Ed Kross News

Producing Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside of American Blues Theater (ABT), Chicago's second oldest Equity ensemble, today announced the Ensemble's 27th season. The season kicks off with the world premiere of Illegal Use of Hands by Emmy Award-winner, two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist and ABT Artistic Affiliate James Still, directed by Sandy Shinner, August 31 - September 30 and followed by the critically acclaimed It's a Wonderful Life: Live on State Street! , now at the Museum of Broadcast Communications, directed by ABT Artistic Affiliate Marty Higginbotham, November 16 - December 30. ABT's final 2012 -2013 production is Pulitzer Prize playwright Donald Margulies' 2010 Broadway script Collected Stories, co-directed by Steppenwolf Artistic Affiliate Jessica Thebus and Mary Ann Thebus.

American Blues Theater (ABT), Chicago's second oldest Equity ensemble, continues its 2011-2012 season with a return engagement of the critically acclaimed 'It's a Wonderful Life: Live at the Biograph!' directed by Marty Higginbotham, in the Victory Gardens' Richard Christiansen Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue, Nov. 18 - Dec. 31. Pink Previews are Nov. 18 - 20. Press opening is Wednesday, Nov. 23 at 7 p.m. For more information visit americanbluestheater.com.

American Blues Theater (ABT), Chicago's second oldest Equity ensemble, continues its 2011-2012 season with a return engagement of the critically acclaimed 'It's a Wonderful Life: Live at the Biograph!' directed by Marty Higginbotham, in the Victory Gardens' Richard Christiansen Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue, Nov. 18 - Dec. 31. Pink Previews are Nov. 18 - 20. Press opening is Wednesday, Nov. 23 at 7 p.m. For more information visit americanbluestheater.com.

American Blues Theater (ABT), Chicago's second oldest Equity ensemble, proudly kicks off its 2011-2012 season honoring the American worker with Clifford Odets' classic one-act play 'Waiting for Lefty' directed by Kimberly Senior Sept. 2 - Oct. 2.

American Blues Theater (ABT), Chicago's second oldest Equity ensemble, proudly kicks off its 2011-2012 season honoring the American worker with Clifford Odets' classic one-act play 'Waiting for Lefty' directed by Kimberly Senior Sept. 2 - Oct. 2.

American Blues Theater (ABT), Chicago's second oldest Equity ensemble, proudly kicks off its 2011-2012 season honoring the American worker with Clifford Odets' classic one-act play 'Waiting for Lefty' directed by Kimberly Senior Sept. 2 - Oct. 2.

American Blues Theater (ABT), Chicago's second oldest Equity Ensemble, caps its 2010-2011 Season with the regional premiere of 'Rantoul & Die' by Mark Roberts, directed by Erin Quigley. 'Rantoul & Die' will take place in the Victory Gardens' Richard Christiansen Theater April 22-May 22. Previews are April 22-25; press opening is Thursday, April 28. For more information visit americanbluestheater.com.

American Blues Theater (ABT), Chicago's second oldest Equity Ensemble, caps its 2010-2011 Season with the regional premiere of 'Rantoul & Die' by Mark Roberts, directed by Erin Quigley. 'Rantoul & Die' will take place in the Victory Gardens' Richard Christiansen Theater April 22-May 22. Previews are April 22-25; press opening is Thursday, April 28. For more information visit americanbluestheater.com.

American Blues Theater (ABT), Chicago's second oldest Equity Ensemble, caps its 2010-2011 Season with the regional premiere of 'Rantoul & Die' by Mark Roberts, directed by Erin Quigley. 'Rantoul & Die' will take place in the Victory Gardens' Richard Christiansen Theater April 22-May 22. Previews are April 22-25; press opening is Thursday, April 28. For more information visit americanbluestheater.com.

American Blues Theater (ABT), Chicago's second oldest Equity Ensemble, presents a benefit performance of 'American Blues - Collected One-Acts' by Tennessee Williams on the Victory Gardens Biograph mainstage, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue, Tuesday, March 8, 2011, from 6:00 - 10 p.m. Guest artist E. Fay Butler will perform during the pre-benefit VIP reception from 5 - 6 p.m. The evening will be emceed by ABT Board Secretary Joan Esposito, co-founder of J2SC. For more information call (312) 725 - 4228, email info@americanbluestheater.com or visit www.americanbluestheater.com.

Producing Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside of American Blues Theater (ABT), Chicago's second oldest Equity ensemble, proudly announces the Ensemble's 26th season.

American Blues Theater (ABT), Chicago's second oldest Equity Ensemble, presents a benefit performance of 'American Blues - Collected One-Acts' by Tennessee Williams on the Victory Gardens Biograph mainstage, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue, Tuesday, March 8, 2011, from 6:00 - 10 p.m. Guest artist E. Fay Butler will perform during the pre-benefit VIP reception from 5 - 6 p.m. The evening will be emceed by ABT Board Secretary Joan Esposito, co-founder of J2SC. For more information call (312) 725 - 4228, email info@americanbluestheater.com or visit www.americanbluestheater.com.

Goodman Theatre proudly extends Animal Crackers through November 1, 2009. Director Henry Wishcamper's production of this rarely staged Marx Brothers classic musical has been hailed 'pure pleasure' (Time Out Chicago) in which 'not a minute goes by when the audience isn't being awed by the spectacle (and) astonished by the breakneck comic mayhem.' (Daily Herald).

Goodman Theatre launches its new 2009/2010 Season with tap dancing, acrobatics, tumbling, guitar- and ukulele-playing in an original take on the rarely-produced Marx Brothers classic musical Animal Crackers, written by George S. Kaufman and Morrie Ryskind, with music and lyrics by Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby

American Blues Theater (ABT) Chicago's second oldest Equity ensemble company, today announced its 2009-2010 Season. The award-winning ensemble-based company will open its 24th season under its original name with a symbolic return to its first artistic home, Victory Gardens Theater, for 'It's a Wonderful Life: Live at the Biograph!'

Goodman Theatre proudly extends Animal Crackers through November 1, 2009. Director Henry Wishcamper's production of this rarely staged Marx Brothers classic musical has been hailed 'pure pleasure' (Time Out Chicago) in which 'not a minute goes by when the audience isn't being awed by the spectacle (and) astonished by the breakneck comic mayhem.' (Daily Herald).

Animal Crackers runs September 18 - October 25, 2009 in the Goodman's Albert Theatre. Tickets are currently available by season subscription - www.ExploreTheGoodman.org or call 312.443.3800. Individual tickets ($25 - $83) are on sale now

On Friday, September 18, 'Laughter, merriment, and general carrying-on is expected and encouraged...in honor of Goodman Theatre's production of Animal Crackers,' wrote Mayor Richard M. Daley, proclaiming this day 'Laugh Out Loud Day' in Chicago. '(I) urge all Chicagoans to take a moment to laugh out loud as they reacquaint themselves with the Marx Brothers and the Goodman's madcap musical.'

Goodman Theatre launches its new 2009/2010 Season with tap dancing, acrobatics, tumbling, guitar- and ukulele-playing in an original take on the rarely-produced Marx Brothers classic musical Animal Crackers, written by George S. Kaufman and Morrie Ryskind, with music and lyrics by Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby

'Hooray for Joey Slotnick!' Director Henry Wishcamper has tapped Chicago native Joey Slotnick for the lead role of the African explorer 'Captain Jeffrey T. Spaulding'-the heightened vaudevillian persona created by Groucho Marx for the 1929 stage and screen original-in Goodman Theatre's season opening musical Animal Crackers, written by George S. Kaufman and Morrie Ryskind, with music and lyrics by Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby.