Emma Deane News

Pulitzer Prize finalist and Two River Theater Playwright-in-Residence Madeleine George (Hurricane Diane, Seven Homeless Mammoths Wander New England) is collaborating with director Sara Holdren (Twelfth Night) to create a new translation of Chekhov’s classic play about big souls trapped in tiny boxes.

Two River Theater announces the ninth season of A Little Shakespeare: Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare and adapted and directed by Rakesh Palisetty.

Signature Theatre has extended the New York premiere of Dominique Morisseau’s Confederates, directed by Stori Ayers to April 24. The production, running in The Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 W. 42nd Street, New York), opened March 27.

TheatreSquared’s Tiny Beautiful Things begins October 20, and is based on the true story of Cheryl Strayed (Wild) from her time as the beloved anonymous advice columnist, 'Dear Sugar.' Nia Vardalos, the Academy Award-nominated writer of My Big Fat Greek Wedding, has adapted Strayed’s journey for the stage to widespread critical acclaim.

WAM Theatre presents the US premiere of KAMLOOPA: AN INDIGENOUS MATRIARCH STORY by Kim Senklip Harvey, winner of Canada's prestigious Governor General's Award for English Language Drama, directed by Estefanía Fadul (WAM's Native Gardens, The Oregon Trail). 

YALE SCHOOL OF DRAMA introduces the 2020 Class of scenic, costume, lighting, sound, and projection designers, who matriculated this week. A showcase of these artists' work will be held in New York when conditions allow. More information will be shared online at drama.yale.edu/designshowcase2020 when possible.

Yale Repertory Theatre (James Bundy, Artistic Director; Victoria Nolan, Managing Director) will present MANAHATTA by Mary Kathryn Nagle, directed by Laurie Woolery, January 24-February 15, 2020, at Yale Repertory Theatre (1120 Chapel Street).

On June 20th, the Shakespeare Academy @ Stratford kicked off its sixth season by welcoming fourteen young actors to Stratford, CT. Coming from as close as New York City and as far as the UK and Mexico, the group will spend six weeks training and performing on the property that once housed the American Shakespeare Festival Theater.

The Comrades are pleased to announce the cast and creative team for DYING CITY by Chri, the second show in their inaugural 2016 season, DYING CITY by Christopher Shinn.

Chicago's Akvavit Theatre is pleased to present the U.S. premiere of Norwegian playwright Arne Lygre's drama NOTHING OF ME, co-directed by company members Chad Eric Bergman* and Breahan Eve Pautsch*, playing tonight, March 3, through April 3, 2016 at Signal Ensemble Theatre, 1802 W. Berenice Ave. in Chicago. The press opening is Saturday, March 5 at 8 pm. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Chicago's Akvavit Theatre is pleased to present the U.S. premiere of Norwegian playwright Arne Lygre's drama NOTHING OF ME, co-directed by company members Chad Eric Bergman* and Breahan Eve Pautsch*, playing March 3 - April 3, 2016 at Signal Ensemble Theatre, 1802 W. Berenice Ave. in Chicago. Tickets go on sale Sunday, February 14, 2016 brownpapertickets.com. The press opening is Saturday, March 5 at 8 pm.

Filament presents Pinocchio: a Folk Musical a new musical adaptation by Tyler Beattie (Hungry Hungry Hippos film in development with Hasbro).and directed by Scott Ferguson (Schoolhouse Rock Live! writer/creator). Chicagoans will experience Pinocchio as he's never been seen before in this freewheeling folk musical adventure of the puppet who learns to be real. Pinocchio: a Folk Musical plays Filament Theatre located at 4041 N Milwaukee Ave from January 22nd thru March 6, 2016.

The Saint Sebastian Players (SSP) open their 35th season with the farcical black comedy Arsenic and Old Lace by Joseph Kesselring. Performances take place October 23-November 15 at St. Bonaventure, 1625 W. Diversey (enter on Marshfield), Chicago.

The award-winning comedy, Dead Man's Cell Phone returns to Chicago under the direction of one of Chicago's newest theatre companies, The Enthusiasts Theatre Company. Sarah Ruhl's smash hit comedy opens with an incessantly ringing cell phone in a quiet cafe. Jean, a stranger at the next table who has had enough. And Gordon, a dead man-with a lot of loose ends. So begins Dead Man's Cell Phone, a wildly imaginative comedy. The show is about the struggle to connect in a technologically obsessed world. Dead Man's Cell Phone is a wildly imaginative comedy by MacArthur "Genius" Grant recipient and Pulitzer Prize finalist, Sarah Ruhl, author of the The Clean House and Eurydice. The last local production was done by Steppenwolf Theatre Company in March 2008.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company has announced the casting and creative teams for Garage Rep 2013, featuring Bailiwick Chicago's See What I Wanna See, Buzz22 Chicago's She Kills Monsters and Theatre Seven of Chicago's BlackTop Sky. These innovative storefront companies perform in rotating repertory for a ten-week run, February 15 - April 21, 2013; performances are scheduled Wednesday through Friday at 8pm, and Saturday and Sunday at 4pm and 8pm in The Steppenwolf Garage (1624 N Halsted St). Tickets ($20) go on sale December 7 at 11am through Audience Services (1650 N Halsted St), 312-335-1650 and steppenwolf.org.