Derrick Sanders News

The League of Chicago Theatres, Goodman Theatre, the University of Illinois at Chicago and competition organizer Derrick Sanders announce the top Chicago finalists for the 10th Annual August Wilson Monologue Competition, which were held Monday, March 4, 2019 at the Goodman Theatre: Abad Viquez of Nicholas Senn High School (first place), Freedom Martin of The Chicago High School for the Performing Arts (second place), Serenity Saffold-Rice of Interlochen Center for the Arts (third place), and Lyk Singleton of The Chicago High School for the Performing Arts (honorable mention).

Twenty-two Chicago high school students will compete in the finals of the 10th Annual August Wilson Monologue Competition for a chance to represent Chicago in the National Competition at the August Wilson Theatre in New York City.  Hundreds of students competed across the city in preliminary rounds. The finals will be held at the Goodman Theatre, 170 N Dearborn on Monday, March 4, 2019 at 6:00 pm. The August Wilson Monologue Competition is free and open to the public. Please call 312-554-9800 for ticket information. The top two winners of the Chicago finals will compete in the National Finals at the August Wilson Theatre on Broadway on Monday, May 6, 2019.

The Apollo Theater will bring the New York premiere of TWISTED MELODIES, an intimate one-man production about the life, artistry, and struggles of 1970s soul singer and composer Donny Hathaway, to its iconic stage, 45 years after Hathaway himself last performed on it. From his hits with Roberta Flack, his solo songs, and his work as both an arranger and studio musician for artists such as Aretha Franklin, Curtis Mayfield, and the Staples Singers, to his diagnosis of schizophrenia, Hathaway's personal struggles both inspired and hampered his music. On the 40th anniversary of his untimely death, Hathaway will be honored posthumously with the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in February 2019, celebrating his influence and contributions to the music industry that continue today. Directed by Derrick Sanders and featuring Kelvin Roston Jr., this limited engagement at the Apollo Theater opens on Thursday, May 30 and runs through Sunday, June 2. Ahead of the production, a free Live Wire conversation with musician Gordon Chambers, "Everything is Everything, the Music of Donny Hathaway," will take place on May 13 at 6:30p.m. as part of the Theater's education series that honors iconic artists who have impacted the arts and culture.

A fun, new musical adaptation of an audience favorite comes to First Stage this holiday season. Created by the talented husband/wife team of Jahnna Beecham (Playwright/Lyricist) and Malcolm Hillgartner (Composer/Lyricist) and based on the play by Barbara Robinson, THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER: THE MUSICAL is filled with catchy,'60s-inspired original music and a delightful story that both young and old will enjoy. The horrible Herdmans are the worst kids in the history of the world. The entire town panics when these rowdy six siblings are cast in the church's annual Christmas pageant. It's up to good-hearted Mrs. Bradley to help the Herdmans - and the rest of the town - discover the true meaning of Christmas before it's too late. Silent night? Not a chance, but sometimes a little joyful noise is just right for Christmas. Sponsored by Associated Bank and Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren.

A fun, new musical adaptation of an audience favorite comes to First Stage this holiday season. Created by the talented husband/wife team of Jahnna Beecham (Playwright/Lyricist) and Malcolm Hillgartner (Composer/Lyricist) and based on the play by Barbara Robinson, THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER: THE MUSICAL is filled with catchy,'60s-inspired original music and a delightful story that both young and old will enjoy. The horrible Herdmans are the worst kids in the history of the world. The entire town panics when these rowdy six siblings are cast in the church's annual Christmas pageant. It's up to good-hearted Mrs. Bradley to help the Herdmans - and the rest of the town - discover the true meaning of Christmas before it's too late. Silent night? Not a chance, but sometimes a little joyful noise is just right for Christmas. Sponsored by Associated Bank and Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren.

A fun, new musical adaptation of an audience favorite comes to First Stage this holiday season. Created by the talented husband/wife team of Jahnna Beecham (Playwright/Lyricist) and Malcolm Hillgartner (Composer/Lyricist) and based on the play by Barbara Robinson, THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER: THE MUSICAL is filled with catchy,'60s-inspired original music and a delightful story that both young and old will enjoy. The horrible Herdmans are the worst kids in the history of the world. The entire town panics when these rowdy six siblings are cast in the church's annual Christmas pageant. It's up to good-hearted Mrs. Bradley to help the Herdmans - and the rest of the town - discover the true meaning of Christmas before it's too late. Silent night? Not a chance, but sometimes a little joyful noise is just right for Christmas. Sponsored by Associated Bank and Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren.

A collective of perspectives. A public outcry. The establishment of a movement. This month, two new plays- Until the Flood by Dael Orlandersmith, directed by Neel Keller and florissant & canfield by Kristiana Rae Colon, directed by Derrick Sanders-bring a national dialogue to the stage.

The League of Chicago Theatres, Goodman Theatre, the University of Illinois at Chicago, Broadway In Chicago and competition organizer Derrick Sanders announce the three Chicago finalists for the 9th Annual August Wilson Monologue Competition: Nia Safro from Chicago High School for the Performing Arts (first place, performed Molly, Joe Turner's Come and Gone); Chisom Chima from Nicholas Senn High School (second place; performed King, King Hedley II); and Evan Simpson from Chicago High School for the Performing Arts (third place, performed Youngblood, Jitney). The top three Chicago finalists were awarded scholarships in the amount of $500, $250 and $100, respectively. The top two winning students will receive expenses paid to travel to New York City for the National Finals, where they will compete on May 7, 2018.

Twenty-one Chicago high school students will once again compete in the finals of the August Wilson Monologue Competition for a chance to represent Chicago in the National Competition at the August Wilson Theatre in New York City. Hundreds of students competed across the city in preliminary rounds. The finals will be held at the Broadway Playhouse, 175 E Chestnut on February 26, 2018 at 6:00pm. The August Wilson Monologue Competition is free and open to the public. The top two winners of the Chicago finals will compete in the National Finals at Broadway's August Wilson Theatre in New York on May 7, 2018.

Nine hundred high school students are expected to participate in the 2018 August Wilson Monologue Competition in Chicago, which includes in-school workshops and two rounds of competition (preliminaries and semi-finals), culminating locally in the Chicago finals at the Broadway Playhouse, 175 E Chestnut on February 26, 2018. The top two winners of the Chicago finals will compete in the National Finals at the August Wilson Theatre on Broadway on May 7, 2018.

If you are already a Hathaway fan, you really must not miss this show. If you are not already a fan, prepare to be converted. I walk into the show knowing very little of Donny Hathaway and walk out touched and changed forever. Writer/Performer Kelvin Roston has created a brilliant work of heartbreak, genius and intimacy to terrify and delight patrons of Center Stage.

Baltimore Center Stage will present, in association with Congo Square Theatre Company, Twisted Melodies.

This is an auspicious beginning of a new era and grand reopening after a $28 million renovation.

Twenty Chicago high school students will once again compete in the finals of the August Wilson Monologue Competition for a chance to represent Chicago in the National Competition at the August Wilson Theatre in New York City.  Hundreds of students competed across the city in preliminary rounds. The finals will be held at the Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn St on Monday, March 6, 2017 at6:00 pm. The August Wilson Monologue Competition is free and open to the public.

Windy City Playhouse (3014 N. Irving Park Road) announces casting for Robert O'Hara's 'Bootycandy,' the 'searing and sensationally funny' (The New York Times) semi-autobiographical play about growing up gay and black.

Windy City Playhouse (3014 N. Irving Park Road) presents Robert O'Hara's 'Bootycandy,' the 'searing and sensationally funny' (The New York Times) semi-autobiographical play about growing up gay and black.

Windy City Playhouse (3014 N. Irving Park Road) announces casting for Robert O'Hara's 'Bootycandy,' the 'searing and sensationally funny' (The New York Times) semi-autobiographical play about growing up gay and black.

A third audience engagement event has been added to the list of special events surrounding Raven Theatre's production of Red Velvet, which details the story of Ira Aldridge, who in 1833 became the first black actor to play Othello on a London stage.

A third audience engagement event has been added to the list of special events surrounding Raven Theatre's production of Red Velvet, which details the story of Ira Aldridge, who in 1833 became the first black actor to play Othello on a London stage.

Outside the Touchstone Theatre in Spring Green, American Players Theatre (APT) stages an exuberant African Dance accompanied by the thunder of drums and keyboard. The impromptu performance celebrates the legacy of color about to be admired on stage in a production of Carlyle Brown's The African Company Presents Richard III. Set in 1821 New York, the play focuses on actual historical events where a small African-American theater company produced their production of Shakespeare's Richard III on the exact same night  the famous Park Theatre owned by Daniel Price opened their production featuring English actor Julius Booth as the deformed king.