patrick Thornton with a special guest from the Chicago arts community.

The Gift Theatre Artistic Director Michael Patrick Thornton announces the Chicago premiere of Thinner Than Water written by Melissa Ross and directed by The Gift ensemble member John Gawlik (2013 Jeff Award winner for When the Rain Stops Falling at Circle Theatre). The production marks Thornton's return to The Gift main stage since ensemble member Andrew Hinderaker's Jeff Nominated Dirty in 2012. Thornton recently appeared in Les Waters' production of Our Town at Actors Theatre of Louisville. Thornton joins guest artists Donna McGough (last seen in Coriolanus with The Hypocrites) and Darci Nalepa (Dirty) and fellow Gift ensemble members Brittany Burch (The Lonesome West), Paul D'Addario (One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest), Gabriel Franken (Broadsword), Lynda Newton (Absolute Hell) and Jay Worthington (Vigils).

The Gift Theatre Artistic Director Michael Patrick Thornton announces the Chicago premiere of Thinner Than Water written by Melissa Ross and directed by The Gift ensemble member John Gawlik (2013 Jeff Award winner for When the Rain Stops Falling at Circle Theatre). The production marks Thornton's return to The Gift main stage since ensemble member Andrew Hinderaker's Jeff Nominated Dirty in 2012. Thornton recently appeared in Les Waters' production of Our Town at Actors Theatre of Louisville. Thornton joins guest artists Donna McGough (last seen in Coriolanus with The Hypocrites) and Darci Nalepa (Dirty) and fellow Gift ensemble members Brittany Burch (The Lonesome West), Paul D'Addario (One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest), Gabriel Franken (Broadsword), Lynda Newton (Absolute Hell) and Jay Worthington (Vigils).

Check out production photos from Remy Bumppo's presentation of Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey, the U.S. premiere of an adaptation by Tim Luscombe.

Performances begin in just five weeks for the third annual Next Up, continuing Steppenwolf Theatre Company's commitment to Chicago's next generation of theater artists. Next Up features three productions presented in rotating repertory, in collaboration with Northwestern University's MFA programs in Direction and Design. Next Up 2013 showcases the work of graduates of those programs with casts of professional Chicago actors-including nine alumni of the School at Steppenwolf: Fat Pig by Neil LaBute, directed by David Prete; The Drunken City by Adam Bock, directed by Johnny Michael DiResta; and The Internationalist by Anne Washburn, directed by Erin Murray. BroadwayWorld has a first look at all three prodcuctions below!

Performances begin in just five weeks for the third annual Next Up, continuing Steppenwolf Theatre Company's commitment to Chicago's next generation of theater artists. Next Up features three productions presented in rotating repertory, in collaboration with Northwestern University's MFA programs in Direction and Design. Next Up 2013 showcases the work of graduates of those programs with casts of professional Chicago actors-including nine alumni of the School at Steppenwolf: Fat Pig by Neil LaBute, directed by David Prete; The Drunken City by Adam Bock, directed by Johnny Michael DiResta; and The Internationalist by Anne Washburn, directed by Erin Murray.

Performances begin in just five weeks for the third annual Next Up, continuing Steppenwolf Theatre Company's commitment to Chicago's next generation of theater artists. Next Up features three productions presented in rotating repertory, in collaboration with Northwestern University's MFA programs in Direction and Design. Next Up 2013 showcases the work of graduates of those programs with casts of professional Chicago actors-including nine alumni of the School at Steppenwolf: Fat Pig by Neil LaBute, directed by David Prete; The Drunken City by Adam Bock, directed by Johnny Michael DiResta; and The Internationalist by Anne Washburn, directed by Erin Murray.

Performances begin in just five weeks for the third annual Next Up, continuing Steppenwolf Theatre Company's commitment to Chicago's next generation of theater artists. Next Up features three productions presented in rotating repertory, in collaboration with Northwestern University's MFA programs in Direction and Design. Next Up 2013 showcases the work of graduates of those programs with casts of professional Chicago actors-including nine alumni of the School at Steppenwolf: Fat Pig by Neil LaBute, directed by David Prete; The Drunken City by Adam Bock, directed by Johnny Michael DiResta; and The Internationalist by Anne Washburn, directed by Erin Murray.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company has announced casting for the upcoming third annual Next Up, continuing Steppenwolf's commitment to Chicago's next generation of theater artists.

The Gift Theatre has announced the world premiere of Dirty by Andrew Hinderaker, the Joseph Jefferson-nominated writer and director of Suicide, Incorporated and I Am Going to Change the World tonight, September 20, 2012.

The Gift Theatre has announced the upcoming world premiere of Dirty by Andrew Hinderaker, the Joseph Jefferson-nominated writer and director of Suicide, Incorporated and I Am Going to Change the World on September 20, 2012.

Profiles Theatre announces the extension of reasons to be pretty by Neil LaBute, directed by Steppenwolf ensemble member Rick Snyder. Due to box office demand, the production will now close on April 10.