David Zak News

Pride Films and Plays' 2016-17 season will include two Chicago premieres of Tony Award nominated shows and two world premieres, Executive Director David Zak and Artistic Director Nelson Rodriguez announced today.

Pride Films and Plays is excited to start its fall season with the world premiere of Resolution, opening October 24 at Rivendell Theater, 5779 N. Ridge Ave., Chicago. Executive Director David Zak and Artistic Director Nelson Rodriguez announced the full cast today.

Nelson Rodriguez, a Chicago-based actor and writer of Puerto Rican descent who has been an ensemble member of Pride Films and Plays since August 2012, has been named the company's first Artistic Director, Executive Director David Zak announced today.

At The Flash, a fast-paced dramatic comedy that depicts the history of a gay bar as seen through five stories that ricochet and collide over five eras of gay history, will make its New York City premiere in the 2016 New York International Fringe Festival.

Hell in a Handbag Productions is pleased to announce casting for its world premiere SKOOBY DON'T, David Cerda's uproarious parody of a beloved cartoon classic, directed by Derek Van Barham.

Pride Films and Plays, the LGBTQ+ focused company founded in 2010, will take up residence in the two theaters at 4139 and 4147 N. Broadway in Uptown that were recently vacated by Profiles Theatre, Executive Director David Zak announced today. The 90-seat space at 4139 N. Broadway will serve as the primary venue for the company's stage productions and will be named The Broadway. The 50-seat studio a few doors north at 4147 N. Broadway, to be dubbed The Buena, will serve chiefly as a rental venue. Zak says "We will welcome arts groups of all types - theaters, film fests, comics, musicians, performance artists - who share our mission to speak for the underrepresented populations of our community. The Pride Arts Center will be a safe and open place for all artists."

Just in time for Halloween, Hell in a Handbag Productions delivers a parody so dead-on, it's frightening! Artistic Director David Cerda lampoons a cartoon classic in his world premiere comedy SKOOBY, DON'T, directed by Derek Van Barham. Follow the adventures of four adults - Scaggy, Fredd, Velva and Daffy - who wear the same clothes everyday while driving around in a van with their mentally-impaired talking dog, 'solving mysteries.' 

Pride Films and Plays presents a special workshop of the gorgeous new musical A HISTORY OF SUMMER, with music and lyrics by Jonathan Monro and book by Adam Mathias.

Pride Films and Plays presents a special workshop of the gorgeous new musical A HISTORY OF SUMMER, with music and lyrics by Jonathan Monro and book by Adam Mathias.

Pride Films and Plays is thrilled to present the US professional premiere of Jason Mitchell's zesty comedy The Boys Upstairs which The Village Voice called 'Sex in the City meets Boys in the Band.'  PFP Artistic Associate Nelson Rodriguez leads a cast including Gary Henderson as Seth, Tristien Winfree as Eric, Shaun Baer as Ashley, and PFP Company Member Luke Meierdiercks playing a variety of different roles. PFP Executive Director David Zak directs.

Pride Films and Plays will present the Chicago premiere of Jason Mitchell's zesty comedy The Boys Upstairs which The Village Voice called 'Sex in the City meets Boys in the Band.'  PFP Artistic Associate Nelson Rodriguez leads a cast of including Gary Henderson as Seth, Jordan Dell Harris as Eric, and PFP Company Member Luke Meierdiercks playing a variety of different roles. PFP Executive Director David Zak directs.

Pride Films and Plays heats up the Uptown Underground with BOYS IN BRIEFS: AT THE BEACH!

The new singing quartet from Pride Films and Plays - The Boys In Briefs - debuts at Uptown Underground on January 26 with The Boys in Briefs: At the Beach! This upbeat evening of summertime music will be a perfect antidote to your winter doldrums. The cast features Emmy Award-winner Scott Gryder, Jeff Award-winner Donterrio Johnson, and the stars of PFP's The Boy >From Oz, Chris Logan and Luke Meierdiercks.

Pride Films and Plays continues to grow into Chicago's most dynamic arts collective, and announces a Fall Season including festivals dedicated to the development of new LGBT work while anchored with a new look at a shocking LGBT work from another era. The Fall Season is the perfect follow-up to PFP's Jeff Recommended and Box Office hits Men on the Verge of a His-Panic Breakdown directed by Sandra Marquez and The Boy From Oz directed by David Zak.

The Boy From Oz, presented by Pride Films and Plays, will be directed by David Zak, with musical direction by Robert Ollis and choreography by Cameron Turner. The musical previews tonight, August 5 and Thursday, August 6, with a press opening slated for Friday, August 7 at 7:30. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the cast in costume below!

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'Pippin' performs at the Cadillac Palace and Sidetrack, dueling showtune concerts on August 17, and a summer 'Altar Boyz.' Plus local premieres of 'The Boy From Oz,' 'American Idiot' and 'Dogfight,' 'Gypsy' in Lake County, and 'The Producers' in true rep with 'Victor/Victoria!'

The Boy From Oz, presented by Pride Films and Plays, will be directed by David Zak, with musical direction by Robert Ollis and choreography by Cameron Turner. The musical previews Wednesday, August 5 and Thursday, August 6, with a press opening slated for Friday, August 7 at 7:30. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the cast in costume below!

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'On Your Feet!' and 'City Of Angels' rake in the reviews, while Bette plays the UC. Kristin and Idina plan concerts here, outdoor movies light up the summer, and the 'Beautiful' tour and 'Charlie Brown' are slated for Christmas. By summer's end: 'The Boy From Oz,' 'Glory Days' and 'Triassic Parq!'

The Boy From Oz tells the amazing life story of celebrated songwriter and performer Peter Allen. Featuring songs by Peter Allen, book by Martin Sherman and Nick Enright, Direction by David Zak, Musical Direction by Robert Ollis, and Choreography by Cameron Turner, The Boy From Oz tells the exuberant yet heart-warming true story of a young Australian boy who loved to perform and ended up in the glamorous orbit of Judy Garland and her soon-to-be famous daughter Liza.