George Orwell News

According to a 2014 Gallup poll, the number one crime that Americans are most worried about is the hacking of personal devices and the unauthorized retrieval of sensitive information. Conversely, hacking has also been employed by those who claim they are acting on behalf of the American people-in order to protect them. WikiLeaks' Edward Snowden and the hacking group known as Anonymous are all examples of what some might call 'white hat' hackers.

Idle Muse Theatre Company announced casting forThe Hound of the Baskervilles, newly adapted by Althos Low and directed by Idle Muse Artistic Director Evan Jackson. First serialized in the Strand Magazine in 1901-1902 - and perhaps the most beloved of Conan Doyle's crime thrillers - Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson trade the foggy streets of London for the country wilds of Dartmoor to shield the life of a young heir whose family is believed cursed by a murderous hellhound. 

Steppenwolf Theatre Company presents the Chicago premiere of Annie Baker's 2014 Pulitzer Prize-winning drama, The Flick. Under the direction of Dexter Bullard, who also directed the Chicago premiere of Baker's Circle Mirror Transformation, the cast features Danny McCarthy, Caroline Neff and Travis Turner as the three hapless employees of The Flick movie house. Previews begin February 4 (opening night is February 14; press performances are Saturday, February 13 at 3pm and Tuesday, February 16 at 7:30pm) and runs through May 8, 2016 in Steppenwolf's Upstairs Theatre (1650 N Halsted St). Tickets ($20 - $89) are available through Audience Services (1650 N Halsted), 312-335-1650 and steppenwolf.org.

Idle Muse Theatre Company's 10th season continues with The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, newly adapted by Althos Low and directed by IMTC artistic director Evan Jackson. First serialized in the Strand Magazine in 1901-1902 - and perhaps the most beloved of Conan Doyle's crime thrillers - Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson trade the foggy streets of London for the country wilds of Dartmoor to shield the life of a young heir whose family is believed cursed by a murderous hellhound.

According to the Daily Mail, SHERLOCK star Andrew Scott might take on Shakespeare in the coming year. Baz Bamigboye writes that he is currently in talks to play Hamlet, directed by Robert Icke at the Almeida Theatre- possibly in late 2016-early 2017.

An army of artists including Ian McKellen, Stanley Tucci, Andrew Scott, Bertie Carvel, Jeremy Irvine, Jessica Brown Findlay, and many more will read Homer's sequel, THE ODYSSEY, which will be live-streamed free from unusual and iconic locations across London to celebrate the end of Almeida Greeks, today 12 November 2015.

An army of artists including Ian McKellen, Stanley Tucci, Andrew Scott, Bertie Carvel, Jeremy Irvine, Jessica Brown Findlay, and many more will read Homer's sequel, THE ODYSSEY, which will be live-streamed free from unusual and iconic locations across London to celebrate the end of Almeida Greeks, on Thursday 12 November 2015.

As Steppenwolf Theatre Company enters its 40th anniversary season, the Steppenwolf Associates -- a group of highly motivated and passionate young professionals -- kick off the fall season with a new event, UNLOCKED: 1984.

According to a 2014 Gallup poll, the number one crime that Americans are most worried about is the hacking of personal devices and the unauthorized retrieval of sensitive information. Conversely, hacking has also been employed by those who claim they are acting on behalf of the American people-in order to protect them. WikiLeaks' Edward Snowden and the hacking group known as Anonymous are all examples of what some might call 'white hat' hackers.

Due to popular demand, Steppenwolf for Young Adults (SYA) extends the critically acclaimed production of George Orwell's 1984, adapted by Andrew White and directed by SYA Artistic and Educational Director Hallie Gordon. Hailed as "highly recommended…chilling, hard-hitting" (Chicago Sun-Times) and "a skillful blend of grimy proletariat despair and slick multimedia collage" (Chicago Tribune), 1984 adds three additional public performances, extending the run through November 21, 2015 in Steppenwolf's Upstairs Theatre with the original cast. Tickets ($20; $15 with student ID) to the added performances are now on sale through Audience Services (1650 N Halsted St) at 312-335-1650 and steppenwolf.org.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company presents the highly anticipated Chicago premiere production of Annie Baker's The Flick, winner of the 2014 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Directed by Dexter Bullard, the cast features Will Allan, Danny McCarthy, Caroline Neff and Travis Turner. The Flick runs February 4 - May 8, 2016 in the Upstairs Theatre. Tickets ($20 - $89) are now on sale through Audience Services (1650 N Halsted), 312-335-1650 or steppenwolf.org.

Barter Theatre unveils the 2016 production schedule with a behind-the-scenes preview of what the next season has in store. Producing Artistic Director Richard Rose announces an exciting season filled with comedy, drama and many world-famous shows patrons will recognize from their silver-screen adaptations.

Steppenwolf for Young Adults' production of 1984 opens on Collette Pollard's stark, barren set. No objects are present onstage, except for plain wooden sets of drawers on the perimeter and two prison cell-like spaces up above. The stage itself sets the tone for the narrative of what has been described as a "negative utopia": the regimented society that George Orwell laid out in his classic 1949 aimed to suppress original thought and feeling. Orwell's vision for the future was not ideal and optimistic but rather extremely bleak in its depiction of future society. With direction by Hallie Gordon, Andrew White's adaptation of 1984 effectively and clearly tells the story of this oppressive and startling vision of the fictional nation Oceania (a hybrid of the United States and the United Kingdom). As Joseph A. Burke's clever and expertly executed projections bombard audiences with images bordering on a fitting sensory overload, we certainly have the sense that Big Brother is watching over us all.

On the heels of a sold-out production of George Orwell's Animal Farm last season, Steppenwolf for Young Adults (SYA) begins the 2015/16 season with another Orwellian masterpiece, 1984. Adapted by Andrew White and directed by SYA Artistic and Educational Director Hallie Gordon, 1984 receives a multi-media production that is a haunting, shockingly timely look at a future that seems disturbingly present. Performances began October 21 and continue through November 20, 2015 in the Upstairs Theatre (1650 N Halsted St); the press performance is Saturday, October 24 at 3pm. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

On the heels of a sold-out production of George Orwell's Animal Farm last season, Steppenwolf for Young Adults (SYA) begins the 2015/16 season with another Orwellian masterpiece, 1984. Adapted by Andrew White and directed by SYA Artistic and Educational Director Hallie Gordon, Orwell's 1984 receives a cutting-edge, multi-media production with projection design by Joseph A. Burke and photography direction by Joel Moorman. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the company in rehearsal below!

The upcoming 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death on April 23, 1616, sets the stage for the Shakespeare Theatre Company's (STC's) 2015-2016 ReDiscovery Series, which features readings of works by four prominent living authors who provide contemporary responses to Shakespeare's life and plays.

On the heels of a sold-out production of George Orwell's Animal Farm last season, Steppenwolf for Young Adults (SYA) begins the 2015/16 season with another Orwellian masterpiece, 1984. Adapted by Andrew White and directed by SYA Artistic and Educational Director Hallie Gordon, Orwell's 1984 receives a cutting-edge, multi-media production with projection design by Joseph A. Burke and photography direction by Joel Moorman. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the company in rehearsal below!

Our Town by Thornton Wilder runs live on stage at the brand new Barrette Center for the Arts in White River Junction, VT, October 7 through 31. For tickets and information, call 802-296-7000 or visit www.northernstage.org. Tickets start at $15.

As Steppenwolf Theatre Company enters its 40th anniversary season, the Steppenwolf Associates -- a group of highly motivated and passionate young professionals -- kick off the fall season with a new event, UNLOCKED: 1984.

Our Town by Thornton Wilder runs live on stage at the brand new Barrette Center for the Arts in White River Junction, VT, October 7 through 31. For tickets and information, call 802-296-7000 or visit www.northernstage.org. Tickets start at $15.